[Sidders]

Don't get me wrong, I think racism is a dreadful thing. The BNP are scum. But if I was black I don't think it would racism would bother me too much.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

to be honest sidla i dont believe theres a reply to that.

[Spoon]

I think you can only properly sympathise with victims of racial abuse if you yourself are a victim. I lived in Connecticut (USA) for two and a half years and while back and got a lot of abuse about being British, nothing to do with my skin colour (white by the way) or religious beliefs, just being from a different country.
Now don't get me wrong, the majority of people I met were very friendly and for the most part I enjoyed my time over there, but some people who I unfortunately saw every day spoiled it. When I came back to the UK, it took me a while to get over it and for a while whenever I thought of America, I thought of those idiots.
Thankfully I now realise it was only a small group of people. Luckily, that small group wasn't able to lead much of a crowd otherwise it could've been a lot worse.

[MK Chris]

There is also a very fine line between banter and bullying. I like to think I never cross that line (I never mention someone's skin colour and only joke about where people come from light heartedly) but I think some people can take me the wrong way.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

sidla's unbelievable stupidity to say it wouldnt bother him though? imagine walking down a street where you have lived your whole life an being spat at an told to go back to your own country just for being you.

i think that would bother anyone.

[Sidders]

sidla's unbelievable stupidity to say it wouldnt bother him though? imagine walking down a street where you have lived your whole life an being spat at an told to go back to your own country just for being you.

i think that would bother anyone.

Does that happen though? Maybe I'm just being naive as usual. I have never heard of such extreme racism. In that case, of course it would bother me. However just a casual comment such as 'go back to your own country' or anything like that I'd just ignore.

[kendra k]

sidla, you are being extremely naive. it's extremely hard to conceptualise discrmination/racism on a personal level unless you have experienced it first hand. while many people might say "oh, i could ignore the tossers who will make rude remarks," truth is it's not that easy. the first time people made rude remarks and belittled me becuase i'm white, it stung. i didn't think it would and i tried to laugh it off, but it made me realise anybody can get it. i've also seen my friends be the target of racist remarks. this is suprising here because we're supposed to be very p.c. gar!!!!