Old Racist Dinosaurs

• Devils Advocate

  

  I have a few in my family, and I know of a few. How do you respond to them?
  
  In a public setting, I usually ignore them, or pretend that I didnt hear what they said.
  
  In private, I tend to call them out on it and halarity ensues.
  
  
  Discuss,
• friendfromlowry

  No sense in arguing. You're probably not going to change them.
• Con_Alma

  ...depends what your desired outcome is.
  
  If you are seeking to let your view be known, have at it. If the desired outcome is to try and humiliate them, not sure your any better than they are.
  
  If you are trying to change their view....you are wasting yoru time.
  
  I think accepting it and tolerating it is a decision to permit it in your prsence. Simply asking them to respect you by keeping such views private while in your presence isn't an unreasonable request.
• Fly4Fun

  

  Con_Alma;1486495 wrote:...depends what your desired outcome is.
  
  If you are seeking to let your view be known, have at it. If the desired outcome is to try and humiliate them, not sure your any better than they are.
  
  If you are trying to change their view....you are wasting yoru time.
  
  I think accepting it and tolerating it is a decision to permit it in your prsence. Simply asking them to respect you by keeping such views private while in your presence isn't an unreasonable request.

  To humiliate someone that person must know that what they are being humiliated for is wrong, and when someone points out that what they were doing was wrong to the extent that they are humiliated then maybe they won't do that behavior in the future. While it might not be the nicest way to try to curb behavior, it's certainly not as bad as someone acting in a prejudiced and hateful manner towards another human being.
  
  Really it just depends on your relationship with someone. If it's someone who you see as a peer, then you should probably try to bring up the topic and discuss it. If it's someone you can't afford to piss off for whatever reason, you let it slide or ask i they could avoid such things in your presence as Con_Alma suggests.
• Con_Alma

  Fly4Fun;1486504 wrote:To humiliate someone that person must know that what they are being humiliated for is wrong, and when someone points out that what they were doing was wrong to the extent that they are humiliated then maybe they won't do that behavior in the future. While it might not be the nicest way to try to curb behavior, it's certainly not as bad as someone acting in a prejudiced and hateful manner towards another human being.
  
  ...

  Even if convinced they are wrong, a person still may not be able to be humiliated. That would require the person being concerned about what others think of them. Many people don't. I know I sure don't.
• reclegend22

  

  Another way to look at the situation might be to think back to the era that many of these types of people grew up, when racial hatred such as this was actually the common thinking of the time. They grew up around it, and these beliefs were instilled in them at a very early age in many cases. Bad habits don't die easily. It's doesn't excuse their ignorance, but it does at least explain it.
• Fly4Fun

  

  Con_Alma;1486506 wrote:Even if convinced they are wrong, a person still may not be able to be humiliated. That would require the person being concerned about what others think of them. Many people don't. I know I sure don't.

  Many people don't care what strangers think of them. I think the majority of people care what certain people think. I know I care what my family, close friends and significant other think. But beyond those, most people do care what others think whether they acknowledge it or not, that's the reason societal norms exist such as proper manners or how to dress in particular situations.
• steubbigred

  I go into some all white biker type bars and I also go into mostly black or 50% bars . I see racism from both sides. The one thing I don't like is when a woman is disrespected. if that woman is in my group and she is disrespected god help you . That happened once after work when a black female coworker was sitting with us in an all white bar and some redneck kept using that infamous word we all know. I waited for him to go to the bathroom and I got him situated. I have also seen a black P.O.S hit a white pregnant woman in the face in a packed bar.He got barred. That was at the mixed bar. There are pieces of shit on both sides.
• Con_Alma

  Fly4Fun;1486524 wrote:Many people don't care what strangers think of them. I think the majority of people care what certain people think. I know I care what my family, close friends and significant other think. But beyond those, most people do care what others think whether they acknowledge it or not, that's the reason societal norms exist such as proper manners or how to dress in particular situations.

