What should you do in response to racism or a racist comment?

[CreekDog]

17 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Ignore it.
	1 (6%)
	Respond to it and note your disapproval in some way.
	16 (94%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[leftstreet]

1. Here on DU?

[CreekDog]

2. here or in general.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Like NYCSkip said

Its different in real life. . .

[broiles]

10. When I have responded negatively, I feel that's what the want.

[NYC_SKP]

3. IRL I tell them that they need to shut the fuck up. On DU, a jury would probably hide that.

So, on DU, I respond differently.

Of course, I don't come along racist rantings often, but the last time was last summer with a family friend who seemed to believe that Muslim people are less than American people because of their religion.

It's a shame, really, but I rarely let comments like that go unaddressed.



OBTW, from USGS data for 2005, per capita domestic water use was about 148 gallons/day.

Actual total per capita use including agriculture, industry, etc. was about 913 gallons/day.

And, if you include water used at power plants and a few other applications, it was 1,387 gallons/day!

The numbers don't include indirect water use, such as with imported foods and products but if it did our water footprint would probably double.

That one pound of beef you ate? About 2,000 gallons!

I calculate my domestic household water use to be between 30 and 40 gallons per week, for both houses!

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/

[CreekDog]

5. regarding the water use thing...you know the thread where we were talking about it?

why don't you post it there?

[Scootaloo]

7. DU juries are way more supportive of racism than people in the real world

I figure it has something to do with the double-layered anonymity.

[AverageJoe90]

13. That doesn't seem to be true, from what I've seen.....

Or at least not against People of Color, anyway(which is, of course, a good thing), and I hope the same would also hold for that expressed against "white" folks as well.

Although, then again, one must wonder how the Juries react to trolling overall. I know I've seen at least a few (false) accusations being spread around, that racism is supposedly widespread on DU, etc., from time to time(which it isn't. Even anti-Caucasian racism an anti-Semitism seem to be rare. Anti-PoC racism is definitely close to non-existent, outside of perhaps a few deep-cover trolls.).

[AverageJoe90]

21. "Here's to bloviation!" Speak for yourself.....nt

[Scootaloo]

15. Yoiu must have a very different version of DU than I do

[AverageJoe90]

20. It's possible that you, personally, may have had some particularly unfortunate experiences..........

And I'm sorry if that's been the case; it does happen sometimes.

[ismnotwasm]

6. Raise hell

Racism is a line in the sand for me.

[KamaAina]

8. Respond and alert.

edit: Oh, you meant IRL.

[CreekDog]

9. i meant either

[AverageJoe90]

11. I'd call them out. Regardless if they were "white" or a Person of Color. n/t

[CreekDog]

57. Reverse racism huh?

Do you think those problems are equal in scale?

[gollygee]

58. He thinks it's more common on DU than actual racism

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5451934

I know I've seen at least a few (false) accusations being spread around, that racism is supposedly widespread on DU, etc., from time to time(which it isn't. Even anti-Caucasian racism an anti-Semitism seem to be rare. Anti-PoC racism is definitely close to non-existent, outside of perhaps a few deep-cover trolls.).

I should start a thread about my hate of the word "Caucasian" at some point. It's basically the same as saying "Aryan."

Oh I googled. I guess I could post links to explanations of why that word is obnoxious.

http://raaw.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/caucasian/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2011/01/stop-using-the-word-caucasian-to-mean-white/

[betsuni]

96. I hate "Caucasian" too.

So 19th century-style racist. I cringe every time I see it STILL being used.

[AverageJoe90]

61. Nothing "reverse" about it.

BTW, I never once said or implied otherwise, and it's fairly obvious as well. So what do you gain from this, exactly?

Do you think those problems are equal in scale?

No, but racist attitudes should still be condemned, no matter if they come from Louis Farrakhan or David Duke.

[whistler162]

72. Sorry but you are allowed to make racist

comments about whites on DU and bigoted remarks about males and religion is also allowed. So duck and cover if you are a religious white male!

[XemaSab]

12. What SHOULD I do or what DO I do?

All the people I know IRL who are racist are either assholes or they're a thousand years old.

Assholes: I don't hang out with them.

Old people: I comfort myself in the fact that they're hella old and those attitudes are going to die out.

[Call Me Wesley]

16. Didn't you get the memo?

Racism ended in 1960. Since then, no racism. All's peachy. And equal. I have an African-American friend who will tell you the exact same thing.

