According to my dad, I'm not black!

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
10/24/2015 at 15:48 • Filed to: White

And you know what? He’s absolutely right, and that’s perfectly fine. I’m the whitest black guy who ever lived and will ever live, and I openly admit it.

I avoid pretty much all black culture in modern and historical society for some whatever reason, including the news and all the social media stuff. Is it a probelm? To everyone else it seems so. Do I have any reason for doing so? Might. Is it good? Probably would be an excuse to many. But I’m still adamant that nothing good has or ever will come from being black, and so far, no one has been able to prove me wrong. In fact, everyone has proven me right.

So from now on, I will never post a black car ever again.

Ever. Carry on with your day.

DISCUSSION (100)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:54

Kinja'd!!!

thebigbossyboss > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:54

Not to say there isn’t culutural elements to race, but just be yourself and forget the stereotypes. - White guy who lived in Africa and loved it.

Nibby > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:54

Kinja'd!!!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:54

Honestly though why should it matter?

A person should not be judged based on the color of their skin. A person is a person.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:55

i..uh what

Dsscats > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:56

Desperate for attention post is desperate for attention.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:57

Nothing wrong with picking and choosing what cultural stuff interests you.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:58

wat

djmt1 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 15:59

I used to get shit for not being “black enough” back in Secondary school, thing is though. I’M NOT BLACK! I’m half black, still I thought we were past the whole one drop thing.

Also funny anecdote. At lunch time we would play football because it’s England and that’s what we do and sometimes the teams would be Africa vs the rest because barring one person everyone who was black hailed from Africa plus it shook things up.

This caused plenty of confusion as being half Nigerian specifically, I was on Team Africa but the guy I mentioned was Jamaican and was on the “White team”. It got a bit tiresome explaining that and the whole “Oh my gosh, you’re Nigerian” thing got really tiresome. Not everybody who is mixed hails from the Caribbean!

Xyl0c41n3 > thebigbossyboss
10/24/2015 at 15:59

That.... Is just not ok, Boss.

OPPOsaurus WRX > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:05

Kinja'd!!!

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:06

Xyl0c41n3 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:08

*sigh*

What your dad said to you is awful.

But you can’t renounce your blackness because you don’t identify with certain parts of Black American culture. There’s way more to black culture than whatever narrow stereotype you seem to be trying to distance yourself from.

The black nerd that’s into cars? That’s part of black culture, too. And hey, guess what? You fit into that!

It doesn’t matter if you want to reject your blackness because part of being black (or any other sort of POC) is not about how WE view ourselves, but how OTHERS view US. How others view us through stereotypes created around our color, our cultures, our religions, our languages, hell, even our food.

You can renounce your blackness all you want, but no one else will ever let you forget it. That’s part of the reason it’s so important to own it with pride. Because then WE get to shape the narrative of our lives, our cultures and our realities. Then we get to help undo all the shit that is racism.

K, I think I recall you saying you're seeing someone... a counselor or therapist? I strongly urge you to speak about these issues of identity with them.

PushToStart > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:10

What’s not ok about him telling K-Roll to be his own person instead of conforming to stereotypes...?

RoboRed "The road to hell is paved with overturned Vanduras" > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:11

Well, I learned something today.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:12

So much this.

samssun > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:13

As a transracialist, I have this to say: muh group identity.

No More College Granddad > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:14

Shiiiit. You gon miss being “black”. I’ve already told you, being black is wonderful. You think being white is what it is then you realize most things white people enjoy come from us.

Anyway, I won’t tell you how to live your life but two things

1) don’t turn into Ben Carson or some shit

2) don’t abandon all black vehicles. They don’t deserve that.

I hope you can find some peace in your life, homie.

Xyl0c41n3 > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
10/24/2015 at 16:16

Snap, you’re a mod. Your comment is completely unacceptable.

K isn’t the first POC to have huge issues with identity and reconciling that identity within themselves. You’re a POC, too. You should understand that a whole hell of a lot more intimately than a lot of other Oppos.

Seriously, your comment is not ok.

