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[PSqueak]

Racist?

I don't see how.

Tho once in highschool back at my old town we got a transfer kid from Thailand and one girl playfully ruffled his hair once and he looked at her with murderous eyes and it turns out culturally that was a huge invasion of personal space in Thailand, as he explained, "comparable to having grabbed him by the dick".

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

Invading personal space simply because someone of a different ethnicity or gender has something "exotic" to you is generally prejudice. You're assuming that you have the right to fondle something "different" that "other cultures" have.

Is it a lot less vague than asking "where you are from"? Yes. But it's still in the general ballpark.

 

[Hoho for breakfast]

What the fuck...?

My opinion on touching hair (which doesn't include race): don't even think of touching a womans head unless she specifically wants you to. Ever.

And I imagine the same goes for guys. Personally I might get slightly annoyed but if you feel compelled to touch my hair I'm not going to throw a fit. I've only ever had a couple girls ask and I let them. Just ask first.

 

[WaterAstro]

Whoa it's racist? I mean, it's disrespectful in general unless the person you're touch the hair of is in an intimate relationship with you.

That's interesting to know. Obviously, I don't touch random people's hair anyway.

 

[JordanN]

There is history of another race literally treating us like zoo animals.

By the way, that picture is from 1958.

 

[Darryl M R]

Racist?

I don't see how.

Tho once in highschool back at my old town we got a transfer kid from Thailand and one girl playfully ruffled his hair once and he looked at her with murderous eyes and it turns out culturally that was a huge invasion of personal space in Thailand, as he explained, "comparable to having grabbed him by the dick".

That's a huge invasion of personal space in most, perhaps non-white, spaces.

 

[sooperkool]

How is it racist or why is it racist? If you're attending a hair touching exchange meeting, do you. If you're walking up to various minorities, with whom you have no relationship, prepare for the shit you're asking for

because people don't ask. They reach out and touch like I'm not a person just some object for them to fondle

 

[L Thammy]

I honestly did not know that this was a thing.

 

[ajim]

is anyone trying to touch a white person's hair

I got this a lot living and working in south Africa. They liked my light brown fluffy straightish hair. Lol.

 

[Supermanisdead]

This is a mess. Educate yourself.

 

[theWB27]

Also, why can't I say it?

Damn shum...

 

[Noobcraft]

is anyone trying to touch a white person's hair

I've had men and women ask to touch my hair (white guy with curly hair). It's weird.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

There is history of another race literally treating us like zoo animals.

By the way, that picture is from 1958.

Tell em.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Did you read the OP? Someone else is touching my hair and my natural response is to do so back, but due to posts like yours it makes me feel awkward. Meaning, I do not touch anyone elses hair. I just take it.

Your OP did not make that clear.

 

[TaterTots]

This sounds like a YMMV sort of thing. I don't think I have ever in my life seen a Black person solicit touching the hair of a White person.

I have, however, experienced the reverse quite often.

I'm not sure what a YMMV is, but for whatever its worth, it is happening to me constantly with this one person at least.

 

[Hoho for breakfast]

is anyone trying to touch a white person's hair

Yes.

because people don't ask. They reach out and touch like I'm not a person just some object for them to fondle

That's completely fucked up (not asking) but I don't know why you would just assume racism? I imagine if I were a racist I wouldn't want anything to do with your hair.

 

[RiccochetJ]

I think it depends on context. The person could have an absolutely magnificent hair and you just want to fuzzy. Just for a brief moment.

 

[B_Spooky13]

Well there's difference on why your touching the hair and who's hair your touching. I mean if its out of affection or helping some fix a piece of hair of friends.. Okay cool.

But if you're going up asking to touch someone's hair to feel the texture from a different race cause you are curious? You need to get hit

 

[ryutaro's mama]

I'm not sure what a YMMV is, but for whatever its worth, it is happening to me constantly with this one person at least.

Your Mileage May Vary, meaning, your situation may be unique to that of others.

I think it depends on context. The person could have an absolutely magnificent hair and you just want to fuzzy. Just for a brief moment.

Again, removing race, someone's hair isn't a prop in your life movie.

