Jargon

[andrewducker]

Several people have said that discriminating against Americans isn't racism. Which seems reasonable in some ways, because Americans aren't a race. But in that case, what is it? Nationalism doesn't seem right, because nationalism is usually being proud of your own country, not against a specific other one. Anyone?

[Poll #161402]

Comments

Whereas (yeah, I'm anal-retentive, so what?)

[allorin.livejournal.com]

Generalise: -

1)
a) To reduce to a general form, class, or law.
b) To render indefinite or unspecific.

2)
a) To infer from many particulars.
b) To draw inferences or a general conclusion from.

3)
a) To make generally or universally applicable.
b) To popularize.

Which might fit, but doesn't seem entirely appropriate.

Re: Whereas (yeah, I'm anal-retentive, so what?)

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

It really depends on the specifics. If someone is saying "really disgusting things about Jews" (josephgrossberg's words), it is likely that they are engaging in 1(a), 2(a), and or 2(b). Racist generalizations are often based on drawing inferences or conclusions from evidence (albeit evidence that doesn't support the conclusions), and/or reducing individuals to a "general form, class or law" (in this case, to someone's idea of what people in said individual's racial group are like).