  I do acknowledge that "most" people have such concerns.
• cruiser_96

  

  I'm white. The person I know who falls into this category is white. Whenever he begins his racial rants, I like to name a white person who is just as bad as the minority he's given. I'm sure I could name two or three, but whatevs.
  
  My standard line is, "It's not a race thing. It's an attitude thing. Bad attitudes come in all shapes, colors, and sizes!"
  
  #LeadBalloon btw.
• Sonofanump

  Whenever old people use the word "colored" I ask if they mean purple or green.
• HitsRus

  

  reclegend22;1486522 wrote:Another way to look at the situation might be to think back to the era that many of these types of people grew up, when racial hatred such as this was actually the common thinking of the time. They grew up around it, and these beliefs were instilled in them at a very early age in many cases. Bad habits don't die easily. It's doesn't excuse their ignorance, but it does at least explain it.

  This.
  
  Young people think sometimes that they have all the answers and righteousness on their side when they really have no perpsective of how other people came to be or the times that they grew up in. Deep seeded feelings don't die easily, and often have been formed thru experiences and fears, both rational and irrational. Racism and and bigotry dies a little more every generation as people become educated and comfortable with people that appear to be 'different' then themselves.
• Tiernan

  Sonofanump;1486648 wrote:Whenever old people use the word "colored" I ask if they mean purple or green.

  "People of Color" is widely acceptable.
• steubbigred

  I wonder what Paula Deen's view would be on this discussion?
  
  We are still a very segregated society. Some black folks like it that way as much as some white folks. You still see many churches that are all white or all black . Schools social clubs such as the Moose,Eagles,Elks,etc etc. How about your town's Masonic lodge? In the large scheme of things slavery has not been gone for all that long . 150 years really isn't that much time . We have come a very long way from when the greatest generation was fighting in WWII. In my opinion you can only change the things in your own little world and in your own small way. Understanding and tolerance for people is key . Be kind to your fellow man no matter where he came from or what ethnicity he is . I find that when you help people whether it be in a church group or just on your own ,you feel better about yourself and it many times it causes the person you are kind to to pass that kindness on to another.
• Gblock

  we had a few in my moms side of the family. usually the only times ive seen people change their views is if they have a mixed grandchild or in some cases develop a great friendship with a person of color at work. i have seen some of the most staunch racists completely change their ways when they have a mixed grandchild both in my family and in my hometown
• thavoice

  Devils Advocate;1486492 wrote:I have a few in my family, and I know of a few. How do you respond to them?
  
  In a public setting, I usually ignore them, or pretend that I didnt hear what they said.
  
  In private, I tend to call them out on it and halarity ensues.
  
  
  Discuss,

  My inlaws are like that, M-I-L to be specific. Most times I blow it off, but when she starts dropping N bombs in my house I say something, only to to get an objection by my wife. My wife is also like that, continually using the N bomb amongst other things even around her young son. I try to interject and it only comes upon deaf ears. It is sad that she uses it in front of all her kids, and allows her kids to use it as well. It is embarrassing.
• HitsRus

  

  elaborating on my earlier post...
  
  A neighbor of mine growing up served in the Pacific theater in World War II and was unapologetically anti Asian and in particular anti Japanese. One day, while visiting at my parents house my son, who worked for a Japanese company, met him and was treated to a diatribe of anti asian rhetoric. No doubt, this man's strong feelings, born of negative experiences was passed to his children. These kinds of feelings deeply instilled in youth, are not going to be legislated away.
  
