"What would 'racialist' mean." Topic

One of the (many) things that annoys me is the word 'Racialist'. It is often used by people in situations like
"I'm not a racialist but [5 minute uninformed rant], and if that makes me a racialist, then I'm a racialist"

I've been very good, I haven't corrected their English, and merely tried to point out the fallacies in their argument politely.

BUT a question for those with more etymological knowledge than me- would would 'racialist' ACTUALLY mean

No etymological expert here, but someone who's ok with a race itself but that has issues the racial traits of said race? Makes no sense, but then neither does racism.

Hey, here's another question, if scientist means some who studies science, or economist means someone who studies econimics, why doesn't racist mean someone who studies different races, culturally or genetically? The word seems to have gotten switched around somehow.

why doesn't racist mean someone who studies different races, culturally or genetically? The word seems to have gotten switched around somehow.

That word is 'anthropologist'

why doesn't racist mean someone who studies different races, culturally or genetically?

There is no scientific definition of 'races'.

Most scientists now argue that race definitions are imprecise, arbitrary and derived from local custom. As such they are social contructs, not scientific ones.

They reject the notion that definition of 'race' pertaining to humans can have taxonomic validity because there are no real genetic differences between different groups of humans.

The study of Ethnicity falls under 'Sociology' and is done by a wide variety of fields which include Anthropologists, Psychologists and Economists.

Things are much more complicated now than they were when I was a kid.

Regards, the Gorb

I wasn't aware that anyone used the word 'racialist' anymore. It's very 1950s.

Are these people who tell you they aren't racialists (before they show that they are) all 85 years old?

Two points here:

1) the Gorb is totally correct. There is no biological basis for the concept of "Race". It is a social construct which does not bear prolonged scrutiny.

2) No etymologist here either, but I would say the suffix "-ist" means "one pertaining to","one involved with", or "one dealing with". In this way you can reconcile:
Racist
Economist
Scientist
defeatist
materialist
Communist
etc.

Ralph

According to WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 Princeton University:

racialist, noun
a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others [syn: racist]

Regards, the Gorb

Are these people who tell you they aren't racialists (before they show that they are) all 85 years old?

No, just not good at speaking English- the same sort of people who use brought as a substitute for bought.

And while I like the idea that a Racist studies Race, homo (the same)phobia(fear of) should mean people scared by bigots.