A
female
age
30-35,
*amp-gal
writes:Why is it that racism has all of a sudden become a big joke to people?I know some people (like me) HATE racism in any shape or form, and get really angry when people say racist things.To me, it's not right. Whether it's religion, skin colour or nationality, teenagers (mainly) seem to find something to make fun of, and it's not right.I mean, the things people have gone through, Jewish people have gone through so much, with the holocaust, and people who are black, have gone through just as much, and now that's all over, it seems that, as time has gone on, people like to make fun of this.I know racism goes both ways, as does everything, but it's not right in any way! I was in a class once, and some people were saying like 'Fat Jew' which I know is not the worst thing someone could say, but it gets on my nerves! And a lot of my friends (friends of friends mainly) make racist comments, and I just feel like having a go at them, because it's not right to judge someone without knowing them, but they don't see it as being serious, they see it as a joke, but it's still offensive to other people!I have no reason to get offended, and I don't get offended by this, but I do get angry, because I don't see it as a joke.What I would like to know is, why do people think of it as a laugh now? What's so funny about people who are different? I'm so sick of it! Any opinions on this would be great! Thank you!! Reply to this Question
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female
reader, vamp-gal +, writes (24 October 2009):
vamp-gal is verified as being by the original poster of the question Anonymous: Good for you!! This is awesome! Why should people sit back and take it? We shouldn't be afraid to stand up for what we believe is right!
Good on you! This is a brilliant example of what we should all be doing nowadays in society! Not stand for stupid remarks like that!
And it's awesome what the guy next to you did as well, but you started it making him have the confidence to do it too =).
Congrats for standing up for yourself and putting them in their place! It must have been difficult, but of course totally worth it =D
I am so happy right now it's unbelieveable ha .. this post has quite probably made my day =D xx
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reader, anonymous, writes (24 October 2009): Hey I'm a 17 year old Asian chick so I have generally have to deal with a hell of a lot of racist 'jokes' like everyday.
I used to do what I reckon most people are doing these days when racist jokes come up- laugh uncomfortably or stare at the ground and pretend not to notice or something lame like that- simply because it was easier and I didn't want to have to deal with the consequences of standing up for myself and have people judging me and going against me and what if I failed to stand up for myself? and all that.
But lately, I've just found I can't stand it anymore and I've gradually built myself up to actually DOING something about it all.
Some people say oh ignore them and they will stop it. But I DISAGREE. I say its Because people aren't doing anything about it and letting them go ahead and make the racist comments that it's continuing! What needs to happen, I say, is that these people do need to be spoken out against and put in their place- its not 'reacting which is what they want and trigger them to do it again' but reacting for myself and putting them in their place- shaming them out so they realise theyre just not cool.
Here are 2 recent incidents of me doing something about racism...
Oneday, on the bus, some college guys sitting right behind me in the back seat were making stupid sick degrading comments about asians and being submissive. At first I ignored them, but then thought why should I? So I took out my headphones, turned around, glared at them, and asked them, "Do you guys really think you're funny saying all those dumb racist comments? Is being racist the only way you can make your mates laugh?" I must say, it shocked me just as much as it shocked them. I was freaked out of my mind- but at the same time I felt amazed with myself- staring back into their shocked faces. I turned back around and of course it wasn't over- one of them muttered 'stupid flat chested asian bitch' and then guess what? The older (and goodlooking) guy sitting next to me turned around and told those guys to stop talking their racist sh*t and that they were just losers that couldnt get a pretty girls attention any other way. And then they shut up. I couldn't believe it. it was amazing! And it boosted my confidence in standing up for myself even more. :)
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female
reader, SirenaBlusera  +, writes (30 May 2009):
 Thanks... it's refreshing to hear your point of view.
I'm the queen of speaking out against things I think are wrong, lol. :)
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female
reader, vamp-gal +, writes (28 May 2009):
vamp-gal is verified as being by the original poster of the questionSirenaBlusera - Yeah, it really sucks though because now we live in the 21st Century you'd think people would be a bit more, I don't know, aware of how it can offend people, it's just really wrong. And thanks :) I just hate the way people think it's OK to treat others like that. I'm not really one to follow the crowd lol, especally if I disagree with what they're saying. And yeah I know, and I try but it's harder because people look at you like you're crazy haha. And that's freakin' Awesome! Standing up for something and having the guts to disagree :), if more people did this for things I doubt we'd have half the problems we do have in the world. Well we'd have them but they wouldn't be as much of a problem! But yeah, Good For You haha :D
And yeah, it's true. There's good and bad in everyone, can't change that, it's how we are :)
Thanks so much for your reply :)
Sorry it took me so long to answer!
Anonymous - Exactly! I know what you mean with the friends thing. I have a few groups of friends, 2 of them it just doesn't get brought up, because it's not something we talk about. I mean, why would we? haha. If we do it's usually saying how wrong it is anyway. But I have another group of friends who are just like that! They find it so funny that now I just can't bare to be around them. It's when they're with certain people it comes out, and it really sucks!
