No, I don't feel any tension.

Honestly, I do. I don't live in a diverse environment at all, and I'm not used to interacting with minorities. It's not like I'm racist, I just don't have much experience with it is all.

I often find myself acting overly nice to minorities, I guess to prove I'm not a racist. But then I wonder if that's a form of racism in itself?

Negative. All races are useless and should be dealt with accordingly.

No, I don't worry about those kind of things.

Most of the people I know are minorities, so I think that kind of tension would drive me insane.

Yes, in fact I do.
Theres 3 indian lads in my chem and bio classes, I just dont wanna say anything that could be even the slightest bit offensive!
At the same time I can say anything to Joe and Jude, 2 lads from Kenya who are fairly good friends of mine...

no, i treat everyone the same when i meet them

I always have, it's really silly but i just can't help it

Not really. I grew up in a neighbourhood where white people were a minority, so I got a good grounding on how to communicate with people of different races at a very young age.

Generally, no. I may feel this way occasionally when interacting with people from a culture I know little about, but this doesn't happen often. There's no reason to be incredibly nervous because even if I do say something offensive, the worst that can happen is that I'll be expected to apologize; and I'm certainly not above doing that.

"Now a provocative new study from Northwestern University suggests that whites who are particularly worried about appearing racist seem to suffer from anxiety that instinctively may cause them to avoid interaction with blacks in the first place."

Aah, so that's why white women are crossing the street when they see a black guy walking towards them from the opposite direction. Now I know.

I don't get nervous. Since I'm not racist, I won't say anything offensive because I won't mean anything offensive. If someone gets offended by something I say, it's their own fault, not mine.

I don't think I would ever say anything to offend a person of another race but I always call African-Americans "African-American" because I don't know how some people might take it though most are relaxed about it.

No, but I do feel that way when I have to interact with religious people.

I feel tension whenever i talk to someone no matter what race they are.

No tension at all.

Haha no, I've never even thought of that before.

On Sunday 10/26/08 - 12:28:23 AM heatherlw wrote: No, but I do feel that way when I have to interact with religious people.

But I have in this situation. Some people are just offended by EVERYthing.

No, I honestly feel more comfortable around black people than others.

No, I feel tension when dealing with anyone because I have to act and I don't like acting.

Not unless they're a stereotype of that race, which in that case, are usually annoying and there's no reason to care about their feelings anyway.

Only strangers.

But I feel a littler nervous around most strangers - nervous that I'll act out of line.

On Saturday 4/12/08 - 9:04:29 PM Kungfullama wrote: Honestly, I do. I don't live in a diverse environment at all, and I'm not used to interacting with minorities. It's not like I'm racist, I just don't have much experience with it is all.

This. Also, i'm English so i feel the need to apologise to every minority i meet.

Yes, mostly with black people. I think its pretty human to just feel the most comfortable within your group.

I know how stupid & irrational it sounds, but yes

I hope I'll get over it someday.