If you knew someone and found out they were a racist, actually a "pro-white" activist, would you want to know about it? Even if this person kept it to themselves at work? Even if they seemed really normal otherwise? Can this be overlooked?
Edited to add: I know this person on a casual friendship basis. I mentioned work because, as far as I know, in the workplace, you wouldn't know he/she is like this. But we are starting to have some of the same friends and I don't know if I should mention this stuff or let him/her keep it hidden. I read this person's blog too.
Not really. I tend to be a free spirit when it comes to belief. I don't care what you believe as long as you don't try to push it on me.
I don't see how it would matter... you only have to work next to this person, outside of work is their own business and knowing wouldn't make your work life any easier.
Obviously, I don't support those types of views, but I just don't become friends with those people. You don't have to be friends to work with someone.
I'm sure there are plenty of people I work with and aquaintences I have whom I would completely disagree with in many ways, but I really don't care unless they make it my problem somehow. As long as they "act normal", what do I care? Infact based on your hypothetical situation, I wouldn't even know. This is one of those situations where ignorance really is bliss.
At work, probably not as knowing about it wouldn't impact my job unless I had reason to believe they were letting it impact theirs. But if it was someone I was socialising with, even in passing, then yeah I'd want to know. I have friends who are black. Can you imagine if I knew someone who was a white supremacist and unknowingly I invited them out to spend time with my friends, including those who are black and then they said something? No. I'd want to know who I'm associating with. I don't associate with racists. Don't want them near me, my family, my friends, full stop.
I would definitely want to know. I have no desire for people like this to be in my life. If we worked together I would keep things cordial, but that would be it.
The post mentions this person being an "activist" so this isn't about having beliefs, but about promoting some pro-white group?
I would be worried about them acting as the sole advisor or decision maker on almost anything. I would also want to protect my colleauges from being hurt by their actions.
I realize their speech is protected, but I couldn't help but want them far, far away from me. I'm aware that those people exist, but am thankful that I haven't had to deal with them personally. They make me sick.
Yeah, I know this person on a casual friendship basis. I mentioned work because, as far as I know, in the workplace, you wouldn't know he/she is like this. But we are starting to have some of the same friends and I don't know if I should mention this stuff or let him/her keep it hidden. He/she thinks that white people need to have more babies and told me this. I saw some of the books they read at their house and I'm going to end the friendship but should I warn others?
It's not like I go around asking people I just met or hardly know their opinions on religion, abortion or politics right off the bat. It's only as you get to know someone that you start to find out those more personal opinions people have. If this person is perpetually in the "aquaintance/coworker" zone of your life... well there isn't even a non-tactless way to find out lol.
I'm assuming if they were ever to become friends this would eventually come up, and then that would be time to deal with that.
@Mrs. Mink: +1
i am of the mindset that true freedom is freedom that protects the freedoms of others.
It depends on whether I would see this person outside of work ever, because they might see my relationship as "mixed race" even though my FI is only half indian. People think he's greek because he never goes outside, so he's really pale.
@teachtolerance: so she just off the cuff told you about her/his views? If this person is actively saying these things to you then you have every right to then want nothing to do with them.
@teachtolerance: Well I'm assuming this person's opinion isn't a secret or something. I guess you could "warn" others.
My question is... why specifically a 'pro-white' activist/racist? Isn't is just as bad for ANY race to discriminate against another race, whether the prejudiced person is white, black, brown, yellow, red, purple, or blue?
Racism is just as wrong when it's a non-white person who is racist.
@anahappilyeverafter: Well, to be honest, she didn't tell me outright. I sort of figured it out and read her blog. But now a lot of "grey area" things she said to me are now "red flags". So should I start to out her to our aquaintances?
@rachelmichelle: ... Well yes, but I think you're probably opening up a whole new can of worms here lol.
@teachtolerance: Personally? Going behind this person's back to "out" him/her to his/her friends is gossip, which I try to avoid doing or hearing as much as possible. I would let his/her friends decide for themselves what they think of this person. By all means dump him/her yourself though. That's just my opinion.
