Is it racist to judge people based on where they live

After spending 5 weeks in India I have since developed what is perhaps a form of racism towards people that live in India. For those of you who don't know there is an extremely low number of people there that don't "look indian".
These judgements do not apply however to an Indian person living in America, a French person of Indian decent, even an Indian person that I learn has traveled or works for a western company.
I don't believe that my judgements are always correct, and are not all negative but I definitely make assumptions if I know a person has lived their entire life there as the culture is so different. I also know this is wrong and I still shouldn't ever assume before meeting someone but its true now. I want to know because it is only Indians that live there is it still racist?

Not exactly Racist (comment what its called) 7
Racist 2
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 9 )
  • bubsy

    It's called common sense. Judging someone based on their culture and environment will never be 100% accurate, but stereotypes exist for a reason.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • _Mehhhh_

      I agree.

      I think you have to give people a chance to show themselves and not act on your judgments, but at the same time stereotypes don't come from thin air. If you've got a country where women and LGBT people aren't well respected and don't have a lot of rights, it's not unreasonable to assume a person (as a product of that culture) feels that way. That's just an example.

      That said I don't think India is that bad, relatively speaking, compared to a lot of other countries ("Islamic countries" in particular). Also I don't think there's such thing as "looking Indian". Indians have incredible range of features and skintones.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • rayb12

        what does a variety of appearances have to do with something looking a certain way? It can be as diverse as possible so long as not to be confused with something else and is just as distinguishable. Additionally there is no need to put Islamic countries in quotations, Islam is typically the religion of 90% in cases like Indonesia to 99%+ in Saudi Arabia. Islam is also typically heavily built into government. But such a generalization can't be made, for a while Iran was performing more gender reassignment surgeries than anywhere else except maybe United States. For gay and women yes, although I'd much rather be gay in an Islamic country than Uganda or Jamaica.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • _Mehhhh_

          You can be Indian and look more Pakistani, more Bangladeshi, more Middle Eastern, or in less common cases even look European or African. There is literally that much range to Indian features. Yes most might have a "typical" look I guess but it's not that distinguishable.

          Iran has so many gender reassignment surgeries because it FORCES gays into it so they blend in society more. Also arguing that it is a relatively progressive country just because it lets trans people exist, while it also executes gays who act on their sexuality, is a piss-poor argument. With Islam it's not about individual Muslims being bad people. It's just too politicised a religion, and until people learn that and push for secular reform there will continue to be atrocities in its name. Same goes for Christianity in Uganda, but that's like one of a few rare examples of "Christian countries" that are still too theocratic these days.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
            -
          • rayb12

            _Mehhhh_ listen to your own arguments. You're telling me there's no such thing as looking Indian, but a person can look European or African?? Lol

            My original post had nothing to do with justice towards LGBT people.

            Islam is a political religion. It having political power is in the Quran.

            You make so many assertions here I never made or you misrepresent reality.

            The treatment of gays and of transgender people are separate issues it is inaccurate to use the acronym LGBT if you are referring only to gays.

            Letting a person exist is different from performing a surgery. Iran is one of the best places to be trans along with Thailand and some western countries.

            I never claimed it was a relatively progressive country. I was countering your assertion that Islamic countries don't offer rights to LGBT people, in the example of trans people in Iran.

            I also was providing that in other non-Islamic countries the treatment of gays is worse. I will also add parts of Russia to that list.

            You going on to pontificate about it not being "individual Muslims being bad people" and the role of religion I'm government has nothing to do with anything I've said in my original post or points I've made after.

            If you'd like to showcase your political ideas please do them on your own post. If you choose to respond again and are unable to be more reasonable I dont wish to continue this conversation.

            Comment Hidden ( show )
      • bubsy

        I'm guessing OP's five weeks in India is five more weeks than you and I have to judge how good/bad it is over there.

        Of course there's such a thing as "looking Indian". We all have a perception of what an Indian looks like, and subconsciously identify people we meet as an instinct.

        The more exposure you have the more you'll be able to identify North and South Indians (for example), but that only increases your personal definition of "looking Indian".

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • rayb12

          Thank you bubsy.

          Also to expand on the bad. My judgements have nothing to do with treatment of minorities and women. There is certain behavior that by other countries standards is rude, but makes a lot more sense as its often necessary for situations that would only arise in India. This stuff doesn't bother me. But what I do find somewhat irritating is how for some, not all just their way of socializing and building relationships is very different, well meaning, but difficult for me. As for conditions there, most everywhere is very bad.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Nickvey

    i have read the entire country smells like ass. no toilets anywhere

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • rayb12

      This is a nice way of putting it as far as the smell.

      There is far more cow,dog, and monkey shit than human shit in public areas, (never saw human) but this is not the problem.

      There is trash everywhere and seemingly no restrictions on disposal of chemical waste. Often a bus will drive through an area of toxic gas the smell is completely indescribable if you've never smelled it but it is simply something you'd never think is OK to go in your lungs. But it will go on for so long you are forced to inhale it. There becomes a point where simply smelling ass is a huge relief.

      As for toilets there is no water for that in rural areas, anywhere 99.99% of tourists would ever go has toilets

      Comment Hidden ( show )