[NB_ide]

This is disgusting:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18588612

I quite agree that revolting discriminatory people such as these should face severe legal consequences. Furthermore, I agree with the position that, "...discrimination in flat let adverts may go far wider than race alone. While adverts specifying ethnicity are not common, those that say "female only" or "male only" are widespread.

These also may now be against the law.

"Women-only ads may be against the law unless it can be objectively justified," the EHRC says. "For example, it is usually justifiable for a domestic violence shelter to offer beds to only women or only men for their personal safety."

The same principle applies to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion, and sexual orientation."

DISCRIMINATION IS WRONG, PEOPLE! Choosing housemates or tenants based on age, gender, differabilities, sexuality, etc. has no justification whatsoever and I find it funny that they will have no choice as to who they share a cell with when they find themselves in prison for racism and discrimination

[Ham22]

I'm not sure I see the problem with this, seeing as it's your living space you're having to share. People want to live with like minded people so it doesn't feel like you're continually being rubbed with sandpaper in your own house.

Newsflash- people gravitate towards their own, boo hoo for the government and it's forced multicultural dream.

[CurlyBen]

I only skim read the article, but I'm not going to jump on the outrage wagon the way you have. While I'd say it's unacceptable to discriminate in such a way when letting a house (as in one example), I think the situation is a little different when it's someone you're sharing a house with. There's quite a number of groups of people I can be fairly sure I wouldn't want to live with, not because they're not decent people, but simply because the way I live my life, my tastes, my sense of humour, are highly unlikely to be compatible. If writing an advert like that it may be better to describe the characteristics of your ideal tenant or an outline of your characteristics rather than anything which might come across as overly discriminatory, but no-one should be forced to share their home with someone they feel uncomfortable around.

[lightburns]

The only thing I want is consistency.

Either:
1. Discrimination is wrong.
or
2. It's fine to say "pakistanis wanted" or "whites only".

I think #1 is the safer bet. But the main thing is that the law should equally apply to all people.

[james22]

Discrimination is not automatically morally wrong, while I do believe it should be illegal as that is the safest option, it makes sense that some people might want to live with people of the same sex/culture.

[Snagprophet]

So what is it? Is 'whites only' acceptable or is discrimination wrong? I actually don't mind if people say 'Asians only' but only if 'Whites only' or 'Natives only' otherwise I cannot respect a state which promotes double standards against my race, the native race.

[Freiheit]

(Original post by Snagprophet)
So what is it? Is 'whites only' acceptable or is discrimination wrong? I actually don't mind if people say 'Asians only' but only if 'Whites only' or 'Natives only' otherwise I cannot respect a state which promotes double standards against my race, the native race.

I don't see anything wrong with "whites only" and who promotes the "double standard" you mention?

[richiemayne]

You either let everybody discriminate or you don't let anybody do it. If a white person cannot put 'whites only' but an Asian person can put 'Asians only' then the law doesn't apply equally to all people, it creates tensions and disrupts social harmony.

[Snagprophet]

(Original post by Freiheit)
I don't see anything wrong with "whites only" and who promotes the "double standard" you mention?

It's just everyone seems to doubt that 'whites only' advertising would actually be allowed.

[Freiheit]

(Original post by Snagprophet)
It's just everyone seems to doubt that 'whites only' advertising would actually be allowed.

As a non-white, I prefer honesty instead of someone agreeing to arrange a meeting then making excuses. That is a waste of time and could easily have been avoided.

[marcusfox]

Going back to the days of 'no blacks, no Irish and no dogs'

[Emaemmaemily]

This is an interesting debate to have brought up.
While I do believe that discrimination is wrong, I can also totally understand wanting to live with certain kinds of people to feel comfortable. When I was first looking for a house after university halls, I became part of a group of 4 girls. I was close friends with a big group of people, many of whom were guys, but I knew that I would be more comfortable sharing a house with another 3 girls. Living in a mixed flat had caused some issues in halls, and I wanted to avoid that kind of thing in the future.
It's much more comfortale feeling that you can walk around in little clothing in your home, and it not matter because you're all girls. I don't know why, but it doesn't feel like you can do this living with guys too.

Our landlord also said on his ad "females only". They did this because they'd had the house for a number of years, and the two years that they rented to boys the house was trashed. I can see this as a good reason to avoid renting to them. I know this doesn't mean ALL boys will trash the house, but surely it's the landlord's own decision to protect his property as he sees fit and rent to who he likes? He also said that he preferred to avoid sports students, because they seemed, for whatever reason, to be far less respectful of the property than those on other courses.

I don't think distinctions should be made between races, because I don't think that's relevent to the kind of thing that we're talking about, but then I could be wrong. It's a difficult point to argue, when you believe very strongly that people shouldn't be discriminated agaist, but also support a private landlord's right to rent to people he is most comfortable with.

[Steezy]

I've lived in a house full of asian people (I'm white) and tbh I wish they would've said "asians only".

Without being racist & simply describing the living conditions - it was smelly, dirty, loud, different languages (which can be quite isolating) and just pretty inconsiderate.

Not to say all asians are like this (I'm currently living with an Indian guy who is basically just like me & we get on well), but it highlights the differences between cultures.

