Reply #76: Weak, on so many points.

[Dogtown]

Maybe you could just address them as Joe, or Mr. Andrews, or some respectful moniker that *doesn't* make a big deal about the (slight) differences between you?

And then maybe tell a political joke, or a sports anecdote, or something that's ice-breaking but *not* discriminatory or hurtful?

Hmmmm?

Look, on the slight chance you're on the level i'll explain *0nce* why you're not getting it.

I *won't* waste time and bandwidth, so if you're one of THOSE, don't pester me. I refuse to feed the bears.

1. The Far Right hijacked the term "PC" and made it into a negative-concept meme: when they use it it means "arbitrary rules that impede honesty" but what they actually mean is "if you call me out for being a racist, sexist, homophobe, or any other kind of bigot I can counter by calling you a PC-nazi".
Really, PC is your friend. It reminds you not to say the hurtful things that have been said in the past.

2. Repeating a negative concretizes the negative; that is, it makes people accept it as truth. An example is a kid saying "That's so gay!" as a mocking insult. The usage colors the term gay to seem a very undesirable thing, whereas it's very neutral if you're not an interested party (to gays, it's a very positive experience) but with repetition people really don't want to be associated with being 'gay".

The good old days weren't good. When you were born, in the 50s, those men would have made less than you for the same job, even with their 30 years experience. And they were called "niggers" in a very ugly and demeaning way. You don't get it, but they probably tolerated your behavior, rather than enjoying it and "bonding" with you. If you're bullied enough, by the time you're 60 you can ignore a lot of shit.

We're roughly the same age. How the hell did you make it out of the 60s without learning this? In the 50's, as a child, I used the word "nigger". To my deep and lasting shame. I hurt people, and didn't realize how ugly it was, I was just repeating what I heard.

In the 60s, I saw the Civil Rights movement clips on the news, and the hideous racism and brutality of the southern police. And I began to learn.

In Viet Nam, my black brothers feared like me, fought like me, bled like me.

By the 80s my education was nearly complete. Not in jest or earnest will I use that word, or "bitch", fag or any other hurtful, untrue labels.

I still use 'fundy" though. But that's a different lesson.

So, suspending my disbelief that you missed the entire 60s, do you understand now that the Idyllic time you remember never really happened?