en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2430801 Comments by rthomas129 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/why-did-the-white-students-tell-the-story-differently-than-the-mixed-or-black-students-119-blog/#IDComment144053480 By the time the story got around to the second or third person, who Bill was in the story became irrelevant. For whatever reason, they did not think it was important to know what race he was, when in fact it had a huge relevance to the story. Another possible consideration is that the white students may have felt guilty. The story portrays white people as cruel and rude people. Having to stand up there and listen to their race described that way makes things awkward for them. Maybe when they had to actually repeat the story themselves, they wanted to make the story seem less vulgar and harsh than it was presented. In the end, I do not think we can entirely blame one’s own race for why they told the story differently. Maybe you can draw the conclusion that white people are more forgetful and vague. The point I am trying to make is there are other confounding factors besides race. In the telephone game, no matter which race you use, things get altered all the time unintentionally. (pt 2) Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:24:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/why-did-the-white-students-tell-the-story-differently-than-the-mixed-or-black-students-119-blog/#IDComment144053480 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/why-did-the-white-students-tell-the-story-differently-than-the-mixed-or-black-students-119-blog/#IDComment144053436 I thought the telephone game was a great way to see how and if students have changed since the beginning of this semester. In particular, I’m referring to racial signifiers and being politically correct. It was interesting to see how the story was changed by each of the six students, which really started with the first girl (whom I assume is of some mixed/Spanish descent). I feel as though if it were a black student, with ease they would have said the “n” word because that is a part of their lingo. For any other race, it is awkward because you do not know what the class will think of you if you have the guts to say it. Some people may shrug it off like it is no big deal. Others will be shocked because of the political correctness they grew around. If our class was all white students, I’m sure they could say the “n” word with ease, but because there are black people in the class, they will think twice before doing it. (pt1) Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:24:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/why-did-the-white-students-tell-the-story-differently-than-the-mixed-or-black-students-119-blog/#IDComment144053436 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment143127640 Now that I know what the term means, I would try not to benefit from nepotism. I want to be hired on my own merit and not because I knew someone in the business. I do not want to take the job away from someone who potentially needs it more than I do and is more qualified than I am. I cannot sit here with a straight face and act that I can do this with ease. There is no way it would be easy to give up an opportunity for a job or grad school. It is nice when someone says a good thing or two about you helping your resume and application out. But I’ll have to try to shrug it off. However I do think that when schools ask for recommendation letters or jobs ask for references it is kind of the same thing because whoever you ask to do that for you will most likely give you a good name and try to make you stand out. That is having an advantage over another person because my connections, the teachers I’ve gotten close to, will not say something bad about me to hinder a school or job from accepting me. What is harder though is if I didn’t have connections to a certain company but someone else did and that is why they got the job, I don’t think I’ll be as accepting of it. It sounds selfish but we all are trying to advance in the world and we can’t necessarily help others beat us to it. (pt2) Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:27:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment143127640 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment143127583 To have connections is a good thing. In this world, it is hard to do things if you do not know people. I never thought there was any harm in having connections until Sam associated it with the term nepotism. It could be just me but I think that gives the term a negative connotation. I have known people who come to America for the first time with great degrees and job experience but nobody wants to hire them (probably because they are foreigners). But it was because of the people they knew here that they were able to get an interview at a company and get the job. Sometimes this is not the case. As a connection, all you can do is guarantee an interview at the least, but the job is out of your control. So there have been people who get to the interview stage but are still not good enough to get the job. But at least that connection tried to help. (pt 1) Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:27:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment143127583 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914989 One thing it did help me understand was an outside look to my own religion. Being a Christian, I always push off the attacks about how bad we actually are. Even if I see stories in the news, I don’t want to accept it, only because those stories don’t represent Christians as a whole. Acting as a Middle Easterner though showed how some Christians just want to force their religion on them. Besides that, it was worse to see the Bible camp where they teach them that these people are bad. Christianity says to love our neighbor and tell them about Jesus, not to not accept people and force religion. (pt3) Fri, 8 Apr 2011 04:47:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914989 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914953 Last week when we had class, Sam told us the needy penis lecture would change our lives. I totally disagree. Tuesday’s lecture by far was one of the most moving. Acting like a Middle Easterner definitely helps understand their perspective and all that they think and deal with. The sad thing is we only saw a few videos and lived like that for an hour and a half. Imagine what they have to go through in a whole day, for the last 10 years. Just letting those feelings of anger, bitterness, and sadness sink in really helped me feel what they might be feeling. I have Muslim friends and I never treated them different just because that religion is associated with terrorism. I never looked at them or their families and felt fear. (pt1) Fri, 8 Apr 2011 04:47:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914953 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914879 Have my views changed on the War? I’ve heard plenty of reasons of why America is still fighting with Iraq and why we are even fighting them to begin with. This was the first time I heard