No More College Granddad > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:19

Hell yeah! He’s still going to be black no matter how he acts so might as well own that shit. I love being black, despite the bullshit.

Berang > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:24

It’s ok.

thebigbossyboss > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:25

I am lost. I told K roll to be happy with himself. How is that not ok?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:26

Kinja'd!!!

Manny05x > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:30

So you are a racist to your own kind. There are a lot of good black people who have contributed to history in all fields just because you don't feel that you are black you should renounce from it. Black is beautiful.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:32

But why?

Seriously who does care?

It shouldn’t matter what color his skin is. A person is a person regardless.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:32

It seems kind of ironic how you mostly only show up on controversial posts that really don’t involve you

Manny05x > No More College Granddad
10/24/2015 at 16:33

True plus black culture is one of the most imitated cultures period. I'm Dominican were basically the basically the black people of Spanish culture and I love being Dominican.

Anon > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:35

Someone once told me I wasn’t black. I told them to shut their mouths because they didn’t know what they were talking about. However I feel my situation is a bit different from yours as I 1. was sloshed at the time 2. am not actually black and am, in fact, as white as Carlton Banks.

Xyl0c41n3 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 16:36

It’s even more ironic that you only notice my comments on those posts.

But being a POC and struggling with identity issues surrounding that? That DOES involve me, since, you know, I’m a POC and may have, you know, actually experienced some of the things K is going through.

But what would I know? I’m just a shit stirrer, right, kid? Grow up.

Xyl0c41n3 > thebigbossyboss
10/24/2015 at 16:37

I'll email you in a bit.

TractorPillow > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:38

The problem with black cars are the infuriating swirl marks.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:39

Like I said in another comment though: people are people. I’ve never judged or discriminated anyone based on looks. It shouldn’t matter.

Xyl0c41n3 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 16:45

And as a white guy, you have that luxury. You’ve never had to worry about someone thinking you’re a thug because your skin is dark. You’ve never had someone look at you with shock because you’re an unmarried Latina who somehow, miraculously (sarcasm) doesn’t have a couple of kids out of wedlock.

You don’t have to deal with the stereotypes forced on us because of our color.

It’s fine and dandy that YOU, personally, don’t judge people by the color of their skin. There truly aren’t enough people out there like that, though. And what you are failing to understand is that, though that is the ideal we should all aspire to, the truth is, that’s not how the world works, more often than not.

To say that our color shouldn’t matter because “people are people” minimizes the racism a lot of POC face. You’re tacitly delegitimizing the racism we face that, well, you never have.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:46

So after reading through this and my headache going away a little.......here’s a proper response. I’m adopted to white parents from South Korea. Came here when I was 4 months old and you can even ask my mother, I knew I was different. I don’t associate myself with my culture, don’t even know how to read korean, I’m also someone who doesn’t fall into line with 3/4th’s of Asian stereotypes. At the same time I can’t renounce my race because I’m not enriched in my own culture or because my parents are white or my friends aren’t asian, or etc etc. I totally support everyone who says you need to find yourself but you can’t renounce your background, culture, or race because you don’t associate yourself with everything it represents (help me find a better word here)

Master Cylinder > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 16:47

Life is short, hard, and cruel for almost everyone who has ever lived. Be who makes you happy.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:47

racism goes both ways

Xyl0c41n3 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
10/24/2015 at 16:48

Sure, buddy.

Explaining racism to a white person isn't racist.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:50

You’re saying it doesn’t?

No More College Granddad > Manny05x
10/24/2015 at 16:52

Ha. Then I know you know what the deal is. Fuck being ashamed, I got things to do.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:52

Let me tell you this: and now I might be stirring shit or even becoming a little rascist.

I’m a senior in high school. And honestly being a white male at this point is making it a lot harder for me to do something as seemingly simple as go to college. You know how many scholarhips are available for minorities? You know how much harder I have to work to be eligible for simple scholarships?

I get turned down for schools because I’m not a minority. I get less financial aid. i get treated worse and have less opportunities.