 

[PSqueak]

Your OP did not make that clear.

I've seen a ridiculous amount of comments on the internet about touching hair being racist. Back story, I have a co worker who loves hair and always asks people if she can touch their hair. I wanted to do so back, but did not for fear of it being racist. Through time I've been taught to feel as though its wrong to do so, but if someone asks to touch your hair can I not ask to do so back?(she has beautiful hair btw.)

Yes it did.

 

[Darryl M R]

I'm not sure what a YMMV is, but for whatever its worth, it is happening to me constantly with this one person at least.

I can tell you don't practice self-education. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=YMMV

 

[wandering]

It's not that the touching in and of itself is racist, it's that there's a lot of sociohistorical baggage particularly when it comes to the way black people's hair has been treated in the West. It's not that different from the "Where are you from?" deal. The act itself is not necessarily inherently racist, the social context around it complicates it.

 

[Kid Ying]

Don't think it's racist at all. People want to feel my hair some times and i have no problem with that.

I also don't feel like a pet either. Never though about it.

 

[Korey]

I've seen a ridiculous amount of comments on the internet about touching hair being racist. Back story, I have a co worker who loves hair and always asks people if she can touch their hair. I wanted to do so back, but did not for fear of it being racist. Through time I've been taught to feel as though its wrong to do so, but if someone asks to touch your hair can I not ask to do so back?(she has beautiful hair btw.)

Ok so...I guess I'll explain it like you're five.

This happens disproportionately to black people, especially black women.

Black people have different hair than most other races, so some people (racist or not) find it curious and ask if they can touch it. As if black people have some mysterious exotic features.

Black people don't need to go through life having people asking to touch their hair every five minutes.

So it's not RACIST per se, but it's very rude and disrespectful.

And Black Women are shamed for their hair, and held to different standards. The hot comb is damn near a torture device

And this. Western society values straight hair so a lot of black women are pressured to chemically change their hair or wear wigs. See Beyonce, Michelle Obama, etc...almost no black female celebrity will wear their natural hair.

 

[cryptosporidium]

I was banging a black girl and made the mistake of grabbing her hair. She got angry and scolded me for doing it, was hilarious.

comment of the year

 

[UnemployedVillain]

It's too late for this shit.

Haha I legit thought I don't even want to get into this either

 

[Sch1sm]

Because I'm not a fucking pet.

This.

---

Often, people ask, and then they're already doing it before I can even answer. I'm not here to satiate someone's curiousity. ¯_(&#12484_/¯

There's also the fact that black hair types don't take well to being messed with.

 

[TaterTots]

Your OP did not make that clear.

I posted, "I have a co worker who loves hair and always asks people if she can touch their hair. I wanted to do so back, but did not for fear of it being racist. Through time I've been taught to feel as though its wrong to do so, but if someone asks to touch your hair can I not ask to do so back?(she has beautiful hair btw.)"

I thought that was pretty straightforward, but I guess not given the responses. .

 

[Slayven]

Ok so...I guess I'll explain it like you're five.

This happens disproportionately to black people, especially black women.

Black people have different hair than most other races, so some people (racist or not) find it curious and ask if they can touch it.

Black people don't need to go through life having people asking to touch their hair every five minutes.

So it's not RACIST per se, but it's very rude and disrespectful.

And Black Women are shamed for their hair, and held to different standards. The hot comb is damn near a torture device

 

[Nepenthe]

Why are there so many threads about black people's boundaries today?

Anyway, it makes us feel like attractions in a petting zoo. It's weird more often than not.

 

[Cyframe]

White kids/teens/adults would do this when I had an afro, if they even asked (they usually didn't), sigh

 

[Darryl M R]

And Black Women are shamed for their hair, and held to different standards. The hot comb is damn near a torture device

But there is no shaming if the Kardashians and those white chicks at Coachelle wear braids that are meant to be a protective hairstyle of people of color.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

And Black Women are shamed for their hair, and held to different standards. The hot comb is damn near a torture device

As is relaxer but the standards of European beauty tell Black women their natural hair ain't shit.

-_____-

 

[bluethree]

Because I'm not a fucking pet.

