Hey comrades, how do you deal with bigotry irl?
I’m really sick of so many people around me just saying some LGBTphobic, misogynistic or racist shit. It’s bad enough seeing it all over social media everyday, but irl it’s even worse. And I can’t bring myself to confront anyone about it, be it in person or in a voice call. I don’t even know how to confront this type of behavior, what to say, what tone to use, which expressions to make. The few times I managed to do it I was either mocked or met with verbal resistance.
It also doesn’t help that my city is very right-wing to say the least, it’s like no one I know even think about any of this. It’s honestly so tiring.
Honestly, DankZedong’s response is a lot more mature and probably more effective than this, but:
I don’t let it slide. I try to lead by example on how we should treat those elements in our society - which I believe is with wild disrespect and complete shutdown of any “debate” they’re trying to have. I’m not going to be polite to bigots for the sake of keeping peace. I’m not going to play the “debate me” game with someone who is openly supporting genocidal rhetoric. They don’t deserve that. The whole “take the high road” thing isn’t worth it in my mind. Fuck them, if they’re pigs, they’re pigs, and they (and the world) should know that.
Maybe that’s too aggressive or immature but I’m just done dealing with these people like they’re the same as everyone else.
This also only really applies to those who are very far gone. If someone has a chance to be saved, sure, I’ll treat them with respect. Once it becomes clear that they’re not changing though and filled with hatred, fuck them.
I think both approaches are valid really, it just depends on the situation.
Honestly, I feel this. I think specially on text-based social media this should be more widespread. I see to many people just trying to argue in good faith to the most vitriolic clear-cut bigotry ever, when telling them to “shut up” and to “go fuck themselves” would probably be so much more impactful. People that far gone are not gonna change their minds so easily, if ever.
That’s fair, I think I need to be more ok with just don’t giving a fuck once the person doesn’t try to change.