I notice everybody keeps using the word "tolerance". I fucking hate it when people use that word in a context such as this. Just because you tolerate someone doesn't mean you necessarily hate them any less. For such forward thinking people, shouldn't we update our vocabulary to match?

Eric, as for your micro/macro point, it seems pretty self evident (to me at least) that shit ain't gonna get done at a macro level when things still haven't been worked out at the micro level. If I can't love my neighbour, how do I love a stranger? That's a helluva jump. Realistically I think you gotta take it one step at a time. This is a psychological revolution that has to be waged, and as such it has to be accomplished on a personal level. Granted, we've still got a long way to go if my notion of taboo irrelevancy holds true. While I may feel comfortable saying what I will around my friends, never would I dare say such things outside that environment.

Besides which, I'm not entirely convinced that this macro-racism you suggest is racism at all. I would argue that your examples have much more to do with a far more general altruistic deficiency (a problem that is no less significant!) than anything that pertains to racist intention.

How do you know it isn't my brother doing it? He spends a lot of time on this computer. Or maybe I'm just bored.

You know, Al, just because IP's aren't displayed, doesn't mean they aren't being recorded. I can still check exactly who is writing what...

How the hell is he using my Ualberta account to store his picture? Have I been hacked?!

What!? who's the fuck that's been messing with my icon?!!

Didn't you read:

two things to point out in our politics of representation discussion:

1. i think one of the main reasons why we should be so tolerant of one another is because we're all (generally) of: the same intellect, same age, same socioeconomic class, and upbringing. change one or several of these factors and i think tolerence has a knack for being the first to be compromised.

2. though i find our discussion on Micro level racism fascinating i often notice that Macro level racism is largely ignored or not put forth into discussion. Macro meaning the notion of the binary opposition between the West/ and Arabs (lumped with) Muslims, Macro meaning the international allowence for genocide in Africa, the acceptance and neglect of child prostitues in Tailand dying from AIDS, the prison industrial economy that is thriving in the USA on the systematic imprisonment of Blacks. the racism here points very much to the above, in the difference between socio economic status as understood as a lower GNP. while here we fight amongst ourselves over the notions of whether or not over sensitivity to racism is beaten to death- on the micro side, hells yes it has. but on the macro side it falls deathly silent.

for those in liberal arts hell:

Submit your Application for Degree form (available from the Faculty of Arts, Undergraduate Student Services Office, 6-7 Humanities) as soon as possible. The deadline to apply for Spring 2005 convocation is February 01, but students are encouraged to apply early (by November 08) to ensure that their programs have been checked well in advance of the beginning of Winter term.

Who: You - yes, you!
What: Live [Taped] Daily Show: Prelude to a Recount
Where: Andy's House
When: 10:00 - 11:00 (a two hour delay because Jeremy and Beck hate freedom have class)
Why: Because TV is your one true God