Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to call out my racist cousin on facebook

32 replies

kikisparks · 10/09/2018 18:35

My little cousin aged 15 posts men’s rights stuff and racist false info on his Facebook page and it enrages me. The most recent is actually satire but I think he has posted it believing it is genuine- it’s a famous pop singer duo dressed as soldiers and has a caption that they were refused service in Tesco because they were dressed as soldiers and it was against the cashier’s religion, “share if you think this is a disgrace”. He has shared it.

He’s posted racist stuff in the past so I think he’s posting it seriously, also the singers are from the 70s so he probably doesn’t know who they are. WIBU to embarrass him and say something sarky about it on Facebook? Might cause family feud but I’m not very comfortable having fake far right crap put out there and left unchallenged.

I was trying to stick to positive comments only on Facebook though, it would be good if there was some way to educate the racist and misogynist out of him as he’s so young but I don’t think I have enough influence sadly Sad

OP posts:
Sleepyandtired21 · 10/09/2018 18:36

Maybe send him a private message with another picture of the singers and say “just so you know, that image you posted is fake x”

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 10/09/2018 18:36

Grin I saw this today and it was so obviously satire. Has he definitely fallen for it?

NewYearNewMe18 · 10/09/2018 18:38

Unfollow him?

You may not like his opinions, but unless they are actually illegal or inciting then you're on a sticky wicket. This isn't a one party political state.

fairgame84 · 10/09/2018 18:38

I've seen that post as I'm on the U OK Hun FB group. It's a piss take out of the people who share Britain First stuff.
If you genuinely think he is taking it seriously then private message him. I wouldn't call him out publicly unless you are 100% sure he is racist.

Phosphorus · 10/09/2018 18:53

'Calling out' Hmm and causing family feuds over a youngster's Facebook comments will not make you the better person.

Leave him alone, or talk to your family, but don't go causing drama for the attention.

Original poster
kikisparks · 10/09/2018 19:06

Ok I won’t.

OP posts:
ManyCrisps · 10/09/2018 19:08

My god this must be a first the OP has actually listened to what people have said well done OP.

LeroyJenkins · 10/09/2018 19:10

definitely do not do it in 'public' on his page, unless you are simply posting "hey mate, just so you know, its a fake /link/"

Littlecaf · 10/09/2018 19:11

When I’ve had friends & family who’ve done this I post without comment eithera snopes.com link or something similar from a reputable source. For example a Times or Guardian article about Britain First or similar. They’ll get it.

TidyDancer · 10/09/2018 19:15

Grin at Robson and Jerome being from the 70s!

I would message the parents if it continues.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 10/09/2018 19:16

Robson and Jerome being from the 70s

I wondered about that too!

Branleuse · 10/09/2018 19:18

i would calmly refute or challenge statements. I would definitely not ignore it.

Leesa65 · 10/09/2018 23:13

Oh do what you like but don't be surprised at a family comeback

You cannot MAKE your relative think like you do !

Leesa65 · 10/09/2018 23:13

People policing everyone ALL THE TIME nowadays .

AamdC · 10/09/2018 23:27

Can you not just educate him rather than "calling him out" ?

ginghambox · 10/09/2018 23:54

educate him
What exaclty does that mean?

Cronesquerness · 11/09/2018 08:04

Comment on his posts saying your opinion. I did this after I got fed up of my brother's racist, homophobic and misogynistic posts and he showed his true colours [even more] and now we are NC [his doing] I feel no sense of loss.

pollyhampton · 11/09/2018 08:08

DH's cousin shares rubbish all the time, mainly scare stories about cancer etc. I just put a link underneath to Snopes or just explain why it's not true. Hoping if I do it enough time the penny might drop and she'll google stuff first. I'm never rude about it!

DarklyDreamingDexter · 11/09/2018 08:17

Surely a private word when you see him next or a private message would be better than 'calling him out' in public. He's 15, not an adult. 15 year olds post all sorts of crap.

If you really feel you must say something in public, just say something very calm and well thought out. Nothing sarky or embarrassing or he'll just focus on that and not think about the meaning behind it.

OliviaStabler · 11/09/2018 08:20

Just unfollow him. No need to cause a family argument over it.

Jamiefraserskilt · 11/09/2018 08:21

My son's mate kept posting really misogynistic images, disrespectful and offensive. He moaned about not getting a girlfriend.
I couldn't keep quiet about it. 70% of his "FRIENDS" were female and the posts just made him look like a twat. I asked him what sort of girl he wanted to meet, after a long description, I asked him whether that sort of girl would want to be with someone who posted that sort of thing.
He doesn't do it now.

subspace · 11/09/2018 08:27

Educate as in post a hoaxslayer or similar relevant link. Though with Robson and jerome there probably isn't one, so just say "this is Robson and Jerome, they used to be singers not soldiers. It's fake news hun x"

Do expect some illogical replies though.

acatcalledjohn · 11/09/2018 08:35

I'd be posting the link to the Snopes article debunking this one. Teach 'em to fact check.

WatchingFromTheWings · 11/09/2018 08:43

As pp just said. Link to Snopes article showing it's fake is usually the best way to deal with crap like that. I do it all the time.

Bunchofdaffodils · 11/09/2018 08:47

Are you sure he’s not being ironic? I can think of loads of boys when I was at high school (before Facebook) who would have posted stuff like this, to ‘prove’ how intelligent they were or to mock others who didn’t get the joke.
Plenty of others who would just believe it and share.
Which one is he likely to be?