# Is It Worth It To Say Something? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 4, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146 "2011-02-04T14:18:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/41 "2011-02-07T20:46:00Z")
If I just met someone and will likely never see them again - no way. I’ve heard people share their racist, homophobic, offensive, disgusting opinions and I would just nod my head and stare blankly at them. I don’t feel like creating conflict so I just wait til the idiot stops talking to me and carry on. Even my co-worker whom I see daily has lots of ridiculous backwards opinions on things and I don’t bother to argue over it. What’s the use, it’s not like she’s going to go “Oh wait, actually you’re right”. Unnecessary conflict, I avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/42 "2011-02-07T22:30:41Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > What if it were someone you just met who was packing your parachute? That depends, do I want to die? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/43 "2011-02-07T22:34:28Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > That depends, do I want to die? For our purposes here, no. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/44 "2011-02-08T00:33:26Z")
Then I wouldn’t say anything to him ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/45 "2011-02-08T00:45:31Z")
If they are talking to me, I will say, “Sorry to interrupt you, but can you tone it down a little? We’re still getting to know each other, know what I mean?” And if they say, “No, I don’t know what you mean”, I’d say, “Well, you’re slamming gays/blacks/whites/Asians/whatever and you don’t even know how I feel about those things. I could be _fill in the blank_ for all you know. I usually don’t like getting into arguments with people I’ve just met.” If they still can’t talk without being ignorant, I’ll simply excuse myself and hope their ignorance isn’t the type that turns into violence. If I just overhear them being a jackass, then I’ll just ignore them. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/46 "2011-02-08T23:57:37Z")
I will now most certainly never see this person again, but I’ve steeled myself that I won’t overlook those things again. At the very least it wasn’t my most honest behavior and the situation deserved complete honesty. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/47 "2011-02-09T03:02:09Z")
Depends on what you mean by “worth it”, IMHO. Will it make you feel better? Will it make them stop and think? Will it ensure they will never try to talk to you again? All of those are “worth it” reasons. It doesn’t just “take a village” to raise kids–some adults could use with some “raising” too. FWIW, I will always say something. Saying nothing does nothing positive for anyone. If the person is already a useless douchnozzle, it’s as bad as it can be. I say it’s always worth it. Take the chance at making a difference and improving the world. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146/48 "2011-02-09T03:27:13Z")
The short answer from me: _In the situation the OP describes_ wouldn’t say anything, because A) It’s not worth the hassle (they’re not going to change) and B) The negative outcomes outweigh the positive ones, C) Whilst I don’t agree with that sort of language, the fact other people use it really doesn’t bother me for the most part (I’ve worked in retail a long time and you learn to tune a lot of it out) and I don’t believe in getting offended on other people’s behalf. Unless someone’s actually inciting negative actions against a specific individual (or specific, indentifiable small group of individuals), which is an entirely different kettle of fish but not what I believe the OP was talking about. Obviously there are exceptions and special circumstances in every situation, and as **Ladymarmalade** says, being offended is “Trendy” so you do have to wonder how many people are _genuinely_ offended and how many people are _acting_ offended because they feel that’s what they’re supposed to do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-say-something/570146.md?page=2)