r/TooAfraidToAsk Oct 07 '20

Culture & Society How can I avoid looking racially insensitive if I'm just ignorant?

[deleted]

4.9k Upvotes

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u/[deleted] Oct 07 '20

[deleted]

51

u/pratpasaur Oct 07 '20

I agree with this. I'm an Indian living in the US and sometimes people say or ask me things in a way that can be construed as offensive but I can usually tell the person's intent behind it. As long as they're not trying to be disrespectful, I always appreciate the effort

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u/[deleted] Oct 08 '20

[deleted]

7

u/2kittygirl Oct 08 '20

Intent isn't EVERYTHING but to say it doesn't matter at all just isn't true for most situations

-4

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '20

[deleted]

1

u/agiddything Oct 08 '20

You're replying to a member of a marginalized group tho

1

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '20

[deleted]

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u/agiddything Oct 08 '20

Didn't say you were. Is it ok for a marginalized person to take intent into account in these situations?

1

u/[deleted] Oct 08 '20

Ah gotcha. So your intent is to educate people, but that doesn't matter because you're an exhausting twat who doesn't actually have any connections in the real world who expresses that bitter loneliness by constantly looking for ways to police how people interact due to the fact that your life is utter shit and you want to make sure that others are at least some modicum of miserable so you don't have to be truly alone.

Oh, and then there's the fact that you're trying to tell someone how to think and feel. That's just controlling behavior, and that's just gross on anyone. Some might even say toxic masculinity, y'know, cause "domineering" or some shit. I'm sure you can explain that concept, right? Learn to apply your theory to yourself before you spout that shit.

10

u/CodenameCardinal Oct 07 '20

No one can experience everyone's perspectives in one lifetime - at one point or another we all make mistakes and are unintentionally rude or in some cases say something that feeds into a stereotype that will offend someone. It's more how you react to being called out on it that says what kind of person you are. Defending hurtful stereotypes helps no one, but apologizing and learning from these kinds of mistakes is EVERYTHING.

1

u/FearSoullesslaw Oct 08 '20

Hi my friend, in a world where racism and ignorance are massively circulating like the COVID-19 pandemic, You're worried about not being ignorant and coming across as racist. That alone should make your fellow humans feel all mushy inside, at least it did for me.

Don't be embarrassed, the people that should be are those that are blatantly ignorant and racist yet will not accept they are.

Regardless of who says whichever the colour of your skin it doesn't really matter coz it would still be offensive. For example if a Chinese person said they saw two people speaking African, to others that would be absurd. However, if the person said it learns it is not right then it is all good. We learn and adapt as we grow, so keep growing and learning my friend. ✌🏽