Racism threads.

[Cranberri]

Anyone else feel a bit uncomfortable with the spike in threads about racism? I don't mind a healthy debate about racism but many threads recently seem to have brought out the worst in people. Mnhq having to delete numerous comments due to racism. Ignorant or culturally unaware posters writing ridiculous posts that would simply not be accepted in day to day life. People claiming racism when it isn't.

I'm tired of it. Is anyone else tired of it? It's really draining...

You are not wrong OP. I've noticed a significant rise - not just the weekly golliwog threads, or people speaking foreign threads but also use of "playing the race card", delight when a black person is in the wrong conveniently ignoring years of context.

And yes that thread with the Diane Abbott comment was disgusting.

Its all very well saying "report the post" but its rarely one dog whistling post which is the problem, its the repetition through the thread of acceptance and agreement with racist tropes.

It just makes MN feel less like a place to belong, more one where you might be tolerated. Who needs that?

It takes all sorts of people. Just educate as you go along. If you find that tiring or you have a twat at the receiving end, just ignore. Can't argue with stupid.

@MaryBerrysChutney as a black woman (I can't speak for other races) I find racism very difficult to ignore. I admire those who can simply get on with their lives without saying anything but actually, I don't think ignorance is always best ignored. Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe. You end up feeling a complete traitor to your own race otherwise.

Cranberri agree feel the same way exactly.

“throw accusations of racism around like confetti....”

No. Racism is named for what it is. And racists don’t like it.

Bertrand exactly and 'woke' is frequently used, as 'pc' once was, as the preferred term to discredit valid points/posters or shut down arguments. It's a typically lazy form of ad hominem attack.

Woke
PC
Virtue signaler
Snowflake
Keyboard warrior
SJW
Corbynista
Liberal
All indicators that the argument has been lost.

Damn I've only been called three of those so far, will have to aim higher!

its so sad that there is a need for this thread. I always thought that racism was dealt with swiftly on mn. seems I am wrong.
I have spent years on here complaining about disablim. (even been banned at one point) that is better now, but it still has not gone far enough. please do bring this up with mn hq. (site stuff and report your own thread)

All indicators that the argument has been lost.

Only to fools that aren't open to discussion.

I'm going to duck out because, quite frankly Bertrand, I find you tiresome and (to quote you) a bit of SJW.

When you think about it, what exactly is wrong with wanting and campaigning for social justice?

I'm going to duck out because, quite frankly Bertrand, I find you tiresome and (to quote you) a bit of SJW.

Oh God, here we go again

I agree OP, a lot of things on here make me feel uncomfortable, sad, angry.
I think since Brexit that people with racist opinions feel emboldened. Racism has always been there but now people have a place to express it online and on social media and the current climate in Europe as a whole has brought many more out of the woodwork who feel political correctness has been rolled back. So now they can just say what they like.
I live in Bavaria and the right wing parties are campaigning around here right now. There are very unpleasant anti immigrant posters up everywhere. Just got back from the supermarket to find one on the lamppost outside my house. Considering going out with my sharpie to deface it as it makes me sick.
I think that the Russians are involved in this too and often suspect that they are hanging around on sites like this and posting deliberately inflammatory stuff. The chaos and uncertainty is affecting people and how they vote. It is also distracting attention away from the situation in Russia and it's neighbouring countries.
They are however only rousing sentiment which is already there.
I will take off my tinfoil hat now.
I salute those who try to argue with the vile opinions and I understand those who are too weary to rise to the bait.
It's a sad state of affairs and makes you realise that in many ways order and civilisation is a veneer that cannot be taken for granted.
The battles are not won on many fronts. Equality for all still needs to be fought for.

I've noticed it loads and the minute and it makes me really uncomfortable.

I think the issue is the people doing it seem to think they're being subtle. Obviously it's not easy to be blatantly racist these days but there's a lot of accusing black posters of 'playing the race card', diminishing poster's actual experiences of racism, denying racism even exists these days etc. It's all bullshit but much harder to call out than, for example, someone using the N word.

I don't understand how some posters can be so lacking in empathy or have so little appreciation of the fact that just because they, as a white person, don't see racism happening, that doesn't mean that it's not happening.

I'm going to duck out because, quite frankly Bertrand, I find you tiresome and (to quote you) a bit of SJW.

Oof, bet she’s wounded...

For balance, Slarti, I find you tiresome and ever so goady.

HTH.

This is like Groundhog Day.

Bertrand is an erudite poster. Tiresome is not a word I would apply. However, if the aim is to fling accusations all over the shop, then adding another one will not make much difference.

And often on these threads "woke" people, outraged on behalf of others, throw accusations of racism around like confetti

'Woke' means alert to injustice in society. I think you are disgusting for using it in quotation marks here like this. And the confetti comment...well, I have no words. People like you are the reason this thread was started. Goodbye then!

“I'm going to duck out because, quite frankly Bertrand, I find you tiresome and (to quote you) a bit of SJW.”

. All a bit meta, this, isn’t it?

The word “woke” is the past tense of to waken.

Wtf is SJW?

A social justice warrior.

Thank you!

The word “woke” is the past tense of to waken.

Not in this context, and you know it, so what is the point of your post, other than to be deliberately obtuse, thus proving the point of the thread?