Do I have to?

For your poll, unfortunately, juries tend not to hide racist post but eagerly posts calling out racists: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5364469

So I suggest just keeping it to yourself ...

I'd risk 100'000 hidden posts to call out racists.

[CreekDog]

26. yes and your hide was total BS

especially when the OP you were responding to wasn't hidden.

[Arkansas Granny]

17. I tell them that I don't appreciate that kind of talk and move on.

The people I'm acquainted with know that I'm not easily offended, so they usually don't make remarks of that nature around me again.

[Glassunion]

18. I spoke up once. But the jury system on DU did not see it that way.

I don't speak up any more, as it's pointless. I'll just leave DU for a while and let MIRT or the Admins take out the trash.

On DU, racism comes in many forms. You have the "racism-light" version of "White privilege does not exist". Those are generally posts that contain the word "me" several times. Then the "racism-medium" version of "Why don't they ever talk about black on black crime? That's where the real problem is." Those post are generally full of the words "they" and "them". Then there if the version of "racism-full flavor", where you will see quotes from a Tarantino film. Regardless, most juries will let this stand, however MIRT and the Admins will get it right.

IRL - Depends completely on the situation. There is no one-size-fits-all response to racism.

[AverageJoe90]

22. Wait.....how is not believing in "white privilege" "racism-light", in your personal view?

Because that would include the very large majority of American liberals, including many PoC. Are you honestly THAT unaware?

In all honesty, that's pretty fucked up, dude, and you should be ashamed of yourself. Seriously.

[Scootaloo]

24. I find myself unsurprised n/t

[AverageJoe90]

25. How so?

I'm sorry, but Glassunion basically implying that not believing in "white privilege" is basically "racism-light" was pretty reprehensible, to be truthful.

[Scootaloo]

28. I would say it's outright racism, nothing "light" about it

I see absolutely nothing "reprehensible' about this.

[AverageJoe90]

29. It most certainly is.

And especially because it tars so many people with a bad brush; it covers perhaps something on the order of three-quarters of liberals in this country, at least. Maybe more.

And yes, one certainly can accept the reality of institutional injustice without believing in "white privilege". There are millions who are just like that. I am but just one more of them.

[Scootaloo]

33. Then they deserve to be tarred. It's a racist position to have, regardless of how "popular" it is

[AverageJoe90]

34. "It's a racist position to have" I'm sorry, but that's bullshit. And offensive, too.

And, by the way, there are also People of Color, too, who don't agree with "White Privilege", either.....what do you say about them?

[Scootaloo]

35. Then by all means,, be offended. Doesn't make it untrue, though. n/t

[AverageJoe90]

38. It most certainly *is* untrue, whether you like it or not.

Honestly, I'm sorry that maybe you've had some particularly bad experiences with trolls & other assholes on here. But you can't stoop down to that level, and I don't like to say this, but frankly, you're coming a tad close to there with this "don't believe in white privilege? You're a racist." type of thing.

[Scootaloo]

44. Oh well. it's a racist position to hold, and people who hold it are therefore racists

if someone is going to deny the plain, flat-out reality that white people have an easier time getting around in the United States than black people, or other people of color, then yes, that's racism - they're not just ignoring but outright denying the realities faced and expressed to them by these people. And if someone is more concerned about the term than the situation it describes, well shoot, I don't even know what to say to an outlook like that.

Luckily, racism is a reversible condition.

[AverageJoe90]

46. You are not doing us liberals any favors with that kind of extremism.

And yes, I AM referring to this:

it's a racist position to hold, and people who hold it are therefore racists

Again, do you not realize that most people who do understand the reality of institutional injustice don't necessarily believe in "white privilege"? It's not that hard, Scootaloo!

And if someone is more concerned about the term than the situation it describes, well shoot, I don't even know what to say to an outlook like that.

It's about education.....and about actually making real progress. And frankly, stuff like "don't believe in white privilege? Then you're a racist!" is exactly the kind of thing that RWNJ pundits like Limbaugh and O'Reilly try to use to discredit us liberals as a whole, and not only that, but they also try to use stuff like this to try to "debunk" institutional prejudice. Of course, most liberals and other lefties can see right thru that(because most of us understand that you don't have to believe that white people have special extra privileges, to understand institutional prejudice), but this kind of stuff leaves many moderates wanting to stay on the fence. Not good if we are truly focused on social progress.

