# Subterranean Racists **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 11, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781 "2005-04-11T13:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/21 "2005-04-11T20:47:14Z")
What is really annoying is how it is some how not racism to be bigoted towards Hispanics now adays. It is common for “good ol’ white folk” to say things like “they should learn _our_ langauge” or “I saw one of them at Wal-Mart.” North Carolina is increasing in immigration so rapidly that, apparently, many people’s minds can’t keep up. Maybe they are just being young “innocent” teenagers, but to me that doesn’t excuse assholery. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/22 "2005-04-11T20:49:36Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Is there only one Hispanic guy in your locality? Or are you some kind of one-woman affirmative action program? Well, there’s just the one that I sampled, but there’s plenty of them around. Heh, I mentioned it really, only because it was such a disconcertingly amusing conversation. This schmuck standing there grumbling about the guy stealing white women while I’m blushing to my roots and wishing schmucky would just go away so he could “steal” me again. Funny. **gobear** , I’m almost afraid to ask what “genteel” racism looks and sounds like. Although I imagine that, at its roots, it’s no less ugly than the stripped down versions. **Amazon** –since language acquisition skills are so easy to come by, I’m sure your coworker would be thrilled to learn a handful or two of the most common tongues in order to avoid these difficulties in the future. Do you think she would appreciate the suggestion? Twits, twits, we’re surrounded by twits! ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/23 "2005-04-11T23:34:29Z")
> [@ZebraShaSha](#): > > What is really annoying is how it is some how not racism to be bigoted towards Hispanics now adays. It is common for “good ol’ white folk” to say things like “they should learn _our_ langauge” or “I saw one of them at Wal-Mart.”… Those are examples of racism? [Is this story](http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_077063119.html) from last month? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/24 "2005-04-11T23:52:06Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > **gobear** , I’m almost afraid to ask what “genteel” racism looks and sounds like. Although I imagine that, at its roots, it’s no less ugly than the stripped down versions. It’s when you have your pinky extended when you call someone a wetback. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/25 "2005-04-12T00:17:01Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > Is there only one Hispanic guy in your locality? Or are you some kind of one-woman affirmative action program? And if you are, I can pass for 1/8 black! > [@Belladonna](#): > > I think I grasp what you’re saying but I’m not positive. Something like a boss not passing along a difficult project to a minority? Yes, this is very much what is meant by “soft bigotry.” I’ve done it myself when, as a teacher, I found myself wanting to cut my african-american students more slack on grades, thinking “well, gee, Tamika probably came from a bad high school, and her teachers weren’t as good, and maybe her dad wasn’t around, so let’s just give her a C,” when I wouldn’t hesitate to give Britney or Kristen a D-minus. It comes from the best of motives. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/26 "2005-04-12T19:37:41Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Oh, and I love his riff on the reverse of all of this…the bit about “well, I’m not in jail…yo! you ain’t s’pposed to go to jail!” Whaddaya want, a fuckin’ cookie?! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/27 "2005-04-12T19:46:28Z")
😃 But I don’t know the cookie reference…sorry! Now, everyone come and tell me that I am racist b/c it drives me nuts (ok, it’s really a minor irritant) when Hispanics are jabbering away in Spanish in the store. Especially when they won’t get out of your way so that you can get to the checkout and leave…just happened to me. Am I supposed to learn Spanish so that I can say “excuse me” in the language that they know? Grrr. Other than that, not so much with the racism, here. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![OleOneEye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f14d63/32.png) [@OleOneEye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OleOneEye)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/28 "2005-04-12T19:57:09Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > **Amazon** –since language acquisition skills are so easy to come by, I’m sure your coworker would be thrilled to learn a handful or two of the most common tongues in order to avoid these difficulties in the future. Do you think she would appreciate the suggestion? I don’t understand, are you seriously suggesting that it makes more sense for the locals to have to learn “a handful or two of the most common tongues” instead of the newcomers learning just one? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/29 "2005-04-12T19:57:39Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > 😃 > > But I don’t know the cookie reference…sorry! > > Now, everyone come and tell me that I am racist b/c it drives me nuts (ok, it’s really a minor irritant) when Hispanics are jabbering away in Spanish in the store. Especially when they won’t get out of your way so that you can get to the checkout and leave…just happened to me. Am I supposed to learn Spanish so that I can say “excuse me” in the language that they know? > > Grrr. > Other than that, not so much with the racism, here. > > 🆒 It’s actually pretty easy. _Excuseme_ (escoo’sehmeh) ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/30 "2005-04-12T20:00:12Z")
The “what do you want, a cookie?” reference is part of the same Chris Rock routine you mentioned. “You aren’t supposed to go to jail, you low-expectations-having motherfucker!” > [@](#): > > Now, everyone come and tell me that I am racist b/c it drives me nuts (ok, it’s really a minor irritant) when Hispanics are jabbering away in Spanish in the store. Especially when they won’t get out of your way so that you can get to the checkout and leave…just happened to me. Am I supposed to learn Spanish so that I can say “excuse me” in the language that they know Just say it in English–they’re Latino, not retarded, so they’ll know what you mean. The “excuse me” tones and body language are universal. And people do not “jabber” in Spansih–they _speak_ it. Believe it or not, it’s a language, not noise. As for “genteel racism,” it’s the same lowered expectations thing. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/31 "2005-04-12T20:03:47Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > It’s actually pretty easy. > > _Excuseme_ (escoo’sehmeh) Or just _Perdon_, (with an accent over the “o”.) ---
