NationStates Jolt Archive

This is a sensitive topic. Can you choose your race? I think you can choose your culture just not your race. I think culture is something you can choose but Race is something you are born with.

The example if you are Black and adopt French culture does that make you french even though you weren't born in France?


Poll coming

There are no races. Je n'en dirai plus...

By race, you mean nationality?

Interesting. I would add a question: to those who feel that race and/or "ethnic culture" are important, which is the MOST important?

For instance, what if you've got a child who was born in China but reared by French parents in France. Then you have another child who was born to French parents in France but was adopted by Chinese parents in China. Which kid is "Chinese" and which kid is "French"?

By race, you mean nationality?


Asian, African, European......White, Black, Brown.

I don't care for races. I'm a bit too lazy, plus i get tired easily.

Yes, for indeed I am an elf from Lothlorien because I chose to be one.
I changed my mind I'm a hobbit.
No wait, a Southron.
See? Doesn't work. Just culture.

Interesting. I would add a question: to those who feel that race and/or "ethnic culture" are important, which is the MOST important?

For instance, what if you've got a child who was born in China but reared by French parents in France. Then you have another child who was born to French parents in France but was adopted by Chinese parents in China. Which kid is "Chinese" and which kid is "French"?



Depends on what they look like, You can see if one kids is asian or not.

Asian, African, European......White, Black, Brown.

Then French isn't a race...

This is a sensitive topic. Can you choose your race? I think you can choose your culture just not your race. I think culture is something you can choose but Race is something you are born with.

The example if you are Black and adopt French culture does that make you french even though you weren't born in France?


Poll coming

french is a nationality, not a race...

There are no races. Je n'en dirai plus...
Est-ce que tu parles francais?

Depends on what they look like, You can see if one kids is asian or not.
So you feel that a child who looks "asian" is to be identified as "asian," even if they have lived their entire life in, say, France?

Since race is a pretty arbitary term without clear definition people end up choosing their race all the time. Is a black indian white because she is caucasion?

Then French isn't a race...



French is an ethnicity, White would be the race.

No you cannot choose your race.

Maybe when plastic surgery and genetic engineering can manipulate the body completely. However, we are not there yet. Your DNA will determine your race, you will inherit traits and genetic dispositions. Although with more inter-racial marriages taking place the lines are becoming fuzzier.

Culture, sure you can adapt to anything. That's purely your own mindset.

I say you're born with it.

You can choose! Look at Michael Jackson!

So you feel that a child who looks "asian" is to be identified as "asian," even if they have lived their entire life in, say, France?


that kid would be an Asian raised in another culture.

my Race is Human.

my Nationality is American

my Ethnic history is Japanese/Okinawan.

French is an ethnicity, White would be the race.

French isn't really an ethnicity, either.

You can choose! Look at Michael Jackson!


I think a lot of whites want nothing to do with him. :D

my Race is Human.

my Nationality is American

my Ethnic history is Japanese/Okinawan.

I am Homo sapiens, seeking to be a Lutra canadensis.
American.
Western European.

French isn't really an ethnicity, either.


I always saw it as one.

I think a lot of whites want nothing to do with him. :D
I don't think anyone wants to see him, let alone anything else.

I always saw it as one.

I'd consider it more a nationality, as "French" speaks only of language and location, not of race, religion, etc.

There is only one race, human.

Est-ce que tu parles francais?

Vous me tutoyez déjà? :P

Oui, je le parle, mais ca n'a rien à faire par ici. Je me suis seulement moqué d'Empress_Suiko parce qu'elle avait choisi la France comme exemple.

There is only one race, human.
Too bad we don't have orcs and the like...:(

Too bad we don't have orcs and the like...:(
oh.... elves....


even better, Drows...

Vous me tutoyez déjà? :P

Oui, je le parle, mais ca n'a rien à faire par ici. Je me suis seulement moqué d'Empress_Suiko parce qu'elle avait choisi la France comme exemple.
De venez-vous?

I'd consider it more a nationality, as "French" speaks only of language and location, not of race, religion, etc.


Its also a culture.

De venez-vous?

*ahem* "mais ca n'a rien à faire par ici" *ahem*

*ahem* "mais ca n'a rien à faire par ici" *ahem*



ahem...ENGLISH PLEASE!:headbang:

oh.... elves....


even better, Drows...

A Ferengi or two, and a Hutt...
I call the Klingons!!!;)

*ahem* "mais ca n'a rien à faire par ici" *ahem*
Je m'excuse...what's your nationality?

Could we sepearate the "Nationality" and "Race" parts? You can indeed be an African of French Birth, for example.

Otherwise, it's a silly, illogical question.

Je m'excuse...what's your nationality?

Not that my nationality is any more on topic in this thread than speaking French is. I have a TG-box for such questions.

No.. I don't think you can "choose" your race.

I think the term "race" is just a cop out for people not wanting to understand or respect other cultures. when living outside of a culture one cannot fully understand it, but can still attempt to respect it. Therefore I wont take a poll that is void.

Its also a culture.sorry, but the only culture I will confess into owning is growing nicely in my petre dish. :D

OK I've decided to become a Storm Giant and I step on all the elves and dwarves running around. And my Storm Giant is the DM's pet so don't think any of your knees-bent running about advancing behavior is going to trick me.

:gundge:

sorry, but the only culture I will confess into owning is growing nicely in my petre dish. :D



What? French is a culture, as is Italian. Its up to you to pick which is better, I like Italian.

What? French is a culture, as is Italian. Its up to you to pick which is better, I like Italian.
each National Culture is unique in and of themselves.

OK I've decided to become a Storm Giant and I step on all the elves and dwarves running around. And my Storm Giant is the DM's pet so don't think any of your knees-bent running about advancing behavior is going to trick me.

:gundge:
sorry, but there is only one DM's Pet and it's this Dragon (http://www.thugdome.com/slagblah_dragon.html).

http://www.thugdome.com/images/foglio/_whatsnewdragon.png

In terms of your physical ethnic background, obviously thats the way you were born. Culture on the other hand is entirely different, people born into a certain culture don't necessarily all come from one ethnic background. Ie. A Canadian born Chinese would be of Chinese by ethnicity but is predominantly Canadian in culture, whatever that may be.

You're born a human - how in the world could you change your race? To what? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever!

This is a sensitive topic. Can you choose your race? I think you can choose your culture just not your race. I think culture is something you can choose but Race is something you are born with.

The example if you are Black and adopt French culture does that make you french even though you weren't born in France?


Poll coming

Eminem says he's a wigga. So the answer must be yes :p

You're born a human - how in the world could you change your race? To what? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever!

Race is an arbitrary method of categorizing people. What characteristics make up a "race?" Skin color? Hair texture? Shape of the nose?

There is no biological definition for race. We could just as easily state that race is determined by eye color and the texture of ear wax and divide the world's people up that way. Would the blue eyed, moist ear wax people all belong to one race? Sure they would, because that is how we defined the race.

sorry, but there is only one DM's Pet and it's this Dragon (http://www.thugdome.com/slagblah_dragon.html).

http://www.thugdome.com/images/foglio/_whatsnewdragon.png

I have that April Fools edition of Dragon. ;) That was a nice little stroll down memory lane.

