General Discussion

Squinch

(59,803 posts)

76. Glad you are well William.

Sun May 11, 2014, 08:14 AM

May 2014

There is a lot of talk here about, "what good does it do?"

It ALWAYS does good. You might not change the mind of the asshole speaking. Likely you won't. But you very well may change the habits of the people listening, add to their stable of arguments, and increase the pool of people who can effectively shut down such a conversation.

Those conversations increase bigotry. They become a part of the culture and they allow people to think that kind of activity is acceptable in the wider world. Stopping the conversation does have an effect.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

89 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Are you an enabler of hate? [View all] William769 May 2014 OP

How I would handle it, I am not sure. sheshe2 May 2014 #1

When I was younger, I was more meek for some reason, After I hit 40, I don't catbyte May 2014 #2

I always speak up. JaneyVee May 2014 #3

Enabler? Or knowing which fights to pick? Demeter May 2014 #4

see reply 5 nt alp227 May 2014 #69

Keeping quiet implies agreement and emboldens the idiots etherealtruth May 2014 #5

+1 Supersedeas May 2014 #80

You know what's funny? I never hear that shit from people I know... MrScorpio May 2014 #6

confronting strangers is sometimes a obligation Supersedeas May 2014 #81

... Scuba May 2014 #7

... William769 May 2014 #12

Speaking up against something pipi_k May 2014 #8

I just spent a week and a half in the hospital for standing up to hate. William769 May 2014 #11

Oh no! I did not know that. So sorry, William. Luminous Animal May 2014 #25

Thanks. William769 May 2014 #29

You know where you stand... pipi_k May 2014 #26

Wow theHandpuppet May 2014 #27

The speaking out and against is obviously much much worse boston bean May 2014 #45

Yeah, I tear pipi_k May 2014 #56

Wow! sheshe2 May 2014 #65

Could it be that a person is "holier than thou" because they're RIGHT? alp227 May 2014 #70

If you intend to lead by example... theHandpuppet May 2014 #77

I honestly think that's being a little too harsh on him. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #88

no surprise there. William769 May 2014 #28

Yeah, I didn't expect pipi_k May 2014 #57

Pristine banalty. Eleanors38 May 2014 #67

Oh, William.. Cha May 2014 #63

It depends on the situation and the person speaking el_bryanto May 2014 #9

That my friend is being part of the problem. William769 May 2014 #10

What is the goal of the conversation with a person who says something offensive? el_bryanto May 2014 #14

What would be your goal? William769 May 2014 #15

May I ask why you pause ? el_bryanto May 2014 #20

Thank you! FrodosPet May 2014 #33

Response is required in community Fairgo May 2014 #35

I have a friend who used to send me crap anti-immigrant "joke" emails. greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #13

Good on you. William769 May 2014 #16

I don't know that she's changed her views... greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #17

Oh bullshit pipi_k May 2014 #30

You just don't get it, do you? Whisp May 2014 #37

With that persons thinking, they might have been against fighting the civil war. boston bean May 2014 #46

You just made my point pipi_k May 2014 #53

Certainly seemed like William suffered. boston bean May 2014 #59

No...you don't get it pipi_k May 2014 #51

That is not true! Whisp May 2014 #58

So you're saying telling others they're wrong is...ineffective? alp227 May 2014 #72

Thank you, Whisp~ Cha May 2014 #64

wow, you really seem quite invested in not speaking out against bigotry. boston bean May 2014 #48

And you seem pipi_k May 2014 #50

Believe me, no need to explain any further. boston bean May 2014 #60

What? Your yelling at people here hasn't changed their minds? theHandpuppet May 2014 #78

Forward them to this blog alp227 May 2014 #71

I'll keep in mind. greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #82

How about not getting your ass kicked? Throd May 2014 #18

Sometimes you have to break some eggs to make a cake. William769 May 2014 #19

Getting your ass kicked by a bigot doesn't help anything. Throd May 2014 #21

Shame them with humor. It's been working for me for over 50 years. McCamy Taylor May 2014 #23

Context counts. The same joke told by a gay guy may not be homophobic. McCamy Taylor May 2014 #22

The last time I heard a racist joke, everybody ignored it and keep on talking about whatever struggle4progress May 2014 #24

There -is- a middle ground. Shandris May 2014 #31

No I don't. Inkfreak May 2014 #32

no H2O Man May 2014 #34

I speak up, sometimes I see the light bulb go on Whisp May 2014 #36

In the real world I always say I'm offended. herding cats May 2014 #38

People who say if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem... Comrade Grumpy May 2014 #39

Very disturbed about some of the comments in this thread. Texasgal May 2014 #40

You and me both. William769 May 2014 #41

I agree. I will not alert or make a stink Texasgal May 2014 #42

On what grounds would you alert them - assuming you felt there were grounds to alert? nt el_bryanto May 2014 #54

Hi William, nice to see you.. Cha May 2014 #43

I know you would. William769 May 2014 #44

Hey.. Cha May 2014 #49

I would never hear a racist or homophobic joke oneofthe99 May 2014 #47

Oh William... sheshe2 May 2014 #52

Well with friends like you & some others here, How could I not be. William769 May 2014 #55

If you really want to make a difference... pipi_k May 2014 #61

do you not believe in polite society? alp227 May 2014 #73

.. Cha May 2014 #66

.. Cha May 2014 #62

Really? flvegan May 2014 #68

aw believe me, I am not an enabler Skittles May 2014 #74

Sorry you got hurt. You're probably braver than most of us. n/t nomorenomore08 May 2014 #75

Glad you are well William. Squinch May 2014 #76

I will share a personal anecdote with you: chervilant May 2014 #79

It's so easy to walk past MannyGoldstein May 2014 #83

Thinking of Michael Jordan's revelation that there was a time Supersedeas May 2014 #84

I'll pick my own battles... 99Forever May 2014 #85

Not a problem. Some people can't pick their own battles. William769 May 2014 #86

No, William 769... 99Forever May 2014 #89

I empathize with your POV, though I disagree slightly. AverageJoe90 May 2014 #87