Let me tell you what the problem with niggers is…
Better still, let me tell you how I’d solve the the Jew problem in this town…
Or maybe I’d be better off explaining how the Muslims are invading our country…
Actually, speaking as someone who’s been called gay, black, Asian, Lebanese, Jewish, Muslim and several other weirdly inaccurate things by people who thought they were insulting me, allow me to have a little ramble on the topic of bigotry. I’ve even chosen a pleasant setting in which to discuss this unpleasant topic.
Angry 365 Days a Year 
It amazes me how some people react to words alone, such delicate insecurities the idiots must have.
Actually words can be very hurtful – because they are expressive of something – and even the most secure person will not want to hear insults hurled at them. At the same time beautiful words can make a day.
I absolutely agree, Mr. Angry, that victims of racism and prejudice are just as likely to be the same themselves – within their own communities and without.
Ultimately, life is short – and we all live in a world of uncertainties with no promise of tomorrow – Jew, Muslim, gay or straight. That always gives me some perspective – especially when I am in a traffic jam 🙂
Nice piece!
Nazli
Great vid Mr. A…
@Simon
Yes, often times it is insecurities that cause the sensitivities that we see so much of today. Personally I believe the idea of “political correctness” has turned from a way of showing people how to be civil to each other into a way for people to take out their own fears, illogical hatred, anger and insecurities on others.
However the other side of the coin is that being civil to one another often means trying to avoid doing things that you think might hurt anothers’ feelings. Nice folks will treat you nicely even though they don’t have to. Jerks do the opposite.
To paraphrase Mr. A’s point of view, we all have the right to say whatever we want. However what we do with that right is what differentiates the A-holios from the humans… 😉
Nice video. Speaking from experience, words can hurt depending on what threat or epithet is thrown at you, but people who use these words to feel strong or superior should go fu*k themselves. The words these people use are actually words that they would absolutely hate to be called. I totally agree with Mr. A and the rest of the people here.
My god, here’s what you do if someone insults you, you say thank you and walk off-confuses the hell out of themand diffuses the satisfaction they get from the insults.
Dont be an oversensitive douchebag.
I remember Bush getting bollocked for saying “Paki”.
Like wtf? It’s an abbreviation! Pakistinian loses the “stinian” and becomes simply “Paki”. I can’t see the difference between British and Brit. I’m not going to cry if someone walks up and calls me a Brit…
Somewhat unreleated, but there’s plenty of good reasons to hate someone. Anyone who insults someone (about where they come from or what colour they are) simply has no imagination. It’s kind of like a statement of submission; I’m thick, this is all I can notice.
Anyway, nice video, great seaweedy things. You’ll always be my favourite Lebanese guy representing on YouTube.
Simon, sometimes it is not that easy. People suffer from all sorts of levels of emotional anxiety and can snap like a twig if pushed to far with mean or hurtful words. I’m not saying these people are right but I’m saying that the instigator(s) is/are wrong. However, I totally agree with you, that if you just walk away it does help tremendously.
It’s funny, but I’ve noticed that when people insult others, there tends to be an element of irony involved. That is, they’re quite often describing their own behaviour. This is sometimes only true on a generic level, but still (what I mean by this is that a person who believes that it’s perfectly acceptable to hurl abuse at others doesn’t like it being returned).
The other way of looking at it is that a person who hurls abuse has been routinely abused themselves (if only according to their own perception). As such, they see that others regard this behaviour as acceptable, and that it is hypocritical to not allow everybody to engage in that kind of conduct. As such, even though they realize that it is deeply unpleasant to be on the wrong end of lynch mob humour, intimidation and ridicule, this type of thing is obviously “normal,” and so they’re going to do it, too.
What this doesn’t factor in is that only those in positions of power get to ridicule others, and they will only ridicule those “subordinate” to them, such that they avoid repercussions. I dunno, it’s probably more complex than that, but that’s my first take!
Matt
My impression is that the Internet at large fosters racism and homophobia because taking the easy way out is made even easier than ever by it. The kids that kicked sand in your face in elementary school and called you a fag in high school fling racism around the Internet for the same reasons. Racism is an easy way to hurt somebody. Most of the work is already done because any particular sort of racism is perpetuated by others, so it’s ready-made. It’s so easy and it makes the kind of person prone to it feel better enough about themselves that it’s little wonder why it’s so common. Intellectual laziness or ineptitude and an inferiority complex encourage the use of the easy way out of confrontation. It’s just the ugly, lazy and vicious nature of some people coming out.
Unfortunately its taking to extremes, like when someone has a go at someone else for saying the word black, even though they are describing the colour of something.
Baa baa black sheep anyone???
Great video. And for clarification, I’m pretty sure the appropriate term is Pakistani, not Pakistinian.
The word ‘Paki’ has become loaded because it is so often used as a term of abuse, meanings change as people use words. Where I was raised, the word Paki was used to refer to anyone who appeared to be from the approximate area of Pakistan, most often India, and it was always used as a derogatory term. I won’t use it because I know how it will be interpreted by someone who has had to get used to the name of their ancestral homeland (or, more often, the country next to theirs) being used as an insult.
I’m doubt Bush was being racist, so much as ignorant of the way words are used. The guy’s pretty much unaware of anything outside his immediate surroundings, so it’s not surprising. The point is that he should be aware of this stuff. It should.
Blah, my coherence is lacking. I’ll stop now.
Simon: It’s the intent of the words that can be the problem
Nazli: I agree words are powerful, intent is all-important. Let’s hope more people learn some perspective.
phyre: it’s fortunate that the decent humans are the majority – even if it doesn’t feel that way some days
chemboy: people who think try to lord it over other people suck
simon: I agree that’s one of the good solutions, that doesn’t mean the person doing the attacking isn’t a prick
goatsoup: it’s pretty much the same as saying “nigger”
Matthew: I agree that abusers are saying way more about themselves than they realise
E0157H7: it really is “the easy way out” writ large
Simon: that sort of stupidity (and it is stupid) is a far lesser evil than the harassment wreaked by evil, hateful bastards
Alabaster: you hit the nail on the head, although Paki is a loaded term, Bush was doubtless using it out of ignorance, not racism