I have that April Fools edition of Dragon. ;) That was a nice little stroll down memory lane.
I like the Random Damage Table myself...

Roll All Dice you have for damage.
Roll all Dice within 50 ft for damage.

In the future threads like these won't exist. The result of today's interracial couples will form 1 race, in which I think the world will be a lot better.

You can choose! Look at Michael Jackson!

He's not white. He's a freak....

In the future threads like these won't exist. The result of today's interracial couples will form 1 race, in which I think the world will be a lot better.

In the future posts like yours wont exist. Genetic manipulation will eradicate stupidity....

In the future posts like yours wont exist. Genetic manipulation will eradicate stupidity....
Now, now, don't start flaming.

You're born a human - how in the world could you change your race? To what? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever!

human - homo sapiens is a species...:rolleyes:

No, you cannot, of course not. Culture =/= race. If you could, I would still choose to be white. I wonder if most people could choose their colour, what they'd choose amongst the natural ones (not stupid ones like purple...).

No, you cannot, of course not. Culture =/= race. If you could, I would still choose to be white. I wonder if most people could choose their colour, what they'd choose amongst the natural ones (not stupid ones like purple...).

So, you are defining race according to skin color? Tell me, why do you consider the dermal melanin content of humans to be a significant factor in determining race? And can you tell me where the dividing line is between races, vis a vis the melanin content of the epidermis?

People have defined race differently throughout history, using it to group tribes, nations, ethnicities, or others of common descent. In addition to skin color, other "race" categories have included facial type, cranial profile and amount, texture and color of hair.

So, please, tell us exactly what the races are and what the dividing line is between one and another.

*snip*
White skin, fine. That is what I mean. Happy? God, I am sick of you bloody word Nazis. -_-

White skin, fine. That is what I mean. Happy? God, I am sick of you bloody word Nazis. -_-

I have no idea who called you a Nazi, but it wasn't me.

What exactly is "white" skin and when is it no longer white? Certainly it is easy to visually confirm more highly pigmented skin, but what about people whose melanin content is difficult to confirm visually? What is their "race?"

I have no idea who called you a Nazi, but it wasn't me.
I was calling you a word Nazi.

What exactly is "white" skin and when is it no longer white? Certainly it is easy to visually confirm more highly pigmented skin, but what about people whose melanin content is difficult to confirm visually? What is their "race?"
White, to me, is anything above and including tan skin, ie from Mediterranean tan to Nordic/Slavic pale skin.

I was calling you a word Nazi.



Then our conversation is ended.

Then our conversation is ended.
Suits me just fine.

Now, now, don't start flaming.


You have to admitt that was funny.

In the future threads like these won't exist. The result of today's interracial couples will form 1 race, in which I think the world will be a lot better.



I hope that will never happen. Talk about boring if we all looked alike. VANILLA!

I hope that will never happen. Talk about boring if we all looked alike. VANILLA!
Agreed. 100%.

Agreed. 100%.


Did this thread have something to do with what you said you location is?

Did this thread have something to do with what you said you location is?
Not really. Why?

Not really. Why?



Just curious.

race is important, I often fear our quest to end racial conflict has become an effort to wipe away race all together

I am very proud of my race and I want my children to be proud of who they will be. that doesn't mean I hate who you are, that doesn't mean I'll ever look down on you. pride doesn't mean hate. don't ever forget that

Just curious.
Oh, well I had changed it quite a while ago really. Which country are you in now, if I may ask?

Oh, well I had changed it quite a while ago really. Which country are you in now, if I may ask?



USA much to my misery.

I don't believe you can choose your race; race is not the same thing as culture. I am half white and half Asian, born in the U.S.A., but have spent most of my life to this point overseas. I lived in Africa for close to eight years of my life, but this does not suddenly change my race.

USA much to my misery.
Am I to assume your parents emigrated, and you were thus forced to follow? Or something else?

Am I to assume your parents emigrated, and you were thus forced to follow? Or something else?



Yup. My parents moved to the USA and I had to go...weather I wanted to or not...and trust I did not!

Schrandtopia']race is important, I often fear our quest to end racial conflict has become an effort to wipe away race all together

I am very proud of my race and I want my children to be proud of who they will be. that doesn't mean I hate who you are, that doesn't mean I'll ever look down on you. pride doesn't mean hate. don't ever forget that
Indeed. However, best you shield yourself for the leftie onslaught that is to ensue.

To me, here's how it breaks down:

Race is color and bone structure.

Culture is the common occurance of an action or tendency that distinctly separates one group of people from another.

Nationality is just where you live.

Yup. My parents moved to the USA and I had to go...weather I wanted to or not...and trust I did not!
Meh, same happened with me. I was more or less forced to follow my parents to Europe. Didn't like it much then, but now I'm in love with Europe (UK especially).

Indeed. However, best you shield yourself for the leftie onslaught that is to ensue.


That was what I was thinking.

Meh, same happened with me. I was more or less forced to follow my parents to Europe. Didn't like it much then, but now I'm in love with Europe (UK especially).


Wish I could say the same, but I didn't want to be here then and I don't want to now.

Race, is the genetic population group you are born with, you cannot change this without changing your genetic makeup. On the other hand, your nationality, citizenship and culture can be changed.

when I replied Earlier,I was kinda using a quote from the Comedy show:Mind of Mencia,the episode about what would happen if we all became 1 race, but u probably never saw that episode so I just realized I shouldn't have posted it in the 1st place

Wish I could say the same, but I didn't want to be here then and I don't want to now.
Hmm I can imagine it being hard for you. South Africa and Europe are not that different - Japan and the USA must be a world apart though. Anyway, if you hate it that much, you can always go back later. ^^

Theres some people too concerned with semantics here.

Anyway, I wish I could choose my race. I'd be umm... half caucasian and half latino. I always thought that came out with a very pretty skin tone.

Hmm I can imagine it being hard for you. South Africa and Europe are not that different - Japan and the USA must be a world apart though. Anyway, if you hate it that much, you can always go back later. ^^


I am going back to Japan, and this time my parents can't make me stay in the usa. :D

Japan is closer to the USA than you think...kinda disgusts me.

Japan is closer to the USA than you think...kinda disgusts me.
Yeah, it's quite funny really. It's so far, yet so close.

Theres some people too concerned with semantics here.

Anyway, I wish I could choose my race. I'd be umm... half caucasian and half latino. I always thought that came out with a very pretty skin tone.


If I could choose my race I would be just what I am right now. How many people can say they would change their race if you paid them!:D I know their are a lot, but I am still please with what I am.:D

Yeah, it's quite funny really. It's so far, yet so close.


Some say its a good thing, I couldn't disagree more.

If I could choose my race I would be just what I am right now. How many people can say they would change their race if you paid them!:D I know their are a lot, but I am still please with what I am.:D
Ditto.