I get turned down for jobs because I’m not a minority or female. So yes I have experienced rascism and sexism before. In today’s society it’s becoming harder being the white man.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 16:56

Too bad society doesn’t work that way

cats a'breadloafing > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 16:58

i love your post.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 16:58

As a straight white middle class male: I got royally fucked trying to go to college. Not saying that comes even close to being the same as the discrimination experienced by black people, but many white people have been on the receiving end of a little of it.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Nibby
10/24/2015 at 17:00

I’m glad somebody said it.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
10/24/2015 at 17:02

That’s me right now honestly. I know it’s not the same but to say it doesn’t exist at all isn’t the case

Berang > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 17:06

Huh. You know they’re white.

Manny05x > No More College Granddad
10/24/2015 at 17:07

Yup. I don't go out thinking about what I look like or what stereotypes shit a guy I work with for the longest calls me Jose (not my name) and I don't give a shit.

Xyl0c41n3 > Berang
10/24/2015 at 17:08

JQJ? Yup. I’ve talked to him before. Several times.

But yeah, go ahead and just assume I was stereotyping him because it suited my purposes to. That surely must have been it.

Berang > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 17:15

You mean to tell me you know what I’m thinking more than I do? Hmm.

TheHondaBro > Dsscats
10/24/2015 at 17:21

K is venting, let him vent.

Xyl0c41n3 > Berang
10/24/2015 at 17:27

Kinja'd!!!

PS9 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 17:28

It would be nice if that was the world we lived in.

It’s not, though.

Berang > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 17:34

¯\_()_/¯

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TractorPillow
10/24/2015 at 17:35

Yes, my wife’s Sable looks like dreadful up close. All those swirls...

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/24/2015 at 17:41

Life is full of confusing shit.

PushToStart > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 17:44

Ok, so you know the struggles of being a POC. Alright, that’s fine, I get that and I respect your viewpoints towards that issue. But how does that have anything to do with what boss had to say? Literally all he said, paraphrased, was “do and be what you want, don’t let stereotypes get to you”, yet you told him “that’s not cool.” What’s not cool about that? He was throwing support to K-Roll, which seems totally cool to me.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > No More College Granddad
10/24/2015 at 17:46

But was I ever even black at any point? I learn more and more things about my “race” and how underprivileged and unfairly treated and stereotyped and what’s worse? I found out what white privilege truly is, and all it does is make me angrier and depressed about the whole damn thing.

http://ted.coe.wayne.edu/ele3600/mcinto…

This is all too damn confusing and there’s no solution or any way to mitigate any of this, but so far, I’ve not found one form of tangible proof that being black has had some kinda positive influence or anything positive in my life, and seeing everything I’m seeing now doesn’t make it better.

I don’t know what I want to be, but I know I wish and know I don’t want to be held back because of what I am, apparently that’s impossible.

But about the cars. I will most certainly avoid them. They’re impossible to keep clean and the swirls are a nightmare to deal with.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > samssun
10/24/2015 at 17:50

A what?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Berang
10/24/2015 at 17:51

Is it?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > RoboRed "The road to hell is paved with overturned Vanduras"
10/24/2015 at 17:51

What’s that.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 17:54

Read Devah Pager’s The Mark Of A Criminal Record and then honestly tell me that you have a harder time getting work because you’re white. Being white does not make is more difficult to get a job. It actually makes it significantly easier.

As for applying to college, you’re not being turned down because you’re white. Maybe you’ll less qualified or your SAT scores weren’t what the school was looking for. Maybe your essay wasn’t what they were looking for. Maybe you didn’t have an many extracurriculars as they wanted. I don’t know your academic history, so I can’t say. There are so many factors that go into college admission that effects their decisions. You being white is not going to cancel out all of your other hard work, assuming hard work is present.

If you honestly think being white gives you less opportunities, you’re willfully ignorant. Sorry to say it, but every scientific document I have read disagrees with your sentiment.

