How do you deal with racist assholes?

[infearoffear]

Ok, so let me start off with a little background, I'm 21 years old and my friends are about the same, and a lot of times when I hang out at there house they bring me over to their neighbors house to chill. So their neighbor, he's probably in his 50s I'd guess, he's what I guess you could call the stereotypical redneck, confederate flags, guns, small dirty apartment that he can't even take care of by himself, and basically I'm pissed because I was just hanging out over there and he was taking shit about his Asian-American neighbors calling them "gooks" and saying "they've got to go" mumbling under his breath about how "gooks gotta die", general BS like that, and all the while my anger is just building, I mean I've hung out there before, I really don't like this guy he's always talking shit about minorities and it pisses me the fuck off, I think there have been a few times when he's gotten drunk and starts trying to bully the Asian-American couple, I mean not physically but he tries to talk shit and yell at them from his porch, but my friends just still go over there. My friends aren't racist, if anything I would describe them as apolitical (I haven't told them about my left wing political views) but I guess they just aren't as offended by this guy as I am. Seriously, I wanted to punch that fucker in his face and tell him to fuck off, it just sucks because I'm so shy and really don't even know how to stand up for what I believe in I guess... Anyways today I just ended up leaving his house and driving home without even telling my friends why, I made up some BS about "going back over to there house to get some water" and just never went back. They tried calling me but I didnt answer. And I think I'm pretty much done hanging out at that rednecks house, I dont want to go back there anytime soon. Ugh sorry this turned into a rant, I'm still burning with anger :mad:, but anyways what would you guys have done in a situation like this? Any tips on standing up for myself/others?

[MattShizzle]

Why would your friends want to hang out with such a person if they don't feel that way themselves?

[Octavian]

It sounds like that guy has been so indoctrinated that the only solution is to wait for him and the rest that are like him to die.

Why would your friends want to hang out with such a person if they don't feel that way themselves?
Most People don't always hang out with just people whom they share the same views with.

[RED DAVE]

You need to start with being honest with your friends and let them know that you won't go to this asshole's place any more. And you need to let them know why.

If they can't deal with it, you need some new friends.

This is not easy, especially at first, but if you do it, you will gain self-respect and respect.

RED DAVE

[MattShizzle]

It's one thing to hang out with people with different views. It's another thing to hang out with people who spout off vile, hateful views like that. And I agree, you should be honest and tell them you don't want anything to do with the racist asshole.

[Fopeos]

Tell your friends how strongly you feel about it. Maybe they feel the same as you. Maybe some share the racist's view. It's best to know. Racism isn't like a minor political difference. It's a fundamental wrong.
I have a good friend who's a republican but i don't have any friends who are nazis.
Perhaps once you know where your friends stand you can all tell the bigot how strongly you feel about his views.

[infearoffear]

Ok so I talked to my friend about how I feel about this guy, I told him I think he's a racist asshole and that he just pisses me off sometimes, and he was like "yeah I know what you mean, he's like that sometimes, he's a simple minded creature but just know that he has good intentions". Yeah whatever. I mean this guy's not like a KKK member or anything, and if I thought he was inclined to become violent or anything like that I would have the proper authorities deal with him, he's just not the brightest person you've ever met and I feel bad that his neighbors have to deal with his BS. But anyways I definitely won't be hanging out with him anytime soon.

[infearoffear]

Why would your friends want to hang out with such a person if they don't feel that way themselves?

Mostly I think it's, sadly, just because a lot of people my age are quick to shrug off racism as not all that serious unless there's a lynch mob burning houses down or something like that. If it's just some asshole slinging racial slurs around, then they don't really see it as a big deal.

[Quail]

The town where I grew up is kind of racist (and pretty much all white), so to a lot of people racial slurs don't seem that much of a big deal. I do challenge people and tell them that I find their language or views offensive and racist (or discriminatory in any other way). I don't know that it has that great an effect though because people get very defensive and make all kinds of bullshit excuses.

[Hiero]

The guy actually sounds like a sad person. He lives alone does he? There are alot of older men like that, living alone, poor, dirty and very racist. It is sad because he is just left to rot really, sounds like he has no real friends or family or any kind of support. It doesn't mean the neighbours should have to put up with his crap, it is just sad. He is his own vicitm, he suffers from his own delusions that the neighbours are "gooks", yet he does nothing about his own conditions. Or maybe that is why he is so angry, he knows he lives in shit and so is angry at everyone.

That movie Gran Torino explores that side of the older White male of Fordist America. While it has it's conservative politics runing through the movie, that the issue around gangs has to do with lack of discipline or whatever, it is interesting that it explains alot of that style of racism, holding on to "traditional" beliefs and values while feeling betrayed and sold out. I am not saying have sympathy for the guy, but I guess feel pity rather then anger and rage?

In regards to how to deal with various racism within your own white social group, I just usually give it back to the person spouting racist views. For instance at a family dinner someone said that they thought Japanese people were very roud and arrogant, and the incident that spawned these believes occured 10 years ago while at a theme park when apparantly a Japanese family cut the line to a ride. I just laughed and explained that tourists are sold the image of the host country as being friendly, that the host country is the tourist playground where everyone is willing to serve and accomondate the tourist, I said they probably went back to Japan and said how nice and friendly Australias were and they always let people cut in front of them. I also said I can just imagine what Asia countries think about Australians "oh good here comes another arrogant drunk Australian". The guy just grumbled, but at least it made him think about how ridicilious it is to judge a whole group of people from one incident involving tourists.

[Blackburn]

Time to get high or buy your drugs elsewhere.

Simply put avoid he individual. You have that power.

[Hebrew Hammer]

Aside from just avoiding him and such, I always like to be an even bigger dick to such people, I mean, come on, it seems like you have ample material to make fun of him over. Pointing out the inferiorities of the "master race," tends to take the piss out of their rants.

[Blackburn]

Aside from just avoiding him and such, I always like to be an even bigger dick to such people, I mean, come on, it seems like you have ample material to make fun of him over. Pointing out the inferiorities of the "master race," tends to take the piss out of their rants.

The trouble with getting down and playing with pigs, is that you tend to get muddy.

[infearoffear]

Aside from just avoiding him and such, I always like to be an even bigger dick to such people, I mean, come on, it seems like you have ample material to make fun of him over. Pointing out the inferiorities of the "master race," tends to take the piss out of their rants.

Yeah, I always thought it would be hilarious to go over there and start making comments about "stupid honkies" or "dumbass crackers", i.e. saying things like "man this dumbass redneck cracker pissed me off at the supermarket today", I mean I'm white and it would probably completely mindfuck this guy to hear someone disparaging their own race, and probably would have shut him up pretty fast

[infearoffear]

Time to get high or buy your drugs elsewhere.

Simply put avoid he individual. You have that power.

Lol if I wanted to buy drugs it definitely wouldn't be from that guy