Some say its a good thing, I couldn't disagree more.
I would most definitely not want the US as a neighbour. I mean we live an ocean away, and yet they still manage to meddle with us. :confused:

Ditto.


I would most definitely not want the US as a neighbour. I mean we live an ocean away, and yet they still manage to meddle with us. :confused:


Annoying isn't it?

Annoying isn't it?
At least only trivially so for now. So it can just be shrugged off.

You cannot choose your race if you are speaking about the sociological definition of race.


Strictly speaking biologists almost universally deny the existence of multiple human races. So when one speaks of race one is speaking of a social reality and this defers to the sociological definition of race.


And therein one cannot choose one's race since race is how a society identifies a person. There are certain characteristics which causes a society to label an individual in a certain way, and this precludes the possibility of choice on the part of the individual.


Of course I find the notion of choosing one's ethnicity to be almost equally as odd as choosing one's race. One is raised in a certain culture, and so unless as a child someone shows the initiative to choose to be raised in one culture over another, choosing one's ethnicity seems to be out of the question as well.


One could, however, state that it is possible for one to choose one's ethnicity, however unlikely that may be, because personal choice is involved in where one is raised (run away from home, and never come back or something like that). But that the same cannot be said to be true of choice with respect to race because society is the agent of choice in the labeling of one's race and this is a component of race no matter where one goes.


Nationality very easy to choose. Simply choose to identify with another country or state and adapt to the normative behaviors and beliefs of that nation. A "French National" is someone who identifies with the nation (which is a self-contained unit with shared ethical, cultural, and belief structures; usually this entails shared ethnicity, but this isn't necessarily so as is the case with the US).




If you look at the origins of race it is the same as most other social conflicts within human history. One group of individuals desires power so they form an oligarchy. Race is simply another way of dividing people into groups so that one group can rule more effectively and efficiently over others. Race is a key factor in determining both social and economic status in every society on earth.

Taking pride in one's self is a good thing (so long as it doesn't become arrogance or conceit). Taking pride in one's race, however, seems silly to me. Just what purpose is there to taking pride in something that one contributed nothing towards accomplishment. Being born in such a way that society judges you to be of merit or value and you did nothing to deserve this treatment/label is worthy of respect or bearing pride how?

Of course that's a semi-logical approach to race, and for most people race is merely a social reality and thinking about it to such a degree rarely if ever happens. *Chuckle* I suppose in the long run its ultimately fruitless for me to even try to tell people its silly to be proud of one's "race" because going against the grain when it comes to institutions (especially one's as well established as race) simply isn't possible to surmount for an individual.

NT

In the future posts like yours wont exist. Genetic manipulation will eradicate stupidity....

I haven't posted any threads yet

This is a sensitive topic. Can you choose your race? I think you can choose your culture just not your race. I think culture is something you can choose but Race is something you are born with.

The example if you are Black and adopt French culture does that make you french even though you weren't born in France?


Poll coming


Here's what I say about my culture all of the time:

My race is my blood; my heritage is my history.

The black guy is still black [race], but if he grows up in France and consents to being French, he becomes French [heritage].

Race is not a choice, culture can be.

Race, it should be noted, is by itself completely irrelevant.

Because it corrolates stronly to culture though, they are often confused or falsely equated.

Interesting. I would add a question: to those who feel that race and/or "ethnic culture" are important, which is the MOST important?

For instance, what if you've got a child who was born in China but reared by French parents in France. Then you have another child who was born to French parents in France but was adopted by Chinese parents in China. Which kid is "Chinese" and which kid is "French"?

Recalling that "French" and "Chinese" are actually ideas of nation [not biological], the person who grows in a nation and assents to that nation becomes a member of that nation. Race is more or less restricted to simple biological schemes: in the USA, they're classified as Caucasian, Hispanic, African, Asian, Native American, or Other [personally, I think that this is too simple, but I didn't write the rules...].

The reason why I note this is because you can have a Caucasian born in Beijing but live in Paris for the rest of his/her life, and he/she'd be a Caucasian French. Likewise, you can have an Asian born in Paris and live the rest of his/her life in Beijing and be an Asian Chinese.

Think of it this way:

You have a green thing, but you dip it into a can or red paint. After removing the object from the can, would you say that the thing is green or red? Well, granting that the paint sticks to the thing -whatever it is - I would say that it is red; and likewise, if the paint did not stick, I would say that it is green. Asking about nationality is like asking the superficial image of the person's ideology. Asking about race is asking what lies underneath the image of that person's ideology.

Since the example of the green thing is too limited, we shall say that we have a green plastic ball, dipped into red paint. On appearance, the ball is red, even though it was originally green. But in all of its changes, the ball remains a ball, and likewise, it is still made of plastic. In the same manner, a human remains what he/she, but who he/she is is subject to the changes beyond what the biology encodes.

If memory serves, the Human Genome Project remarked, when it published the map of the genetic makeup of humanity, there is less than 200 billionth of a percentile difference between the so called races.

Ethnicity cannot really be chosen (but it can be mixed, and at what point can it be said to be gone is an interesting debate), and as been noted culture and nationality can be chosen or imprinted by the individual.

So... in other words, you don't need to be Asian to be Japanese. You don't need to be White to be American, nor Black to be South African, or what have you. The ONLY nations I can state where certain ethnicity is needed for membership within that particular nation are the indigenous tribes around the globe.

In the US you can pick your race. You are what you say you are. So I always put a minority on the form.

At one time the gov defined "white" as any of the original peoples of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian sub-continent. Well the Spanish protested that they wanted to be a minority so they put a special catagory--culture, Hispanic or Not Hispanic. Of all the cultures in the world that was your choice. Then the Indians protested that they weren't white so they got a special slot.

NERVUN you have to be asian to be Japanese, the Japanese people have been living there for over 2000 years and in most cases are indigenous to that area. The only areas were that would be wrong or disputed are Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, wich could be combined but I will seperate them. If you want hokkaido as well. But even those people are asian. Whites are not indigenous to that area and are by no means Japanese or Asian.

What about a black person married to an asian person raising kids in Europe?

What about a black person married to an asian person raising kids in Europe?


Mixed race and probably of (wherever they live's) european culture, unless they try to raise the kids otherwise.

NERVUN you have to be asian to be Japanese, the Japanese people have been living there for over 2000 years and in most cases are indigenous to that area. The only areas were that would be wrong or disputed are Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, wich could be combined but I will seperate them. If you want hokkaido as well. But even those people are asian. Whites are not indigenous to that area and are by no means Japanese or Asian.
Arudou Debito would disagree with you, as would the Japanese government who does (after a very long and hard process) grants Japanese citizenship.
http://www.debito.org/

Heck, there's been historical events when Japan has declaired someone to have a Japanese heart and has even sent a ship to escort an Englishman's body home for burial in Japan.

human - homo sapiens is a species...:rolleyes:
Almost. Humans aren't homo sapiens. They're homo sapiens sapiens. So 'human' refers to a sub-species.

id just like to point out that if you beleive that there isnt such a thing as race you have to open your eyes to reality. If there wasnt such a thing as race explain what the civil rights movement was. You are just to afraid to admit that with races comes racism and profiling.