My best friend is in that 3rd group, and she just doesn't get it! She doesn't get how it offends people because they have a friend in that group who doesn't get offended. But that's just one person! Me and another one of my friends are always trying to tell her to think before she speaks but it doesn't get through to her! She thinks it's a joke and I can't stand it! I've tried telling her, she won't listen. She is my best friend because we've known each other since our infant school and she's always been there, I just hate the way she decides that a matter as serious as this is something funny. I don't really see the big joke about it really. I don't see what's so funny.
But yeah, back to your response haha. I think it's awesome how that girl stood up for something she thought was wrong. It takes guts to do something like that.
And yeah, it's strange the way that they can dish it out but they can't take it. If you don't like it then why do it back? It makes no sense! And no it's not OK..and it's just (I need a bigger vocab) disgusting how people think that it is. Because it is disgusting how people can be like that and not think for one second how it can affect others.
Thanks soo much for your reply :) It's awesome to see other peoples points of views (like your friends). And just thank youu :)
Thanks to everyone who has answered actually! It's really great to see I'm not the only person out there who hates this. :) Thank youu :)
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 May 2009): i know what you mean. its seriously stupid.
people take it all very light heartedly and make racist jokes like it means nothing- and if people say its not funny or tell them to stop or dont join in the offensive remark making they are thought of as weird and angry and defensive.
im half white half black
I have a group of white friends who constantly poke fun at asians, blacks, indians...etc. i dont find it funny really and it just seems stupid and immature. they of course dont get offended because they are insulting other races not themselves
but then i also have a group of black friends who ive been with and they make jokes sometimes about whites and then my group of white friends dont like this- but then they are ok with making racist jokes about blacks, asians...etc.
i have an asian friend who is a girl who laughs at asian jokes and even makes them herself and says she finds them funny
i have other asian friends who ignore them but then later tells me how annoying all the stereotypes are and how they cant stand them
i have another asian female friend who gets seriously angry and will always answer back when people make racist comments at first everyone wuld think she was weird and angry- but then if she had just ignored it people would think it was ok and then if she laughed people would think it was ok as well- when she actually fought back then people wake up to realise how racism really does offend some people and IS NOT OKAY.
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female
reader, SirenaBlusera +, writes (12 January 2009):
Last night my mom's friend was making racist remarks against latinos. I get so angry when people do this because they do it out of ignorance. She's a nice lady and I respect my elders but I said, THAT IS NOT TRUE, and DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES THAT IGNORAMUSES TELL YOU. I have lived in latin america and know what I'm talking about.
Some white people are very good and some are very bad, some black people are very good and some are very bad, and some latinos are very good, and some are very bad.
If anyone tells you otherwise, they're lying.
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female
reader, SirenaBlusera +, writes (12 January 2009):
Unfortunately, racism has been a problem for a long time.
I am impressed with your maturity and your thoughts on this subject. Many young people are very susceptible to pressure and if one person role models bad behavior, others follor suit.
Be a leader and role model the positive changes you want to see in your peers. When you see racism or people, race whatever, being treated badly because of their race, or national origin, or sexual orientation, etc., you should speak out against it.
Many people know that racism is wrong, but unfortunately don't have the "cojones" to speak out against it. You have to be strong and stand up for what is right. :)
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female
reader, vamp-gal +, writes (12 January 2009):
vamp-gal is verified as being by the original poster of the questionpvtguy: Yeah, I get what you mean, a lot of people it's what they are taught. But a lot of the time, racism is shown as wrong, and people make a joke out of it, it's just wrong, in my opinion. Yeah, usually I voice my opinion to close friends, but with friend of friends, it's kind of harder, if they said something COMPLETLY out of order, then I'd say something, but if it's so many people, against me, I don't think that would turn out so well..
Thanks for your answer, it's really helped clear some things :)
2old4this: Heyy, yeah, I know it's been going on for a long time, but it seems to be getting more and more natural for people. I wasn't called a 'Fat Jew' one of my friends was (she isn't Jewish). I don't find it offensive because it's got nothing to do with me, I just get angry about it (sorry, I probably wasn't clear on that). Yeah, me and my friend were talking, and she came up with an idea, where if I hear racist comments, and they laugh, I will ask 'what's so funny?'.
Thank you for your answer!!
http://digitalmonkeys.wordpress.com/2008/03/22/son-of-famed-psychologist-recommends-suicide-for-whites-suffering-from-racist-psychosis-all-whites/
My friend found this, and I didn't really understand it at first, but when she told me, basically, what it was saying, I got really mad. Because, like I said, racism works both ways. And this is saying how this person believes that white people don't have souls, only black people do, and white people have an essence of a soul, and the only way we (all white people), can be forgiven by God, is if we all commit suicide.
I don't agree with this either. This is still racism, in my opinion, just in a different way.
Thanks for both of the answers so far :D
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male
reader, 2old4this  +, writes (12 January 2009):
 It's not just now, people have been making jokes about race and all kinda other things for a long time now. If someone calls you or anyone else a fat jew or nigger or anything like that then it is very offensive and you should be upset. If someone makes a joke that you think is not funny them tell them so. As far as why people find those things funny, I don't think anyone can answer that with one answer. One answer is that we often make light of a subject so that maybe it doesnt have as much power as it used to. I'm sure there are other maybe better answers that I hope someone here can give you.
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