SuzieQ Posted May 24, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 24, 2014 of a lot of South Africans in a fb group that I joined. A great majority of them are racist, ignorant, and hateful. I will unjoin the group! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted May 24, 2014 Share #2 Posted May 24, 2014 You have no control over others thoughts, comments, beliefs etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted May 24, 2014 Share #3 Posted May 24, 2014 Well...people like that are everywhere...not just South Africa...even us "Mericans" have people like that in this country...It is always sad when we come across them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team scooter Posted May 24, 2014 Share #4 Posted May 24, 2014 In my everyday, work-a-day world, I see it all the time. Its everywhere and can't be avoided. It seems people even invent reasons to hate. But my personal life, (by choice), is admittedly sheltered so as not to see it much in my own little world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road Runner Posted May 24, 2014 Share #5 Posted May 24, 2014 Basically, people are all the same. But over much time, we become the product of our environment for the most part. We are what our surroundings have caused us to be. If you want these people to act differently, I would suggest remaining in their conversation and using the opportunity to try and have some positive effect on their outlook of others. People can and do change if they are exposed to more enlightened and reasoned views, but it may take a long time for some who have been taught to think a certain way to accept opposing ideas. The old cliche about a journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step holds true. Maybe you can be the first step. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzieQ Posted May 24, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted May 24, 2014 In my everyday, work-a-day world, I see it all the time. Its everywhere and can't be avoided. It seems people even invent reasons to hate. But my personal life, (by choice), is admittedly sheltered so as not to see it much in my own little world. This is it, I now lead a pretty sheltered life when it comes to horrid people, maybe that's why it's so shocking, I just haven't been around people like that for a very long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destination Posted May 25, 2014 Share #7 Posted May 25, 2014 If you want these people to act differently, I would suggest remaining in their conversation and using the opportunity to try and have some positive effect on their outlook of others. People can and do change if they are exposed to more enlightened and reasoned views, but it may take a long time for some who have been taught to think a certain way to accept opposing ideas. The old cliche about a journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step holds true. Maybe you can be the first step. Unfortunately, the opposite can also happen. The attitudes of the people in that group could start to rub off — subtly and slowly — on those who join with the best of intentions. I'm not suggesting this would happen, but it is a possibility which must be considered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtermite Posted May 25, 2014 Share #8 Posted May 25, 2014 I see that in some of my own family. It's painful to witness. When you mention it to them, they just don't understand..they don't think they are being hateful, just telling the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted May 25, 2014 Share #9 Posted May 25, 2014 So I think we can safely say that Facebook is eville! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzieQ Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted May 25, 2014 So I think we can safely say that Facebook is eville! stick to real friends (or fake cycling friends) on facebook, and it can be a good thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted May 25, 2014 Share #11 Posted May 25, 2014 stick to real friends (or fake cycling friends) on facebook, and it can be a good thing I like to think of us as "virtual friends" or "imaginary friends". "Fake" sounds so cold! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted May 25, 2014 Share #12 Posted May 25, 2014 What kind of group? Maybe we could have a square wheels invasion of the group. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzieQ Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted May 25, 2014 South African Expats Global Community They took down the thread that I thought was particularly distasteful and commented on down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road Runner Posted May 25, 2014 Share #14 Posted May 25, 2014 I like to think of us as "virtual friends" or "imaginary friends". "Fake" sounds so cold! Maybe she means we are her friends who are fake cyclists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted May 25, 2014 Share #15 Posted May 25, 2014 Maybe she means we friends who are fake cyclists. I resemble that remark! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted May 26, 2014 Share #16 Posted May 26, 2014 You have nothing to be ashamed of. In any group of people, there will always be a percentage of folks who are ignorant/mean/racist/hateful. I don't believe you fall into that catagory nor do I believe you would put up with people who lived like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrAzY Posted May 26, 2014 Share #17 Posted May 26, 2014 I'm sorry to hear that. Racism is my only true peeve in life that I have. Maybe the SW forum should join so we can stir the pot a little Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Far ★ Posted June 15, 2014 Share #18 Posted June 15, 2014 Try reading the comments section of online news articles. