People being offended for other people.

[JenSquid]

As much as I try not to be upset, bigoted jokes do bother me, even if I'm not the intended target. For one thing, I have no desire to associate with bigots. I've encountered far too many people who use the fact that their vitriol is in the form of a "joke" as either a cover or an excuse for its vileness. I don't think it's political correctness to be repulsed by thinly-veiled bullying, but basic human decency. That I can empathize with the targets precludes me from finding said "jokes" funny. That being said, there is a difference between mocking the absurdity of a stereotype and earnestly using stereotypes to mock. The former is ok, the latter is not. Dark humor is also something different (and I have a dark sense of humor) from bigoted jokes.

Alas, I am guilty of not correcting offenders nearly as much as I should. My reaction tends to be facepalm followed by avoiding/disassociating from them rather than calling them out on it. If it's someone I know does it, I may say "dude, not cool," but with strangers I usually just walk away. As much as society would benefit from censuring its predators, I seldom do it myself. For one, there is that fear that if I speak up, I'll be next (as Beth Andrea mentioned), but also the fact that some idiots just aren't worth one's time. I just don't need the stress.

[~RoadToTrista~]

I'm reminded of some white people who like to use the N-word as a joke when no black people are around, and that does offend me. Yet they always say that it shouldn't.

[Kevin Peña]

I guess it's up to an individual to decide what's offensive for themselves. I'd say it's best to not be oversensitive, though. If you get offended at every little issue, you will be frustrated for your entire life. Heck, do I, an atheist, get offended when people who know that I'm an atheist say "bless you?" No, because I know they don't mean anything bad by it. Thus, if people can't make racist jokes, then stop saying "bless you" to anyone who is not part of your religion. 

[EmmaS]

I'm reminded of some white people who like to use the N-word as a joke when no black people are around, and that does offend me. Yet they always say that it shouldn't.

Do you get offended if people call white people "crackers"? Just curious because it's essentially the same thing yet it's perceived as acceptable towards white people.

[~RoadToTrista~]

Do you get offended if people call white people "crackers"? Just curious because it's essentially the same thing yet it's perceived as acceptable towards white people.

A little but not as much. Essentially it's the same thing, however I don't know any white people who find it too offensive either. How do you feel about it?

[Nero]

Do you get offended if people call white people "crackers"? Just curious because it's essentially the same thing yet it's perceived as acceptable towards white people.

A little but not as much. Essentially it's the same thing, however I don't know any white people who find it too offensive either. How do you feel about it?

I don't personally find it offensive. But I don't see it as the same. Maybe a person of another race may use it to show hostility to whites or even just as joke - but I don't think it's the same as other racial slurs. There's a lot more power and context behind words used for other races than any that could be used for white folk.

[tomthom]

and that's why plenty of other ethnicities hate whites. That kind of thinking that they don't have equally offensive terms for us is incredibly ethnocentric.

[Kevin Peña]

Well, to be fair, the n-word and other racial slurs represent a history of kidnapping, slavery, treachery, murder, rape, and generations of discrimination. Cracker has nothing on that.

I don't have anything against white people, but in this case, y'all have to get real.

[Nero]

and that's why plenty of other ethnicities hate whites. That kind of thinking that they don't have equally offensive terms for us is incredibly ethnocentric.

Well, I don't mean to offend. It's just like Diana said, there's really no oppression equivalent. Kind of like while I as a man find misandry damaging and hurtful, it's simply not the same as sexism against women.

[tomthom]

the thing is not what it means to us, but what it means to them. that's my point.

And yes misandry sucks and should be addressed just as fervently as misogyny. They both feed eachother.

[Kevin Peña]

We're not saying that it's not bad. It's just that the term "cracker" doesn't deserve anywhere near the same offense. Sorry, but it's just not the same.

[V M]

Bigotry in any form is ugly imo

[Kevin Peña]

Once again, it's not okay, but it's just not the same for a black person to be called the n-word and whites to be called the c-word. The n-word just cuts deeper.

[tomthom]

well let's just drop the c and n word. yes I'm going to treat both of them with initials.

[tomthom]

yes, I agree. it has more of a past. now moving on because that issue won't be settled in our lifetime sadly.

[Kevin Peña]

I think we did settle it. Bigotry's never okay, but N-word > C-word. What's left to settle? 

Anywho, I don't think that getting worked up over another person's problems is productive. If you get mad every time someone gives another person a hard time, you're going to have some really high blood pressure. 

[Arch]

Also, if someone makes a racist joke, let's say a black joke, and all of the black people are fine with it, then intervening just makes you a party pooper. If someone says that a situation is fine and means it, then just leave the situation alone. 

This is interesting. An acquaintance of mine said she was in a situation where a joke was made among some people she was with--it was a joke about race, and she didn't belong to that race, but most of the other people did. She laughed along with them and apparently got some cold responses. It was okay for them to laugh but not okay for her! I guess it was like using the n word or something. But I have this story secondhand...I wasn't there.

It might have been just as bad if she'd gotten all huffy and racially sensitive. Tough situation to be in...I guess the best course is to just have no real reaction. I wonder how often situations like that one happen?

[V M]

No-one's bigotry is more or less insulting, it is still bigotry regardless of which direction it flows

[~RoadToTrista~]

Well, to be fair, the n-word and other racial slurs represent a history of kidnapping, slavery, treachery, murder, rape, and generations of discrimination. Cracker has nothing on that.

I don't have anything against white people, but in this case, y'all have to get real.

A little but not as much. Essentially it's the same thing, however I don't know any white people who find it too offensive either. How do you feel about it?


I don't personally find it offensive. But I don't see it as the same. Maybe a person of another race may use it to show hostility to whites or even just as joke - but I don't think it's the same as other racial slurs. There's a lot more power and context behind words used for other races than any that could be used for white folk.

That's more along the lines of what I was thinking. They sound like they're suppose to be the same I guess? But they're not.

When I hear the "cr-word", it just sounds lame. With other races there are several other offensive terms besides the "n-word" or the "ch-word" but which are still directed towards those races, that just don't have the same impact as those big ones do.

[V M]

Okay friends 

That's enough racist crap for now, topic locked

V M