How to deal with racist friends
Discussion
It's come to my attention recently that a fair few of my friends hold quite racist opinions, to the point where I'm getting a bit tired of having to endure misguided pub rants about how everyone gives jobs to illegal immigrants these days (implausible, frankly), how Muslims are 'barbaric' and how black people are genetically predisposed towards crime. When organising nights down the pub, I try to avoid inviting these particular people but for some reason they'll always find their way down there.
Another guy, who is a good bloke most of the time, seems to think David Brent is some kind of role model and fires out racist 'jokes' (ie hateful sub-Bernard Manning s
te) every five minutes, before constantly claiming that he's not really a racist and it's OK because he's being 'ironic', before firing off another one. Surely if he wasn't a racist and he was being ironic he wouldn't tel them with such glee, so frequently.
Thing is, these are good mates who I've known for years, who seem to think that racism is somehow OK now 'the Muslims are attacking us etc'. I'm tired of sitting there waiting for the racism to finish and I don't find their 'jokes' funny, but I don't want to come across like some kind of humourless visiting sociology lecturer.
Has anyone else found themselves mates with racists? And how did you deal with them? Because I'm getting sick and tired of it and I think it'll only be so long before someone says something that gets them into a fight (it nearly happened last month), which will ironically go to 'qualify' their sentiments if it's someone from an ethnic minority who takes offence.
Another guy, who is a good bloke most of the time, seems to think David Brent is some kind of role model and fires out racist 'jokes' (ie hateful sub-Bernard Manning s
te) every five minutes, before constantly claiming that he's not really a racist and it's OK because he's being 'ironic', before firing off another one. Surely if he wasn't a racist and he was being ironic he wouldn't tel them with such glee, so frequently.Thing is, these are good mates who I've known for years, who seem to think that racism is somehow OK now 'the Muslims are attacking us etc'. I'm tired of sitting there waiting for the racism to finish and I don't find their 'jokes' funny, but I don't want to come across like some kind of humourless visiting sociology lecturer.
Has anyone else found themselves mates with racists? And how did you deal with them? Because I'm getting sick and tired of it and I think it'll only be so long before someone says something that gets them into a fight (it nearly happened last month), which will ironically go to 'qualify' their sentiments if it's someone from an ethnic minority who takes offence.
One of my housemates is quite racist, but to be honest I leave him to it if he chooses to be ignorant thats up to him. He did get a shock when he moved in with us, as we had ommited to tell him that we lived next door to the Islamic centre that the glasgow airport terrorists went to.
Twincam16 said:
I don't want to come across like some kind of humourless visiting sociology lecturer.
Too late. The reason that they keep finding their way to your pub meets is that other people like their company. Think you should take a stand if it bothers you that much TC, but if other people side with them and tell you to f
k off, you arent allowed to bleat about it, OK?BTW I'm assuming you have no black friends present at these do's to destroy the (somewhat pitiful) stereotype?
Well if it's just jokes then as said above lighten up and don't worry. If it's genuine boring racist rants (a good clue is the old i'm not a racist but...) then just everytime it comes up you point out how boring and stupid it is if it really bothers you that much, it won't be hard to argue with them as in my experience most proper racists are thick as st anyway.
t anyway.Edited by alman on Wednesday 8th October 13:31
Nail on the head there, most of my friends have grown out of this sorry state now but I still have the odd mate who comes out with absolute turd.
I mentioned to one of my friends I wanted to go to India next year, only to be informed it's 'full of Pakis'.
I tend to find friends who come out with this drivel are well educated but have knuckle dragging parents. You can guarantee that when there's a massive loss of human life somewhere you get the same recycled SMS jokes within hours from the cretins.
As a response to your answer, I have no idea. I can't be ar$ed telling them and having a fall out session. Anyone who's still into it into their 30's isn't going to change as far as I have seen.
I mentioned to one of my friends I wanted to go to India next year, only to be informed it's 'full of Pakis'.
I tend to find friends who come out with this drivel are well educated but have knuckle dragging parents. You can guarantee that when there's a massive loss of human life somewhere you get the same recycled SMS jokes within hours from the cretins.
As a response to your answer, I have no idea. I can't be ar$ed telling them and having a fall out session. Anyone who's still into it into their 30's isn't going to change as far as I have seen.
scotal said:
Twincam16 said:
I don't want to come across like some kind of humourless visiting sociology lecturer.
Too late. The reason that they keep finding their way to your pub meets is that other people like their company. Think you should take a stand if it bothers you that much TC, but if other people side with them and tell you to f
k off, you arent allowed to bleat about it, OK?BTW I'm assuming you have no black friends present at these do's to destroy the (somewhat pitiful) stereotype?
IT'S A JOKE!
Twincam16 said:
BlueCello said:
Um, get new friends that live in your la-la land???
'La-la land'.So 'the real world' is riven with rather ugly, ill-informed prejudice then is it?
Twincam16 said:
I do tell these people what I think, but all that seems to spark is a rather unnecessary argument.
You said it.Twincam16 said:
DucatiGary said:
ibtl
in answer to youyr question:-
stop being a fking jessie they are just having a laugh.
ffs
How is explaining like some kind of social expert why Asians are uncivilised barbarians (with reference only to The Sun) on a regular basis in polite company 'having a laugh'?in answer to youyr question:-
stop being a f
king jessie they are just having a laugh.ffs
her dad is the most racist person i've ever met.
if he takes a pop at me I will give back the same, we both laugh after as its just a laugh, no self importance here, no issues, just taking the piss.
alman said:
Well if it's just jokes then as said above lighten up and don't worry. If it's genuine boring racist rants (a good clue is the old i'm not a racist but...) then just make sure everytime it comes up you point out how boring and stupid it is, it won't be hard to argue with them as in my experience most proper racists are thick as st anyway.
The guy who tells the jokes is separate from the 'racist rants group'. He just tells them so frequently (and they're completely unfunny as well, we're talking primary school playground stuff here) he gets boring, but he's so arrogant he won't ever consider shutting the ft anyway.k up, even if all his mates told him to stop it.As for the racist ranting lot, problem is they'll just do they loud vocal blocking 'no, no, no, no, NO, NO, NO YOU'RE wrong, because...' (find ludicrous example hazily remembered from the Sun).
TVR Moneypit said:
Everyone is racist. Get over it.
There are huge amounts of racism between Pakistanis and Indians, Afro Carriabians and those from Africa, between different tribes in Africa, between different Chinese sects, between the Chinese and the Thai's, between the Chinese and the Russians, etc, etc.
It's human nature to have a diss-trust of those that are different from yourself. It's how strong that diss-trust manifests that is important. When it's starts becoming a hatred, it has gone way too far.
A fair point, I get the impression twincams issue is with a sweeping generalisation resulting in some frankly absurd 'conclusion' being drawn and then used as justification for more random bile There are huge amounts of racism between Pakistanis and Indians, Afro Carriabians and those from Africa, between different tribes in Africa, between different Chinese sects, between the Chinese and the Thai's, between the Chinese and the Russians, etc, etc.
It's human nature to have a diss-trust of those that are different from yourself. It's how strong that diss-trust manifests that is important. When it's starts becoming a hatred, it has gone way too far.
ala, the it's the truth fecktard earlier
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff