Is it rude to identify someone by race or sexual orientation?

Yes. It's also rude to refer to someone by their gender, hair colour, style, height etc. because you're reducing them to a single attribute. Referring to someone by their race or sexual orientation is worse because you're reducing them to a trait which people are traditionally persecuted for. If you know their name, use it. If you don't know their name, tap them on the shoulder or something.

EDIT: Obviously not everyone finds those things rude, but society generally considers it rude.

Well, I don't think it's rude depending on the context and your intention behind it. For example, if you're talking about someone and you forgot his or her name, it's okay to say 'you know, that black guy in our history class' ... You're not being racist by saying that, you're just bringing up one of the person's characteristics. And neither are you acting as if his identity revolves around that characteristic.

This would make me want to throw hot ramen in your face

re read the question and I got the wrong idea last time sorry op. It is rude to call out to someone or describe them to someone else using their sexual orientation ect especially if you know their name.

Imho it's very rude. It's not like I'm gonna call people "hey you white dude there" or "hi straight kid" either. Even if it's true people don't have to point it out like the said person didn't know it.

I really couldn't give two fks if someone was to call me cracker/nazi/redneck blah blah whatever .. Many of the names i hear other races call white people .. Shit like that to me is funny as i'm above ignorance & anyhow would laugh if i got called that anyway lol

I would consider it rude. Personally i am bisexual but im a person not a label and would be annoyed at anyone only acknowledging me by race or sexuallity. Im caucasion btw

It's rude to identify by race/sexual orientation. It's not as rude if you don't know someone's name and aren't near them to shout "hey redhead!" When they are the only redhead around you.

I don't even know if this is rude or just plain stupid / pointless. Learn their names why don'tcha?

If you don't know them how else would you be able to describe them by dumbass

Yeah, it is rude.

No but the pc wackos want you to think it's wrong

general identifier it's fine .. seriously .. people take this whole black/hispanic/white whatever crap way out of context at times , what ? Do you think blacks don't say "hey you white guy" at times .. Sheeesh .. !

i didn't say negro as it's not a word i use .. i said black as in saying "hey that black guy at work is a pretty nice guy , he asked me out for drinks" in the event that you didn't know their name for example .. obviously if you know the persons name , you'd call them by that but .. as a -

They are "proud to be black" yet get their back up when referred to as such it's hilarious .. What the fuck do they wish to be referred to as a "black race" in general .. Yellow perhaps .. White ?? Orange ..??? LOL !

If it is toward sexual orientation i don't think it's a nice thing to do unless , you were friends with them & they were comfortable with that .. In the case of race i think that it's fine i mean , i know alot of black people for instance that hate being referred to as black .. Seriously they claim

If there is a room full of 15 people and there is 1 black guy isn't it a little xenophobic to try and describe him by his shirt and hair even if someone else had similar hair and shirt. I'd think to myself oh yeah he's the black guy with the blue shirt. He's black Its not a bad thing or a taboo it's 2013. People go over the top. For example. I had a close black friend in high school he'd jokingly call me his white cracker and i'd jokingly call him my brown bear ( I was a scrubs fan). I got in serious trouble one day for it yet he didn't despite the teacher hearing us both, despite him explaining and despite the fact the teacher knew we were close.

Ha,well it sounds like you're still living it the 50s where people of a different race/sexual orientation were considered outsiders.Just start treating them like humans and you'll be fine.