Arudou Debito would disagree with you, as would the Japanese government who does (after a very long and hard process) grants Japanese citizenship.
http://www.debito.org/

Heck, there's been historical events when Japan has declaired someone to have a Japanese heart and has even sent a ship to escort an Englishman's body home for burial in Japan.


I don't care what that guy says. He is not Japanese, just because you are a citizen doesn't make you Japanese. There is a difference between bieng a citizen of Japan and being Japanese.

I don't care what that guy says. He is not Japanese, just because you are a citizen doesn't make you Japanese. There is a difference between bieng a citizen of Japan and being Japanese.
Talk to the Japanese government, THEY say he is Japanese.

I'd consider them the final abriter of such.

http://web-japan.org/stat/stats/21MIG22.html

http://web-japan.org/stat/stats/21MIG21.html


FYI, Japan doesn't state Non-Japanese people as Japanese. Next time look at the census.

http://web-japan.org/stat/stats/images/mig22.gif

Talk to the Japanese government, THEY say he is Japanese.

I'd consider them the final abriter of such.


They say he is a citizen. HE is NOT Japanese, he is a white guy who has Japanese citizenship. Read the census.

They say he is a citizen. HE is NOT Japanese, he is a white guy who has Japanese citizenship. Read the census.
Read it yourself, that's talking about residents, not citizens.

He IS Japanese now. He has a family register which ONLY Japanese can have.

Read it yourself, that's talking about residents, not citizens.

He IS Japanese now. He has a family register which ONLY Japanese can have.



Those are citizens and I doubt you read it. You may have missed that part where he has a Japanese wife......I guess you missed that.


He is white and not Japanese. I know this is heartbreaking for you as you have a dream of a Japan where ethnic Japanese are minorities and white people are seen as ethnic japanese..Thats not gonna happen.

I think some confusion is arising due to ambiguity or amphiboly. This is when two parties dispute over a term, when both are actually using different definitions of the term.

Many terms are ambiguous, especially when referring to ethnicity and nationality. A person who is a citizen of China is Chinese via political nationality, but this does not make ethnically Chinese. Likewise, a person can be Chinese via ethnicity, yet having never been to China or being a citizen there.

I'm not sure if it is being disputed that an Englishman is ethnically Japanese or Japanese due to citizenship. The two are different things, but they both use an ambiguous term.

I think some confusion is arising due to ambiguity or amphiboly. This is when two parties dispute over a term, when both are actually using different definitions of the term.

Many terms are ambiguous, especially when referring to ethnicity and nationality. A person who is a citizen of China is Chinese via political nationality, but this does not make ethnically Chinese. Likewise, a person can be Chinese via ethnicity, yet having never been to China or being a citizen there.

I'm not sure if it is being disputed that an Englishman is ethnically Japanese or Japanese due to citizenship. The two are different things, but they both use an ambiguous term.


That guy is a citizen of Japan, but in no way Japanese, more a minority. He is still white.

That guy is a citizen of Japan, but in no way Japanese, more a minority. He is still white.

I think you and I agree on the main point here. What I'm trying to clarify is what I learned studying the way these terms are used in anthropology, hopefully to clear some things up with the deabte.

The guy isn't ethnically Japanese. Thus, you're right when you say he isn't Japanese, if you're using the term in an ethnic context.

If you use the term Japanese to mean citizen of Japan, then he is Japanese. The term "Japanese" can be used to refer to either, and that seems to be where the confusion is.

I think you and I agree on the main point here. What I'm trying to clarify is what I learned studying the way these terms are used in anthropology, hopefully to clear some things up with the deabte.

The guy isn't ethnically Japanese. Thus, you're right when you say he isn't Japanese, if you're using the term in an ethnic context.

If you use the term Japanese to mean citizen of Japan, then he is Japanese. The term "Japanese" can be used to refer to either, and that seems to be where the confusion is.


There was never any confusion on my part, and I also doubt the governemnt even says he is Japanese. Look at the UK for example, after you get cotizenship you are still classified as an ethnic minoirty and your race is noted by their census, you are not seen as ethnic british by the UK government. The USA does the same, as does most other countries, Japan is no different.

There was never any confusion on my part, and I also doubt the governemnt even says he is Japanese. Look at the UK for example, after you get cotizenship you are still classified as an ethnic minoirty and your race is noted by their census, you are not seen as ethnic british by the UK government. The USA does the same, as does most other countries, Japan is no different.

Right, I don't think the Japanese government said anything about a change in ethnicity, but rather a change in citizenship. In ths same respect, a person who becomes a citizen in the UK can be called "British", if the term is used to refer to political nationality, but they wont be an ethnic Brit.

Right, I don't think the Japanese government said anything about a change in ethnicity, but rather a change in citizenship. In ths same respect, a person who becomes a citizen in the UK can be called "British", if the term is used to refer to political nationality, but they wont be an ethnic Brit.


YES! Thats what I have been saying from the start!

Those are citizens and I doubt you read it. You may have missed that part where he has a Japanese wife......I guess you missed that.
No, I read the big fat Residents, which with my knowledge of English got that means living in Japan. Japan has a number of non-Japanese residents (I'm one), but they are NOT citizens. Guess what, unless you went through the proceedure, YOU are an American resident, that does not make you an US citizen and you're counted as such.

HE is Japanese. Sorry. He's even ID as such as the Japanese census doesn't even HAVE a Japanese citizen of non-Japanese birth on its forms.

I'm not even going to touch your ranting in the second part. You truly believe in a Japan that never was.

There was never any confusion on my part, and I also doubt the governemnt even says he is Japanese. Look at the UK for example, after you get cotizenship you are still classified as an ethnic minoirty and your race is noted by their census, you are not seen as ethnic british by the UK government. The USA does the same, as does most other countries, Japan is no different.
Let me see, his passport says 日本人 under nationality. He has a family registry which can ONLY be held by Japanese (by law). He has the almighty recidence card, which can only be given to Japanese. ANd he DOESN'T have a gaikokujin card, which by law ALL non-Japanese MUST carry.

Nope, the Japanese government says he's Japanese. Considering he has been to court a few times fighting discrimination and is refered to in the court documents as Japanese (all of this is posted on his site) I'll take their word over yours anytime.

BTW, the in the US, once you nationalize, you are an American. I'm surprised you didn't know that by now.

Right, I don't think the Japanese government said anything about a change in ethnicity, but rather a change in citizenship. In ths same respect, a person who becomes a citizen in the UK can be called "British", if the term is used to refer to political nationality, but they wont be an ethnic Brit.
Enthic Brit? What IS an ethnic Brit? Or enthic Chinese for that matter?

Race is not bound up in nationality. So, yes, he IS Japanese. Legally and politcally that's what he is. He is counted in Japan as a Japanese. Anything beyond that is, of course, up to the individual but highly silly.

Enthic Brit? What IS an ethnic Brit? Or enthic Chinese for that matter?