that we are fighting over oil. It is pathetic that we are this dependent on oil. We could use other resources instead of fighting for something that was never ours. If this is the case, then yes my views have changed and I totally sympathize/agree with Iraq. Was it right to highjack planes into buildings? Definitely not. I’ll never agree with that choice of action. But I believe they had reason behind it and Sam said we should UNDERSTAND that. We don’t need to agree with it. (pt2) Fri, 8 Apr 2011 04:47:03 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914879 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914833 Last week when we had class, Sam told us the needy penis lecture would change our lives. I totally disagree. Tuesday’s lecture by far was one of the most moving. Acting like a Middle Easterner definitely helps understand their perspective and all that they think and deal with. The sad thing is we only saw a few videos and lived like that for an hour and a half. Imagine what they have to go through in a whole day, for the last 10 years. Just letting those feelings of anger, bitterness, and sadness sink in really helped me feel what they might be feeling. I have Muslim friends and I never treated them different just because that religion is associated with terrorism. I never looked at them or their families and felt fear. (pt1) Fri, 8 Apr 2011 04:46:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140914833 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138909976 Learning a new language is beneficial for many reasons. It gives you the opportunity to communicate with people around you who happen to speak that same language. And if they know that language because it is a part of their culture, then you can engage in conversations that help you better understand that culture. It also helps articulation I believe. I have taken 4 years of French in high school, and you always had to articulate certain words otherwise it sounds similar to other words and your sentence would be incorrect. I believe it helps you with patience. Learning a new language is not easy, especially as you get older. You have to have the patience to know you aren’t going to get things right on the first try. I have also heard that it helps build your vocabulary, comprehension, problem solving skills, and creativity. If you can gain all of this from learning a language, why not take the opportunity? (pt 3) Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:20:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138909976 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138909925 I’m not the best candidate for language learning. Growing up at home, my parents taught us English and not our Indian languages (Hindi and Malayalam). When I did go to my grandparents house though, my grandmother would talk to me in Malayalam and English so I was able to pick up on understanding the language fast and know some sentences to talk in. Same thing happened at home. My parents would talk to each other in Hindi, and listening to that everyday helped me understand what they were saying. As I got older though, I lost the interest in my languages and I stopped listening. Once I got into high school I took interest again, and it took me a long while to remember everything I learned. I’m still not quite there, but I’m getting there. When I was in high school, I took 4 years of French. Each year, I would slightly forget things because I didn’t keep up with it over the summer. It could just be me and my forgetful memory, but I can’t retain language that well unless I speak it on a regular basis. However, that wouldn’t stop me from learning a new language, especially if a job asked me to. (pt2) Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:20:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138909925 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138909874 I would definitely consider learning a new language for a job. That always adds extra points to your resume to know another language. You could effectively communicate in a business world especially. If my job took me overseas, language would be an obvious obstacle for me. Knowing another language would help overcome that obstacle and succeed in my job. Also, I wouldn’t seem like some ignorant tourist visiting that country. Even though English is learned by many, there are a good amount of people who don’t know it. I can’t expect to find a translator everywhere I go. I need to learn a language for my own good and for the benefit of the other person I’d be talking to. (pt1) Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:19:55 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138909874 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137302188 My parents aren’t telling me “you better not come home with a black guy”. Since they are used to arranged marriages, they just want to give me a set of guidelines that will make accepting a guy into our family easy (race being one of those factors). Race isn’t the biggest factor, religion is, so the color of one’s skin is of less concern to them as long as that person comes from a good background and is Christian (amongst other factors). Some of their guidelines are things that I look for as well, so I have no objection to it. Currently I have a boyfriend who is Indian and if all goes well, I hope to get married to him someday. However, if things don’t work out, will I be open to an interracial relationship? Hell yea! (pt 4) Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:41:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137302188 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137302149 When discussing relationships and marriages with my parents, they prefer that I date someone within race. I understand where they come from because it is hard for them to be comfortable and for my significant other to understand. Not to say that’s a valid reason. Two of my cousins married white guys. At first everyone in the family was very objecting to it. Their parents weren’t accepting of it at first either, but then it just came down to their children’s happiness. It turns out, those two guys fit in pretty well. Our family is Americanized, so the language wasn’t a barrier for them. They love Indian food and Indian movies. They are just down to earth guys and we all are very blessed to have them in our family. (pt 3) Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:41:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137302149 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137301968 Comfortable because he made me laugh (which a guy from any race could do for me, doesn’t have to be Indian) and he was good company. Uncomfortable because he didn’t understand certain things about me or my culture and he would often make fun of Indians (why I couldn’t leave the house whenever I wanted, how Indians own most Dunkin Donuts and gas stations). Those were bigger turn offs for me. If you can’t respect me for who I am or my background, you are not worth my time (you referring to ANY race). I couldn’t be who I was normally if I was dating an Indian guy. My generation Indian Americans understand