Public Research: Race

[HerenIstarion]

This is also part of Public Research Project, and deals with the race you belong to.

Race as employed here means:

Lineage, Templeton (1998)

A subspecies (race) is a distinct evolutionary lineage within a species. This definition requires that a subspecies be genetically differentiated due to barriers to genetic exchange that have persisted for long periods of time; that is, the subspecies must have historical continuity in addition to current genetic differentiation

The research is based on self-identification, so in this poll you are allowed to pick more than one category (of course, as in the case of most other polls of the project but relatively 'hramless', this one is also anonymous) As majority of our members are from U.S., the categories themselves are based on 2000 U.S. Census, with the one difference - Hispanic is added to stand as a race (though it generally be considered ethnicity rather than race), but I've decided to follow suit as set in Civilizations (where Latin American was set apart)

You are free to abstain from posting, yet are welcome to post in the thread if you feel inclined to. Of course, as in all threads of the project, comparative discussion of races is strictly prohibited. Any post hinting at something with a slightest tint of 'superiority/inferiority' in it will be personally negatively rated by me. I will also apply to authorities to have the author temporarily (the spell depends on weight of offence) banned from the forum.

Being properly warned, I invite you to fire out.

[Farael]

Originally Posted by HerenIstarion

Any post hinting at something with a slightest tint of 'superiority/inferiority' in it will be personally negatively rated by me.

First off, add my voice to that comment. It might not be much, but it's got to be worth something.

Second, even though I identified myself as "Latin American" before I won't say I'm "Hispanic". I'm most definetly White as my great grand parents came from Poland (actually, one of them from the border between Russia and Poland if I'm not mistaken but it's about the same thing).

(Warning, this might be slightly off-topic, be advised... and advise me if I should edit it out)
I was just thinking, and if anyone can enlighten me I'd be greatly pelased, aren't hispanic people descendent from the native people that fell under the Spanish crown? and if so, wouldn't the difference between Native Americans in North America and Hispanic people in central and south america be cultural rather than "racial"?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Farael

(Warning, this might be slightly off-topic, be advised... and advise me if I should edit it out)
I was just thinking, and if anyone can enlighten me I'd be greatly pelased, aren't hispanic people descendent from the native people that fell under the Spanish crown? and if so, wouldn't the difference between Native Americans in North America and Hispanic people in central and south america be cultural rather than "racial"?

Hispanic, from the view taken here, would appear to be people who are ethnically descended PRIMARILY- as you say- from the Native Americans of what is now known as Latin America, but the Europeans and their African slaves settled these areas as well, and the Hispanic culture- and the Hispanic race- is a mixture of Native, European, and African backgrounds, although Native American would, if any, seem to predominate.

As for myself, I am a bit amused to see several alternatives offered for those in Asia, while those of us of European lineage must content ourselves, for the most part, with "white". A fair balance, I suppose, for the Christian-heavy diversity on the religion poll.

Now, in case anyone was so foolish thus far as to wonder, I am, I suppose, solidly placed in the "white" category, though I am actually a rather pasty colour, with pinkish overtones. I am descended, primarily from the Teutonic invaders of western Europe and the Celtic peoples that they overran, being completely of Dutch and German descent. Any such smidgeons (unknown to me) of alternative lineage would probably be Russian... or other miscellaneous European.

[HerenIstarion]

A fair balance, I suppose, for the Christian-heavy diversity on the religion poll

Indeed. And polls have limitations, alas. With language poll, I divided it into two parts. Here, I contended myself with giving multiple choice option.

[Anguirel]

Asia from Constantiople to Burma feels a bit uncatered for. Asia: Other for them, perhaps, though it jars somehow...

[HerenIstarion]

From Constantinople to eastern borders of Iraq, Iran & Afghanistan (not quite Burma, but not far off either) people genetically belong to 'white' (even if linguistically Altaic, but even there - Persian is Indo-European language). Middle Asia lean closer to China. So 'other' here may mean Hindu (which are also quite close to 'white', to the extent I count it there) or selfsame Middle Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan etc, and of course all else not covered by China etc entries). Turkmenistan may be set apart, but than again - closer to 'white' than 'China'.

The term employed instead of what the poll has marked as 'Asia' when I was studying biology was 'mongoloid', but this one is out of use long since (it was out of date even than). Probably, if I were making the survey some 30 years back, the Asia entries would have been titled 'mongoloid', but they are none, since it is not 30 years back but is now.

I should stress, therefore, that white here is used in broader sense than merely geographical 'Europe/North America'

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

It seems odd that two of the options is Black and White, when you divide asians into different groups, sertanly africans should too. There is a great differens from beeing a Somali to beeing a Dodoth (mainly lives in Uganda). The same actually goes for white.

I just thought I would mention it. . .