Race is not bound up in nationality. So, yes, he IS Japanese. Legally and politcally that's what he is. He is counted in Japan as a Japanese. Anything beyond that is, of course, up to the individual but highly silly.

Perhaps I need to explain what ethnicity is. It isn't race. "Race" is a term that is rejected by modern anthropology and biology. Ethnicity includes culture, genetics, nationality, location, religion, and a number of other factors.

You seem to be pretending like there is only one meaning for the term "Japanese." And, like I wrote, that is a fallacy called equivocation. A person with Japanese citizenship is Japanese only by the political definition, not by the usage of the term "Japanese" in an anthropological ethnic sense. Nationality alone almost never changes ethnicity. The fact that he is legally and politically Japanese, which no one disputes (I think), does not make him ethnically Japanese.

Likewise, an ethnic Chinese person is someone of Chinese descent. If you live in Chinatown, your mother and father are Chinese, and you speak the Chinese language, you are ethnically Chinese. That much is a fact according to modern anthropology. However, you are not Chinese by political nationality unless you are a citizen of the People's Republic of China.

China is a great example of the ambiguous use of ethnic/national terms in anthropology, because Chinese ethnicity is also divided up on two political frames - you are an ethnic Chinese if you are from the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China (Taiwan). Yet, you can also be both ethnically Chinese and ethnically Taiwaneese. Strange, huh? On top of that, you can be considered Taiwaneese but not Chinese if you are from Taiwan with no citizenship in the People's Republic of China.

Its only confusing if you insist on living in the fallacy of equivocation. To discuss ethnicity intelligently you first have to make sure that you are using the ethnic definition of a term and not the political one. Asserting that the political and ethnic definition are the same is false, and fallacious.

Let me see, his passport says 日本人 under nationality. He has a family registry which can ONLY be held by Japanese (by law). He has the almighty recidence card, which can only be given to Japanese. ANd he DOESN'T have a gaikokujin card, which by law ALL non-Japanese MUST carry.

Nope, the Japanese government says he's Japanese. Considering he has been to court a few times fighting discrimination and is refered to in the court documents as Japanese (all of this is posted on his site) I'll take their word over yours anytime.

BTW, the in the US, once you nationalize, you are an American. I'm surprised you didn't know that by now.


Have you even seen the US census? It goes by race.

http://www.census.gov/

Once again look at the census before yoy speak. I had to choose my race. How long have you been outside of this country?

BTW, the in the US, once you nationalize, you are an American. I'm surprised you didn't know that by now.

American isn't an ethnicity, its a nationality. We really only have one term for American ethnicities, and that is Native American.

No, I read the big fat Residents, which with my knowledge of English got that means living in Japan. Japan has a number of non-Japanese residents (I'm one), but they are NOT citizens. Guess what, unless you went through the proceedure, YOU are an American resident, that does not make you an US citizen and you're counted as such.

HE is Japanese. Sorry. He's even ID as such as the Japanese census doesn't even HAVE a Japanese citizen of non-Japanese birth on its forms.

I'm not even going to touch your ranting in the second part. You truly believe in a Japan that never was.


Nice Lie. I have seen the Japanese Census and it is done by race/ country of origin. have you seen the census? Doesn't look like it.

http://www.stat.go.jp/data/kokusei/2000/idou1/00/zuhyou/a014.xls

I have dual citizenship for both the USA and Japan, I am a full citizen of both countries.

American isn't an ethnicity, its a nationality. We really only have one term for American ethnicities, and that is Native American.


I think he is claiming the US doesn't note your race, which they do no matter how long you have been here.

Perhaps I need to explain what ethnicity is. It isn't race. "Race" is a term that is rejected by modern anthropology and biology. Ethnicity includes culture, genetics, nationality, location, religion, and a number of other factors.

You seem to be pretending like there is only one meaning for the term "Japanese." And, like I wrote, that is a fallacy called equivocation. A person with Japanese citizenship is Japanese only by the political definition, not by the usage of the term "Japanese" in an anthropological ethnic sense. Nationality alone almost never changes ethnicity. The fact that he is legally and politically Japanese, which no one disputes (I think), does not make him ethnically Japanese.

Likewise, an ethnic Chinese person is someone of Chinese descent. If you live in Chinatown, your mother and father are Chinese, and you speak the Chinese language, you are ethnically Chinese. That much is a fact according to modern anthropology. However, you are not Chinese by political nationality unless you are a citizen of the People's Republic of China.

China is a great example of the ambiguous use of ethnic/national terms in anthropology, because Chinese ethnicity is also divided up on two political frames - you are an ethnic Chinese if you are from the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China (Taiwan). Yet, you can also be both ethnically Chinese and ethnically Taiwaneese. Strange, huh? On top of that, you can be considered Taiwaneese but not Chinese if you are from Taiwan with no citizenship in the People's Republic of China.

Its only confusing if you insist on living in the fallacy of equivocation. To discuss ethnicity intelligently you first have to make sure that you are using the ethnic definition of a term and not the political one. Asserting that the political and ethnic definition are the same is false, and fallacious.
For the purpose of this particular thread though, we hve been asked to consider if one can choose their race (agreed a false concept in and of itself). I have noted that once cannot choose ones ethnicity, however ethnicity is not bound up within a particular country. The United States is proof positive of THAT. As for proof of concept, I mentioned that it is possible to become Japanese in all sense of word excepting skin color and facial features. If to be a whatever means adoption of whatever's language, culture, customs, beliefs, and citizenship, then we have to assume they have become a whatever.

This gentleman speaks Japanese, lives a Japanese lifestyle, and is acknolwedged as Japanese by the Japanese government having Juuminhyou and a Koseki Touhon. Of course, to be honest part of the issue is that Japan does not deal with non-native Japanese a lot and so just lumps them in with native-born Japanese.

For the purpose of this thread of course. If we're talking anthopology, that is a different kettle of fish.

For the purpose of this particular thread though, we hve been asked to consider if one can choose their race (agreed a false concept in and of itself). I have noted that once cannot choose ones ethnicity, however ethnicity is not bound up within a particular country. The United States is proof positive of THAT. As for proof of concept, I mentioned that it is possible to become Japanese in all sense of word excepting skin color and facial features. If to be a whatever means adoption of whatever's language, culture, customs, beliefs, and citizenship, then we have to assume they have become a whatever.

This gentleman speaks Japanese, lives a Japanese lifestyle, and is acknolwedged as Japanese by the Japanese government having Juuminhyou and a Koseki Touhon. Of course, to be honest part of the issue is that Japan does not deal with non-native Japanese a lot and so just lumps them in with native-born Japanese.

For the purpose of this thread of course. If we're talking anthopology, that is a different kettle of fish.


If they are just lumped in how do they know how many Non-Japanese people are there for their census?? Hmmmm.

Japanese lifestyle? HA! What is that? Japan hasn't had one lifestyle in decades, it may not be diverse in the terms of race but the people act different. Acting Japanese doesn't have any real meaning anymore, I am a Lesbian who is agnostic and leans towards a gothic lifestyle...Is that Japanese?