certain jokes, parents, etc. so dating them makes it easier and comfortable. My friends were uncomfortable with the idea of my dating a black guy. It was more about WHAT he did then about his skin color. (pt 2) Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:40:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137301968 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137301772 When I was in my early teens, I used to think interracial relationships were odd. I was so used to seeing people of the same race getting married. Now that I am older, seeing interracial relationships are so common. You can find them on campus. I was always interested in an interracial relationship because mixed babies are SO cute (selfish and stupid reason, but true!). I’ve always been attracted to other races, specifically black guys, but not limited to. I am Indian and I dated a black guy for a few months. I didn’t choose the best guy to be dating (not to put his life out there, but he did weed and had a kid and that is not my kind of thing). At the time when I met him though, I didn’t let my turn offs get to me though and still dated him anyways. I didn’t want to judge him just based on those two things. In the short time that we were together, it was half comfortable half uncomfortable. (pt 1) Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:39:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137301772 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/what-do-you-think-of-the-diversity-at-penn-state-119-blog/#IDComment135849501 People outside of the Penn State community are aware of the unequal racial divisions. I have often heard people tell me “you go to a white school”. That’s reasonably true. If outside people are aware of it, then people here should be aware of it too. I can’t say I blame them for thinking that either considering the fact that my black friend and I are the only two people of color in our group of 6 other white people. The good news is that at least those percentages are dropping from what it used to be. In 1996, UPark campus was 84% white. The bad news is that the percentage decrease is a small one. We’re not there yet, but I believe we can get there. (pt 3) Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:37:30 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/what-do-you-think-of-the-diversity-at-penn-state-119-blog/#IDComment135849501 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/what-do-you-think-of-the-diversity-at-penn-state-119-blog/#IDComment135849454 Penn State’s undergraduate website indicates they are “committed to diversity”. When it comes to accepting people of different sexual orientation and religion, sure. When it comes down to race and ethnicity, not so much. But they obviously won’t tell you that. If they do, then the school will appear racist. What bothers me is that this school likes to call itself diverse. They know it is anything but that, yet they choose to tell aspiring students and incoming freshmen that Penn State has a diverse community. It is pretty easy to represent that in pictures. All they have to do is ask two white people, a black person, and an Asian person to stand in a picture together, and then you have diversity. Penn State may try to bring people together and be diverse, but let’s face reality. A lot of people still cling to their own races, not willing to hang out with others. We even see that in the classroom. There’s always a second side, which is that there are other people here who individually choose to be diverse and have a network of friends have different racial backgrounds. (pt2) Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:37:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/what-do-you-think-of-the-diversity-at-penn-state-119-blog/#IDComment135849454 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/what-do-you-think-of-the-diversity-at-penn-state-119-blog/#IDComment135849406 Out of curiosity, I googled “Penn State diversity” to see what information I would get. This website called college prowler gave Penn State a grade of C plus on diversity. Does that seem about right? YES. The statistics Sam showed us in class goes to show how little of diversity we have. About 75% of the school is white. This could be true or people incorrectly marked their races, which could happen since many of us think we know what racial group we belong to. Do we blame the school for that though? To some degree yes and to another no. Pennsylvania is a predominantly white state. So it only makes sense that this school reflects that. However, the school chooses how many people of each racial group to accept, so why the large number for whites? Why can’t that number come down a little? Why are we secluding Asians, Native Americans, African Americans, etc. from coming to this school? Maybe it is because there aren’t a lot of applicants in these groups but there are more in the white category. (pt 1) Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:36:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/what-do-you-think-of-the-diversity-at-penn-state-119-blog/#IDComment135849406 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/scholarships-for-white-men/#IDComment132489892 We are both in college and it is tough for my parents to have to pay for two tuitions. However, I’m not going to complain that scholarship organizations are secluding other groups. People out there are suffering more than me, and if they need that money whether your black or white, then take it. I am in school and I will be in school and I’ll end up with a ton of debt (considering the fact that I have to go to grad school). So I’m getting by. But people like Tammy’s son who is hardly getting by needs that money more than me. No one should complain that this organization is choosing white males only. (pt3) Fri, 4 Mar 2011 23:26:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/scholarships-for-white-men/#IDComment132489892 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/scholarships-for-white-men/#IDComment132489858 We saw that video in class about Tammy and how her son works hard because he wants to go to college. Just because we assume that he has “white privilege”, he doesn’t. He is down in the dumps too and for him to receive that financial assistance from this particular scholarship would help a lot. Who doesn’t want free money? In handing out scholarships, if you want to single out races, that is fine. I don’t think it is right to single out a specific gender though. Who is to say that a white man has more difficulty than a white woman? If you are going to make a specific scholarship to white men, that same organization should make a specific scholarship to white women as well. In the video clip, I agreed with the man’s statement that the minority group are people who have money and the majority are people who don’t have the money to pay for school. Am I better off than most people? Sure. But do my parents face financial difficulties? Yes. I don’t receive any scholarships and neither does my sister. (pt2) Fri, 4 Mar 2011 23:26:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/scholarships-for-white-men/#IDComment132489858