How Should We Treat Wingnuts/Fundies/Teabaggers in Public?

[The Doctor.]

In a recent thread, the issue of how to deal with outspoken racists/bigots/etc in public came up. I'm just curious how the DU community views public interactions with these people, and which approach should be used, if any, when one finds oneself in such a situation.

So the question is; "If you are in public, in a mixed setting (not a political/religious/Social event or cause), and a nearby individual says something that is clearly racist, bigoted, homophobic, or otherwise just plain wrong or mean... how would you either want it dealt with, or how would you deal with it yourself?"

[Ohio Joe]

1. Other - Fuck with them

I like to ask innocent questions to pin them down on whatever topic they may be blathering about at the moment, then hit them with the zinger that traps them in their own stupidity :D

[The Doctor.]

5. So you're actually closer to;

"Trap the person with their own words and expose their ugly beliefs to humiliate them and reveal the true negative value of those beliefs."

Sound about right?

[Ohio Joe]

11. Well....

I really consider it for my own amusement, so that did not seem to fit for me... I guess my vote could be put there though. See, I don't think they ever see their mistake, I think they just feel they don't have the right talking point but that they are still right somehow, I don't think anything really gets revealed to them.

[The Doctor.]

13. I fear you may be right.

I've felt that way for some time. I do hold out hope that some of these tools will wake up. It does happen occasionally.

[DURHAM D]

2. I say whatever I feel like - sometimes I am pretty funny and snarky.

Why - "I am older and have more insurance."

[William769]

6. Now thats funny.

:hi:

[MineralMan]

3. There's no single answer to this.

It depends on many things. Am I part of the conversation? What's the setting? Who's talking? Why am I there? Am I a part of the group? A stranger? A guest? The host? I can't answer unless I know all the details. My reaction would be different in each such situation.

[The Doctor.]

9. Well, I tried to set some basic parameters;

"not a political/religious/Social event or cause"

We're talking about a fairly neutral setting like a grocery store, at a bus stop. Anything 'in public'. I understand that theaters and restaurants might be some sort of exception, but many of us find the imperative outweighs the setting.

Up to you, basically. Just picture the most generic public location you can imagine taking action in, if indeed you would take action at all.

[MineralMan]

15. Again, it depends on the exact nature of the situation.

Really. I've confronted many people with their erroneous statements in public places. However, it all depends on the situation and my mood at the time, along with other factors. My wife, for example, abhors public scenes, so I do not get involved with them when I am with her, except in the most egregious cases. I will also not take on a group of rednecks talking trash when it's just me. On the other hand, I speak right up if someone is abusing a sales clerk or some other innocent party.

Engaging with morons in public is very often a waste of time. Sometimes, it's justified, though, by the circumstances.

[Very_Boring_Name]

27. Why do people come into polls and try to argue that they need a choice for every minute detail

and circumstance? It makes you look foolish.

[William769]

4. Other.

Show them the error of their way by any means at my disposal.

[XanaDUer]

7. I would say the third choice down

it would depend on the situation, however.

[GreenStormCloud]

8. Politely.

Always be polite, even to those with whom you disagree. Unnecessary confrontations can sometime end up in very unpleasant and useless, sometime violent situations. You can't predict how others will act. ALWAYS BE POLITE.

[Scuba]

10. Polite contempt, as in, "with all due respect, bullshit".

[The Doctor.]

12. Ah, so you're a diplomat after all.

:evilgrin:

[Mojeoux]

18. In the South you can say anything, just start with "Oh Bless Your Heart!,"

As in, "oh bless your heart, but you've got it all wrong!"

"Oh bless your heart, but that shirt is ugleeeee!"

or
"Oh bless your heart, but what you said makes you look a fool."

[WillowTree]

14. "Trap the person with their own words .......humiliate them......."

Yeah. Right. Be just as obnoxious as they are. Perfect way to win people over to your way of thinking!!!

Those threads always make me shake my head and thank my personal God that the author isn't a member of out diplomatic corps.


Right moron + Left moron.......Small wonder this Country's in trouble.

[Tippy]

16. I write Letters to the Editor...and explain where they are wrong plus a bit more...

[ThomWV]

17. With polite but obvious contempt

[littlewolf]

19. actually everyone has the choice to be wrong ... nt

[mwooldri]

20. My way is to get the other person to re-state their case properly.

Same as I do in private really.

Tell the individual that their concern isn't about a person's race, gender, or gender identity. Ask them what the *real* problem is, and tell me what the problem is without referring to race, gender or whatever.

Whether I address it directly or not also depends on a variety of factors.

[mysuzuki2]

21. laugh and point.

[Odin2005]

22. I directly confront them and criticize their hate. Silence is Conplicity.

Those who do not confront and work to defeat hate and bigotry are just as guilty as the bigots.

[loyalsister]

23. I have dealt a couple of racist incidents recently

I just looked directly at them and walk away.

[The Doctor.]

24. How very telling.

A large plurality have righteously responded to the poll with the notion that people only engage others for the sake of conflict. Naturally, virtually none of these 'anti-conflict' people who have a conflict with people who engage are willing come forward at all.

That might pose a conflict, after all.

*Squeek!*

[LadyHawkAZ]

25. Sneer noticeably, then argue back if needed. n/t

[Raine]

26. I don't bother with them my time is too limited

to waste time on someone who is incapable of learning anything.

edit: removed one word.

[Union Scribe]

28. I would immortalize them in a work of fiction

which I'd then post on DU and await the kudos of my peers, and get an absolutely incurable case of red-ass over anyone who calls me on the melodrama and inconsistencies in my story.