Nice Lie. I have seen the Japanese Census and it is done by race/ country of origin. have you seen the census? Doesn't look like it.

http://www.stat.go.jp/data/kokusei/2000/idou1/00/zuhyou/a014.xls
LEARN TO READ! RESIDENT!!! What part of resident are you not getting through your head? He is NOT a bloody resident any more!

And yes, I took the Japanese cenus last year. When did YOU take it?

I have dual citizenship for both the USA and Japan, I am a full citizen of both countries.
Ah, then you are American. And are in violation of Japanese law, but that's beside the point.

For the purpose of this particular thread though, we hve been asked to consider if one can choose their race (agreed a false concept in and of itself). I have noted that once cannot choose ones ethnicity, however ethnicity is not bound up within a particular country. The United States is proof positive of THAT. As for proof of concept, I mentioned that it is possible to become Japanese in all sense of word excepting skin color and facial features. If to be a whatever means adoption of whatever's language, culture, customs, beliefs, and citizenship, then we have to assume they have become a whatever.

Actually, ethnicity isn't so black and white. Some ethnicities can be chosen in various ways, but some never can. Someone who isn't born ethnically Chinese isn't going to be able to ever be ethnically Chinese, but Europeans can gain ethnicity in other European countries. Someone mentioned French at the beginning, and that is a good example. Someone born in the UK, or even the US, who moves to France at an early age, learns the language, etc. will be ethnically french.

A beter example is a convert to Judaism, who is recognized as ethnically Jewish.

A large part of the reason it is easier for Europeans to adopt other ethnicities is actually because of long standing false notions of 'race.' Rather, it isn't the idea that they are 'white', but it is the fact that they all look white. Thus, the genetics are not a barrier to a switch in ethnicity here. As oppossed to being Chinese or Japanese, where genetics clearly are a barrier. If you don't look Chinese or Japanese, you aren't going to ever be ethnically either of those groups.

This gentleman speaks Japanese, lives a Japanese lifestyle, and is acknolwedged as Japanese by the Japanese government having Juuminhyou and a Koseki Touhon. Of course, to be honest part of the issue is that Japan does not deal with non-native Japanese a lot and so just lumps them in with native-born Japanese.

For the purpose of this thread of course. If we're talking anthopology, that is a different kettle of fish.

In many other situations, you would be right. Except one problem with this is that a barrier to Japanese ethnicity is the phenotype - he doesn't look Japanese. He couldn't pass as an ethnic Japanese. The fact that he has had trouble due to this in Japanese culture is firm evidence that he hasn't assimilated, and probably never really will, as an ethnic Japanese.

I am a Lesbian who is agnostic and leans towards a gothic lifestyle...Is that Japanese?

*googles Lesbian gothic anime*

Yup, distinctly Japanese. :p

LEARN TO READ! RESIDENT!!! What part of resident are you not getting through your head? He is NOT a bloody resident any more!

And yes, I took the Japanese cenus last year. When did YOU take it?


Ah, then you are American. And are in violation of Japanese law, but that's beside the point.


Read the census and chill out.

I took it in 1997 and my grandfather, uncle, aunt etc....Last year.


Realllly? the Japanese government didn't seem to care when I went there earlier this year..

If they are just lumped in how do they know how many Non-Japanese people are there for their census?? Hmmmm.
Because those are NON-CITIZENS. In America, we call them green card holders, or perminate residents, or visitors. The Japanese census counts NON-CITIZENS. I will repeat this until you get it through your thick skull. HE IS A JAPANESE CITIZEN. Repeat it please until you understand that everything you have shown me is NON-CITIZENS and he is a citizen.

In terms of your physical ethnic background, obviously thats the way you were born. Culture on the other hand is entirely different, people born into a certain culture don't necessarily all come from one ethnic background. Ie. A Canadian born Chinese would be of Chinese by ethnicity but is predominantly Canadian in culture, whatever that may be.
:D What if most people can't really guess what your genetic back ground is:confused:

*googles Lesbian gothic anime*

Yup, distinctly Japanese. :p



Good luck finding that! :D

Because those are NON-CITIZENS. In America, we call them green card holders, or perminate residents, or visitors. The Japanese census counts NON-CITIZENS. I will repeat this until you get it through your thick skull. HE IS A JAPANESE CITIZEN. Repeat it please until you understand that everything you have shown me is NON-CITIZENS and he is a citizen.


Good lord, Japan does count race! I have seen the census and its not the way you claim it is.


America counts race AFTER you get your citizenship!

America counts race AFTER you get your citizenship!

It should also be pointed out that in the United States on a census, race is counted only as a social construct and way that people identify themselves. A person comes up as a certain race on a census just because they claim they are that race. I could probably make up a race and put it on the census if I wanted to.

In summary, the US doesn't group people into races as official policy, but refers to what races people identify themselves as. Thus, it isn't an official state ruling that "so and so is caucasian."

It should also be pointed out that in the United States on a census, race is counted only as a social construct and way that people identify themselves. A person comes up as a certain race on a census just because they claim they are that race. I could probably make up a race and put it on the census if I wanted to.

In summary, the US doesn't group people into races as official policy, but refers to what races people identify themselves as. Thus, it isn't an official state ruling that "so and so is caucasian."


The US does require you to pick a race, and you can't make one up. And the US does have a ruling on who is caucasian, if you look at the census it states what is seens a caucasian.

The US does require you to pick a race, and you can't make one up. And the US does have a ruling on who is caucasian, if you look at the census it states what is seens a caucasian.

Well yes, this is what the census actually says about race:

"The U.S. Census Bureau complies with the Office of Management and Budget's standards for maintaining, collecting, and presenting data on race, which were revised in October 1997. They generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country. They do not conform to any biological, anthropological, or genetic criteria. You can read more in Questions and Answers for Census 2000 Data on Race and Race and Ethnic Classifications Used in Census 2000 and Beyond and more."

The US does require you to pick a race, and you can't make one up. And the US does have a ruling on who is caucasian, if you look at the census it states what is seens a caucasian.


Nevermind, for some dumb reason it does let you make up a race. :rolleyes: I guess I forgot.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-4.pdf

That should be the correct form..then again it may not be complete.

Race is an arbitrary method of categorizing people. What characteristics make up a "race?" Skin color? Hair texture? Shape of the nose?

There is no biological definition for race. We could just as easily state that race is determined by eye color and the texture of ear wax and divide the world's people up that way. Would the blue eyed, moist ear wax people all belong to one race? Sure they would, because that is how we defined the race.

Actually there is a biological taxon for race. However, it's generally called subspecies. Unfortunately for the OP, and several other posters, the common layman's term "race" is a blanket widely defined ethnicity.

Actually there is a biological taxon for race. However, it's generally called subspecies. Unfortunately for the OP, and several other posters, the common layman's term "race" is a blanket widely defined ethnicity.



I also use race because it makes it easier to state who is ethnic and who isn't.

Actually there is a biological taxon for race. However, it's generally called subspecies. Unfortunately for the OP, and several other posters, the common layman's term "race" is a blanket widely defined ethnicity.

