Making a scene

[ix_tab]

So, earlier on tonight, I was on public transport, and there was a drunken asshole being racist. I called him on it, loudly. I made a bit of a scene, and then he was kicked off.

I never used to say anything when people were publicly racist. I just used to sit there, and then I would feel like a coward afterward. So now, I say things. I tell them to shut up. I'm not really afraid of public spectacle, or shouting.

What do you do? Do you just hope it stops by itself when people start making a scene in public? Do you get involved? Do you wish you could get involved, but could never pluck up the courage?

 

[jj90]

id make a huge scene lol. i wouldnt take it dude. speak back don't take shit, who cares what other people think

 

[Trivun]

I stay away, usually, and if I'm involved I try and take it somewhere quiet where the 'scene' will be diminished somewhat. I don't really like being involved in 'scenes', as it were...

 

[traceur_]

I let it happen.

1) There's no possible way I could stop it, physically or verbally.

2) It's none of my business.

3) I really don't give a fuck.

 

[Fingerprint]

Unless it directly involves my I usually sit back and ignore what I can. Sometimes though, I will take exception to what is being said and make and scene, not often though.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

What ethnic group were the obscenities being directed to?

I take the bus everyday and this has never happened to me, I would like to think that if any of this stuff happened I would stand up to the guy and tell him he's wrong, but a lot of times I don't act the way I think I would, so I don't know.

 

[ix_tab]

The last thing >.>

But I'm going to try what you just did next time
if only to see their faces

It can be a daunting thing to do. But seriously, I think back to all those times I was on trains or buses and some bastard was slinging around racial slurs at other passengers, and I just sat there, and now I feel annoyed with myself. Standing up to people like that is definitely a good thing, and I'm going to do it from now on.

 

[seamusotorain]

If you're Irish, you watch on and occasionally make a pithy comment to anyone standing near you.

If you're English, you ignore it, look down and keep walking.

If you're American, you're most likely causing said scene ;-)

3) I really don't give a fuck.

I kinda like apathy, you know? Sorta. I dunno really.

Standing up to people like that is definitely a good thing, and I'm going to do it from now on.

Someone get more spandex, we've got a new superhero!

 

[ix_tab]

What ethnic group were the obscenities being directed to?

I take the bus everyday and this has never happened to me, I would like to think that if any of this stuff happened I would stand up to the guy and tell him he's wrong, but a lot of times I don't act the way I think I would, so I don't know.

I'll copy my post from my livejournal!

Basically, drunk dude listening to ICP really loudly has foot stood on by nervous looking Indian student. Drunk dude gets more and more aggro, threatens to knife the student, and takes a swing at him. One of the student's friends tells the tram driver.

The drunk dude sees the friend telling the tram driver and wanders up to the front. The tram driver asks if there's trouble, the drunk dude utters a disgusting racial epithet, and then I shout at him. Real loud.

Allow me to quote my hilarious self, 'Hey! You don't get to use racial slurs in front of me, pal!'

Drunk dude gets in my face, my friend stands up. And then, with much swearing he just stumbles off the tram. Everyone is quiet for a bit. Then a man with no teeth says, 'that's why I don't drink. They should ban alcohol and de-criminalise marijuana.'

My friend and I break down into hysterical giggles.

 

[HentMas]

well... I kind if try to see if they have a legitimate point for being racists, for example if one guy is pissed of because some Mexican got him of his job, well he is quite right to be angry, but if the same guy starts saying ALL Mexicans are stupid, well that's a different point and I would throw facts at his face to show him he is wrong, and make his point Void...

if he is going to complain about a race because he has had a personal experience with them, go ahead I say, he is just pissed off, but don't go saying EVERYONE is the same, that is just stupid.

 

[Sparrow]

I stand up to asses. Random people, that I don't know. I can't bring myself to call out my friends though. I just nod like a moron whenever they state why they dislike a particular gender/religion/culture.

I actually got in a fight because I stood up to a guy at my secondary once.


I won *flexes*

 

[BlackJack47]

I've never had an opportunity to step in really..

 

[ffxfriek]

id make a huge scene lol. i would take it dude. speak back don't take shit, who cares what other people think

seconded

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I always try to. I remember once having a shouting match in a corridor at my old school because one of the teachers was picking on some poor kid.

 

[ae86gamer]

id make a huge scene lol. i would take it dude. speak back don't take shit, who cares what other people think

seconded

^This. If someone is being ignorant I just completely avoid them.

 

[beholdmycape]

@ the OP

I wouldn't call what you described a scene, I'd say it was a stand-up guy putting a drunk asshole in his place. Good on you.

I tend to think of 'scenes' as a couple going ballistic at eachother, or any kind of big domestic argument in public which are fucking embarassing for everyone involved but I have to admit because I have a bit of a temper I have been part of one or two but nothing too bad.

The only time I intervened in anything like that wasn't even in public. I could hear the couple in the neighbouring flat having a huge barney (not that unusual) but it escalated pretty fast and the girl started screaming and crying out 'don't hit me'.
I didn't really want to get involved to be honest but you can't ignore hearing that so I intervened and after a while the situation pretty much calmed itself down.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Depends whether I'd stand a chance if things got violent.
I say this because the vast majority of people won't do anything in that case.

If someone's harassing someone then I do try to stop it.

 

[Beetlejooce]

I had a big argument at my school today in front of everyone.

Basically i have a detention tomorrow, and this teacher was saying 'Can your parents pick you up after?' (because i live in the countryside and would miss the bus) And I said probably and then this teacher said 'well it's not like they work or anything is it! I mean I've spoken to your parents and I'm sure they don't have jobs' Then she chuckled. I thought that was totally out of order, like being laughed at because my parents don't have jobs at the moment.. by a teacher no less. And i went a bit mental and was shouting at her.

Teacher or not, she has no right to say stuff like that. And when another teacher came over to see what was going on she sided with the first teacher saying 'well your parents don't actually work..'

Really hate my school