I live in a very diverse city in the United States and can tell you that when I shop at my local pet food emporium, I see people of all races buying dog and cat food and supplies. Ditto at my veterinarian's - when I'm there with my cats, I see blacks, Asians, Latinos and whites all sitting in the waiting room. One of the vets there is Latina, and the veterinarian who writes a column for my local newspaper is Asian. I can see perhaps two reasons why a black or Asian person might be less likely to own a pet: 1) Renters are not always allowed to have pets. To the extent that people of color are renters rather than homeowners, this may affect pet owning. As Lisa in the previous post pointed out: many renters would like to have pets but cannot. Many times when a renter moves up to owning her own home, she then acquires a pet. 2) Asthma is very common amongst poor blacks and Latinos. If a person is asthmatic or has an asthmatic child they usually can't have pets, because the pet acts as an 'allergy trigger.'
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Most Caucasian people have hair that is finer, straighter and oilier than African Americans' hair. If I didn't wash my hair at least every other day, it would be a stringy, smelly mess. I had a white coworker who only washed his hair once a week, and believe me, it was not a pretty sight.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I don't think Lieberman's religion will matter all that much. The right-wing anti-Semites would not have voted Democratic anyway, and from what I know of the 'left-wing' anti-Semites (the followers of Sharpton, etc.) they are unlikely to be voters at all. A Jewish vice president is far more likely to be accepted by the 'mainstream' than, say, a pagan or 'out' atheist. Certainly it does not matter to me. Church and state are supposed to be separate.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Shadow, to answer some of your questions: I am the 'stereotypical' cat person - white, female and artistically inclined. However, I have known Asians, Latinos and blacks who have had cats. I think there may be more white cat owners because more whites own their own homes - many renters are not allowed to have pets. It is true that more women than men like cats, but there seems to be a stigma attached to liking cats for men - cats are perceived to be 'women's pets' and not 'manly' like, say, large dogs. Finally, yes, people in other countries own cats. I have corresponded with people in Brazil and India, among other places, who have owned cats. Pet ownership in general, however, is a luxury that many people in less-developed countries cannot afford.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I think the most common reason for the disparity is that Asian men don't think white women would date them, and vice versa. However, the number of AM/WF couples is increasing rapidly - 'Newsweek' magazine even wrote an article on them.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Culturally, white people from WASP and Scandinavian backgrounds are taught to be emotionally reserved. Often it's easier to express affection to pets than to other people. However, I have known people who aren't white to spoil their pets, so I think it's also a function of individual preference. By the way, I have several cats, and I do consider them my children. They have cleaner, nicer habits than some of my ex-boyfriends!
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Relationships are difficult for most everyone, whether straight or gay. I'm a straight woman and I am having a hard enough time finding a man I want to marry and live with the rest of my life. Being heterosexual is easier in that society does not discriminate against straight couples - they are considered the 'norm' in most social and religious circles. However, dealing with people who think and act very differently than you do - men, or women, as the case may be - can be a really hard adjustment. I don't like stereotypical male interests such as sports and cars, find that most men don't like to read, and it's very difficult to find straight, male pagans - where I live they're mostly Christians or atheists.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Your friend's problem neighbor lacks manners and consideration. This has nothing to do with the fact that he is black. I live in a very racially mixed apartment complex, and all my neighbors, of every race, are wonderful, and I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by good people. My next-door neighbor is black and she is one of the classiest and most considerate neighbors I've ever had. Your friend should seek help from a local mediation service or lawyer, and the sooner the better. Inconsiderate neighbors can be dealt with. And don't forget - great neighbors come in all colors!
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, That particular show elicited howls of contempt from me, my female friends and women I know from work and online communities. MOST women still are more interested in a man's character than his wallet. However, that kind of outlook does not generate publicity or ratings. Tacky, outrageous behavior will always generate more notice than 'normal' - anyone who watches Jerry Springer can tell you that. Think of 'Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire' as more of a circus/publicity stunt than an insight into your average woman.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Wedding rings date back to the time of the ancient Romans, who exchanged rings as a ritual pledge of fidelity (and, for the woman, submission). The Romans believed a special vein ran from the third finger of the left hand directly to the heart, and that is the reason for the ring being placed on that finger. Finally, the first diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke Maximilian of Austria in the 15th century. However, diamond was never a common stone for engagement ring use until diamond mines were discovered in South Africa in the 19th century. The diamond companies then basically 'pushed' the diamond engagement ring, through advertising, as a way to get people to buy more diamonds.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I don't think it's a perception that men of color are not good enough for white women. Except in certain parts of the country (such as California and Hawaii), social obstacles to inter-ethnic dating are greater for white women than for anyone else. They face greater social and family disapproval than white men if they choose to date men of other backgrounds. Besides, if a relationship goes sour, it is usually the woman who suffers the most, so that makes a woman more afraid to take a chance on a more 'daring' relationship, because the consequences for her are greater than those for the man.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I have asked the littering smokers that question & the answers I have received have ranged from 'The butts are so small it doesn't make any difference' to 'There is no ashtray or receptacle nearby' to 'I don't want to set the garbage can on fire (!) to 'F*** Off!' Mostly it seems that there is no suitable receptacle nearby plus the smoker is too lazy/inconsiderate to try to find one or walk an extra block to dispose of his or her rubbish.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I wash my hair every day or at least every other day. Any less frequently & it looks really terrible, especially because it is long. Part of the reason my hair doesn't dry out from such frequent washing is because it is oily; I also use a deep conditioner on my hair to keep it shiny.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, First off, let me say that I think that double standard is a crock & that there is no reason for women to reject a man because he is younger. Emotional maturity, not years, is what counts. I think the reason that older men/younger women pairings are more conventionally acceptable boils down to two issues: first and most important, power. Traditionally, the man was supposed to 'marry down' in age, social status, and height because he was the boss. It wouldn't do for a woman to be older, richer or taller because she was the subordinate partner - younger, smaller, and poorer. This kept the balance of power where patriarchy wanted it. Nowadays, with more equal partnerships as the new norm, these traditions hold less weight - though they are still quite entrenched. Secondly, if a man wants to have children, and marries an older woman, she may be unable to produce them. If a man wants kids, or grows to want them, and he won't consider adoption, this can be a problem. However, it is not a problem if the man either a) doesn't want kids or b)is willing to adopt them.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, The "pacifiers for grownups" fad was big here in the San Francisco Bay Area back in the early '90s. Here, it was mostly young gay men and straight women who wore them as pendants on a cord. It started with rave culture and became a fad. This fad for pacifier jewelry has petered out here by now. There is also a candy I have seen called "Bottle Pops," which is like Pixie Stix in a baby bottle-shaped dispenser. Personally, I think that grown people wearing pacifiers is silly and juvenile, but who am I to judge because it is harmless.
User Detail :
Name : Crystal, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 30's, City : Oakland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Office Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 
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