Subspecies do not reflect human races the way the term is used though. There is only one human subspecies currently, and that is sapiens. We are homo sapiens sapiens. It doesn't matter if you're a Baka pygmy or a white European.

Subspecies do not reflect human races the way the term is used though.

That was exactly my point. The laymans term "race" is essentially usless and relfects no reality at all. It is not the proper biological race, nor does it acurately reflect ethnicty.

There is only one human subspecies currently, and that is sapiens. We are homo sapiens sapiens. It doesn't matter if you're a Baka pygmy or a white European.

You forgot Homo sapiens idaltu....

I also use race because it makes it easier to state who is ethnic and who isn't.

Sorry, but could explain what you're trying to say. Or did I understand you to say that some people have ethnicities and some don't?

Read the census and chill out.
When you get it, I'll stop.

Realllly? the Japanese government didn't seem to care when I went there earlier this year..
Japan doesn't reconize duel citizenship. All people who hold such are supposed to make a choice and renouce either their Japanese citizenship or the other nationality at age 20.

Or when becoming a citizen of another country.

That was exactly my point. The laymans term "race" is essentially usless and relfects no reality at all. It is not the proper biological race, nor does it acurately reflect ethnicty.



You forgot Homo sapiens idaltu....



Sorry, but could explain what you're trying to say. Or did I understand you to say that some people have ethnicities and some don't?


Oh, I'll give you an example. You are white correct? But if we bothed lived in Japan at the same time I would be ethnic Japanese and you wouldn't. I use to state who is ethnic british, german, French, Chinese, Korean....etc.

I want a snail race!

When you get it, I'll stop.


Japan doesn't reconize duel citizenship. All people who hold such are supposed to make a choice and renouce either their Japanese citizenship or the other nationality at age 20.

Or when becoming a citizen of another country.



If you won't act civil then don't post. I haven't flamed you so don't flame me. Stop acting that way or just stop posting. You have no right to attack because I won't take your word for it. maybe you should just admitt Japan does note race..most of all the one of your mother.


Reallllly????? Again, I am 20 and have had no issues yet....I'm waiting.

no..
your born a human you stay a human
your born an elf you stay an elf.
your born a hobbit you stay a hobbit.
your born a dwarf you tay a dwarf.
so you cannot change your race.

Oh, I'll give you an example. You are white correct? But if we bothed lived in Japan at the same time I would be ethnic Japanese and you wouldn't. I use to state who is ethnic british, german, French, Chinese, Korean....etc.

Nope, not white. I am of mixed ethnic heritage: several ethnicities from Europe, especially British, and most especially Celtic, with Cherokee. To make my above comments clear, the layman's "races" are not real. There is no "white".

Nope, not white. I am of mixed ethnic heritage: several ethnicities from Europe, especially British, and most especially Celtic, with Cherokee. To make my above comments clear, the layman's "races" are not real. There is no "white".



By looking at your blog you look pretty white to me...or maybe its the light. But white is a skin color, and there differences between whites and blacks and asians. Look up why Black runners are faster than whites.

By looking at your blog you look pretty white to me...or maybe its the light. But white is a skin color, and there differences between whites and blacks and asians. Look up why Black runners are faster than whites.

Nope. Not at all. You are now trying to define "white" as a biological "race". The idea that the old race terms are actual biological races of H. sapiens has been debunked here so many times I won't even bother.

By looking at your blog you look pretty white to me...or maybe its the light. But white is a skin color, and there differences between whites and blacks and asians. Look up why Black runners are faster than whites.

I think you're hinting at something important. The way someone looks is a phenotype, the way the genes express themselves. Someone from India can look just as white as a European, where you can't tell the two apart. This is because the genes express themselves in similar ways, not because they are the same 'race' or any such thing.

Black people in sports has been demonstrated to have little to nothing to do with genetics, no more so than white athelets, but a lot to do with culture. Sports are overemphasized in black culture around the world. The fact that major black runners come from places like Kenya, with high altitudes and extreme training programs, and the United States (both of which account for the success) explains a bit about why black runners do so well in the olympics too.

Nope. Not at all. You are now trying to define "white" as a biological "race". The idea that the old race terms are actual biological races of H. sapiens has been debunked here so many times I won't even bother.



It has to do with Fast and Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers. Blacks have more slow twitch fibers than whites allowing them to run faster.

I think you're hinting at something important. The way someone looks is a phenotype, the way the genes express themselves. Someone from India can look just as white as a European, where you can't tell the two apart. This is because the genes express themselves in similar ways, not because they are the same 'race' or any such thing.

Black people in sports has been demonstrated to have little to nothing to do with genetics, no more so than white athelets, but a lot to do with culture. Sports are overemphasized in black culture around the world. The fact that major black runners come from places like Kenya, with high altitudes and extreme training programs, and the United States (both of which account for the success) explains a bit about why black runners do so well in the olympics too.

Thanks. I find myself running out af patience with this kind of BS.

Empress_Suiko, read the above.

It has to do with Fast and Slow Twitch Muscle Fibers. Blacks have more slow twitch fibers than whites allowing them to run faster.

Thats actually an urban myth. Along with "blacks have an extra tendon in their leg that allows them to jump higher." Keep in mind that fast and slow twitch muscle fibers are developed due to how you train. While there is some genetic predisposition, it hasn't been found to be linked to a skin phenotype.

In fact, many of the studies that have been done to debunk the race myth have demonstrated that there is more genetic variation in samples of people within traditonal 'races' than between them. Its common to find more genetic variation in two black people from Nigeria than in a black person from Nigeria and a white person from Sweeden.

no..
your born a human you stay a human
your born an elf you stay an elf.
your born a hobbit you stay a hobbit.
your born a dwarf you tay a dwarf.
so you cannot change your race.
Untrue, Daniel Jackson went to a higher order!

Thats actually an urban myth. Along with "blacks have an extra tendon in their leg that allows them to jump higher." Keep in mind that fast and slow twitch muscle fibers are developed due to how you train. While there is some genetic predisposition, it hasn't been found to be linked to a skin phenotype.

In fact, many of the studies that have been done to debunk the race myth have demonstrated that there is more genetic variation in samples of people within traditonal 'races' than between them. Its common to find more genetic variation in two black people from Nigeria than in a black person from Nigeria and a white person from Sweeden.


http://run-down.com/guests/je_black_athletes_p1.php

http://www.blackathlete.net/artman/publish/article_0686.shtml


Some intersting reading. But that blackathlete one maybe a tad bit racist...seems like it.

having read only the first two pages, I have to say

French isn't a race, it is a disease :D

having read only the first two pages, I have to say

French isn't a race, it is a disease :D



In fear of having my motives and feelings open I say no comment.

having read only the first two pages, I have to say

French isn't a race, it is a disease :D

I shouldn't but... :D

http://run-down.com/guests/je_black_athletes_p1.php

http://www.blackathlete.net/artman/publish/article_0686.shtml


Some intersting reading. But that blackathlete one maybe a tad bit racist...seems like it.

