How so? I know that when I am being accused of being something that I am not, I get kind of pissed. Especially when someone is using it to dismiss something that I say.

I don't like chicklet teeth.

My soul wants to dance, but my body gets in the way.....Sunshine

(My best original thought)

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if someone called you a racist and you knew they were full of shit, why would it bother you? who cares what someone who's full of shit thinks (especially in the context of an internet forum)? seems to me like it would bother me more if i really WAS racist and got called out on it.

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"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine

I agree with melanie - I'd be bothered by a false accusation and I'd probably take steps to confront my accuser, especially on a public forum.

If someone accuses you of something - isn't your silence perceived by some as admittance of guilt?

If I'm accused by a moron and everyone knows the accuser is a moron, you're right, there is no need to give their nonsense any credence.

That's not always the case though.

^keep in mind when i say "defensive" i mean getting worked up and irritated and lashing out at the accuser. if i know i'm not racist, and i know i haven't been acting racist, then when someone calls me racist i know that they're just going to look stupid. now alternatively, if i don't think i'm racist, but subconsciously know that i have said/done/thought about some racist stuff, i'm going to be a lot more worried about someone calling me out in front of others and am going to be more inclined to try and defend myself. alternatively to THAT if i do in fact know that i am racist but have been trying to hide it for whatever reason, then i will DEFINITELY get more defensive and try to refute the accuser's claim before people start to realize how true it is.

a good example: do skinny people get as offended as obese people if you call them fat? in my experience, people who are obese are much more sensitive to jabs at their appearance than healthy-looking people.

i guess some people care more about what others think than i do, but to each his own...especially on an anonymous internet forum.

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"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine

another example: let's say poster A and poster B are having an argument with poster C about race.

/scene

poster C: B and C are both racists

poster A: i am not a racist. that's ridiculous.

poster B: OMG poster A i can't believe you would ever call me a racist. I have been posting on this board for years and have never said ONE RACIST THING EVER to anyone. i have several black friends and they always tell me how cool i am and that i'm not racist at all. you are an idiot and deserve to be shot if you think i am a racist!!!!11

/scene

which poster above do you think is most likely to hold some deep down racist sentiments in their heart?

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"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine

Yes, amazingly enough Captain Obvious, people think and perceive things differently from one another.

That's why they are called individuals.

^whoa cool it with the malciousness there, cowboy, no need to take offense.

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"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine

See, this is where perception comes into play. I didn't post what I said with any malicious intent at all.

Just light sarcasm.

you're so smart.

p.s. if you didn't have any malicious intent there was really no reason for you to make that post referring to me as "Captain Obvious"

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"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine

back on topic:

i bought my first new car today.

pretty happy about it. carmax ftw.

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"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine

Then you picked the wrong place to live, San Diego has the largest Reggae following outside of Jamaica. Or at least that is what I have read...

The reason was sarcasm.

Captain Oblivious...

I think I would like to try pink hair on myself for a day...

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Diamonds are nice and so are pearls but nothing is sweeter than Southern girls.