Calling out bigotry and hate speech

[Karen's Secret]

I was just on Facebook in one of my hobby related groups and a person posted a rather descriptive comment about what he would do to a "tranny". I respectfully called him out and told him the comments were not appropriate. I asked him to delete his comment and he did. Even though I'm not out publicly as transgendered I do try and take the opportunity to push back against bigotry when I see it. I'm wondering if others do the same thing and would like to share some examples. Perhaps this could serve as some good role modeling for how to handle various situations.

[Georgia K]

One of the things I love about the punk rock community is its strict stance on racism homophobia etc Oh and good for you for pulling him up on his bigotry more people need to do this .Not that I think It'll change there small minded thinking

[abbiedrake]

Bang on, Karen.
I ALWAYS call it out. Wherever I encounter it. It has got me in 💩 more times than I can count but I can't let it go. It's simply the right thing to do.
Sometimes I struggle to understand why some people just ignore it. But I guess not everyone is an outspoken, big-mouthed clownshoe like me.

[Tracii G]

I call it out on my female FB page and my male FB page I have no problem calling people out when they bash trans people.
One guy posts stupid anti trans memes and I told him once he was being an ahole and why was he afraid of trans people?
Well that got him right where it hurt because all his friends ragged on him for being scared of trannies.
He sends me PMs with nasty skanky women with photoshopped male parts and I just reply and say I'm not into that stuff but if you are thats fine just don't send me pics like that.
His wife saw the PM pic he sent and she contacted me over the phone asking questions.
I didn't rat on him technically but she was really mad at him because she caught him watching gay porn.
I did ask her to tell him to stop sending me things like that I didn't appreciate it.

[docrobbysherry]

With hate speech coming at us from every direction about every minority group in the US, how CAN u "call out all of it"?
You'd spend all day and all nite online!

[Becky Blue]

Well done Karen and at least he deleted his comment.

[Beverley Sims]

Iam not on social media so I don't get any of it, out in public talking to others I often come to our defence even if tactfully.

Not really into punchups. :-)

[Krisi]

"Bigotry and hate speech" is a matter of perspective. In the past year or two when being "offended" has become so popular, nearly everything one reads could be considered "bigotry and hate speech". Remember the old riddle about sticks and stones …………. ? When I was growing up, we learned to ignore what has now become in some people's minds, "hate speech".

That's what I do, ignore it. I don't laugh, and I don't respond. I don't see any point in arguing over someone's choice of words and I'm not going to change someone's mind anyway.

[Karen's Secret]

That's what I do, ignore it. I don't laugh, and I don't respond. I don't see any point in arguing over someone's choice of words and I'm not going to change someone's mind anyway.

I see your point but some things are so egregious that I think there is an obligation to speak up. In the case that prompted my post the person was advocating sexual assault on transgendered persons.

[Krisi]

Well, it seems even though I posted examples of real events, they are not allowed and my post was edited and lost the thought I was trying to convey.


Carry on people.

[Teresa]

Bev,
I'm with you on this one , I stay away from social media sites , to call them social is often wrong some people are very unsociable , they become faceless trolls . I'm sorry very few are true friends on these sites , I joined FB by accident through a retailer using it as a sales outlet . Within a day I had so called friends from around the World who I'de never heard of , all this caused a heated argument with my sone so I cancelled my membership immediately .

As for comments I'm afraid some people do slip up and use the wrong term , to those who do it intentionally , I can deal with them , I can't stand bigotry and bullying .

[abbiedrake]

IMHO some talk is obviously from complete clownshoes, easily ignored. Or fed for laughs.
But some talk is just entrenched mainstream views that drive public policy. That's the reason we need to challenge not just homophobia, transphobia, sexism et al, but general ignorance as well. Because ignorant attitudes are still making our policies. On both sides of the Atlantic. (Although the UK parliament currently has a consultation going on regarding gender self-identification. Fingers crossed for our trans brothers and sisters)

[Stephanie47]

If anyone has read my comments over the years I have zero tolerance for any sort of bigotry or ill will towards others. Too many times I have chastised people on this site for not speaking up when encountering discrimination of any type. When you sit idly by and say nothing it gives the impression you agree with those sentiments. You don't have to claim to be of that group in order to contest words of hatred.

[t-girlxsophie]

There's a guy in my work,actually one of the few males I'm friendy with in the place.his views are very much right leaning which has led to a few shall we say deep discussions,but amicable enough.Only once when the subject was LGBT Issues did our discussion boil over slightly,I couldn't with all conscience have let it go

Sophie

[Brandi Christine]

I had kind of a funny situation at work, a very hetro masculine type of place. One of the guys was talking about Angela Ponce (he didn't know her name of course, he just referred to her as the 'tranny' in the Miss Universe contest) and how it was such a terrible thing. I used my usual spiel, live and let live and if it doesn't hurt anyone why is it so bad, people should be able to live their lives as they see fit, shouldn't they? And for someone who was a man in her former life, if you can compete in a beauty contest, more power to you girlfriend! There were four of us in the conversation, the other two were more or less in his camp, and I don't think I really changed any minds (I kinda have to walk a thin line at work too, I don't want to be the one 'who doth protest too much') but I might have planted some seeds of doubt about their views. The funny part is in this conversation under my clothes I was wearing a bra, panties & thigh highs. It made me feel wonderful…

The women at work who I have talked to and the topic of transsexualism and/or crossdressing has come up seem to be much more supportive of the idea, I think they're less threatened by it, right?

[Rachelish]

I make a point of calling out bigotry and ill-informed discrimination whenever I can. Sadly, this is sometimes necessary within my wider family. 'Tranny' is bandied about quite a lot when you listen out for it. I think this is often just laziness rather than malevolence but still worth pointing out.

[CarlaWestin]

As of late, hate speech appears to be the tool of the media.
I simply unfriend or ignore morons and only concern myself with other subject matter.

[Ressie]

Not very often. I don't call people out on the matter but I've kind of educated a few.

[Aunt Kelly]

As of late, hate speech appears to be the tool of the media.

That's an interesting observation. Can you cite examples of "the media" using hate speech?

[Petra1]

Similar situation to Brandi. Hanging out with a buddy at his club gig. A CD was there, enjoying herself but not really fooling anyone. My buddy made a comment about her. I replied that she wasn’t hurting him or affecting his life in any way. He didn’t say anything after that. If only he knew I was wearing a Victoria’s Secret thong at the time.

[Sabrina133]

Funny you should mention it. Last weekend, wife and I were in a restaurant - the place had just opened so there were three occupied tables. The gentlemen (and I use the term loosely) sitting behind my wife was talking in a rather loud voice telling his date that he'd seen house and he didnt care if a black man lived next door, he would still buy it. Both of us looked at each other and were floored by his comment.

I got up and went to him and asked him to keep his voice down expecially if he was going to spout racists comments. He was taken aback that someone would actually call him on it. He said he could say whatever he wanted and I agreed with him but i certainly didnt have to hear it. I then told the manager. She apologized and moved us.

YOu cant stop people from being and saying stupid things but you dont have to listen to it and you dont have to be around them.

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If anyone has read my comments over the years I have zero tolerance for any sort of bigotry or ill will towards others. Too many times I have chastised people on this site for not speaking up when encountering discrimination of any type. When you sit idly by and say nothing it gives the impression you agree with those sentiments. You don't have to claim to be of that group in order to contest words of hatred.

I agree Stephanie, you cant prevent someone from being a racist or intolerant but by speaking up, you are at least letting that individual know that it is hurtful or unacceptable behavior.