OT-This is kind of controversial

[Eden]

But you've met me so you know I'm actually a FtM Bald Aboriginal Left Handed Muslim double amputee.

But that's also the thing about life in general. I've had people say things to my face that are discriminatory and not know that I'm a member of said group or have family that are. And I tell them "I don't find that funny" or "I'm offended by that" and sometimes get

"But you're not ______".

Absolutely I agree with you there - not knowing if a person is a member of any certain group is no excuse to make rude jokes, discriminatory remarks etc. - but my idea is an internet community like this one does bring about an interesting situation - we are all very much like blind people here, we can't make a snap decision about anyone based on much more than their grammar if they don't choose to tell us - you could possibly be a person who does make judgements on others based on what they look like and find yourself becoming friends with a person that you may in physical life have prejudged as a person you wouldn't like - be it based on race, age, whether or not they ride a pink bike, have a big nose - whatever your personal biases happen to be.

Sure we still form impressions of people through their writing, but I do think that most people do tend to look at a person and decide how they think that person will act, what kind of person they will be before they really get to know them (and it doesn't have to be based on race, etc - just looking like that 3rd grade teacher you hated or resembling a favorite aunt can bias a person, against or in favor of a person before they even speak to that person). Most people can get past that initial judgement and allow themselves to get to know a person more indepth before they really decided if they like the person or not, but some people just can't get past that initial phase.

[Zen]

CC-
This story might give you more insight than the coverage you linked to
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070922/...ce_called_jena

[bmccasland]

Always sad to see my home state in the International news...

Ah Louisiana's reputation - where apparently racisim, larceny, poverty, greed, and other lovely attributes are known world wide.

the Jena thing - I live here (the state, not the town) and I still don't get it. There was a story in the local paper about someone asking the Feds to step in and investigate. Not sure what the next step will be.

The one lad who has been convicted, which was overturned, is still in jail.

I thought this was the 21st century, not the 1960's.

On the other hand, two white lads were arrested yesterday in a near by city (Alexandria) for having a noose hanging from their rearview mirror while they drove past some of the demonstrators. They were charged with inciting a riot.

[mimitabby]

On the other hand, two white lads were arrested yesterday in a near by city (Alexandria) for having a noose hanging from their rearview mirror while they drove past some of the demonstrators. They were charged with inciting a riot.

well, that was good news! (Their arrest, that is)