You get different opinions on the matter from the npcs. Some say they are indeed neglected and treated as second class citizens. Others say they are stubborn and unwilling to assimilate into Nord society and therefore deserve it. Perhaps it is a combination of both things. Anyway, I'd like to know your opinion on this. Yeah, I do realize this may turn into a CW thread but hopefully it won't go too deep into that.

I agree that it could be a bit of both. Some are clearly trying to be accepted by the nords. They will be the ones who are successful, like the four altmer in the city.

One's already purchased land and runs a farm with a nord employee. He seems to be doing something right.

Indeed he does.

They're first mistake was settling in the most depressing looking city in Skyrim.
I'm sure WInterhold wouldn't mind an influx in settlers and craftsmen to put that place back on it's feet, but no they chose the city that looks like a necropolis.

Who would that be? I only remember a Dunmer guy who works for the Nords at a farm.
Niranye, horse stable guy, elven woman complaining about how dull horses are... that's three. I don't remember there being four Altmer in Windhelm.

I actually like the way the Dunmer are treated in Windhelm. To me it seems more realistic. I wouldn't exactly expect a bunch of Nords in Morrowind to be welcomed with open arms.

Alchemy owner, dude. That's 4.


Hlaalu

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Belyn_Hlaalu

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Belyn_Hlaalu

His employee is http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Adisla

The Dunmer in Windhelm is a large group of refugees in a city that would have financial problems even without them, partly because of the climate, and partly because of the war. They become second-class citizens because of this, and second-class citizend are generally not appreciated.

The Dunmer didn't leave their homeland willingly, so it's natural that they stick together and try to create a sense of "home", though this also hinders them from being assimilated into Nord society. Because of this, and because they are not appreciated, the Dunmer still don't fully regard Skyrim as their home.

There is a civil war going on, with the Jarl of Windhelm being the leader of one of the factions. The Dunmer don't regard Skyrim as their home, so they don't feel the war concerns them. This makes the Nords dislike them even more. The war drains Windhelm's resources; the Nords who support Ulfric (the majority of the Nords in Windhelm, it seems....) consider this a sacrifice they have to make, in order to win the war. The Dunmer complaining about poverty seems egoistical from that point of view, especially for Nords wo are poor themselves, such as Angrenor Once-Honored.

Also, concerning the Altmer: There are only four (?) of them, so they can't form a mini-society like the Dunmer have done; they have no choice but becoming assimilated. It is also highly possible that they have fled from the Thalmor, which might make them sympathetic to the Stormcloak case, which makes the Nords like them more.

Niranye fails to see this and blames the Dunmer only, and as someone who has made a comfortable life for herself, believes everyone can do so if they only want to and try hard enough.
(If that was the case, poverty would be a minor problem, both in Tamriel and in this world....)

Morrowind was fairly divisive. You had some who were cool with outsiders, and then you had the one's like the Commona Tong, who were literally waiting for prophetic signs that the time was right to murder outsiders in their sleep.
There's even a few who bring this up after the main quest, and it's an unresolved part of the Nerevarine prophecy that you're supposed to "drive the outsiders from Morrowind".
Nords are fairly much the same, but it's not really their racism that makes me oppress them whenever I can, it's their hubris and pride I can't stand.

Actually, Winterhold would. The Dark Elves left the city because of the local Nords' distrust of elves and magic. And of course, jarl Korir is a bit of a D.

Bosmer/Khajiit player?

They're the only ones I can think of that aren't stereotyped as prideful.

Yeah, it's kinda shooting themselves in the foot. One of the oldest races of men on Tamriel, and about as wise and worldly and cultured as the mold at the bottom of a beer barrel, which is where I am sure they lost their once great and incredible culture. Drank themselves stupid, let the snow gather and they forgot where they put it.

This is true. Every so often you'll meet a really arrogant Bosmer...eh heh...But I've yet to meet an overly prideful Khajjit.

All this is very true, including the bit about Niranye.
In all fairness, they don't have too much to be proud of. Not in the sense of greatness, I mean.

And also that small problem that Winterhold fell into the ocean. There are very few buildings in the "city" left, and those are either burnt down or are occupied.