  
  So how do I respond to it?
  I usually try to convert them to libertarianism, or conservatism, or at least to the Republican party. If they are a member of said groups, then I ask them to be true and hold to the values they profess. It is more difficult with Dems and Libs....they really are the worst kind of racist...wolves in sheep's clothing....and some don't even realize it. Divide, parse, section, us all into little groups, for their financial and political gain....all the while pretending, intentionally or unintentionally, to be 'friends'. Alan West and other black conservatives have alluded to this...and of course, get shouted down or ostracized by the media or sychophant black "leadership" who make their living keeping 'their people' ensnared in a web of dependency. Instead of Condi Rice, Colin Powell, Thomas Sowell, Hermain Caine, Clarence Thomas...we get Jesse and Al Sharpton and the incessant drumbeat around the Trevon Martin case. I suspect when subsequent generations look at this period they will discuss the contrdiction of what we said and legislated, and what we did in making sure that racism wasn't eradicated, but perpetuated and institutionalized in government and media.
• Tiernan

  Christ thavoice, smack your woman upside the head the next time she utters the n-word, she'll come around eventually.
• steubbigred

  Gblock;1486745 wrote:we had a few in my moms side of the family. usually the only times ive seen people change their views is if they have a mixed grandchild or in some cases develop a great friendship with a person of color at work. i have seen some of the most staunch racists completely change their ways when they have a mixed grandchild both in my family and in my hometown

  That is a good point and true ,from my perspective.
• FatHobbit

  

  My dad is like this in an odd sort of way. He was in viet nam and the national guard and served with a lot of black guys. When I was growing up he had black friends and wasn't racist at all. Somehow in the last 10-15 years he has become a lot more racist and I have no idea why. I usually ignore him when he starts in on that shit.
• Classyposter58

  

  My dads parents do not tip black waiters or waitresses. I remember when I was 10 which was a little over a decade ago I had to run back and give the one guy money. I think was my start to a strong dislike for the baby boomer generation as a whole
• Tiernan

  Well I have to admit I enjoyed the shit out of seeing Jesse Jackson Jr convicted today of stealing church funds for his personal use...gee wonder who taught the kid how to do that?
• steubbigred

  ^^^^ I thought Jackson stole political contributions. Him , Sharpton and Farakhan are clowns. they add fuel to the racial divide as much as Glen Beck and some right wing religious nutjobs. Sick of both sides using race as a weapon.
• I Wear Pants

  HitsRus;1486860 wrote:elaborating on my earlier post...
  
  A neighbor of mine growing up served in the Pacific theater in World War II and was unapologetically anti Asian and in particular anti Japanese. One day, while visiting at my parents house my son, who worked for a Japanese company, met him and was treated to a diatribe of anti asian rhetoric. No doubt, this man's strong feelings, born of negative experiences was passed to his children. These kinds of feelings deeply instilled in youth, are not going to be legislated away.
  
  
  So how do I respond to it?
  I usually try to convert them to libertarianism, or conservatism, or at least to the Republican party. If they are a member of said groups, then I ask them to be true and hold to the values they profess. It is more difficult with Dems and Libs....they really are the worst kind of racist...wolves in sheep's clothing....and some don't even realize it. Divide, parse, section, us all into little groups, for their financial and political gain....all the while pretending, intentionally or unintentionally, to be 'friends'. Alan West and other black conservatives have alluded to this...and of course, get shouted down or ostracized by the media or sychophant black "leadership" who make their living keeping 'their people' ensnared in a web of dependency. Instead of Condi Rice, Colin Powell, Thomas Sowell, Hermain Caine, Clarence Thomas...we get Jesse and Al Sharpton and the incessant drumbeat around the Trevon Martin case. I suspect when subsequent generations look at this period they will discuss the contrdiction of what we said and legislated, and what we did in making sure that racism wasn't eradicated, but perpetuated and institutionalized in government and media.

  Lol. Only thing you've got right is that Sharpton and Jesse are ridiculous.
• Belly35

  

  Sonofanump;1486648 wrote:Whenever old people use the word "colored" I ask if they mean purple or green.

  I like, to use the word "Sepia" which is a much better wording discription in terms for the range of defined color spectrum.
  Nobody is really Black and the same for White ... we are all "Sepia" really