I don't even know where to start

[Alisvolatpropiis]

A person who I know is a fairly high up mental health professional. The attitude this person has previously displayed has left me nonplussed and shocked previously. Phrases like "they should all be taken out and shot" have been uttered. I appreciate this person is working with violent people who have done terrible things. Truly awful things. But - they are a professional who section people on the spot. Surely more understanding is required?

This evening another (yes really) issue. This person seems to just accept institutionalised racism as being "the way it is". The entire conversation started when I mentioned Trayvon Martin. This person had no idea what I was talking about at all but from what I told them had a snap shot (so to speak) of what went on. This caused the person to launch into a big rant about how it is what is and being racist is something everybody else is, but won't admit.

This person has awful views re the people they are meant to be helping re mental health and also seems to think being racist is fine as long as you have a "career".

I am so angry that this person holds the position they do. I can't even fully articulate it.

Can I report them and if so, how and to who?

Apologies for being repetitive but I don't want to give too much away re my and therefore their identity. Also I have had wine and have posted this under the influence. Not big,not clever but this person has always bothered me and this additional opinion has tipped me over the edge.

Far too vague and rambling to give much of an opinion on, TBH.

You appear to be angry that a mental health professional accepts that there is institutionalised racism? And that everybody is racist, even if they don't admit it?

Did they make racist remarks themselves?

I can't actually see how you can judge their competence in their career and I assume you don't work in the same field. I can't see how you disliking their attitude/opinions means that you can report them as being unfit to do their job, personally. I took it from your post that they were a friend/acquaintance and that these remarks were made socially, rather than in a work setting. That being the case, it is hardly up to you to complain about them in a professional capacity.

Would you be able to report them professionally with what you heard in a private conversation?

I don't think it always goes that the personal opinions you hold matters/affects the job you do, that's what being professional's all about (I know there are some, like the police can't be in the BNP) and I'm sure teachers don't practice what they preach (and nor should they).

It's possible to cordon off bits of yourself to do a job, and maybe like you said, the ranting about things is the way the person manages to handle violent people daily and not fuck themselves up (not an excuse, but plausible).

But the strength of what this person's said makes it difficult to believe that it never impacts on how they treat people and the decisions they take.

How do they react when you verbally pummel them into the ground pick them up on it?

I've met people through work with all kinds of appalling opinions from a South African who said that 'the bleks' just don't like urban environments because they're not used to them(!) to men opining that women are too emotional in their jobs and all sorts of stuff.

Unfortunately it's not against the law to be a gobshite. If the colleague you're talking about said anything directly racist to you or blocked your career progress on the basis of racism, you would have a case to start with but plain old ignorance is not illegal.

My advice is to steer clear of political conversations at work unless required for your job.

soworn

It was a social setting yes. You are probably right, I know. It bothers me nonetheless.

I don't work in the field as they do but work in a field that demands one accepts people will have done things one won't agree with.

The racist remarks were their own related, came about during an a discussion about something else entirely.

I would love to not talk about any of the aforementioned topics but it's all they are able to talk about.

It's not I judge somebody in that profession having an opinion on institutionalised racism, it was more that they thought it was fine.

I appreciate it's late and I am not necessarily being as eloquent as I might other wise be.

It's the utter venom behind what is being said that makes me feel uneasy.

There are people who talk at length to offenders who have done appalling things, and I'm sure they're able to do that without the offender feeling they're passing judgement on them (especially if the reason they were talking to them relied on offenders cooperation, the prof would have to be 'personable').

Are you able to say whether it's a colleague or family/friend? Because it sounds like you're not able to choose to not have contact with them, if that's the case then you should protect yourself (as it's obviously making you really angry) and disconnect to some degree.

Could it also be a situation where you're not able to challenge them easily either? If it is, that would explain why you're so frustrated, you know what you want to do, but if your livelihood/a lot of family relationships depends on you gelling with them, it's not that easy.