@rachelmichelle: agreed but I think OP mean the specific person at her work is racist against people who aren't classed as white. But yeah, all forms of racism are wrong.
While I believe that everyone has the right to have information that has been freely posted on the internet, I do not think it is right to start "outing" someone because of information you found.
I wouldn't want people whispering behind my back because of something they learned from a blog or whatnot. Ever played telephone as a kid? That's usually how it ends up. You say one thing, it gets whispered on and on and changed and eventually the person is considered a baby punching dog molestor just because things got lost in translation.
I'd keep my mouth shut about it and move on.
Away from work and talking about a friend situation, I could see wanting to protect your mutual friends from being disturbed the way you probably were when you found out she was an activist.
Just trying to put myself in your shoes makes me dizzy. What a horrible discovery to make about a friend.
I can take someone not agreeing with me on something, but actively promoting racism would make me end all contact.
How easy was it to find out this information? Did you just google her or did she say something about her blog or what?
I will never understand people that have something to hide posting their business all over the Internet and then getting upset when people find out. I'd say if it's already out there, you're not doing anything wrong if you point people in the 'right dirdction'.
@teachtolerance: I'd certainly not want any of my friends to unwittingly invite a white supremacist into their homes or lives or be around their children. When you say white supremacist I'm not sure if we are talking anti semitism as well. I have a lot of friends who are Jewish. We don't dont scream it from rooftops. But I sure as hell wouldn't be letting someone like that anywhere near us. I wouldn't want my friends to realise when it was too late. I'd just point blank let the, know the person was an anti Semite.
@pink lantern: If it's such public knowlegde, everyone else will surely figure it out by themselves. If someone has to spread the word, then it's not really that public knowledge is it?
@Mrs. Mink: that's the difference isn't it? Having an opinion is one thing. Causing misery to others is another.
@anahappilyeverafter: Well from what the OP has said, it doesn't sound like this person has actually done anything besides read some books, post something in a blog, and have an opinion most people would find abhorrent.
I mean she wouldn't even have had any concrete evidence without Googling this person.
If the information is right out there I would mention the blog to your acquaintances so they can read what she says first hand. How active is she in her activism?
@DeathByDesign: I'm speaking hypothetically. activism can mean many things. Are we talking the person in question hates Obama or are we talking KKK rallies?
Also it might depend on the work situation. If you guys are just accountants or something thats one thing. If your teachers then I would take it to HR. Sorry, I'm pretty sure any person in charge of helping all kinds of people needs to be outed. Sorry.
Hm. I'd have to say I would not care.
If the situation was like this: Never mentioned it, no racial slurs, no outward appearance of inapproperiate t-shirts etc. and he has a pleasant attitude towards me and other co-workers I'd never even think of being being a racist, and I would not care, I would never ask.
If the situation was like this: Made loud inapproperiate comments, had posters or other anti-race things around our shared work space, said rude things about a race or many races and would constantly spew hate around me then yes, I would like to know where he stood, so I could at least try and understand where this person was coming from, and then I'd bring it up to a supervisor and try to either get myself moved from that toxic situation or have him remove offending clothing, items and to remain silent on such matters.
My overall opinion on this is that when I am at work I don't want to know if you're gay, straight, pansexual, democrat, republican, racist, agnostic, atheist, Christian. I don't care, this is work, and when I work with people I am working with that person, that human being regaurdless of whatever defines them, I want to remain professional, curtious, and respectful to all those I work with and around. If I develop friendships with co-workers then that is different, and I'll open my mind and heart to their defining characteristics and values outside of work.
Like other posters have said working with a racist would bother me because I am in a inter-racial relationship. I am Mexican Indian and my fiance' is pure blooded Native American, and we take his heritage seriously, so anyone that would bring a toxicity to my life, or my fiance's life is a problem, and I will not tolerate it.
@anahappilyeverafter: Oh, I thought we were talking about the OP's specific person.
Are you asking if you should tell mutual friends/acquaintances that you know this persons beliefs/activism? Absolutely not I think. That's their business. Either it will become apparent as other people get to know them, and they can look it up themselves, or they choose to make it be known or not.
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