It occurred a few times in the short months I'd been with myspace, but that was a few times too much. Perhaps my anger is exacerbated by a recent forwarded joke email I received in this same time period, but it doesn't matter. For too long I've kept my mouth shut and I refuse to do that anymore.
I'm talking about racist jokes.
Several times a bulletin has been posted that I've opened only to contain some form of mild racism. I'm sure the people who posted the jokes found them funny or they wouldn't pass them along. What confuses me is, if I sat down and talked to these same people, they would be right there with me--racism is bad, discrimination against any person is wrong--and yet they feel it's okay to post a joke making fun of a socio-economic situation that we couldn't even begin to understand, much less make fun of. What I truly don't understand is the mindset that makes it all right for someone who doesn't consider themselves a racist to post jokes like this. Is it because you feel there's some element of truth to them? Then perhaps you should rethink your personal definition of racism.
Anyone who knows me well knows I can't stand jokes such as these. I hate assumptions about people based on their race or religion or who or how they choose to have sex. I find these jokes as offensive as if I were the person they were being told about. They cut me deeply and set me on edge for hours.
Don't get me wrong. I don't care what you think. I'm not here to change your opinions. But when I meet someone and I think they're ginchy, I respect the differences between us. I lay down boundaries, be they politics, religion, or music. We all have what we think are right thoughts. I am asking you to respect mine now.
Maybe you think I need to lighten up, or I'm being a hard-ass. But I think we all need to figure out the thing that we're willing to take a little heat on and stand up for it. This is now one of my things.
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2 comments:
i hope you deleted the so-called friends off your friend list. and never keep your mouth shut! let them know what you think about shitty jokes. may be they call you hard-ass, so what?! you are right, they are wrong!
i personally got no more patience with idiots.
great post, loved it :)
Thank you!
This was the start of a very interesting point in my life when I realized that by not speaking out, I was as bad as those who sent the jokes.
Not one single person challenged me or brought it up, but I think I intimidated my friendlist a bit with my outspokenness.
Then I deleted my myspace page and was free.
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