(Warning: racism) How to reply to this racist text?

[isthereaway]

Old friend of many decades (now 60) Geographically distant, rarely see so mostly text comms. Recent quick 'chat' about some old pics a mutual friend had found from a 6th form party. I shared one of old friend & I. Not keen to share any (more drunken) others so, when asked I say: 'oh, no more for sharing, bit of a Rakes Progress!'.
Friend then says: "So in these latest, you & (mutual friend) are hunched over a game of cards, while a debt collector rubs his hands together and a Jew in the corner licks his lips? I saw the originals once & was not impressed".
Somewhat stunned I reply: "excuse me: "a Jew in the corner???"
To which I get the reply: 'yeah, I knew you'd pick that up. Is 'a Roman Catholic' in the corner any better'? (I was RC)
This person had form for making the odd stupid remark as a teen but by late 50's there is no excuse for this racism. Also, the 'yeah, I knew you'd pick it up' seems like teenage attention seeking? I'm not going to continue this text friendship now but I do feel upset by it (we were close growing up & chat quite often) so (sorry for long intro) can anyone suggest a pithy reply as I don't wish to ignore (appears I condone it?) OR 'go on' (shows him he's upset me)

Just block.

Will I agree this is in incredibly bad taste, is your friend not referring to the pictures by Hogarth? I can't remember if the character appears in that series and no time to check, but have a feeling they do?

Ughh. I couldn't even be bothered wasting typing fingers. Block and forget them. Racists aren't worth the time of day.

Its the rakes progress reference isnt it?

Im not sure why ignoring looks like condoning it though? If you dont agree he is making a reference to the pixctures, which you first made reference to

"Your racism over the years has brought me to a point where my disgust outweighs any vestiges of our friendship, so I won't be contacting you again."

Agree. Just block. Anything you say will be misconstrued. You don't owe the racist the dignity of an explanation.

Just get over it.

It's antisemitism, a specific hatred that has much in common with racism yet is distinct from it. Block.

☹️ just block. Who needs friends like that?

https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/holocaust-antisemitism/racism.html

I don't actually understand the conversation. Were they describing the photo you shared or the photos you declined to share?

"To which I get the reply: 'yeah, I knew you'd pick that up. "

I think the best reply to that is "and yet you chose to type it. That says a lot about you"

Then block him.

Nice 👍

I personally wouldn't have referenced the Jew, but you started with the Rake's Progress analogy and he picked it up.

If you feel the need to say something, I'd just say that outdated antisemitism doesn't need referencing.

Ignore, and block if you want to.

Sometimes silence is the loudest response of all.

Is this a 19th century novel? Who speaks like that?!

I just double checked (only with Wikipedia mind) & there is no character such as he referred to mentioned.

It's perfectly clear and neither the words or phrasing are obsolete. If he's 60 years old and knows who Hogarth is, I am sure he will understand it. We don't all descend into text speak the minute we pick up a mobile phone.

I also cant find a reference to a similar character as I was interested to know if thats what was being referenced. He is muddling up a Harlots progress with a Rakes progress I think

Nevertheless, I still dont think ignoring is condoning, if you block and never contact again its the same thing, doesnt sound as if he is someone worth contacting to be honest.

I am not familiar with the reference but just Googled the Hogarth pics and although in black and white and on my phone, I cannot see a representation of a Jewish person.

However if there was such a character in the pics, is your friend not referring to those, and also said that having seen the originals they were not impressed by the antisemitic imagery?

I am Jewish and I would pick up on that comment and wonder about it, but it does sound like they were saying the original pics were distasteful and ref RC that it would be just as bad if it was depicting any group in that way.

I expect he thought he was being literary / witty, but of course it's a shit thing to say.

I'd probably say- well I don't enjoy anti-semitism, it's pretty disgusting really.

Not pithy I'm afraid. Is there a pithy response to things that are stomach-turning?

Yes. He also, an hour later texted to ask to see the 'Rake's Progress' pics again. So making a point of deliberately ignoring my boundaries. Not a nice guy.

Well, there’s definitely a Jewish character in The Harlot’s Progress, so he’s possibly thinking of that, but surely it’s fairly clear, he’s referring to the kind of paintings of dissipation where there’s a Jewish moneylender salivating in a corner over how much money is coming his way? Those depictions are frequently antisemitic, sure, but him neutrally referencing stock characters as they appear in that type of image (the moneylender, the card sharps, the Jew) isn’t.

You’ve completely misunderstood.

Well educated people.

i personally wouldn’t see racism here, just a boring person both showing off and starting a squabble … no reply necessary, don’t give them the attention they crave