Pic/Asshat of the day *Updated
So this guy was getting annoyed by a woman of a different race than his pasty whiteness on the bus. The woman was talking with the driver, so she was speaking a little loudly as to be heard by the driver during their conversation. This ass, started making comments under his breath to the people around him trying to get them to laugh at the woman. It elevated to the point where he started thanking her as loud as he can after she finished a sentence. As people bored with him, he took it up a notch, “blah blah blah, I gotta go get my welfare check” he says loudly in a terrible mocking accent. He is lucky she didn’t hear him and also lucky that I am not a physically violent person. This stuff makes my skin crawl and my blood boil.
You know just because a woman with darker skin than you is talking louder than you would like, does not mean she is on Welfare, you ass.
In fact, statistically whites are more likely to be on welfare, you ass. YOU ASS!
So is it nap time or did he have a stroke after you told him off?
More details please….
So your response was to do nothing but take this shadowy pic and, I’m assuming, glare at the guy? You didn’t engage him in conversation at all? Didn’t try to talk him off this ledge? Did anyone? Not saying that makes you guilty of anything but don’t you feel there’s some level of responsibility in some kind of public area like this? I dunno – I’m asking, not telling here. I like to confront folks like that but, then again, I’m a confrontational kinda guy (unfortunately?).
I wish I had the balls to in this situation. But to be honest, this guy had the "I got nothing to lose" look going. I was headed back to work and couldn’t come back with a bloody nose. Also, seemed to be the type to not really listen to other’s opinions. So I felt it to be a waste of time. Those are tough situations sometimes for me, to speak out or not? How would you have handled it? I ask without snarkiness honestly.
You should be more like me.
I had a similar experience while riding on the MAX a few weeks ago. Some dude kept trying to strike up racist conversations with other riders. Personally, I think a lot of these scum are just trying to get attention and/or pick a fight, and responding may just be throwing fuel on the fire. I’m pretty sure my fellow riders recognized this guy for the idiot he was.
I always find it amusing to put on my best bland newscaster voice and say, "Sir/Madam, I would appreciate it if you would kindly keep your remarks to yourself, as I am (black/white/gay/a native of Pluto /a FOX executive / Whatever they’re harping on)." And then ignore them.
Yeah, it’s never an easy call; ignoring ’em is the easiest but, I think, worst step in the end. But, valid points, BC, and I don’t know if there’s an easy response; I like Mary Sue’s route – much better than my intimidation routine :D But, yeah, if they have that look of nothing left to loose then, like a tire fire, is it best to let it alone and burn itself out? Let them prove themselves to be the idiots they are? Just seems like some bad noise pollution to me but that could be opinion, too…
Personally, I think it’s a bad idea to get into people’s shit unless absolutely necessary. You never know if someone is violent and dangerous or is carrying a weapon.