(moulton@utne) "Boohab, I notice dramatic cultural differences among different communities, cliques, and tribes on the Internet. But for the most part, these cultural differences don't seem to be highly correlated with race. Do you see the issue as one of a clash among races or as a clash of cultures?"
A: I think they are mostly a clash of ideas. What's interesting is how race, class and gender effect what ideas seem to be worth believing. I beleive that is mediated by what society deems appropriate to accept on the personal authority of an individual of a particular race, class & gender.
For example, if we got into a heated discussion about music and a personna named 'scherzo' began badmouthing rap music and instead talked about the superiority of classical piano, we would not connote such a position with the person of Bobby Short, although in real life, knowing Bobby Short, it might make perfect sense. But that is an example which is tangential to racial identity.
If we were talking directly about a racial subject, then racial identity draws near to the surface. People are more likely to say "Well, as a white person I was taught...". In my online experience whitefolks try to minimalize the significance of race, whereas blackfolks try to bring the context directly to the racial. The battle for the appropriate context of discussion racial issues often breaks down by political and racial lines.
Then, the question of standing comes into play. What right does someone have to attempt to change the context of a discussion on a racial subject while saying, "I'm black, and in my experience.."? How much credibility does such a position receive and what does that imply about the audience? Misattribution almost always brings heat. Often, a person who has no idea about the racial identity or political affilation of a poster will castigate their standing en passant. For example, 'Paul' says "People like joe are always caving into the whining of people like jane, and that's why we have Affirmative Action." Nobody said, 'liberal' or 'black', and Joe never claimed to be liberal nor Jane to be black, but the message is loud and clear. What is the likelihood that Paul is a white male conservative? We estimate.