Met a 70-something white man today

[Orrex]

In declining health, uses a wheelchair most of the time. By his own assertion he lives on full disability and hasn't worked in 20+ years.

And he would not fucking shut up about immigrants taking all the jobs.

I had to interact with him for close to an hour, and he started on his rant about 10 seconds after I got there, and he continued uninterrupted until I shut the door as I was leaving.

Once or twice he complained about how hard it is for him to renew his benefits, but "illegals cross the border and get all kinds of government handouts."

Well, at least we can guess where he gets his material.


What continues to astound me about Reichwing racist asshats isn't that they exist, but that they invariably assume that everyone agrees with them. At least, everyone in the "correct" demographic, of course.

[Karadeniz]

1. Someone tried that with me...I stood up to him...he shut up!

[Orrex]

7. I was, let us say, a captive audience

And I didn't have the option of telling him to stuff it.

(Not out loud, anyway)

[duhneece]

29. I worked at a radiation cancer treatment center

As a patient gets therapy every day for weeks, I got to know their spouse or family or friends who brought them.
Some spouted such nonsense but I couldn’t really say anything that sounded argumentative.
I was beside myself and my stomach would clench…..
Eventually I learned to smile really big and say, “Oh, I see that differently.”

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Hit #71 today. Kill me if I ever become like that person.

[BOSSHOG]

4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY My Friend

I echo your sentiment. I’m 14 months your younger. That person is sad and lonely and full of hate because of only one person. Himself.

[Orrex]

8. I have the same request

I feel like I'm well-insulated against it, because I grow considerably more Left as I age.

Many of my former classmates have drifted steadily rightward over the years, though. It's baffling and infuriating.

[OAITW r.2.0]

20. Older I get, the more left I am.

An organized crime party that has no platform buys into a criminal presidency....that blows my mind.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

37. Very well put!

I’ve shifted further left over the years, also. Working a union job (APWU) for decades and reading material like Mother Jones and Jim Hightower has educated me.

[niyad]

16. Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, and a wonderful coming year.

That is what pillows are for!

[LoisB]

17. Well, Happy Birthday.

[pandr32]

19. A birthday wish from me.

You can use it however you like.
🤗

[OAITW r.2.0]

22. Thanks for the kind words!

Truth be told, I wake up every day wondering what new thing I will learn.

[spooky3]

31. Yes, happy birthday and many more! Nt

[ShazzieB]

24. I turn 74 DAY AFTER tomorrow!

Last edited Wed Mar 27, 2024, 12:34 AM - Edit history (1)

(Got the date wrong when I posted, yeesh!)

Happy Birthday to both of us!

And ain't it great to know that not all of us "old fogies" are buying what FoxNoise and the GOP are selling!

[OAITW r.2.0]

26. Backatcha!

If I have spent 3 minutes on Fox or alt RW sites over the past 30 years, it wasn't on purpose.

[spooky3]

32. Happy birthday in a few minutes! Nt

[ShazzieB]

38. Actually it's another 24 hours!

I forgot what today’s date was, d'oh!

[FHRRK]

46. Happy Birthday

Best wishes for your next rotation around the Sun

[blm]

25. 💐🫶🏽💐

[calimary]

35. Happy Birthday, OAITW!

I’m not far from that one, myself! Hope you had a MOST satisfying day!

[DFW]

47. I hit 72 last week. Count me in, too.

Although I’m not in the same boat. I was in the Netherlands on Monday, Belgium Tuesday, France yesterday, back in Belgium today, Holland tomorrow, and have to run down to Spain on Monday. My biggest disability at the moment is my inability to slow down like I was intending to. If I ever start spouting nonsense like that guy, then lock ME up, since it’s my taxes, in part, that pay for the money that HE lives on.

[Ponietz]

3. I suspect a dementia epidemic

A synergy between microplastics, pesticides and electromagnetic smog.

[FakeNoose]

10. Dementia caused by Faux Noise and Hate Radio

Long after Chump finally croaks (please let it be soon!) we'll still be dealing with these demented old farts.

[Ponietz]

15. Many young farts think the same

This problem will get worse, I think.
https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/unm-researchers-discover-microplastic-in-placentas

[harumph]

21. I think you're on to something. Seriously.

But I think it's more of an overall unhealthy American lifestyle (little or no exercise and shitty diets/processed foods) that many middle class and poor people alike are prone to. Think about the world when these 70 year olds were in their 40's. I'm 61, and started working for myself 17 years ago. Didn't get rich - but have been able to make my own schedule - eat healthy - get sunshine whenever I wanted. I'm MUCH healthier and more informed than most of my peers in age and income. I will say I'm pissed off - but in the opposite direction from the old fart mentioned in the OP.

[OAITW r.2.0]

27. I think that Republicans, in every State of the Union, are hoping they get 1 more cycle before they implode.

[Ponietz]

40. Attacking public health started with Reagan

TFG weaponized it, in part, by rejecting the science of immunology and excoriating those in the field.

PBS is airing The Invisible Shield now — highlighting the growing problems.
https://www.pbs.org/show/the-invisible-shield

[viva la]

5. I wonder if his caretakers are all white native-borns

Fortunately, they are no doubt kind enough and sensible enough to ignore his racism and hatefulness and take care of him anyway.

