two co workers of mine have used "nigger" casually in conversation
 

in the past two days. one of whom i have actually come to respect a great deal over the past half year.

it was shocking. i have avoided eye contact with them since. i haven't said anything to them but i'm wondering if i should make any sort of fuss. i'd hate to involve HR, but i'd really like to get them to realize how simple minded that shit is.

I think you should confront them.

it's probably too late for them to change

Appeal to Principles.

If the speaker is someone you have a relationship with — a sister, friend or co-worker, for example — call on their higher principles: "******, I've always thought of you as a fair-minded person, so it shocks me when I hear you say something that sounds so bigoted."

no no no. that would only work if you are certain that these coworkers actually respect you and value your opinion. otherwise you're just setting up yourself to be ridiculed by them either to your face or behind your back.

Saying nothing is a guarantee that nothing will change.

this is depressing

In your shoes I would probably just be pre-emptive and ridicule them first. "Did you just say...? *laugh at them* Fucking nerds..." Try to shame them -- but at the same time keep it ambiguous whether or not you are being serious or light about it. So in case it backfires horribly, creating a hostile work environment, threatening your financial situation, etc, you can attempt to defuse it by backing off your principles and making light of it. I know that doesn't sound very honorable, but is it worth losing your job over some racist buffoons?

Of course if I was actually above them in power or don't care about my job, then I would employ a different strategy.


*edit* now if you do know that they respect you and/or see you as an equal or actually you guys were friends, I still would avoid trying to lecture them -- who ever listens to a preachy lecture? I would simply and sternly tell them to not say that shit around me because it makes them sound like fucking idiots.


why did i spend so much time thinking about this?

warsaw sucks

Aw shucks. :blush:

i naturally cringe when i hear any racial slur or jokes. they would have known immediately i was uncomfortable if i were in your shoes because of the look on my face. :erm: :confused: :eek: :nooooo: :Skeptical :O :unhappy: kinda like all that.

There are several racists at my place of work and one homophobe.

In their defense, I am mean to retards.

annoying

Fucking crackers.

it's not real hard to go, "that's fucking racist" to people's faces.

wow. so simple. it's late and I'm not thinking clearly.

don't you dare mock me!!!

You should rent Clerks 2 for them. That'll learn em

yeah but was it funny?

one is a lady who...is an alcoholic/opiate addict and she's a bit of a self centered bitch. she's from new york but she acts like she's from new jersey. to be honest, i don't really want to talk to her anymore because now i think about it, she is a lost soul in so many more respects than this.

the other one is a dude in his 40's or so with a family. he's currently going back to school and we talk about the stuff he's learning in his world religions class. he's aware the bible is bullshit so i know he's capable of critical thinking.

the exact context of his usage was we were talking about his black labrador which he described as sweet and innocuous but "when i take him off the leash, you should see the niggers run".

see? i can't tell if it was a benign "chris rock says it so i can say it" kind of thing, or if it was something much deeper. either way, it's a filthy word with a lot of different meanings behind it and unless you're dead fucking positive you won't be misinterpreted, you probably shouldn't use it.

i'd like to let it slide, but i don't think i'll be able to. if anything it's something i need clarification on.

There are two guys working directly for me who used the words 'nigger' or 'Neger' [in German that's pretty much the same] on a regular basis - until I told them that I would not tolerate that kind of talk. They stared at me, got angry, but soon realized that there was nothing they could do. Ha.

http://z.about.com/d/healing/1/5/_/t...agreements.jpg


the sooner everyone can read this book the better off we all will be

wow.

just tell them to use "faggot" instead!

Be nice to Toby and kristinxp.

from bigotry to s&m

always the diplomat

most of my coworkers say it too. but i don't say anything because whenever i do people go all "aww stop being so complicated" on me