OT debate- Why is Racism taken far more seriously than other forms of discrimination?

This isn't true. Women and non-whites are accused of racism and sexism fairly frequently.

The reason that most of the serious complaints are against whites, males, and especially white males is that we still are in a dominant position. Discrimination by people in a position to actually pu their discriminatory beliefs into practice is naturally of greater interest than the equivalent opinions held by those with less ability to do so.

I don't think for a minute, though, that anyone would take a decision by a firm consisting solely of female solicitors (there are a few) not to grant interviews to male applicants as less serious than a corresponding decision by a firm of male solictors. It will in fact be a useful guage of the growing influence of "minorities" (quotation marks used because women are, of course, the majority of the population) that the number of equal rights complaints against them begin to increase

 

This comment will never get old! Everytime I read this thread I laugh at that comment.

I think while Frosts post is probably a bit of a generalisaiton and there are cases brought, there is some basis to what he says.

I don't think there can be any doubt that whites and men are far less sensitive about the issues of racism and sexism than people of an ethnic background and women. The reasons for this are probably down to the historical events in relation to these two subjects.

For instance if someone called me a white bastard I honestly would not give two hoots. I wouldn't consider it a racist comment and I'd be more offended by the bastard bit! To me that's just an observational comment, I am white afterall. If women make a comment like "huh all men are like that" I'd guarantee you'd be highly unlikely to hear a man say "excuse me, that's a very sexist remark". If those two situations are reversed, the reaction is often a lot different and a lot more likely to end with an official complaint. I think this is what Frost was really driving at.

As for the word "honkie" this is a racial slur and I still wouldn't be offended by it. It just makes me think of the Honky Tonk Man from WWF when I was little. Him and the Ultimate Warrior (my personal favourite at the time due to his ridiculously aggressive nature) going toe to toe for the belt was something else.