# Butthurt Great Americans **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 17, 2016, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242 "2016-11-17T07:04:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/21 "2016-11-17T16:57:45Z")
Full disclosure: The story I opened with happened twenty-odd years ago. It was a time when black and white folks weren’t getting along so well, and it happened in Oakland. I’m a punk chick and the other person was a teenage girl. I got harrassed every day. People with a strong personal presence seldom seem to understand this, but anyone who has ever been picked on will tell you: you know when a given person is going to mess with you. I wasn’t “reading her mind.” It was obvious. The correlation I was trying to make is that to some people, it is not enough to hate others privately. They seem to actually be pissed off that they have to be “PC” and not be able to hate people right to their faces. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/22 "2016-11-17T16:58:34Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > Many years ago, I was walking down the street one day when I saw a young woman approaching me from the opposite direction. Something about her vibe told me that here was a mean-girl type who was undoubtedly going to try to clown me in some kind of way, once we got to the personal interaction zone. (i.e., that certain distance where one generally acknowledges passersby on an uncrowded street, if only with a glance.) Well, I was just not at all in the mood for that kind of bullshit that day, not least because she was telegraphing her intentions from clear down the block, making the whole thing tiresomely inevitable. > > So just before she got close enough, I closed my eyes, and kept them closed as I walked until I knew I had passed her. > > She just couldn’t stand it. “ **OPEN YOUR EYES**!” she screamed, and screamed it again. I’m not making this up. She was infuriated that I was taking away what she considered her right to insult me. (post shortened) Hahahaha. You have quite the imagination. You jumped to the conclusion that someone you don’t know, and have never met, was going to attack/assault/insult you. So you decided to wander down the street with your eyes closed??? How far can you actually walk - in a straight line - with your eyes closed? 3 feet? 6 feet? 5280 feet? Did you veer into her path as if you were drunk, or high? Could she have thought that your bizarre (and closing your eyes while walking down a city street is bizarre) behavior was intimidating or aggressive? And then you jump to the conclusion that she was infuriated that you were taking away what she considered her right to insult me??? And you did this without actually talking to her. Fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/23 "2016-11-17T17:01:34Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > And the kkk (no caps, fuck those guys) That’ll show 'em! ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/24 "2016-11-17T17:26:29Z")
**doorhinge:** Did you read my last post, right above yours? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/25 "2016-11-17T18:11:56Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > Many years ago, I was walking down the street one day when I saw a young woman approaching me from the opposite direction. Something about her vibe told me that here was a mean-girl type who was undoubtedly going to try to clown me in some kind of way, once we got to the personal interaction zone. (i.e., that certain distance where one generally acknowledges passersby on an uncrowded street, if only with a glance.) Well, I was just not at all in the mood for that kind of bullshit that day, not least because she was telegraphing her intentions from clear down the block, making the whole thing tiresomely inevitable. > > So just before she got close enough, I closed my eyes, and kept them closed as I walked until I knew I had passed her. > > She just couldn’t stand it. “ **OPEN YOUR EYES**!” she screamed, and screamed it again. I’m not making this up. She was infuriated that I was taking away what she considered her right to insult me. Why would she need your eyes open so she could insult you? She obviously knew you could hear her. Not buying this bizarre scenario for an instant, including your psychic awareness that you knew what she was thinking as soon as you saw her. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/26 "2016-11-17T18:21:17Z")
I encourage the OP to [read this.](http://slatestarcodex.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/27 "2016-11-17T18:34:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I mean, I surely get that there is still a lot of racism and xenophobia out there, and Trump isn’t helping things AT ALL. And we, as a country, need to be vigilant and make sure Trump does not carry out any of the hateful things he talked about during the campaign. We need to do our best to call out bigots and not let them think they get a free pass. Absolutely agree on that. Well, that’s too bad because it’s too late. They control the government, or will very shortly once they take office. They do get a free pass, and there’s nothing we can do to stop Trump doing anything he likes or letting the bigots do as they please. And I think it’s going to be a lot worse than insults. I think we’re headed back to the days of Jim Crow, lynchings and [race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_race_riot_of_1919) [riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot), with white mobs invading black and brown neighborhoods, burning and killing everything they come across. While the police look on in approval, or join in. With even more rape because hatred of women is as much a factor as racism, this time around. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/28 "2016-11-17T18:38:35Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > **doorhinge:** Did you read my last post, right above yours? Yes, I did. It wasn’t as funny as the OP. Do you still walk along city streets with your eyes closed? Can you still read minds without talking to your target subject? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/29 "2016-11-17T18:40:11Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Yes, I did. It wasn’t as funny as the OP. > > Do you still walk along city streets with your eyes closed? > > Can you still read minds without talking to your target subject? By this post, and your previous, you are lost. Just go away. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/30 "2016-11-17T18:42:15Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Why would she need your eyes open so she could insult you? She obviously knew you could hear her. Not buying this bizarre scenario for an instant, including your psychic awareness that you knew what she was thinking as soon as you saw her. Apparently, you’ve never been harassed, not regularly, anyway. I understood immediately what she meant. I’ve no doubt it happened. It’s quite an insight on human (mis)behavior. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/31 "2016-11-17T18:51:26Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > By this post, and your previous, you are lost. Just go away. **doorhinge** was recently elected Dumbest Doper for the sixth consecutive year, and is the main reason we need term limits. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/32 "2016-11-17T18:58:44Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > Many years ago, I was walking down the street one day when I saw a young woman approaching me from the opposite direction. Something about her vibe told me that here was a mean-girl type who was undoubtedly going to try to clown me in some kind of way, once we got to the personal interaction zone. (i.e., that certain distance where one generally acknowledges passersby on an uncrowded street, if only with a glance.) Well, I was just not at all in the mood for that kind of bullshit that day, not least because she was telegraphing her intentions from clear down the block, making the whole thing tiresomely inevitable. You sound kind of insane. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/33 "2016-11-17T18:59:55Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > Apparently, you’ve never been harassed, not regularly, anyway. I understood immediately what she meant. I’ve no doubt it happened. It’s quite an insight on human (mis)behavior. I’ve been harassed a few times in my life and the very last thing I would ever consider is closing my eyes and giving the harasser even more ammunition (not to mention rendering myself defenseless). ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/34 "2016-11-17T19:20:09Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You sound kind of insane. You’re very generous. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/35 "2016-11-17T19:53:36Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > By this post, and your previous, you are lost. Just go away. Hahahaha. If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is. Thanks for the encouragement. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/36 "2016-11-17T20:09:41Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Well, that’s too bad because it’s too late. They control the government, or will very shortly once they take office. They do get a free pass, and there’s nothing we can do to stop Trump doing anything he likes or letting the bigots do as they please. > > And I think it’s going to be a lot worse than insults. I think we’re headed back to the days of Jim Crow, lynchings and [race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_race_riot_of_1919) [riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot), with white mobs invading black and brown neighborhoods, burning and killing everything they come across. While the police look on in approval, or join in. > > With even more rape because hatred of women is as much a factor as racism, this time around. You always were this MB’s optimist! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/37 "2016-11-17T20:19:39Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You always were this MB’s optimist! 😉 That is the optimistic scenario. The _pessimistic_ scenario is that the US is going to go full-bore white nationalist, and launch an outright nationwide ethnic cleansing campaign resulting in the death or deportation of the non-white, non-Christian population. And yes, I know just how many people that would be. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/38 "2016-11-17T20:22:01Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > … > And I think it’s going to be a lot worse than insults. I think we’re headed back to the days of Jim Crow, lynchings and [race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_race_riot_of_1919) [riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot), with white mobs invading black and brown neighborhoods, burning and killing everything they come across. While the police look on in approval, or join in. > > … Quote snipped. Do you truly believe this? I know that we’ve had some bad times in America, but I have a hard time accepting that this would happen today, no matter who’s the president. I’d like to think that citizens are more likely to step up today in solidarity than in years past. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/39 "2016-11-17T20:59:55Z")
> [@Zyanthia](#): > > Do you truly believe this? I know that we’ve had some bad times in America, but I have a hard time accepting that this would happen today, no matter who’s the president. I’d like to think that citizens are more likely to step up today in solidarity than in years past. This election shows otherwise. And,\* it doesn’t matter;\* the bigots have seized the levers of power. Nobody’s going to stop them from doing as they please, nor can they. Protests? Protestors will be ignored, or beaten into submission by the police, or just shot. Most likely to the acclaim of the public. Voting? Voting suppression is going to run rampant; if you aren’t a white male in a Republican area, you probably effectively no longer have a vote. Just trying to vote will probably get you assaulted, and if you actually get to a polling place you’ll find your registration no longer exists. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242/40 "2016-11-17T21:25:37Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Hear hear, brujaja. And they’re just getting started. Wait for the Supreme Court appointment. And the religious bigotry laws. And new voter supression crap. And the social services- hell, I don’t even know what they plan there. But what’s really gonna hurt is when the sky falls and crushes us all! But at least it’ll get the [del]black-hating, Mexican-hating, Muslim-hating, gay-hating, trans-hating, woman-hating, school-hating, liberal-hating, progress-hating, drug-hating, crime-hating, science fiction-hating[/del] Republicans too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butthurt-great-americans/772242.md?page=3)