[Scootaloo]

48. It's hardly extremist to note reality, AverageJoe

and if it were, i believe the late Dr. King had a statement covering it;

When you are right you cannot be too radical

i find it odd that your position on "achieving progress" is to just ignore and not talk about one of the major hurdles impeding that progress. Why? because the term bothers you, as if it were about you at all, and as if your opinion is paramount to the issue.


I'm afraid you've been hard at work underscoring my statement, rather than undermining it. Have a good evening AverageJoe90, i have a pathfinder game to attend

[AverageJoe90]

54. There's no ignoring being done. Not on my part, anyway.

I know full well that institutional disparities exist. I haven't once argued otherwise.

In any case, I really wish you'd get a clue. Is it really that hard to understand what I've been trying to point out?

[gollygee]

55. People understand

People disagree. Are you so arrogant as to think that people are incapable of both understanding your argument AND disagreeing with it?

[gollygee]

32. +1

[Glassunion]

73. Would you feel better if we changed the semantics?

Instead of calling it "White Privilege", what if we called it "Ethnic Disadvantage"? That would get that pesky word "white" out of the equation.

[AverageJoe90]

77. It would certainly be much more accurate, in any case. nt

[el_bryanto]

74. Not believing in white privilege is choosing to live with blinders in regards to race

It's actually another form of white privilege that white people can pretend that it doesn't exist. People of color don't have that option.

Bryant

[jamzrockz]

36. Jury results

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Even if Averagejoe took the post personally, the post named no names and put forth a reasonable assessment of racism. AJ has no right or need to respond with a personal attack of this sort, really making assumptions and going below the waist with "fucked up" and "ashamed". Very unnecessary and very personal.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Aug 27, 2014, 06:52 PM, and the Jury voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: I think of it as "subtle" racism. I am hoping DU will grow past the time when calling racism out, was considered a larger transgression than expressing actual racism
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: "That's fucked up" and "you should be ashamed of yourself" are not direct personal attacks, as far as I'm concerned.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[AverageJoe90]

39. Thanks for the info, jamzrockz. nt

[Glassunion]

43. Wow!

I did not read your post like a personal attack at all... Good jury results on that.

[Glassunion]

42. So, you believe that white privilege does not exist?

At all?

[AverageJoe90]

45. Not in the literal sense, at least.

But yes, I had a real problem with you implying that just disagreeing with "white privilege" makes someone "racist-light". That is honestly not cool, man, especially because it ends up tarring so many people. Did you realize that, at all?

[Glassunion]

52. Read my first post again, and check your language.

I did not imply anything, let alone that "just disagreeing with "white privilege" makes someone "racist-lite"". Those are your words, not mine.

I said: You have the "racism-light" version of "White privilege does not exist" period.

[ieoeja]

78. I, for one, am completely okay tarring racists as racists.

If you want people to stop implying - or, in my case, outright saying - you're a racist, stop talking like a racist. You don't have to do anything.

And if three-quarters of Liberals fail to see the blatantly obvious white privilege in this country, then three-quarters of Liberals are at least a little bit racist. I could ignore that fact, but it would not change anything. My not saying it won't stop it being true.

Maybe you should worry less about us speaking the truth and more about the racism inherent in even the better half of this country.

[AverageJoe90]

79. You. Can't. Be. Serious.

And if three-quarters of Liberals fail to see the blatantly obvious white privilege in this country, then three-quarters of Liberals are at least a little bit racist.

Please tell me you're not serious about that. First of all, nobody has offered any proof that not believing that white people have collective privilege is somehow racist, especially when it does include the large majority of people who actually DO understand institutional injustice, including people actually fighting it on the front lines. Also, as a rule(even if unwritten), genuine modern liberals(do note I didn't say lefties in general) can't be racist, even if they're white.

My not saying it won't stop it being true.

Not that any of what you've said here IS true. Honestly, if it was, this country would be in far worse trouble now, than it already is. But then again, I can already frankly tell that you're one of those people who likes to toss the around with abandon. Do you realize that you are trivalizing racism by doing stuff like this? Or do you just not care?

[Number23]

83. Jesus CHRIST

Also, as a rule(even if unwritten), genuine modern liberals(do note I didn't say lefties in general) can't be racist, even if they're white.

