Racist kids pissed me off today

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People whom are saying the situation wasn't "racist" truly didn't read everything the OP typed. Cmon guys. It addresses and answers all of the "loop-holes" you're purposely trying to grasp at.

Sorry you had to endure that OP. I would be equally aggravated. Cultured-themed parties and intoxicated college(?) students are a bad mix.
 
If there's no ill intent, it's not racism, just lack of knowledge. Was I a racist when I repeated things from 1940's Looney Tunes episodes as a kid, not knowing what they meant or the history behind them?

You were a kid and they are adults and come on "Mexicans are dirty" is extremely racist and has nothing to do with ignorance.
 
you should have given them all discounts on the tequila that makes them barf.

ah racism defense force. "I've said racist things in the past, was I racist?" "Ah they don't have racism where they're from, they can't be racist. They just don't know better."
"Hey, Mexicans are pretty dirty. (Before bathing. We all are. See? Not racist, just fact.)"
 
There's always been themed parties at colleges, some just go too far.

And yeah, that girl sounds like a racist, but that doesn't make everyone at that party one.

Besides, why would it matter if a Mexican went to it? It wouldn't automatically validate it.
 
ah racism defense force. "I've said racist things in the past, was I racist?" "Ah they don't have racism where they're from, they can't be racist. They just don't know better."
"Hey, Mexicans are pretty dirty. (Before bathing. We all are. See? Not racist, just fact.)"

Did anyone in this thread actually say any of those?
 
As a Mexican, I would've been perfectly fine to give them a pass on the costumes (even the taco one!) -- but the dirt part? Fuck them.

OP, can you refuse service? I would've kicked them out :\
 
I think part of the problem is that I am guessing few Americans would really be offended by a group of, say, Canadians, throwing an American party where everyone wore fat suits, wife beaters, drank Budweiser, ate hamburgers, waved American flags and acted dumb.

It is an empathy problem.
 
As a mexican...I dont mind people wearing sombreros, and what not but engaging in negative stereotypes to represent Mexicans as dirty is fuckin offensive.

Anyways, doesn't seem like most GAF finds the "dirt" comment offensive because I think they have little experience in interacting with my people, and our culture. Just because african americans get treated like shit, doesn't mean that us mexicans dont. We, blacks and mexicans, experience the same shit everyday. Its not just a white and black issue but a brown issue too.
 
So in your view, people wearing black faces while eating fried chicken and playing basketball with tribal African music playing in the background wouldn't be racist because they are just ignorant.

The situation isn't quite the same. It's easier to have unknowingly met Mexicans than to have unknowingly met black people (though you reference tribal music, the rest are African American stereotypes). But if we assume a world where this hypothetical happens out of ignorance, while the stereotypes being used are racist, the people are not. Of course, both situations are inappropriate.

The ill intent is intrinsic to being racist. If you think Mexicans are dirty then what happens when you have to choose between two people and one is considered clean and the other one isn't. There is no such thing as innocent racism.

While only having stereotypical knowledge of a culture or race perhaps indicates a societal failure to educate, or indicates the continued success of racist views, I certainly believe that a person can say racist things without being a racist.

You were a kid and they are adults and come on "Mexicans are dirty" is extremely racist and has nothing to do with ignorance.

I wasn't there. It's one thing to say "dirty Mexicans," another to simply state "Mexicans are dirty." I believe that such a statement could be made in ignorance, by someone who's clueless. If the OP provided context or more detail that refuted their being ignorant, then I would concede the point.

Even if they didn't have bad intentions, it's still ignorant and offensive. People defending/excusing that kind of behavior doesn't make things better.
Yea, you have no right to tell someone they are overreacting. Nobody gets mad for the sake of their health.

While I love the occasional outrage circle-jerk as well as the next guy, I find myself being the killjoy this time. There is only so much time in life, yet many people spend it deciding to be mad for reasons that aren't their own. To adopt anger or outrage on oneself as a stand-in for society or political correctness is a big burden to take on, and a lot of energy to expend for no purpose but feeding one's own negativity. College kids do stupid things all the time. Many of them are far more dangerous to themselves and others than what the OP, whose job it is to sell them alcohol, describes. Like, chill out, guys. While I can't tell the OP how to feel, the OP is able to choose how he feels. On another day where he wasn't already in a bad mood, he, or another in his place might have laughed the situation off. Since the OP's bad mood only effects himself, I would argue that letting it go would have been better for him than letting it worsen his mood further. But we're heading into psychology talk now... I understand that working at a liquor store might involve being around unsavory people at times, I would think that taking a laisez-faire approach to these people would help keep the job from getting the OP down.

I'm sure most people today, regardless of skin color, would take issue with people dressing up in blackface.

Take issue or not, where one culture sees racism, another might see tradition, or no racism. Even with black face.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet

Oy, you guys are all the winners in this engagement for making me spend the time to write all this. I'm off to watch a movie.
 
As a Norwegian who have a Norwegian mother and a Brazilian father I am really not surprised, I can't begin to tell you the shit I have had to go through in this country (Norway) during my upbringing.

The Norwegians you met probably did honestly believe that this was just good fun without thinking how hurtful this could be.

I even got a hassled by my gym teacher on several occasions because I sucked at soccer, because he felt that me being half Brazilian would make me an awesome soccer player.

So yeah the lack of understanding and even sometimes refusal to understand other cultures is pretty common in this country.
 
I love when the conversation is about whether or not something is in fact racist. That's the important part here. Whether it's crossed that line not their bullshit.
 