One and done. Seriously how the fuck can you not understand this.

 

[Sparrowhawk]

Why are there so many threads about black people's boundaries today?

Anyway, it makes us feel like attractions in a petting zoo. It's weird more often than not.

The person in question asked to touch OP's hair. Does that mean that by asking to touch theirs in return, they're racist or something? So many people are just taking it entirely out of context, like OP is just going up to a random black person on the street and grabbing their hair.

 

[Shanlei91]

People are gross and should keep their hands to themselves.

is anyone trying to touch a white person's hair

White women get pet like dolls when visiting Asian countries.

 

[TaterTots]

I can tell you don't practice self-education. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=YMMV

We're on a forum engaging in conversation where I'm trying to learn from my fellow GAFers. Must I Google everything and end the discussion? Just read the OP.

 

[Astral Dog]

I've seen a ridiculous amount of comments on the internet about touching hair being racist. Back story, I have a co worker who loves hair and always asks people if she can touch their hair. I wanted to do so back, but did not for fear of it being racist. Through time I've been taught to feel as though its wrong to do so, but if someone asks to touch your hair can I not ask to do so back?(she has beautiful hair btw.)

It can be creepy,annoying,fun or weird.

But NOT racist.thats dumb

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Yes it did.

I didn't get it but that's fine...my mistake.

 

[LotusHD]

Haha I legit thought I don't even want to get into this either

No, we need more threads

 

[Slayven]

We're on a forum engaging in conversation where I'm trying to learn from my fellow GAFers. Must I Google everything and end the discussion? Just read the OP.

OP:"Educate me"

*information*

Op:"Do a little dance and do it the right way"

Actually if you google "black hair racism" you will bring up a host of information

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Your coworker is straight up weird. No, you can't touch my hair, you sick freak.

And, no, don't ask to touch a black person's hair. Though if your coworker is already all up in yours, then it would seem OK to reciprocate if that's what you really want to do. Fair is fair.

But, good grief, why in the world does she want to touch someone's hair? No. No no no. No. Stop it.

 

[Darryl M R]

We're on a forum engaging in conversation where I'm trying to learn from my fellow GAFers. Must I Google everything and end the discussion? Just read the OP.

You can continue to engage in all the conversations you want while being willfully ignorant or purposefully dense by not making the effort to look up a topic before you post.


See the post below that explains how you look like a fool.

OP:"Educate me"

*information*

Op:"Do a little dance and do it the right way"

 

[TaterTots]

Why are there so many threads about black people's boundaries today?

Anyway, it makes us feel like attractions in a petting zoo. It's weird more often than not.

I'm the petting zoo in this situation. She is always asking if its ok to touch my hair. Point of the thread is, is it OK for me to do so back or ask?

 

[Mr. Patch]

A lot of it is people (often people you aren't cool with like that) feeling entitled to invade your personal space just because they think your hair is cool.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Do you generally walk up to women and ask to touch their breasts? Their face? Do you walk up to them and sniff them? No, why?

 

[Astral Dog]

because people don't ask. They reach out and touch like I'm not a person just some object for them to fondle

But you are cutre

 

[TaterTots]

You can continue to engage in all the conversations you want while being willfully ignorant or purposefully dense by not making the effort to look up a topic before you post.


See the post below that explains how you look like a fool.

People have already came into this thread and pointed out what I said. Not sure what you're getting at. I'M the one who's hair is being touched and I'm trying to find out if it would be wrong to do so back. I'm not initiating it.

 

[dejay]

When I first buzzed my hair I had heaps of people touching it (I'm white and this was maybe 15 years ago when short hair was less common). They were friends/workmates/family though and they either asked or we had established boundaries.

I don't see it as inherently racist - some of the motivations around may be in some, or even most situations, but not all. People are curious. There's no reason for strangers to ask this though, just like there's no reasons for strangers to ask to touch your baby or your pregnancy bump.

 

[Slayven]

People have already came into this thread and pointed out what I said. Not sure what you're getting at. I'M the one who's hair is being touched and I'm trying to find out if it would be wrong to do so back. I'm not initiating it.

If you don't want your hair touched tell her to stop.