STOP IT. STOP.

[Number23]

85. But for WHAT PURPOSE? Is he some washed up or washing up comedian that reads the replies to his

stupidity on other web sites for shits and giggles? Is he Tosh?

Is he a Stormfront member that just wants to see how long he can toe the line before he gets kicked off? And then what happens after he gets kicked off? What is the point of all of this?

[betsuni]

97. I decided it's a performance,

but I'm intrigued by the anti-prophet idea. He has all the answers and an unshakeable faith that he is right. He is showing us the way out of the dark wilderness of our ignorance, but do we follow? Do we listen to this wise teacher? No, we do not. It's like that time Moses went up a mountain and came down with a stone menu and got mad at Edward G. Robinson for starting a big boozy orgy. Or the Jesus thing.

[boston bean]

87. It's trolling, imho. to be absolutely truthful and TBH. nt

[boston bean]

89. no, it's sort of like concern trolling though...

he is very concerned about how others express themselves and thinks it ruins liberal causes, when he sounds, to be completely honest, like a racist most times. I mean, I just love it when he incessantly explains to black people how wrong they are when voicing their experiences, well, not wrong TBH, but wrong with the words they choose. See, he as a white male, knows best, and he's way more smarter.

[boston bean]

92. I think you are being to nice.

It's not just race it's a multitude of issues he does this with.

If that person truly feels and thinks the way he does, he is no victim on DU for spouting that BS. He will get what he gives.

[boston bean]

94. Maybe I misunderstood. I think see what you are saying, now.

no need to withdraw on my account. I didn't mean to seem as if I were confronting you. I was taking it as more an opportunity to say what I felt.

[CreekDog]

109. it's like his posts on climate change...

it's always prefaced with something like, "I really really super duper believe that climate change is real and is happening..."

and then is followed by a paragraph of concern that we are making too much of it, the result of climate change won't be as bad as we are saying, there are "doomers" who are making climate change out to be worse than it is.

often he includes concern that some of the actions proposed to deal with climate change are too drastic.

the overall point, is that on almost any topic here, he will state that he agrees with the liberal opinion, but then use the rest of his post to explain why we should tone it down, or not act, or what's wrong with the people who support the very same issue.

it's all so incredibly obvious and i don't respect it at all. i respect people who aren't ashamed of what they believe.

[Number23]

47. Would you please, PLEASE just SHUT THE FUCK UP

I will send you $50 if you stop posting in race threads. Your ignorance and stupidity on this topic which you are simply compelled to regale us all with despite the fact that you have been asked and even BEGGED repeatedly to stop are beyond insuferable.

[Number23]

50. I've gotten hides for much stupider, much less than this. But this has got to be said

And I'm a "she"

[Number23]

53. It's no problem. You would think that the forced vacation that poster just got back from

for his UNENDING ignorant and racially clueless comments would have caused some insight, some personal growth on his part.

Apparently, none of us are going to have the benefit of a new and improved Joe.

[CreekDog]

59. I will contribute another $25

To stay out of climate change threads.

[CreekDog]

62. !

[LeftyMom]

63. I'll throw in $25 more for gender.

[Gormy Cuss]

66. ^^^This^^^n/t

[LeftyMom]

67. Wow, I think we've found the internet's best new idea. STFUstarter. :D

The more money raised the more things the object of the fundraiser has to shut their piehole about.

[Starry Messenger]

81. I'm late to the thread, but I would totally give up snacks for a week to toss in a few bucks.

[stage left]

104. Tbh

I'm very, very late to this thread. And I'm almost ready to give up Chocolate in order to contribute to the fund. Also, Brava, number 23!

[CreekDog]

106. !

[CreekDog]

68. You aren't Number 23

You're Number 1 in my book!

[stage left]

110. my book, too.

+1

[LanternWaste]

76. I'll chip in another $50... anything to assist in raising the mean IQ around here helps.

I'll chip in another $50... anything to assist in raising the mean IQ around here helps.

[CreekDog]

80. we may need to get an ice bucket challenge going

to donate to get, well, you know, certain people, to just be quiet.

[Number23]

82. Damn, so let's see we've got race, climate change and gender as issues that people are begging this

person to no longer engage in. An Internet "Cease and Desist" on some of the most important issues affecting the Democratic base, the country and the world right now and people are begging this poster to STFU about them all.