As a mexican...I dont mind people wearing sombreros, and what not but engaging in negative stereotypes to represent Mexicans as dirty is fuckin offensive.

Anyways, doesn't seem like most GAF finds the "dirt" comment offensive because I think they have little experience in interacting with my people, and our culture. Just because african americans get treated like shit, doesn't mean that us mexicans dont. We, blacks and mexicans, experience the same shit everyday. Its not just a white and black issue but a brown issue too.
I don't think anyone found the dirty nonsense inoffensive. There are however people in here trying to excuse it as "ignorance" which is ridiculous.

As far as people marginalizing the shit Mexicans experience. This nonsense happens in every thread that has anything to do with racism against blacks.

You have a bunch of people who are probably not black telling black people what is or isn't offensive. So as a blackman I welcome you to the shitshow that is race discussion on GAF.
 
I love when the conversation is about whether or not something is in fact racist. That's the important part here. Whether it's crossed that line not their bullshit.

It's innappropriate, and bullshit. Now what? Is there anywhere to go from there? We all know it's not appropriate, at least. So, what's the next step?
 
It's innappropriate, and bullshit. Now what? Is there anywhere to go from there? We all know it's not appropriate, at least. So, what's the next step?

I'll just never understand why we have to shy away from the "R" word so bad in these threads. What happened sounds pretty racist to me. Who was hurt by me saying that?
 
It happens in every race-related thread. Black, brown, yellow, whatever.

There are always going to be people there to dismiss everything as "a joke" or "ignorance" (so let's not bother talking about it / just lighten up / ignore it and it'll go away / etc).
 
I wasn't there. It's one thing to say "dirty Mexicans," another to simply state "Mexicans are dirty." I believe that such a statement could be made in ignorance, by someone who's clueless. If the OP provided context or more detail that refuted their being ignorant, then I would concede the point.
"Dirty Mexicans" and "Mexicans are dirty" are both racist statements.
 
It happens in every race-related thread. Black, brown, yellow, whatever.

There are always going to be people there to dismiss everything as "a joke" or "ignorance" (so let's not bother talking about it / just lighten up / ignore it and it'll go away / etc).
You forgot "the people complaining about this are the real racist!" or "Quit playing the race card."

All of these statements are tools of the modern day racist used to stifle discussion about race.

Racists have feelings too you know. You can't just call racism what it is.

According to this guy, they're "ignorant" not racist.

I am curious what someone would have to do to be considered racist by him.
 
While I love the occasional outrage circle-jerk as well as the next guy, I find myself being the killjoy this time. There is only so much time in life, yet many people spend it deciding to be mad for reasons that aren't their own. To adopt anger or outrage on oneself as a stand-in for society or political correctness is a big burden to take on, and a lot of energy to expend for no purpose but feeding one's own negativity. College kids do stupid things all the time. Many of them are far more dangerous to themselves and others than what the OP, whose job it is to sell them alcohol, describes. Like, chill out, guys. While I can't tell the OP how to feel, the OP is able to choose how he feels. On another day where he wasn't already in a bad mood, he, or another in his place might have laughed the situation off. Since the OP's bad mood only effects himself, I would argue that letting it go would have been better for him than letting it worsen his mood further. But we're heading into psychology talk now... I understand that working at a liquor store might involve being around unsavory people at times, I would think that taking a laisez-faire approach to these people would help keep the job from getting the OP down.

It doesn't sound like you understand how someone could be genuinely offended at their culture being simplified to a sombrero, mustache, or a poncho. Or being called dirty. That is all I can gather from you marginalizing people being offended with words like "circle-jerk" and "political correctness." Or simply attributing this outrage to "mood." I can guarantee you that someone getting pissed at racist acts (or culturally insensitive acts, if the R word is too strong for your liking) know not to get worked-up all the time. You learn that real fast when dumb acts like this are rationalized or defended time and time again. Getting outraged may not get anything done to fix the problem, but at least it gets us discussing the issue. Much better than taking a laissez-faire approach and maintaining the status quo. Especially since this thread and many others on GAF about race/ethnicity/gender shows we have a long way to go.
 
You forgot "the people complaining about this are the real racist!" or "Quit playing the race card."

All of these statements are tools of the modern day racist used to stifle discussion about race.



According to this guy, they're "ignorant" not racist.

I am curious what someone would have to do to be considered racist by him.

Um excuse me could we maybe bump this down to simple white ignorance and call it a day because the "R" word makes Fillmore cry.
 
I would have given those college-aged assholes the meanest stink eye I could muster,especially the one who called us dirty.
 
Some people are going out of their way to be offended.

Stuff some people think is racist:

A Frenchman with a baguette and a white flag
An Englishman with a bowler hat, an umbrella and a cup of tea
A Dutchman with clogs
 
Some people are going out of their way to be offended.

Stuff some people think is racist:

A Frenchman with a baguette and a white flag
An Englishman with a bowler hat, an umbrella and a cup of tea
A Dutchman with clogs

A german with lederhosen and a pretzel

Oh wait. Thats me!
 
Neogaf - Everything is always racist.

Some people are going out of their way to be offended.

Stuff some people think is racist:

A Frenchman with a baguette and a white flag
An Englishman with a bowler hat, an umbrella and a cup of tea
A Dutchman with clogs

I just want to be clear.

Are you two okay with the whole "dirty" statement, or are you just ignoring it so you can pretend that there's no reason to be offended by this?
 
Dirt/Dirty bullshit is completely ignorant and racist. Come on. No excuse to act like that, even if you're "only" in college. Sombreros and shit is whatever (I wouldn't do it obviously), annoying, but excusable.
 
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