**Author:** ![wonderwench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wonderwench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderwench)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/32 "2005-04-12T20:09:58Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > **wonderwench** –could you give an example of what you mean? I think I grasp what you’re saying but I’m not positive. Something like a boss not passing along a difficult project to a minority? Or rather passing along the project, but not expecting positive results? Those are good examples. What I am thinking of is more attitudinal than anything. I could call it passive-aggressive racism. The racist conceals bigotry with faux congeniality when having to deal with minorities - but then engages in choices which exclude minorities. Women confront this in the workplace when there are “good old boy” cliques in control. All of the official office activity is proper - but the casual interaction that is important in getting ahead in business excludes them. I also think of this as Politically Correct Racism. The person does the minimum required for appearances sake in order to avoid being accused of racism - but is able to get away with treating minorities as less than equals. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/33 "2005-04-12T20:18:52Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > Just say it in English–they’re Latino, not retarded, so they’ll know what you mean. The “excuse me” tones and body language are universal. And people do not “jabber” in Spansih–they _speak_ it. Believe it or not, it’s a language, not noise. Well, these two women…I am not so sure about the retarded bit. And un-identifiable words that blur into a string of sounds DO sound like jabbering to me–no matter what language it is. I had a pt the other day who only spoke the patois of Haiti. No clue how to communicate-me or her. We did fine, but I hafta say that her speech sounded like jabbering to me, and mine probably did to her. Loaded word? Sure, but it still describes the phenomenon. Why should I address them in Spanish, anyway? I think they were just clueless, which has nothing to do with their Hispanic-ness–they were wrapped up in their conversation. Oh-back to the thread. It still drives me nuts–as it does when 2 old ladies do the same thing and ignore you pleas to get by. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/34 "2005-04-12T20:52:28Z")
When I’m in a position where I can’t help but overhear a conversation that does not involve me, I usually prefer it when it’s in a language that I don’t understand (which is pretty much all of 'em, 'cept English). Most English conversations I over hear are so goddamned stupid or meaningless that I have to :smack: until I get a concussion. But when they’re speaking Spanish, or Chinese, or Russia, I just get to listen to the pretty sounds and am not disturbed by the inane content. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/35 "2005-04-12T21:20:20Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > Those white pride yahoos with their swastika tattoos and their \*\*ruined children \*\* are at least open about it. Nice OP. I picked out that part in the quote because it’s what makes me most sad. I just can’t find the words. To me it’s a form of abuse to those children that their parents have openly encouraged and taught them to have the same disgusting racist right-wing views. Poor kids, They don’t know how wrong it is. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/36 "2005-04-13T13:13:12Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > When I’m in a position where I can’t help but overhear a conversation that does not involve me, I usually prefer it when it’s in a language that I don’t understand (which is pretty much all of 'em, 'cept English). Most English conversations I over hear are so goddamned stupid or meaningless that I have to :smack: until I get a concussion. But when they’re speaking Spanish, or Chinese, or Russia, I just get to listen to the pretty sounds and am not disturbed by the inane content. I wish more people thought that way. Years ago, I was working in a McDonalds when an Indian or Pakistani family of three came in. They were eating in the dining room and talking amongst themselves in whatever their language was when three teen girls sat down near them and started grumbling things like “Speak English or die!” I gave them a Look and they gave me the finger. More recently, I was in a department store, in a line of five or six people, and the woman being served apparently spoke only or mostly Farsi. Luckily for her, an employee was fluent in Farsi! He was presumably working out her exchange or return of a product when the woman in front of me started grumbling about “This is America!” “What do you care?” “They should speak English! This is America!” “How does it affect you?” “They’re just jabbering away! I hate that sound!” “She’s trying to return an item. Can you imagine how long it would take if she had to stumble through in English?” “It wouldn’t take that long if she would LEARN English.” “Happy New Year to you too.” (It was the week between Christmas and New Year’s.) For potato’s sake, there is a **world** of difference between an employee who can’t (or can barely) speak English **to you** , and people talking not-English **to each other**. If they’re not talking to you, who the fuck cares what language anyone uses? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/37 "2005-04-13T13:19:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Most English conversations I over hear are so goddamned stupid or meaningless that I have to :smack: until I get a concussion. But when they’re speaking Spanish, or Chinese, or Russia, I just get to listen to the pretty sounds and am not disturbed by the inane content. that is so true! I had never thought of it that way, before. Guys-I don’t care what language you speak, really. I was annoyed about a very minor incident in the grocery store… Howver, I DO take issue with folks who have been here for say, 20 years and never learned a lick of English. And maybe it’s because any foreign language here is likely to be Spanish…but I would prefer to hear the sybillant sounds of Farsi or a Nigerian language or Punjabi, Korean, German, summthin’! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/38 "2005-04-13T13:20:05Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I wish more people thought that way. > > For potato’s sake, there is a **world** of difference between an employee who can’t (or can barely) speak English **to you** , and people talking not-English **to each other**. If they’re not talking to you, who the fuck cares what language anyone uses? You know, that rule is applicable no matter what language is being spoken. I can understand the motivation, though. How are the busybodies supposed to eavesdrop and pick up the juicy gossip if they can’t understand what they’re saying? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781/39 "2005-04-13T14:19:59Z")
quote=belladonna]Do not smile and chat with a Hispanic guy, and then grumble about dirty spics stealing good white women as soon as he’s out of earshot. I fucked that guy last week and he was pretty good. [/quote] Rest assured I am doing my best to keep as many Latino men as possible from stealing white women. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subterranean-racists/298781.md?page=1)