"What is your ethnic background?"

[Raiderhater]

Anybody else hate this fucking question? I just fielded a phone survey (for GreatClips of all places) and when we got to the second to last question I think I completely mystified the poor gal (who was a minority as evidenced by her speech) when I kept answering "American". "But what ethnicity: caucasion, African American, Asian American, Native American, other?" "American." "African American?" "No, just American." "But what is your ethnic background?" "Just American." "Uh, ookay (checks the 'other' box undoubtedly)."

There is nothing wrong with recognizing and even being proud of one's heritage, but why must we continually segregate ourselves from ourselves? Why is skin color so damned important? I thought we were all equall regardless of ethnicity? So why does everyone want to make such a big deal about it? If you live in America and are a citizen of our lovely country, you are an American first and foremost. I refuse to participate in this nonsensical division, I answer American.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Anglo Saxon American

Put a bar of soap in your mouth young man and think about what you just said.

[Rain Man]

As someone who asks this question a lot on surveys, I think it's asked too often, just by force of habit. If a client wants it and it's not obvious why, I'll ask them a couple of questions:

1. Do you have any reason to believe that there's a noticeable difference?

2. If there is a difference, is it going to make a difference in your ad campaign/ program/ policy/ whatever else is being tested?

The answer to Question 1 isn't necessarily a question killer, but if they answer no to Question 2, we don't ask it.

I will say, though, that there are measurable differences in opinions and behaviors by race/ethnicity, and sometimes it's useful to know that. Why? Because a lot of minority populations have specific media preferences that differ from that of the majority population, and it might pay for you to buy some media to target them if they're well below the average.

I think the key is to view it as one more demographic variable to help understand the audience, just like recording age or gender or income. The key, though, is thinking through the two questions above before including it out of habit.

[Slick32]

Originally Posted by wutamess

The black part.

All joking aside I'd put money on your birth certificate being issues in the good old U.S. of A. which makes you an American.

The longer people try to keep a difference between the "ethnic races" the longer we have to endure bigotry and other assorted problems.

Treat everyone as a friend until they prove not to be, then steer clear.

Just my MO.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Slick32

All joking aside I'd put money on your birth certificate being issues in the good old U.S. of A. which makes you an American.

The longer people try to keep a difference between the "ethnic races" the longer we have to endure bigotry and other assorted problems.

Treat everyone as a friend until they prove not to be, then steer clear.

Just my MO.

Logic sucks.

[Slick32]

Originally Posted by Fairplay

Logic sucks.

Not really, racism sucks and so do those that practice it.

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by Ari Chi3fs

Anglo Saxon American

Where is the appology?

[Chief Faithful]

Father is Lebanese.

Mother comes from a long line of Missouri Scotish Hillbillies.

That makes me an Osama Bubba.

My white half appologizes.

[chagrin]

Originally Posted by Slick32

All joking aside I'd put money on your birth certificate being issues in the good old U.S. of A. which makes you an American.

The longer people try to keep a difference between the "ethnic races" the longer we have to endure bigotry and other assorted problems.

Treat everyone as a friend until they prove not to be, then steer clear.

Just my MO.

That's a very well put post, dude

[chagrin]

Dad's side is Scot apparently, and also some French Hugenot

Mom's side is Swiss/English

We've been in America for over 200 years and I don't know a damn thing about my "heritage" other than the American side of it - which there is a rich tradition.

I have relatives that were Colonels in the Civil War and my cousin was Woodrow Wilson's interpreter at the Treaty of Versailles.

I hate all the stupid combo names. It's time that being an American meant an American first - geesh

[stevieray]

look up the antonyms for diversity.

[Dartgod]

My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet.

[Saulbadguy]

This country is still very young.

[Extra Point]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

This country is still very young.

For sure. I remember watching "Future Shock" in a middle school history class. One tenet was that after the blending of races to form a somewhat light brown race among everyone, people would eventually paint themselves different colors to be distinctive.

I believe we've come a heck of a long way, yet still have a lot to leave behind.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet.

I'm a descendent of well-to-do pasta merchants.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by Fairplay

Those claiming to be carcasian should be ashamed of yourselves.

and your reasoning is ???? racist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoples_of_the_Caucasus