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted June 15, 2014 Share #19 Posted June 15, 2014 Try reading the comments section of online news articles. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randomguy Posted June 15, 2014 Share #20 Posted June 15, 2014 of a lot of South Africans in a fb group that I joined. A great majority of them are racist, ignorant, and hateful. I will unjoin the group! Just playing the devil's advocate here, but I have noticed a couple of types of racist people. The first are racist for no real reason other than they have been taught to be racist while growing up, family members or the whole community are a rotten lot, that kind of thing (imagine Texas). The second are the types that aren't ignorant, but have been informed by experience. For instance, being robbed or beaten up several times by black people will get you pretty reasonably racist if you are a white dude, which happened to an acquaintence-level friend who I knew when I lived in CA (first time robbed and beaten was in Philadelphia, the next couple in CA). Another CA racist triathlete friend had been hassled many times on the bike (including being forced off the road twice, one time breaking a collarbone), always by hispanics. He is sure that the bulk of hispanics are complete scum, and you aren't going to talk him out of it (I tried, no luck). I think it is up to the minorities to not be violent pieces of shit, and up to the majority to give everyone a chance and not be racist jack-boxes to folks that have done nothing to them. If that could happen for a generation or two, poof, no more racism. I will say that most of the worst racists are dying off, and fewer racists are taking their place. Anyway, I wouldn't say all racists are ignorant, just that most are trained to be. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team scooter Posted June 15, 2014 Share #21 Posted June 15, 2014 I like to think of us as "virtual friends" or "imaginary friends". "Fake" sounds so cold! I prefer the term "faux friends". It sounds more hip. Speaking of racism. Today I went to visit my 82 year old dad for father's day. Yowzers! He hates everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former member Posted June 16, 2014 Share #22 Posted June 16, 2014 I prefer the term "faux friends". It sounds more hip. Speaking of racism. Today I went to visit my 82 year old dad for father's day. Yowzers! He hates everyone. at least he doesn't discriminate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former member Posted June 16, 2014 Share #23 Posted June 16, 2014 Scooter, for some reason I thought you were an old guy. My dad has a handful of years on your dad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajax13 Posted June 16, 2014 Share #24 Posted June 16, 2014 Suzie, please do not be ashamed....no one ever thought you were like that...in fact just the oposite...a kind sweet hearted person. that other from your country of origin may hate is not your doing......just as the hateful people in this country are not my doing. leaving that group is a smart move as I have found that hate is a terrible thing and it upsets me to even read about it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoneWolf Posted June 16, 2014 Share #25 Posted June 16, 2014 Try reading the comments section of online news articles. I've stopped doing that. Finger-pointing has become a national sport. Everyone wanting to blame someone so they can feel better about themselves in life, while not doing anything positive themselves. Always someone second-guessing a situation they weren't involved in, as if they were an expert. Too many Nancy Graces. Not enough of the other kind. The past five years of my life have done a better job of teaching me to judge less, and realize more that I'm far from perfect. I'm sometimes chagrined that I didn't learn that as soon or as well as I wish I had. Suzie, always remember this. It's okay to be ashamed of how some people from your home country have acted. However, you're not like them, and you have life as an opportunity to be an example of how people from South Africa really are. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destination Posted June 16, 2014 Share #26 Posted June 16, 2014 Try reading the comments section of online news articles. The online comments are one area where some terrible choices have been made. When granted anonymity, people are more likely to make inflammatory or derogatory comments. They wouldn't write the same things with their names attached and most wouldn't say the same things in a face-to-face meeting. A few years ago, the company which owns our paper made the decision to use Facebook commenting rather than anonymous commenting. If someone posts a comment under a fake name, we are to delete it. The volume of comments dropped, but the tone improved significantly. I'd like to see more news outlets follow this example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Posted June 16, 2014 Share #27 Posted June 16, 2014 When granted anonymity, people are more likely to make inflammatory or derogatory comment I know, that used to be the best part of the Internet, then all the anti-bully Nazis stepped in and now we have to sign in with a FB account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrAzY Posted June 16, 2014 Share #28 Posted June 16, 2014 I know, that used to be the best part of the Internet, then all the anti-bully Nazis stepped in and now we have to sign in with a FB account. I have a separate FB account to bully people with. Set up under the false name of Jsharr, and has KT's address and phone number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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