Did you immediately understand what set of behaviors I implied by saying "wild Indian" and "slovenly Barbarian"? (Why isn't anyone upset that I included the Barbarians?) Then you know exactly why I mentioned them - a literary short-hand mechanism.
Simply using existing stereotypes is not racism. I have neither commented on the superiority-level of Indians and Barbarians, nor have I modified their access to resources and opportunities.
From le wik: Racism is generally understood as either belief that different racial groups are characterized by intrinsic characteristics or abilities and that some such groups are therefore naturally superior to others or as practices that discriminate against members of particular racial groups, for example by perpetuating unequal access to resources between groups.
In fact, stereotypes can be quite useful, for example, when you are trying to determine which VC to impress or what demographic is most likely to use your kitten-photo sharing Facebook App.
"Why isn't anyone upset that I included the Barbarians?"
Because Barbarian isn't a racial or ethnic group. It's a term basically meaning "the savage foreigner." It's demeaning to call someone a barbarian, but there's no Barbarian peoples that are offended by the use of the term.
edit:
Gonna go ahead and disagree with this point too:
"Simply using existing stereotypes is not racism. I have neither commented on the superiority-level of Indians..."
Your interpretation of this definition seems to be that using a negative stereotype is not racist because it's not a direct value-judgement.
That is wrong.
Even if you're not passing judgement, it is very much racist to say that (for example) Asians are all martial-artists and computer experts, or that Jews control the world, or that Native Americans are wild savages.
Why is that racist? Because it pigeonholes these people into weird and untrue stereotypes, and is therefore offensive to them.
If it's offensive to a racial group, it's probably racist.
There's so much wrong in your comment, I barely know where to start.
> Did you immediately understand what set of behaviors I implied by saying "wild Indian" and "slovenly Barbarian"?
No, actually, I still have no idea. My guess was that those behaviors do not include "great table manners, is polite, shares, and is quite empathetic" but beyond that, I can barely guess.
> (Why isn't anyone upset that I included the Barbarians?)
Who are "the Barbarians"?
> Simply using existing stereotypes is not racism.
Response a) So what, only new stereotypes is racism? b) Yes, it is, when those stereotypes are based on race.
> I have neither commented on the superiority-level of Indians and Barbarians
Um, you said your kid is well-behaved, unlike those other people. That directly implies your kid is superior to them. And I guess your Alaskan Native friends are superior to the "wild" ones. Also, 'positive' racism (e.g. "asians are good at math") is just as bad,
> or have I modified their access to resources and opportunities.
Not directly, but racism is hardly so overt these days.
> In fact, stereotypes can be quite useful, for example, when you are trying to determine which VC to impress or what demographic is most likely to use your kitten-photo sharing Facebook App.
What?! I would never invest in someone that makes business decisions based on stereotypes rather than data, or that approached me because of stereotype they had about me.
Simply using existing stereotypes is not racism. I have neither commented on the superiority-level of Indians and Barbarians, nor have I modified their access to resources and opportunities.
From le wik: Racism is generally understood as either belief that different racial groups are characterized by intrinsic characteristics or abilities and that some such groups are therefore naturally superior to others or as practices that discriminate against members of particular racial groups, for example by perpetuating unequal access to resources between groups.
In fact, stereotypes can be quite useful, for example, when you are trying to determine which VC to impress or what demographic is most likely to use your kitten-photo sharing Facebook App.