to get a sinking feeling whenever someone begins a sentence "I'm not racist, but..."

[deaconblue]

twice in a couple of weeks people I really like have begun like this and completed their sentence with, if not racist, certainly prejudiced statements. I often wish I could just leg it out of the room when I hear a sentence beginning with that phrase.

He actually said "homosexualist" in the House - so it's in Hansard!

I pointed out something that was disablist the other day and the woman went into a rant 'its always some -ist with you different poeple isn't it'

say OK fascist!!

should of just run her over in my wheelchair.

On the word 'racialist'...really pisses me off when someone uses it to correct your use of racist. In the past, this has happened when someone I knew said something outrageously racist. When I started to argue this fact, and say that they were being racist they would turn round and say 'no I am not. And I think the word you mean is racialist'. Actually, no it fecking wasn't.

It was used as a real put down, effectively trying to make my arguement appear less worthy by my use of the 'incorrect' term. Patronising, racist bastard!

OP, yanbu to get that sinking feeling!

LouMacca,

I know how you feel. Some of my relatives have said awful, stupid things...but I still like them. I don't think it reflects badly on you. As long as we try to argue when we can.

I haven't read the whole thread but this week I've been discuss Bullying to teenagers. When we were debating 'if you should tell a teacher if you are being bullied.' A black lad put his hand up and said 'I wouldn't tell any teachers because they are all racist in this school' Myself and the teacher had little giggle as the teacher was black and I was Asian with one or two black teachers in every dept. I feel lucky that people with racist views keep it to them selves around me. I haven't heard 'I'm not racist but.. in such a long time.'

here's a committed homosexualist

Fortunately I do not mix with people who start their sentences with "I'm not a racist but ..." A phrase which as you say always prefaces some outrageous piece of bigotry.

The other phrase to abhor is "Some of my friends are black/jewish/asian ..."

Quattro, they're always best friends, don't forget. As opposed to someone they sit next to on the bus.
starbear - is it not worrying that a pupil is saying / thinking that?

totally agree with quattro

i hate the 'i don't mean you..' meaning all foreign people, except you, are this that and the other...or all immigrants, except you, are this that and the other.

one woman at work was ranting and raving about some ridiculous story in the paper and i barged in...'so who's job have i taken then? and who's house is it that i've taken??!' she of course said, 'oh i don't mean you..'

feck off.

StealthPolarbear, No thank God we are there to correct him and he fully understood after a short sentence. He didn't need to be made to look foolish he is only a kid You'll be suprised that young people don't really understand the meaning of racist. A few years ago a white boy said 'all police are racist' and I expected him to say all his black friend where always stopped in the street and he wasn't, when he was with them.Oh No He then went on to say that police were racist for telling him to get down from someones roof!!!! I know the area he lives in don't have 5 black officer all posted together!!to pick on just him.