These articles demonstrate shared traits in a population. Its absolutely true that certain populations are more adapt for their environment than others, and this plays over into sports. A short-statured Inuit isn't going to end up in the NBA, like the article said. However, this isn't race. The idea of 'race' would have us group all people with black skin from Africa into one big lump. Rather, this demonstrates shared traits among very specific populations. The articles define between East and West Africans, but what we really see is that very specific populations in Kenya are the ones that produce the runners. It isn't due to their race, but to the traits selected for within a specific black population in Kenya.

In West Africa, the populations don't exist that produce the runners. Them being black has nothing to do with it. Nor do most black people exhibit these traits. Rather, there are select populations within black Africa that demonstrate these traits.

Likewise, the article refers to white Europeans who are weight lifters. Again, there are select populations around the world (in areas that exhibit both black and white phenotypes) that produce big, muscular people. This doesn't mean that everyone with a white phenotype produces this, though. In fact, these populations are the exception rather than the rule. A majority may exhibit a white phenotype, but the real credit to their muscular status is not due to them being of some monolithic white race, but do to a very tiny select population that exhibits a white phenotype.

I know you can't chose a race but....

I always vote myrth whenever I can.

I know you can't chose a race but....

I always vote myrth whenever I can.



Thats fine. I really should have made this a public poll.:(

This is a sensitive topic. Can you choose your race? I think you can choose your culture just not your race. I think culture is something you can choose but Race is something you are born with.

The example if you are Black and adopt French culture does that make you french even though you weren't born in France?


Poll coming
What do you mean by race?

If you mean biologic race then that is Homo sapience sapience, the only race on earth that can learn to read and write, and you can't choose that any more than a pure bred poodle can choose to be a siberian husky.

If on the other hand you mean what you tick on the AA forms (Caucasian, Afro-American, Asian...==white, black, yellow...) then yes you can choose it. However, if you have choosen one and want to change you need to do a genetic test and then claim to "have gotten in touch with my [chosen race] roots". Just about everyone has ancestors in all "races", so whatever you choose you can use the genetics to "proove" it.

What do you mean by race?

If you mean biologic race then that is Homo sapience sapience, the only race on earth that can learn to read and write, and you can't choose that any more than a pure bred poodle can choose to be a siberian husky.

If on the other hand you mean what you tick on the AA forms (Caucasian, Afro-American, Asian...==white, black, yellow...) then yes you can choose it. However, if you have choosen one and want to change you need to do a genetic test and then claim to "have gotten in touch with my [chosen race] roots". Just about everyone has ancestors in all "races", so whatever you choose you can use the genetics to "proove" it.


I disagree. You can't just wake up and say your asian, you can't just slant your eyes and change your whole look.

BTW, When I say I am 100% Japanese I mean it, I have seen my family tree and there is no proof of any family members other than Japanese..It happens you know.

im a british caucasian
thus britain is my nation and my culture simple:D

I shouldn't but... :D
who can resist:D
i dont wana get frenchitis

I disagree. You can't just wake up and say your asian, you can't just slant your eyes and change your whole look.

BTW, When I say I am 100% Japanese I mean it, I have seen my family tree and there is no proof of any family members other than Japanese..It happens you know.
I didn't say you wake up and are something else, I said that you can choose to write something else on forms you fill out later. But you have to make up some bollocks to say to racists who question that your race has changed, and what you should say is that you "got in contact with your roots", and back that up with "genetics".

And if you say that you have a 10-generation family tree with only Japanese nobility I have no problems believing that. But that'd only be about 1000 ancestors. Then each of them have millions of ancestors, and you have genetic traces of all of them. I am quite certain that you have at least some traces of east African, and everything geographically between Asia and Africa, and most likely some others too. There are labs in America that can take a sample from you and analyse it looking for special alleles that represent the various "races", and you certainly have several of them.

I disagree. You can't just wake up and say your asian, you can't just slant your eyes and change your whole look.

BTW, When I say I am 100% Japanese I mean it, I have seen my family tree and there is no proof of any family members other than Japanese..It happens you know.

Which would mean you're mostly of Korean/Chinese genetic ancestry... http://www.trussel.com/prehist/news146.htm

"100%" Japanese = Yayoi + Korean + Chinese, with a bit of Polynesian, Malay, and assorted other Southeast Asian ethnicities thrown in.

If you won't act civil then don't post. I haven't flamed you so don't flame me. Stop acting that way or just stop posting. You have no right to attack because I won't take your word for it. maybe you should just admitt Japan does note race..most of all the one of your mother.
You keep trotting the f word out whenever you don't like something.

But, hey, that's ok. I'm more than happy to provide back up to prove you have no clue what you're talking about.
http://www.stat.go.jp/data/kokusei/2000/guide/6-01.htm
Check out question 5, asking for nationality. If you're a Japanese citizen, you check 日本人!

There's NO racial question on the Japanese census form.

Reallllly????? Again, I am 20 and have had no issues yet....I'm waiting.
My apologies, the age is 22. http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-7118b.html

Have fun choosing.

I can choose my race. Watch:

The Tour de France.

See?

Yes you can change your culture, but not your race.

I am not saying lets all be racist, since anyone from any race can act however they want.

And saying there are no races even stupider, because not acknowledging skin color is as stupid as pretending everyone has the same eye or hair color.

The important thing is to not let it change your opinions of people.

And Nervun, if you are trying to say the Japanese are not rascist, you are wrong, they do not like Koreans.

So what if they have no race on their surveys, we collect things because of interest. Also, Japan is almost all full of Japanese people, so they have little or no variation, so race isn't as important. And there is always the option to not mark your race.

Yes you can change your culture, but not your race.

I am not saying lets all be racist, since anyone from any race can act however they want.

And saying there are no races even stupider, because not acknowledging skin color is as stupid as pretending everyone has the same eye or hair color.

The important thing is to not let it change your opinions of people.

And Nervun, if you are trying to say the Japanese are not rascist, you are wrong, they do not like Koreans.

So what if they have no race on their surveys, we collect things because of interest. Also, Japan is almost all full of Japanese people, so they have little or no variation, so race isn't as important. And there is always the option to not mark your race.

Skin color =/= race

Skin color and other supposed morphological "racial" differences are clines, not the discontinuous distribution needed to distinguish "race".

And Nervun, if you are trying to say the Japanese are not rascist, you are wrong, they do not like Koreans.
Some do, some don't. If you are attempting to say you shouldn't judge people, perhaps I can ask you not to make sweeping generalizations?

So what if they have no race on their surveys, we collect things because of interest. Also, Japan is almost all full of Japanese people, so they have little or no variation, so race isn't as important. And there is always the option to not mark your race.
The point of that argument is that in the Japanese census, a Japanese citizen is marked as Japanese, not another nationality.

having read only the first two pages, I have to say

French isn't a race, it is a disease :D


User UIgrotha has been banned until 02-07-2006 10:00 PM
Enjoy.

Now normally there is no thread ownership in General and thread lock requests are denied, but seeing as it is indeed degenerating into spammy / xenophobic remarks, I'll lock it as per OP request.