Stuff White People Like

[Doot]

Ok, upon initial glance I took this blog personally. Then I took a step back to realize why I was upset. I didn't like feeling cubbyholed by someone's perception of what my skin color says about me and others who share my pigmentation.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

I could go through the list and feel pretty upset that someone would (regardless of their ethnicity) create such a list in what comes off as condescending. Then I look again, yeah I do like coffee, and yes I like Mos Def, and I'll be damned if I like about 90% of the hip hop music they listed as the top picks for white people.

What's crazy is I felt, after reading that blog, that I needed to justify the entries that did pertain to things I enjoy. While not 100% on par with the author, they pegged a large percent of stuff I felt actually fit.

Then I took another step back. What is the purpose of this blog? Satire or examination. Was it written in a tongue in cheek type of manner or really is an observation of the white stereotype? So that makes me question stereotypes even more. When are they funny? Why are they funny? When are they appropriate?

The short answer is: they aren't. No matter how much in jest you address a stereotype, someone will be hurt by it. I've dealt with discrimination for being a woman, for being plus sized, for being short, for being born in Germany and yes, for being white in particular settings. It's just a small fraction of what I've witnessed others being discriminated against for being Black, Mexican, Jewish, Asian, older in age, etc.

The sad part is that stereotypes don't ever seem to go away. As long as there is some sort of superiority felt by one person over another, they will thrive. I know there are some teachers who conduct classroom experiments so that they an teach about discrimination at an early age and have children try and comprehend that it's not a good thing.

While the blog isn't exactly discriminatory, it certainly feeds a stereotype. I'm pretty light hearted about it and a little embarrassed I took it so personally at first.

[Ming]

I read through a lot of it, and while I couldn't read all of the explanations written after each entry (because I'm at work), I can tell you that I feel partially offended. Not because some self-righteous and pretentious "minority" decided it would be "funny" to take shots at white people, but because nearly everything he claims white people "like" I actually don't like, and because I've experienced a multitude of "minorities" liking the same things. I don't appreciate being lumped into a group of people that I cannot stand equally as much as this guy cannot stand.

And another thing, if you have a problem with white people, then do something to better your own life instead of trying to put down someone else's in a way that you're allowed to get away with solely based on the fact that you are NOT white. Heaven forbid a white guy decides to write a blog about "Thing Black People Like" or "Things Spanish People Like". Even if it's harmless and for humor (like this apparently is), the Reverend Al will be knocking down your door accusing you of racism.

[GAAZ]

I sent this to one of my black-ish friends at work and she laughed her ass off all the way through.

#65 Co-Ed Sports
#62 Knowing what’s best for poor people
#58 Japan
#54 Kitchen Gadgets
#53 Dogs
#37 Renovations
#34 Architecture
#31 Snowboarding

I'm like 8 out of 69+

And yes I'm not a big fan of the Daily Show or Colbert report. I'll watch it if it's on but don't go out of my way to watch it.

Some of the stuff on the list I Dig IE Prius and Co-Op markets...But again I don't shop there but I like the idea.

Also I only like Japan cause I like lights. I've been to Vegas and didn't care for the shows, the gambling, or the food. However, I LOVED the lights.

[Ming]

I re-read though a lot of them, and I think my initial response may have been a bit harsh. It does strike a bit of a chord still, but I can see the humor in it all. Regardless, I think I'm going to work on a "Stuff Black People Like" list. I'd be interested to see if a double-standard really does exist.

[reaper]

They got me on #11 Asian Girls...god damned yellow fever

I thought it was pretty funny personally. If this were a Dave Chapelle stand up routine you'd love it.

[Sciler]

Ones that apply to me:
#2 - Religions that thier parent's dont belong to - (seems to apply more to young white people than older white people) "White people will often say they are “spiritual” but not religious." This is pretty true for me...and I dont take it as a negative.
#7 - Diversity - This is a bad thing? LOL
#11 - Asian Girls - Well, change it to guys and yep
#13 - Tea - Yep, I do loves my teas
#14 - Having Black Friends - I guess I can be included in this one, though I dont discriminate from any friends lol, regardless of race. Black, White, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet, etc. I could care less....this kind of goes with diversity a bit though IMO.
#15 - Yoga - Yoga is pretty nice and relaxing and it makes you move and stretch.
#19 - Traveling - Who doesnt like to see the world?
#29 - 80's Night - Many a good times had at 80's night
#39 Netflix - Hells yeah! NO shame in my game
#42 - Sushi - Yum! I'm still a nub to it but I have my favorites
#49 - Vintage - antiques are awesome, i thank my gramma for me liking these
#52 - Sarah Silverman - I like her show and when shes being interviewed, her stand up is touch and go with me
#54 - Kitchen Gadgets - I do love me kitchen stuffs
#55 - Appologies - no shame in admitting you're wrong when you are
#58 - Japan - its a facinating place/culture
#72 - Study abroad - I would have loved to actually
#76 - Bottles of water - since FL water blows, yeah =\ but in GA I always drank from the tap =P lol
#78 - Multilingual children - I would learn to know more than 1 myself!

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I dunno, maybe I jsut didnt let it get to me since its just someone's opinion/perspective, but I have no shame in "the things white people like". I didnt know that liking the stuff above is seen as "bad" by some people...if anything, I feel bad for them that they are so closed minded, that they are unable to enjoy a lot of what life has to offer.

Its thier loss and my gain lol

[RivaOni]

It strikes me as more of a "yeah we're just generalising here" because I know of black people who are into many of those things. Hell, I went to school with a guy who was exactly like Carlton Banks!

[Shandriz]

Recycling...Asian Food..Wrigley Field (even though I've never been there)...Writer's Workshops... those are the only ones I found that I liked. xDDD I guess I'm not a very good white person.

[SirGunslinger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw

[Silver Adept]

NPR had the person who created the blog on one of their shows earlier in the week, and he said it was supposed to be an OTT sort of satire - a way of making fun of stuff "white people" like. My problem is that it's written well enough that it's tough to figure out whether the person was serious or not.