[NB_ide]

(Original post by Emaemmaemily)
This is an interesting debate to have brought up.
While I do believe that discrimination is wrong, I can also totally understand wanting to live with certain kinds of people to feel comfortable. When I was first looking for a house after university halls, I became part of a group of 4 girls. I was close friends with a big group of people, many of whom were guys, but I knew that I would be more comfortable sharing a house with another 3 girls. Living in a mixed flat had caused some issues in halls, and I wanted to avoid that kind of thing in the future.
It's much more comfortale feeling that you can walk around in little clothing in your home, and it not matter because you're all girls. I don't know why, but it doesn't feel like you can do this living with guys too.

Our landlord also said on his ad "females only". They did this because they'd had the house for a number of years, and the two years that they rented to boys the house was trashed. I can see this as a good reason to avoid renting to them. I know this doesn't mean ALL boys will trash the house, but surely it's the landlord's own decision to protect his property as he sees fit and rent to who he likes? He also said that he preferred to avoid sports students, because they seemed, for whatever reason, to be far less respectful of the property than those on other courses.

I don't think distinctions should be made between races, because I don't think that's relevent to the kind of thing that we're talking about, but then I could be wrong. It's a difficult point to argue, when you believe very strongly that people shouldn't be discriminated agaist, but also support a private landlord's right to rent to people he is most comfortable with.

"While I do believe that discrimination is wrong..."
*lists various situations where she thinks discrimination is OK*

Another sexist and racist. GREAT.

[Emaemmaemily]

(Original post by NB_ide)
"While I do believe that discrimination is wrong..."
*lists various situations where she thinks discrimination is OK*

Another sexist and racist. GREAT.

That's certainly not what I have said, and there's no need to be insulting. I am anything but racist or sexist (and I actually made a point that I don't think making a differentiation about race in these circumstances is justified), you just seem to be ignoring my points. Why should a landlord be forced to accept tennents that they are not comfortable with?
As I've said, it's a hard topic, because I can see both sides. I can see that being discriminated against is horrible, but then a landlord surely can decide what kind of person they would prefer to rent to? It's quite common for agencies or landlords to advertise saying families only, or no families, or single people only, or no pets...

[NB_ide]

(Original post by Emaemmaemily)
That's certainly not what I have said, and there's no need to be insulting. I am anything but racist or sexist (and I actually made a point that I don't think making a differentiation about race in these circumstances is justified), you just seem to be ignoring my points. Why should a landlord be forced to accept tennents that they are not comfortable with?
As I've said, it's a hard topic, because I can see both sides. I can see that being discriminated against is horrible, but then a landlord surely can decide what kind of person they would prefer to rent to? It's quite common for agencies or landlords to advertise saying families only, or no families, or single people only, or no pets...

So ultimately you support discrimination.

Have fun in prison

[Emaemmaemily]

(Original post by NB_ide)
So ultimately you support discrimination.

Have fun in prison

If you're not going to read what I've actually said, then please refrain from quoting me at all. I actually made a point about how I find it hard to say definitively WHAT is right, because I can see both sides in THIS SITUATION.
I do not think it is ever right to discriminate in the work place, or to treat someone differently because of something about them like this, etc. If you read things I have said, I am extremely liberal, to the point that people hate it. I am simply talking about a landlord's right to rent to whoever THEY want to, and how I'm not sure where I sit with the question.

[NB_ide]

(Original post by Emaemmaemily)
If you're not going to read what I've actually said, then please refrain from quoting me at all. I actually made a point about how I find it hard to say definitively WHAT is right, because I can see both sides in THIS SITUATION.
I do not think it is ever right to discriminate in the work place, or to treat someone differently because of something about them like this, etc. If you read things I have said, I am extremely liberal, to the point that people hate it. I am simply talking about a landlord's right to rent to whoever THEY want to, and how I'm not sure where I sit with the question.

So you at least think other people can discriminate on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, etc?

Also you did yourself say you preferred to live with girls, so you are in fact sexist yourself as well.

[Emaemmaemily]

(Original post by NB_ide)
So you at least think other people can discriminate on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, etc?

Also you did yourself say you preferred to live with girls, so you are in fact sexist yourself as well.

It is not sexist to prefer living with girls in a particular situation. The boys preferred to live together as well, it is just the way many people are comfortable. That is not the same as discrimination.
I actually did live with boys before, and have no problem living with males in my household now. It was the particular situation that meant I preferred to live with the girl friends I had instead of the guys.

I don't think people should discriminate on those grounds, and I haven't said that. I will say it one more time:
I am not sure WHICH side I lean towards, because I can see the justification for BOTH. I can see why a landlord would want to rent to a particular kind of person, and I can see why people would think it was wrong. BOTH.

[Kiss]

(Original post by NB_ide)
This is disgusting:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18588612

I quite agree that revolting discriminatory people such as these should face severe legal consequences. Furthermore, I agree with the position that, "...discrimination in flat let adverts may go far wider than race alone. While adverts specifying ethnicity are not common, those that say "female only" or "male only" are widespread.

These also may now be against the law.

"Women-only ads may be against the law unless it can be objectively justified," the EHRC says. "For example, it is usually justifiable for a domestic violence shelter to offer beds to only women or only men for their personal safety."

The same principle applies to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion, and sexual orientation."

DISCRIMINATION IS WRONG, PEOPLE! Choosing housemates or tenants based on age, gender, differabilities, sexuality, etc. has no justification whatsoever and I find it funny that they will have no choice as to who they share a cell with when they find themselves in prison for racism and discrimination

So would you force someone who discriminates against people to allow those they discriminate against into their house?