I’m also a white, straight, cisgender male, by the way. From a middle class family that lives in a nice area of suburban Connecticut, no less.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O)
10/24/2015 at 18:06

All of these bigger schools which I’ve looked into are always interested in diversity. Being a white male isn’t diverse. I can tell you for a fact it changes things.

I’m in the top 15th percentile at my school 1800 SAT 29 ACT. I’m qualified for most any school I apply to save the ivy leagues. Being white is honestly making it harder and more expensive. I have minority friends who apply for the same scholarships I have and they get more money and more likely picked for it. My one friend being Hispanic opens up a whole world of opportunities I’m not qualified for.

Diversity has become a big deal now. I am going to disagree with what you say because I’m experiencing it.

Round headlight enthusiast > thebigbossyboss
10/24/2015 at 18:09

I’m with you on this one. Just be whatever you are and let other people figure out what they think of you.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 18:21

Good for you. And I got into Boston University, a large private school that is very interested in diversity, with 1980 SAT and a 28 ACT. I transferred in with a 3.8 from the school I went to freshman year. I got enough financial aid to actually go to BU, which I didn’t think would happen. NYU didn’t want me, but not because I’m white. My extracurriculars weren’t up to par and my grades weren’t good enough to make up for it.

Similar enough scores, both white. Funny how anecdotal evidence doesn’t tell the whole story.

Diversity is a big now. You’re right. And it should be. But, as I said, your whiteness is not going to make them throw out your application.

No More College Granddad > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 18:31

Sorry to tell you this playa but you can’t leave your blackness. You can write all the posts about denouncing your blackness but it won’t change the world. Hating your blackness won’t get you anywhere, (unless you’re okay with talking shit about black people but that has it’s own problems.) All you can do is enjoy who you are. Yeah, wondering if the next white person I see will be the one that kills me for “being scary” but shit, I’m too busy loving being black.

Yeah, you will have to work twice as hard, but fuck it, that’s what needs to be done. If you want a seat at the table go for it. If you can’t get one, find another seat. I got mine, better get yours.

In conclusion, acting white won’t get you shiiiit because you will still be black to everyone else. Embrace your blackness and stop acting like you’re destined to be a thug or some bullshit like that. I’ve been dark black for 33 years and I hate gangs. Stop caring what other people think and live your life. The one thing these borderline racist comments here have right is that you need to stop trying to get people to like you. Chill with the ones that do like you and fuck the rest.

Also, I am not a car person so I don’t know what a swirl is.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 18:35

As someone who is half-indian and has heard all the jokes and stereotypes, plus struggles to fit in, I feel you.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O)
10/24/2015 at 18:39

Might I ask when this was?

And I never said solely based on being white. But Being a minority seems to give prefferential treatment to add to the diversity of the student body.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > No More College Granddad
10/24/2015 at 18:42

I know I can’t escape it, but there are many times I damn well wish I could. But for one thing, I don’t act white, I act how I was raised, and if that’s “white” then so be it.

I know denouncing it won’t do a damn thing, and hating it(I don’t want to hate on anyone else, just myself, it’s not anyone’s problem but my own), but am I just supposed to live with it? Deal with it like it’s nothing? Just all of a sudden start loving myself because of it?

How do you get anywhere in life without worrying about how people think about and see you? Is that not how you do things in life? Interviews? Applications? Finances? Are those not all based on who and what you are?

And these are the swirls I’m talking about, so unsightly:

Kinja'd!!!

DrJohannVegas > Berang
10/24/2015 at 18:43

Yep: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/let-me-tell-yo…

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Manny05x
10/24/2015 at 18:46

Black is beautiful.

Why does everyone say this??

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
10/24/2015 at 18:47

Lololololol you should write for the onion. There is no systematic discrimination against white people

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
10/24/2015 at 18:50

Fitting in is the one thing I wish I could do.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 18:53

The reason those scholarships and stuff exist is to try and balance out the fact that minorities are systematically discriminated against and set up for failure.

