Should you be forced to live with anyone who wants to live with you?

[FrodosPet]

OK, so 3 college students wanted to spend less time on dealing with potential roommates who have zero chance of moving in, in exchange for more time studying, sleeping, partying, getting laid, or ???

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028094202

With Donald Trump terrifyingly close to being President of the United States of America, cops killing innocent people of any color, fed cops doing everything possible to protect their phat he-man gigs busting stoner enablers, and at least a thousand and one other issues of higher importance is this really a cause worth attention and effort?

Oy.

[uppityperson]

1. Racism is a real problem, so we shouldn't spend time discussing racism? And it's important enough to

start a new thread to say how unimportant it is?

[FrodosPet]

4. They are not in a power position, so they are not racist

And white people are in no danger of systematically suffering because 3 college students want to feel comfortable in their own home.

Now if a landlord posts something like that, there is a reason to be upset. But people should be able to determine who they share their home with.

[Igel]

8. Do they have the power to decide?

Yup.

But it is power they should have regardless of bigotry, whether white or black or other. Nobody with power over their space should be forced to live with somebody they don't like.

Now, if it's a university-owned facility, that's different.

As for deciding oppressor status based on skin color, that's like saying ability level, morality, or initiative level can be determined by skin color. Those making such judgements might say otherwise, but it doesn't make it so.

[uppityperson]

9. I'm not talking institution so racism but individual. Anyone is capable of being racist

no matter the power position. Doing something different because of race is racism. Your position that it's only "ism" if it's something in a position of power is silly.

[Humanist_Activist]

10. Uhm, that's not true, racism is bigotry and prejudice based on race. n/t

[mwrguy]

2. No, I shouldn't be forced to live with my oppressors

[TipTok]

3. I will say that it's nice when bigots and racists self identify like that....

All of that aside, they sound like terrible roommates. Someone dodged a bullet.

[bhikkhu]

5. Should you be forced to ride a bus with people you don't want to ride a bus with?

Or eat at a lunch counter? Those are the equivalencies that first come to mind, but a minute of thought and the big difference appears: there is private life, and there is public life. In public racism is not legally tolerated. Our private lives are our own, and even a private life shared with roommates is still a private life. People are allowed to be bigots and racists in their private life, and we can be disappointed in them, we can pity them, but we can't pass laws about it.

Probably there are many more nuances and qualifications, but the distinction between what is public and private should be the central argument.

[FrodosPet]

6. This!

What they did could be considered rude or tacky, but on the other hand, they are saving themselves and others a lot of time and effort.

And if it pisses off a few overprivileged white bigots:

[Yo_Mama]

11. But this is not the law in the US - discrimination on the basis of race/ethnicity,

religion, etc is prohibited:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/FHLaws/yourrights

They appear to have done something illegal:

In Addition: It is illegal for anyone to:

Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right
Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing that is otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

[FrodosPet]

15. So, the best solution is, don't tell anyone you are doing it

Just do it!

If someone you don't want as a roommate applies, do everything in your power, without violating the law, to let them know they are not welcome.

[bhikkhu]

17. If that's the correct reading of the law, you are right

I was under the impression that a person renting a room in their own house was free to discriminate by race, based on the public versus private divide. So renting a room is a commercial activity and subject to anti-discrimination laws, which is fine with me.

I do think the courts threw a wrench in that with the religious freedom loophole, as every kind of bigotry can be justified by some interpretation or other of judeo-christian religion.

[FLPanhandle]

7. They will probably be the first to bitch about others being bigoted towards them too.

Maybe they should look in the mirror before complaining.

[JI7]

13. you don't think black people fave bigotry in everyday life more than white ?s

[Humanist_Activist]

12. I would say no, but you also have to face the societal consequences of airing...

your racism in public.

[JI7]

14. majority of white people are supporting trump for president

[Warren DeMontague]

16. when I was put in the dorms in college, whoever did the matchups had no understanding of any music

beyond, apparently, whatever lame shit was playing on the top 40 dance station at the time.

But unfortunately that was the criteria they used to match people with each other. So I, saying that I liked "The Grateful Dead", got stuck with the Death Metal guy.