Roody:

Huh?

Errr, *sigh* I am "ethnic" if presumably your definition of "ethnic" means not Anglo-Saxon/European.

The stereotypical conduct I observe in Wal-Mart is humiliating and the responsive treatment is disheartening.

The comments on the "riding in the ghetto" post regarding riding through certain neighborhoods which at some point someone defined as either black or spanish--"these thoughts, perceptions and fears"--are exactly why I avoid places where 1) the stereotypical behavior is escalated and 2) I will be treated like a stereotype because I am in an atmosphere with individuals behaving in stereotypical manners.

Live and let live is my motto--I really don't care how others choose to live, exist but yes I avoid certain places because my experience has been it is best to avoid venues where the employee perception is "all the apples in the barrel are alike". This is a reality perpetuated in our society.

I am presuming you are defining racism (a social concept I think) a belief one skin color is superior to another. Umm, no. I am not a racist.

Broad stereotypes/generalizations exist and certain places have higher traffic from people who exemplify negative stereotypes OR who are presumed to embody a negative stereotype because of their "ethnicity". I avoid these venues because my experience has been the customers in these venues are treated like bottom feeders, government crumb snatchers.

I love shopping online: anonymity.

Even the comments about who rides what types of bicycles----I mean seriously--when I am commuting I check out bicycles but I have never thought oh look all the ______are riding WalMart bicycles----it wasn't until I read the "ghetto" post did I realize--people seriously make judgements about the skin color of people riding Walmart bicycles.

In the end it doesn't matter: everyone dies.