Racist Friends

[Pascal]

I have a friend who is horribly racist. He's from Poland, he's never seen a black person IRL, and he believes that they're... well... every negative black stereotype, actually.

I know that's a really horrible thing for someone to believe, but for some reason I can't bring myself to really care. I like to tease him by posting pictures of black people to piss him off (especially black MLP humanized ponies. He HATES that), but I never argue with him about it because I know I'll never convince him to change his mind. I don't take it seriously, and we're able to get along.

Has anyone else been in that kind of a situation before, where you had someone who was either racist or believed something you found awful?

 

[SonicWaffle]

Has anyone else been in that kind of a situation before, where you had someone who was either racist or believed something you found awful?

Plenty of times. Sometimes there just isn't anything you can do about it. I have a friend who is - and I swear I'm not making this up - scared of Chinese people because if one of them were to assault or rob her she wouldn't be able to pick them out of a line-up. I never said she was smart. Whether or not you want to be friends with someone who doesn't conform to your social expectations is your choice, really.

Of course, here in the UK, there are a lot of people who feel about Polish people the way your friend does about black people. The wheel just keeps on turning.

 

[Kolby Jack]

I have a good friend who likes to make the occasional racist joke. Usually they're about Asians, which is fine because he's Asian, and I join in on those because it's all just good fun. Sometimes though it's about blacks or Mexicans or whatever, and those I just kind of half-heartedly chuckle at and try to move on from. He seems to be doing it less and less though, which is good. But yea, it's a little odd.

 

[Johanthemonster666]

Unfortunately a lot of people in my life are like this. A guy I had a crush on (before I got to know him) and still sometimes hangout with is walking stereotype of a conservative/US-libertarian nut-case. He rants and raves about conspiracies -apparently the US has a weather altering/earthquake causing superweapon that it uses to wreak havoc for profit. He has some pretty fucked up views about Afro-Americans, Latinos, Undocumented workers/families, poor people etc...we only agree on hating US foreign policy. Yet he's openly gay, unemployed, collects foodstamps and is supported by his parents...I think rational thought/logic implode in his presence.

My parents are both worse in some respects, they are practically as white, conservative, 'communists are waiting to take over', racists south as you can get without using a time machine.

 

[Sir Christopher McFarlane]

This year I commented with my father about how homosexual marriage is legal in our country. He didn't know. He began complaining about how you can't let them adopt kids and how you need Mum & Dad to ensure a kid is raised properly. He also believes that most homosexuals are corrupted into being homosexual while they are children. My mouth was agape.

 

[Ryotknife]

Pfft, that is nothing. I knew someone who was Asian and despises other Asians. Like, hates everything about them and will yell out racial slurs with the intent of being mean.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Oh yeah. Lot's of "Do I keep quiet and let it slide, or make a fuss and say something?" moments.

And fewer people on my FB friend's list because of this.

 

[Total LOLige]

I've got a couple of racist friends but not so racist that they commit hate crimes, just the odd racist joke or call each other various racist slurs. There's not much you can do about it other than try and teach them the errors of their ways or just unfriend them. There is a large number of racists in the north west of England, speaking from personal experience and I'm not just generalizing. I'm not even sure it's in malice it's just a lack of education seven tims out of ten.

 

[Queen Michael]

I do believe this little song is in order.

 

[Froggy Slayer]

Oh yeah, tons. I had a guy at my last Klan meeting start making fun of the Jews! Can you believe that?