I wouldn't be so kind myself. I guess he's lucky.

[Orrex]

9. I suspect that he edits his commentary to suit the perceived audience

My sense is that he saw me, a middle-aged white guy working in a service trade in western PA, as a kindred spirit.

[MotownPgh]

18. Washington county

I take care of my dad and his neighbors cannot help spewing their s__t at me. I guess because I look like them.

[Deuxcents]

33. Welcome to the DU. A really good place for a kind person like you 🤗

[FSogol]

6. LOL, he's voting for and supporting the exact people who

Are keeping him from getting more benefits.

[Orrex]

11. IKR?

When Trump first oozed to the surface, the fanatics in my town were positively gleeful. And when I pointed out that he and his fellow Republicans would be coming after their medicare and social security, they laughed and called me a triggered libt*rd.

[usonian]

12. Wrong demographic.

I'm 75 and getting calluses on my fingers from drumming up support for Biden and Harris and key issues on these pages (and elsewhere)

I *WELCOME* immigrants to California to do the jobs that feed the country and that nobody else will do.

And I detest illegals who storm the Capitol Building and conspire to substitute fake electors for real ones, and the people (Ronna something or other) who materially assist in their illegal schemes. And let's throw in unindicted ring-leaders, awaiting an Attorney General with cojones enough to bag the BIG elephants and not just petty losers.

[mitch96]

13. I guess from your post you had to stay and take the abuse to finish your job. The geezer must have really

liked having someone to talk AT not with.
I see that a lot with my geezer friends. When they have a captive audience they just rattle on and on and no space for a response from the other person..
Too bad he was a reich wing asshat..
m

[Orrex]

34. It always blows my mind that they have no idea of the power dynamic at play

While I'm there as a contractor, I'm basically their employee, and it's grossly inappropriate to put an employee in a position where they must either agree, remain silent, or else challenge the site owner's views and thereby expose themselves to repercussions.

I've compiled a number of neutral-ish replies that don't really take a stand one way or the other (eg., "Yep, crazy times" or "Hard to believe" or "I've heard about stuff like that" etc.) but the only time I actually discuss politics is when the site owner is clearly on the Left (Michelle Obama's book on the coffee table, a "Hate Has No Place Here" sign in the yard, or--in one case--an 3' x 4' poster of Ruth Bader Ginsburg). In those cases I like to signal where I stand on things so that they aren't worried about a crazy Trumper puttering around in their basement.

[electric_blue68]

44. Sorry you have to put up with that stuff. At least you run into fellow liberals, as well.

[Beachnutt]

14. I would have said

obviously no one took your job as you have been supported by the taxpayers for 20 years..

Kinda cold response to him I know but I like to shut the loons down quick.
That way they know where I stand.

[Mr.Bill]

23. I'm 70 and I'm as white as Opie Taylor.

I used to have people of a similar demographic just walk up to me in public places and start talking to me as if we were both at the Trump rally last night. I would quickly inform them that they don't want to go there with me. I tell them I spend at least eight hours a day studying and discussing politics, and I will make a fool out of them in short order. There hasn't been one of them who didn't walk away immediately.

I say this used to happen because it hasn't happened since a day in early November in 2020.

[odins folly]

28. I feel it's because

They believe the narrative that they ARE the majority. They have bought the rw bullshit for so many years and within their information bubble that is all they hear. The belief is rw IS the majority and therfore any win by the liberal side must have been aided by nefarious influence.

And stupidity...lack of critical thinking skills plays a huge part...

[AverageOldGuy]

30. My sister-in-law . . .

. . . would tell anyone who was in earshot how "Muslim immigrants get $1,800 a month from the government, food stamps, free medical care, and free housing . . . " I refused to engage with her, always moved away, sat across the room, ignored her. She died three years ago, an event on which I will not comment.

[Turbineguy]

36. I'm 73.

One of my RWNJ neighbors who I see in the elevator from time to time is frightened that he might catch the lubrul from me.

[murielm99]

39. I'm 75.

I remain an active liberal who does GOTV and other work for the Democratic party.

[GP6971]

42. Are you always so polite??

Good for you!!! Bye!!

[Cha]

43. Take your own advice.

[electric_blue68]

45. On rare occasions as a white woman I've had racist comments said to me by men...

Twice I had to very carefully answer back as 1) I was in a cab by myself, 2) in the laundry room in my building w the good super's drunk friend who was bigger than me.

The other times a more assertive response.

[Orrex]

48. Ugh. I'm sure that the dynamic is much worse for women

When they prattle at me, it’s with a “we’re all on the same page, right?” vibe, which is annoying but seldom actually threatening.

But in your case, there’s the added implication of danger if you speak out, or even if you simply don’t confirm the person’s views. And let’s be honest: the person with those views already has a pretty shitty attitude toward women, and they tend to have an aggressive personality type, especially in matters of politics, so it must be even more challenging to navigate that exchange safely.

Ugly times, to be sure. The worst are full of passionate intensity, as they say.