Take redlining for example. Black families are pushed into poorer neighborhoods all across the country. These come with worse schools and less extracurricular opportunities. So, in many cases, a POC getting the same SAT score as you means they are probably more qualified since they started lower

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
10/24/2015 at 18:57

But that’s not technically discrimination?

I am being stereotyped Here. Even if it may look “positive” it is what it is.

Opposite Locksmith > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 19:03

The fuck am I reading

LongbowMkII > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 19:04

you should probably stfu. seriously. that’s dog whistle shit right there and comparing having ‘limited’ scholarship opportunities* to the problems POC face pisses this white guy off.

*you don’t, seriously. there are thousands of scholarship/grants, and so what if minority has access to perhaps a few hundred more, you aren’t lacking choices

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 19:06

I graduated high school in 2013. I’m a junior right now. The process was the same.

If you’re complaining that affirmative action isn’t stacked in your favor, please stop.

LongbowMkII > Dsscats
10/24/2015 at 19:06

I assume your posts aren’t solely for attention?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > LongbowMkII
10/24/2015 at 19:06

It’s the internet.

I’m entitled to my opinion.

Also I’m a very open minded person. I’m very progressive and a strong believer in equal rights and know that there is still lots of racism and discrimination. I’m in the south so I see it every day.

The only reason I mentioned it, which you can see in the first line is that I was proving a point. Being a white male isn’t perfect.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 19:09

JQ’s answer to you is precisely my intent with my comment.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O)
10/24/2015 at 19:09

It’s the internet and I’m entitled to have my own opinion on topics. And like I said in the first reply here, I’m saying that my life isn’t perfect. I know it’s probably better than many minorities but to say no discrimination happens is utter bullshit.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 19:10

You act like white people don’t get stereotyped. Cause the Irish aren’t lazy drunks and the Germans aren’t all nazis and the French aren’t a bunch of pussies. All boss was saying was don’t limit yourself to a stereotype and I think you missed the point

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
10/24/2015 at 19:10

Not any more anyways

Berang > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 19:13

People will always try to put you in groups. When you don’t conform to their expectations, it makes them uncomfortable. So they’ll try to make you uncomfortable to get you to conform. There is of course nothing inherently wrong with being part of a group, but if one is doing it only for the convenience of others they’re doing a disservice to themselves I think.

And yeah, to other people you will always be categorized and grouped, but there’s no point in changing yourself to better fit other people’s categories. Unless that makes one happy, of course.

Xyl0c41n3 > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
10/24/2015 at 19:16

JQ’s answer is extremely problematic, especially since he has such a poor grasp of the nuances of racism, internalized racism, and the identity issues many American POC face.

Who cares? Clearly K does. Clearly this is something that, at the very least, distresses him. If you have nothing to add to the conversation, either as a friend or as a mod, then you should, as a mod, refrain from making things worse, Snap. You may not understand K’s struggle or situation, but that doesn't give you the right to belittle it. I'll say it again in case I haven't made it clear enough: you're a mod. You need to hold yourself to a higher standard.

LongbowMkII > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 19:17

no one said it’s perfect. but if an alien came to earth and had to replicate one human form to start a normal life in the U.S. as, my money would be on cis hetero white male. your opinion is new, you probably haven’t seen a potential employer treat you entirely different because you’re white. or not be asked interview questions about how you’ll manage to juggle a job and a family. or be insulted to your face because of the color of your skin or your presumed orientation. there’s a lot of lip service granted for diversity, but don’t assume that it’s the status quo.

pauljones > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 19:17

No, you shouldn’t just live with it. You should accept it as a part of your identity, and make it something awesome. There are certainly a lot negative stereotypes that you get pinned with simply because you’re black - and you know what? Those stereotypes are only something to the people that hold them. They quite literally are nothing to you.

And yes, you should love yourself for who you are. If you can’t do that, ask yourself why. What shortcomings do you perceive you have? Who and what would you like to be as a person, why do you value those things, and what can you do to work towards those things? What makes us valuable as humans being isn’t what we look like - it’s our ability to look at ourselves, accept what we see, and spend every single day striving to be better than you were the day before. And here’s the key: don’t try to be better than whatever stereotypes that people may hold. The instant you do that, you acknowledge those stereotypes as being valid, and that’s not going to help. Don’t use what others think of you as a yardstick to measure yourself. The only person you should measure yourself against is you.

