Dirtyshubb
Member
Im actually English so I was there for Brexit too I've said something similar above, but the reason we need to stop focusing on little things like this is so people take us seriously when the big shit happens. Where we don't all get generalized as "SJW" and ignored by the people we're trying to get through to, because they've noticed that we've made a big deal out something very minuscule in the past.
This has already bit me in the arse with the Brexit ruling, and has bitten you in the arse by getting a reality star elected President. Because people are getting tired of bullshit like this.
The majority of people agree with the issues we represent, but we're handling it in the wrong way with this stuff.
While I can definitely understand where you are coming from, how exactly are we meant to reduce sexism/racism etc. if we dont try to inform people of what it actually is? We can see even in this thread that for some, sexism/racism has to be overt and aggressive to be counted and that anything less is just a joke or harmless, even though we have evidence and history to show that it isnt the case and that these small things build up over the years and snowball into something bigger and more ingrained.
If some people are unable to hear this message without taking offence and deciding to push back and become worse, that says more about them than the message people here are trying to get across. I have seen plenty of people respond to shitty Colin-style comments from people by being understanding and kind and non-accusational only to be met with hostility and a lack of empathy or even simple logic.
Our goal should be to educate children from the ground up to respect everyone regardless of the skin/gender/sexuality etc. and to also educate adults but with adults it can be very hard/impossible to actually create change in their behaviour. People can keep trying to go the softly, softly approach but when you get nothing back but hostility and projection, it becomes clear that they arent going to change and that the only thing to do is just make them aware their comment/opinion is wrong and hope that they either change or realise that they cant spout their bullshit in public and get away with it.
Whatever the answer is, I know it cant be by ignoring things that demonstrably have a negative affect for not only the individual but also for society.