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In Reply to: Re: Let's get this straight posted by Farmer on December 12, 2007 at 15:44:25:
Did I overreact? You seemed to suggest (even now again) that Latins usually have higher EQ, and are therefore the kind of people you prefer to hang out with. Did I get that right? Are you pro human with a bias for for Latins due to higher EQ? Maybe you are, and that's fine. We all have our biases. I can't tell you who to like or not like and that wasn't what I was trying to do. I just think it's a mistake to judge anyone's abilities (or lack thereof) based on "race." And EQ is normally considered measurement of ability or competence.
Yes, I am sensitive about this topic. I just go through life being too painfully aware that people still run on assumptions about race and nationality, subscribing to various myths and stereotypes. People assume Asians are spiritual from just looking at them; that all blacks can dance or are musically talented, that Germans are all rigid or great organizers, that the French are all spineless cowards, Italians are all bad-tempered, blondes are dumb, Jews are all smart and good business people, the Chinese all know martial arts and are math whizzes, all Gypsies steal and cheat, Latins are all warm and sociable, Americans are always loud, etc. I've met enough people to know it's just not always true, and often not even true at all.
Even compliments along racial lines can actually be insulting. Like saying, "oh you Jews are so good with money," or "you Chinese are so good at passing math tests," or "you Africans are so good at dancing," etc. Such misguided comments detract from the hard work the above individuals may have put in to save, study or practice, making it sound like they get it all for free just from being born a certain race.
Am I 100% without prejudice? No, of course not. No one is. But it doesn't negate my point that it's a mistake to judge abilities or lack of them based on race.
Incidentally, there are "standard" tests devised for measuring EQ and EI, but they are newer to the field than traditional IQ constructs. Here are a few of them:
If you still think I overreacted, perhaps I did. I apologize if I misunderstood you. We're communicating across bulletin boards and have different mother tongues and ways of expressing things.