You cannot change your ethnicity any more than I can. But you can change what you make of it. Listen to what SexyGranddadCostume said - he’s exactly right.

You’ll never not wonder what people see you and think about you. Everyone wonders that about the world around them everyday. And yes, unfortunately, many things in life are influenced by that question. But you can choose not to let the answer to that question alone define you as an individual. It may always be a part of you, but it does not define you. You are more.

pauljones > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 19:19

Not everyone does. But those that do are people who have chosen to see the beautiful things that black culture and society have contributed to the world, and the way that they have changed the world around them for the best.

El Rivinado > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 19:34

Hey K-Roll, I’m going to tell you something personal and I’m going to tell you some advice that’s helped me.

Now, before we go on, let me just say that I’m your standard 19 year old straight white guy from the suburbs. I don’t know what it’s like being an ethnic minority, I don’t claim to know what it’s like to be an ethnic minority, and I prefer not to get involved in race issues. Because, unlike some people, I know I don’t understand what it’s like, and I would rather not white knight for other people who have no problem speaking out for themselves and making myself look like a jackass.

But, I am disabled. I do have a mental disability, I ain’t going to say what it is, but I do have it. It is real, not just made up, and I do qualify for the ADA because of it. I hate living with it sometimes, because I lack the ability to posses empathy in some situations, and that makes socialization and forming relationships much harder for me than it would for other people. I have some weird quirks and routines because of it, and to most people, sometimes when I have some, let’s call it outbursts, people do judge me and wonder what the hell is wrong with me. So, I do understand what it’s like to be born with something you’re not necessarily proud of and that’s out of your control most days.

But the most important thing I learned, is to never let it define who I was as a person. I let my personality and my actions define me as a person, and you should too. There are some people who will tell you that you should embrace it, that you should wear it on your sleeve like a badge of honor, that you should feel pride instead of shame and that you should always speak out and be a representative and an example. You know what I say to those people?

Go fuck yourselves.

Anyone who tells you to, nay, forces you to be proud of something you’re not proud of is nothing more than a sociopath looking out for their own self-interests. They’re telling you that you should let it define who you are as a person above anything else, and that’s not okay. I know that sometimes it can feel hypocritical, almost hateful, to not embrace whatever it is you don’t like simply because you were born with it. But, to let something you’re not proud of come to define who you are is no worse than other people judging you because of it.

For what it’s worth, I’ve never thought less of you or any of your posts or occasional bouts of depression (which I also suffer from) simply because of your skin color. In fact, I didn’t care about that in the slightest, I just judged you from your posts. I like you, you're a pretty cool dude, you're roughly in the same age group as me, we share a common interest, and you’ve got a cool 944. Your attitude and how you present yourself online and in the real world is much important than what you look like or what you were born with, especially online because no one except for judgmental assholes from both sides of the spectrum, really cares about what you look like so long as you present yourself well. That’s a lesson that’s worked for me well, and I hope it’s a lesson that works for you.

We can’t changed what we were born with. But we can change if it lets us define who we are. There will be people who will always judge you because of what you look like, and there’s nothing you can do to change those people. But, at the end of the day, looks aren’t everything. It’s how you act around people that matters most, and if you act around people in a way that’s friendly and caring and fun to be around, then who the hell cares what you are?

I get that you’re not proud of yourself, and that you didn’t ask for this. If there was a way I could not be born with my disability, I would do it in a split second. But, at the end of the day, that's just one facet of who I am, and it doesn't define the kind of person I act like. It should be the same thing for you as well. I know this post seems disjointed and confused, but at the end of the day, I really am trying to help K-Roll. I'm just not sure how to go about doing it.

