What I mean is if you are called by the term specific to your race, religious or cultural identity.

Back in the 60's I was called a white soda cracker by a black kid. I started laughing.

Most people, who are comfortable in their own skin, are more amused than offended.

Few things total strangers say matter. In the grand picture

My opinion is that those who are generally sooooo offended are usually a race-baiter and a racist themselves.

Sticks and stones, sticks and stones.....

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
My opinion is that those who are generally sooooo offended are usually a race-baiter and a racist themselves.

They are, and that being the case, just laugh at them.

quote:

Originally posted by Jupiter:
Most people, who are comfortable in their own skin, are more amused than offended.

^^^^^
This.

lol, you need to sit in on one of our roll call sessions. we've all failed sensitivity training.

1/2 Sicilian, 1/2 Irish, & a
Catholic, you bet I’ve been called every slur involving my ancestry & religion. I don’t care, I love my history, I’m American made and proud of it!

USA #1

My roommate in college was a black kid from Tennessee. He liked to call me a peckerwood. He always laughed when he said it and, even though I had no idea what it meant, I never took offense.

I wouldn't, but I'm not in a group that has been racially, religiously or ethnically stereotyped or attacked in a way some others have.

Unfortunately there are so many false claims in recent decades, and much worse in recent years, that blame any shortcomings on bias or "isms" that it has devalued some of the real issues. The Boy That Cried Wolf syndrome in many cases.

That said, it doesn't mean that there aren't some legitimate issues around the subject.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
What I mean is if you are called by the term specific to your race, religious or cultural identity.

I generally dont get offended at being called racial slurs, but as a brown guy who went to mostly white schools, I was teased on a fairly regular basis. These incidents tended to get physical with repeat offenders, but for the most part these negative interactions helped thicken my skin enough to survive to adulthood and develop a sense of humor/wit that has helped me immeasurably in my personal and professional life. Lemons into lemonade, as it were.

All that being said: In 49 years on this mud ball I've experienced the full gamut of offensive or rough talk. I've been forced to deal with real, no bullshit, racist sons of bitches who'd like nothing better than to use silly words to demean me and my family/children in attempt to hurt and demoralize people they feel are beneath them for whatever reason.

It's hard to describe and communicate these things to people who've never experienced them firsthand. As an example, I interviewed for a job as a teenager and was told flat out by the interviewer that i could go ahead and "get back on the taco truck because he'd never hire a fucking Mexican" It's hard not to get upset when that happens...especially when you stop to thing that this fucker read my name (my name sure as fuck isnt Robert Francis O'Rourke) on the application and called me in anyway...maybe just to let me know what a piece of shit he thinks i am?

Special Note I haven't really posted in a very long time, but I thought I may have a unique perspective to add to the discussion. I'll go back to lurking now

I haven't been called a honkie since the 70's!

I already don't care much of what people think of me, I'd laugh off a racial slur.

Happens all the time, I just laugh it off and then write the person off. No need to let someone else make me upset. I'm not going to be able to convince them it's wrong to disparage others. Hell, I laugh 95% of the time at the jokes.

Well, being a white male Protestant that's either been in the military or lived in the boonies all my life, I haven't been in situations where racial or other slurs would be likely to be thrown around.

I don't recall ever being subjected to such things within my hearing, tho I've probably been called a redneck/clodhopper/hayseed/country bumpkin. Maybe even a cracker.

All of which I'd either ignore or laugh about, because quite frankly, I AM a redneck etc.

Nope. Jewish, Indian (feathered), and seen as white. I grew up with some insults.

And most have heard me rant on "hate crime" bullshit. That offends me, as a human.

There are good people and there are evil people. That's all they is.

I laugh at the impotence of it.

quote:

Originally posted by shigawire:

It's hard to describe and communicate these things to people who've never experienced them firsthand. As an example, I interviewed for a job as a teenager and was told flat out by the interviewer that i could go ahead and "get back on the taco truck because he'd never hire a fucking Mexican" It's hard not to get upset when that happens...especially when you stop to thing that this fucker read my name (my name sure as fuck isnt Robert Francis O'Rourke) on the application and called me in anyway...maybe just to let me know what a piece of shit he thinks i am?

Special Note I haven't really posted in a very long time, but I thought I may have a unique perspective to add to the discussion. I'll go back to lurking now

Good for you. You have a lot more class and character than that asshole will ever know.