I find it really offensive and it is usually all over my face. I will tell family straight out what I think - my mum is known for her unsavoury racist comments - more along the lines of 'tea towel' head... and it is just not on IMO.
I haven't encountered any friends saying racist comments, perhaps it is b/c I have alot of diverse friends and also in my workplace racism is not tolerated.
I have been on the train when someone straight out asked me how I could stand overhearing a couple who wasn't speaking English :-/ I was speechless b/c people chat constantly on the train and whether that is in English or another language it doesn't bother me. I really didn't know what to say, I just said I tune out to everybodys personal conversations..... it was a male who said to to me & he seemed annoyed that the couple were chatting away..... Not that racist I guess but enough to make me think less of him!
I have personally been subjected to verbal racism (Italian background) and it hurt. I never understood why people had an issue with my background?? I never used to stand up for myself when I was younger and these days I am not subjected to it (that I am aware of).
Depends on the situation. None of my friends are racist but a lot of my family members are.
I can't cut out mum and dad and, over the years, I've learnt that I'm not going to change their mind so there's no point in trying to have a respectful debate. They're overseas so we don't see them very often so I guess these days if we were heading down that track I'd just say something like, "we're not going to agree on this so let's talk about something else."
DP's brother and SIL are very ignorant on this sort of thing but they LIKE to talk about stuff. They don't make throwaway racist comments but are more issues-based eg. wanting to talk about immigration/boat people etc. ALthough we have vastly varying views, I think exposing my daughters to different opinions and viewpoints especially if people can argue their corner is good. Though if we were talking about it every time we saw them, it would get old, like any subject. I think if you're going around in circles on the same topic then it's best just to say, "let's agree to disagree."
I guess the litmus test for me would be whether I thought that their values mostly agreed with my own but if a certain subject was a bit of a "blip" in the relationship.
If I had friends who were engaging in racist name-calling it would definitely make me question the friendship and yes, I probably would cut them out.
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