LongbowMkII > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
10/24/2015 at 19:34

how are you still a mod? /banned

pauljones > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 19:35

When I first read this comment, I was notably confused. As I read through the remainder of the comments, however, I came to understand why you feel that his comment was not the most helpful thing in the world.

I think, though, that in this instance, a slightly different tack might have gone over a little differently. It’s fine if you think that his comment was not okay (and I understand why you didn’t), but why not explain the reason why right off the bat? Why go through an entire thread to finally communicate it elsewhere?

Your reasoning behind your opinion was great - I just don’t understand why you didn’t communicate it then and there.

Xyl0c41n3 > pauljones
10/24/2015 at 19:41

I’m really working here to stifle a sarcastic and/or angry reply to your comment, paul.

It's not working. So I think I'll just refrain from saying anything at all.

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 19:55

Yeah, dude. You’re totally entitled to have your own opinions. However, when your opinions are made from minimal thought fueled by ignorance your opinion has no weight.

“I get turned down for schools because I’m not a minority. I get less financial aid. i get treated worse and have less opportunities.

I get turned down for jobs because I’m not a minority or female. So yes I have experienced rascism and sexism before. In today’s society it’s becoming harder being the white man.”

This - you’re “opinion” - is wrong. It is factually inaccurate. There have been countless studies on exactly this, and your opinion is baseless. I am a strong believer that every well informed opinion should be heard, but what you are putting out into the internet is not informed at all, or else it is unfortunately misinformed.

As a side note, your use of the word “probably” in the following sentence does nothing but prove that you have no concept of racial inequality so, as I suggested before, please stop.

“I know it’s probably better than many minorities...”

PushToStart > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 19:55

??? Why though? You made a comment that seemed unnecessarily harsh towards someone whose intentions were purely good, and while there apparently was logic behind that on your side, you refused to make that clear until after you had been “called out” (for lack of a better term) which, in turn, caused the conversation to become unnecessarily argumentative. Why not just explain your stance from the beginning, so as to prevent the hard-feelings and confusion in the first place?

Also, why the need to be so flippant towards someone who politely asks you this question of “why wait this long to explain your logic?”

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O)
10/24/2015 at 20:19

I don’t really know why I am replying but I am anyway:

Yes, I have been turned down for jobs. As have other people. Mainly based on sexism but also because of racism. I’ve applied for jobs like being a host at restaurants and working the front desk in offices and dealerships and been turned down because I am not the person they were looking for. I’m an overweight, not very attractive white dude; not the young pretty girl they were looking for.

When it comes to school, it’s difficult because I do not stand out. I’m a low to middle class white kid who is relatively smart. I am just like most anyone else that applies. I have nothing that really makes me pop to the people who grant me acceptance into college whereas any minority who has the same exact scores as me more than likely will.

I am backing up MY opinions with MY experiences and first hand accounts. That alone is more than most people (and trolls) are willing to do.

And in the last statement I said “...it’s probably better than MANY minorities” (see I can do fancy text effects too) as in there are still some people who are better off than me. And yes, this will always be the case in life but it still applies here.

As I said WAY IN THE BEGINNING, to say that I have NEVER experienced any discrimination isn’t true. That was the whole point I’ve been driving at here.

I refuse to go on any more from this point here. Sorry I disagree with you.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 20:21

No, it’s not discrimination because you are already ahead and they’re just trying to catch up

No More College Granddad > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
10/24/2015 at 20:27

Damn, those swirls are making me rethink my love for black paint.

But anyway, what PaulJones said. I love chicken and watermelon. I’m not going to change my eating habits because people are laughing at me. Hell, I wish I had a watermelon right now. Don’t live your life for other people. It took me 2 decades to figure that out and now I’m a happier person. The sooner you realize that, the better.

Damn, where the watermelon at?

Übel > Xyl0c41n3
10/24/2015 at 20:28

Kinja'd!!!

SmoresTM Has No Chill (O==[][]==O) > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 20:40

I don’t really know why you’re replying either.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/24/2015 at 20:53

You should ask yourself why you think that there’s no way minorities could be smarter than you and that they must have taken advantage of the system to get ahead of you