So if Obama loses - its all because or racism....

[CaptainHaplo]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I would go as far to say that it is individuals such as yourself that put the political slant on things. Frankly, you are going through a lot of mental gymnastics in a number of posts here to do so.

Forgive me Takeda, but that is a bit of a double standard - don't you think?

You stated that a conclusion drawn from an inferrence drawn from another inferrence is somehow laudable - when the results state that "whites" - aka non-blacks - are racist.

Yet when I show a clear, logical line from the researcher to the administration and a proposed purpose behind the results presented - I somehow am doing " a lot of mental gymnastics"?

Fact: Obama's poll numbers are continuing to decline.
Fact: Many Democratic pundits are openly critical of his campaign and his chances of winning.
Fact: "Research" claiming that a significant portion of "white" America is racist is released by a left leaning researcher with a connection to Team Obama.
Fact: Such "research" is then publicly held up by multiple left leaning media outlets.

Conclusion????

Draw your own - I did and stand by mine. At the least, my conclusion is supported by a lot more fact and a lot less "mental gymnastics" than the conclusions presented in the research paper by Seth Stevens-Davidowitz.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

Forgive me Takeda, but that is a bit of a double standard - don't you think?

You stated that a conclusion drawn from an inferrence drawn from another inferrence is somehow laudable - when the results state that "whites" - aka non-blacks - are racist.

Yet when I show a clear, logical line from the researcher to the administration and a proposed purpose behind the results presented - I somehow am doing " a lot of mental gymnastics"?

Fact: Obama's poll numbers are continuing to decline.
Fact: Many Democratic pundits are openly critical of his campaign and his chances of winning.
Fact: "Research" claiming that a significant portion of "white" America is racist is released by a left leaning researcher with a connection to Team Obama.
Fact: Such "research" is then publicly held up by multiple left leaning media outlets.

Conclusion????

Draw your own - I did and stand by mine. At the least, my conclusion is supported by a lot more fact and a lot less "mental gymnastics" than the conclusions presented in the research paper by Seth Stevens-Davidowitz.

It is not a double standard. You response is a typical one that polemics hold toward academics. Your line is only clear because you wish it to be. This student posted findings that you do not like. You, therefore, take it upon yourself to credit or discredit the argument as you see fit. Academics take this a par for the course. It is, to be honest, a typical anti-intellectual response that has become a mainstay of right-wing politics over the past 20 years or so. I like you, and I think you are a good guy, so I will beg your pardon if I do not take it seriously.

You stated that a conclusion drawn from an inferrence drawn from another inferrence is somehow laudable - when the results state that "whites" - aka non-blacks - are racist.

Yet it doesn't state that at all
Is there anything Haplo can come up with on this that will stand at all?

Oh - and as for the "methods" being very good - even the writer admits one of my points:
"Throughout this paper I refer to non-blacks, including Hispanics and Asians, rather imprecisely, as whites. *A footnote attached to the paper.

Precisely define whites
More importantly define it in a way that excludes both hispanics and asians.
Even better, define it in a way that also excludes africans.

Why does the objectation over a problem of identification seemingly by pigmentation make an unsavoury implication about the people making the issue?
Perhaps the next study could add those sort of people to the ones which object to "inter-racial marriage" to give a better regional breakdown for comparing the figures.

Fact: "Research" claiming that a significant portion of "white" America is racist is released by a left leaning researcher with a connection to Team Obama.

Good point, it wouldn't take "research" or even much research. It is an undeniable fact that a significant proportion of people are racists

[CaptainHaplo]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

It is a double standard. You response is a typical one that academics hold toward polemics. Your line is only clear because you wish it to be. This student posted findings that you do like. You, therefore, take it upon yourself to credit or discredit the argument as you see fit. Regular folks take this a par for the course. It is, to be honest, a typical "intellectual, nuanced" response that has become a mainstay of left-wing politics over the past 20 years or so. I like you, and I think you are a good guy, so I will beg your pardon if I do not take it seriously. *Quote edited to prove a point*

Takeda - we could go back and forth on this all day playing the "well this side always sees the other side like X" game. It won't get us closer to agreement.

The thing is - I don't think its unreasonable to say that 3% of the population is racist enough to consider that as one reason not to vote for Obama. My issue is the basis for the claim is based of incomplete information and makes a number of generalizations that are totally unsupported by the data. To say that race could be a factor for 3-5% is fine - to say that it is THE factor IF Obama losses - by a 3-5% margin is totally off the wall, political and divisive. Given the link between the researcher and the established power on the left, is skepticism and critical thinking somehow uncalled for?

My point was the study appears - to the naked eye - highly political in its intent and usage. We can agree to disagree on it. I am fine with that. But its hardly consistent to call my point of view mental gymnastics when compared to this study.

[0rpheus]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...ash-us-economy


Just to throw some... er... petrol on the fire!