When being accused of being a racist, most people react defensively. "I'm absolutely not a racist. Who gives you the right to call me a racist! In fact, YOU are a racist." Not all negative labels carry the same degree of power. None of the following labels: micro-manager, perfectionist, hothead, leadfoot, elicit the kind of reaction that the term "racist" does. In fact, a couple of them may even be embraced in a humble-bragging manner by some people. Why then, does "racist" carry so much weight? The other traits do not have to do with morality. They describe regular human flaws. A racist, however, is not just someone with shortcomings or annoying tendencies. A racist is immoral. It belongs in the same category as a wife-beater, child-molester, human-trafficker. In a moralistic society, immorality is viewed harshly. Being labeled a racist is being personally attacked in the core of our being. Criticize our driving or managing people and we don'...
Civility, humility, openness, logic instead of rhetoric, defensiveness, logical fallacies. And absolutely no snark.