Do you think "District 9" is racist?

Well, all the very fastest athletes / high jumpers etc. are now Black (In the past, racism of one sort or another blocked them out of sponsorships and thus “The Games”). However, white folk excel is Swimming because of the bone thing. Apparently, there is up to 20% difference in Bone density.

Anyway, I didn’t want this threaad to go down this alley, Mods lock it if thee wish.

Due to Bone density differences, White men can’t jump and Black men can’t swim. (At a decent competitive level).
There, I’ve pointed out differences but in no way is it racist – although I’m sure some unread people would claim it is.

Never knew that..learn a new thing every day ..may be the pc title of the future will be `Due to bone density differences,white men can`t jump`.

GA – we do not seem to be debating the same points, or at least failing to understand each others points. I am in danger of repeating myself – twice – so perhaps we had better leave it where it is. Others can pick it up and run with it – either with your arguments or mine – if they choose.:)

Criticising a Muslim for bad driving is perceived to be racist whereas criticising an white Englishman is not.

By whom, exactly?

You don’t think that critcising someone’s driving skills would, by itself, constitute racism and I agree completely with you.

In fact, I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t agree with us.

So, who are “they”?

Of course not, but that was not my point. Criticising a Muslim for bad driving is perceived to be racist whereas criticising an white Englishman is not. There is a wholly false inference drawn by the politically correct that implicit in the criticism of the Muslim is racism.

It is born out of the sensitivity to avoid offence at any cost so as to preserve the veneer of multiculturism.

I know you can’t be seriously expecting me to justify and/or validate the perceptions of others, Joey.

Criticising a Pakistani for rudeness is not the same thing as criticising a rude person for being a Pakistani.

Or perhaps you disagree?

I think you are blind to the inference people now draw from ANY sort of criticism, lumping it all as racism. That is the point I am trying to make. And it’s not really difficult – it’s blindingly obvious, and I am surprised you don’t see the point.

Criticise a Muslim for bad driving and you’ll be accused of racism. Criticise a Pakistani for rudeness and you’ll be accused of racism. Criticise a black for inconsiderate behaviour and you’ll be accused of racism. That used never to be the case.

There, I’ve pointed out differences but in no way is it racist – although I’m sure some unread people would claim it is.

The particular example you quote is, of course, not racism.

You are stating well-established scientific fact, and you are not being critical of anyone on the grounds of their ethnicity.

We should all be free to criticise whomever we wish and of whatever colour or creed.

We are.

If, however, we do so on the grounds of their ethnicity then that would be racism.

I really don’t understand why you are finding this so difficult.

You used the word ‘criticism’.

You are now shifting the goalposts.

Very PC of you.

Please substitute criticism – there was no intention to shift the goalposts – exactly the same criteria apply. We should all be free to criticise whomever we wish and of whatever colour or creed.

Presumably you practise according to the definition you quoted, or are playing devil’s advocate in this debate?

No it isn`t….and what about `White men can`t jump` LOL

Due to Bone density differences, White men can’t jump and Black men can’t swim. (At a decent competitive level).
There, I’ve pointed out differences but in no way is it racist – although I’m sure some unread people would claim it is.

So, every light-hearted remark or joke about Jews, Muslims, Irish, Chinese, Pakistanis, Indians, blacks, yellows and whatever else is now racist is it?

You used the word ‘criticism’.

You are now shifting the goalposts.

Very PC of you.

If criticising someone on the grounds of their ethnicity isn’t racism, then what is it?

So, every light-hearted remark or joke about Jews, Muslims, Irish, Chinese, Pakistanis, Indians, blacks, yellows and whatever else is now racist is it? Well, yes, in 2010 I think it probably is, but that is the PC world we now sadly live in. I don’t recall any fuss about it 40 years ago nor do I recall any upwelling of deeply offended individuals of any ethic type.

In fact so far has it gone that I think people have a legal right to feel aggrieved if they are criticised for being too fat, too thin, too short, too tall, and so on.

Certainly didn’t come across as racist to me, it did however as everyone else has said be one of the best films I’ve seen in recent years!! Was even more happy to pick it up from HMV a couple of weeks ago for 8 quid :D.

The film caused much controversy in Nigeria down to how the gangsters in District 9 were portrayed etc….

The fact that criticism of anyone on the grounds of their ethnicity is deemed racist is utterly ludicrous.

If criticising someone on the grounds of their ethnicity isn’t racism, then what is it?

Only to those who would seek to justify it, IMHO.

The Cambridge Online Dictionary defines “racism” as “the belief that people’s qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of your own, or the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races“.

Seems perfectly clear to me.

The way “race” has become to be defined produces confusion and is a grey area, forgive the pun.

“…the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races” is open to totally subjective judgement and what is unfair to one may be perfectly fair to another. The fact that criticism of anyone on the grounds of their ethnicity is deemed racist is utterly ludicrous.

I wish the whole subject was as clear as the dictionary definition. But unfortunately definitions as loose as that result in interpretation.

No it isn`t….and what about `White men can`t jump` LOL

…..hasn’t “racism” and “racist” taken on a whole new raft of meaning in recent years? So much so that the significance of the terms has been reduced.

Only to those who would seek to justify it, IMHO.

The Cambridge Online Dictionary defines “racism” as “the belief that people’s qualities are influenced by their race and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of your own, or the resulting unfair treatment of members of other races“.

Seems perfectly clear to me.

It’s not racist but it is about racism, take the word “prawn” out of the script and replace it with any well known racist phrase and the story remains pretty much the same.

I haven’t seen the film, but having read a good few Empire articles on it, it’s exactly as Jon says.

It’s an allegory for apartheid.

I haven’t seen the film so cannot comment directly but hasn’t “racism” and “racist” taken on a whole new raft of meaning in recent years? So much so that the significance of the terms has been reduced.

It’s not racist but it is about racism, take the word “prawn” out of the script and replace it with any well known racist phrase and the story remains pretty much the same.