I was semi-joking when I made that post (and fully expected it to be hidden) but now I'm starting to think that the joke is on all of us.

[sheshe2]

98. Yes...

"Damn, so let's see we've got race, climate change and gender as issues that people are begging this person to no longer engage in. An Internet "Cease and Desist" on some of the most important issues affecting the Democratic base, the country and the world right now and people are begging this poster to STFU about them all."

I think that covers it, Number23.

[CreekDog]

100. +1

+1 LanternWaste.

[Starry Messenger]

19. Alert with extreme haste. If that fails, they get a piece of my mind.

IRL, if we're talking about some white person making a privileged remark and I think they are reachable, I'll walk them through why that was wrong.

If it's outright hate and bigotry, then I tell them to STFU.

[ecstatic]

31. depends on how well I know the person

I don't voluntarily associate with people like that, but there is one ignorant asshole I'm forced to deal with. I challenge him whenever he makes ignorant, racist, homophobic, etc. comments. It doesn't make a difference though.

If it's a stranger, I would most likely ignore person and my body language would make it clear that I'm not in agreement.

[AverageJoe90]

41. you and I are pretty much the same on this, I think. nt

[valerief]

37. If it's a cop holding a gun on you, uh, I wouldn't piss him off.

Live long enough to report him.

[NuclearDem]

40. Something that's earned me four hides on Discussionist.

[Inkfreak]

69. Totally justified hides!!

[L0oniX]

56. I just told a fellow employee to go fuck them selves and that I can't wait until...

old white racists assholes die off. He came up to me and said he would shoot the n*'s in Ferguson too. I couldn't hold back ...I walked out after that. Fuck racists!

[treestar]

60. Just did that on Facebook

Got some support, too, from the idiot's other friends.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

64. I like a nice short and to the point, Fuck You. Yeah, it gets me hides but, the satisfaction

is worth it to me. I have little patience for BullShit.

[AverageJoe90]

90. " I have little patience for BullShit."

Same here. To be truthful, I actually used to spend several hours at a time arguing with white supremacist assholes over shit on YouTube a long while back.

[LeftyMom]

65. IRL or on the internet?

IRL sometimes the best response is to just look at somebody like they're lower than whale vomit.

It takes a special gift to communicate that in text.

[Inkfreak]

70. IRL, not much if I'm not familiar with them.

But if they're known to me, I have no issue with speaking up. If they persist, I move on to better people and lose no sleep over terminating ties with a racist.

[whistler162]

71. Depends

If it is on DU and one of the allowed racism's not much can be done.

[el_bryanto]

75. I depends on my relationship to the person and the context of the comments

If someone says something aggressive towards a person of color - a racist joke or a racist attack, than one's principal duty is to stand with that person of color - and let the aggressor know that such actions aren't acceptable. One should always side with the person being attacked as opposed to the person doing the attacking.

On the other hand if it is a comment in front of me or just in private conversation than you have to consider. Standing there and saying nothing isn't really acceptable - but if it is a friend and, in general, a worthwhile person, than your goal should be to help them confront their racism and reject it. That might require forthrightly letting them know how wrong their comments are, or it might lead to a more gradated approach.

Bryant

[ohnoyoudidnt]

99. I'm with the minority here and in many cases ignore it

Especially online. Like a parrot, any reaction will get them to continue. Although, if a particular situatuon gives me the ability to embarass them (usually in real life and in a crowd) I'll

take advantage of it and do so.

[Kalidurga]

101. What should I do, I dunno, but...

what I do is I yell at them. Usually pretty loudly, irl. On forums not so much I alert, confront, jab at them it depends on the situation.

[B Calm]

102. Depends if it was intentional or not. I've seen posts hidden by the PC police

that should not have been. Sometimes the political correctness here gets way out of hand and all it's doing is chasing people away.

What's the matter with Kansas touches on this subject.

[SaltyBro]

103. If it happened at my job

I would go notify my supervisor immediately.

[Gormy Cuss]

105. Here on DU, alert on so that a jury can vote

to leave it visible as a difference of opinion.

[Quayblue]

107. lol

[War Horse]

108. IRL I always react in one way or another

Letting the person know it's not acceptable.

Wasn't always that way. I get those who are afraid to speak up. Been there, but I've also done that, I you know what I mean.