Racist emails from relatives/friends

Hugh Freaking Dillon

I'm getting sick and tired of my Dad's siblings sending me bullshit emails about immigrants coming to Canada and trying to change "our ways", and the most recent one was from my uncle about the "truth about Muslim kids", which consisted of pictures that we usually see on CNN, then followed by pictures that we don't see which consist of these kids being militarized (assuming these pictures mean they hate Canadians/Americans).

I addressed it with my Aunt last year with regards to her dismay over some Native rights, and her response was that she thought I "had a sense of humour". Now my Uncle is bombarding me with these disgusting emails and I don't know how to address it. Whenever I make a comment about emails like this, people resort to the "don't take it so seriously" angle, which pisses me off. If you are going to send me an email that is completely biased against a certain race/religion/creed and of such a sensitve topic, then at least have the backbone to stand up for what you believe in. Otherwise, don't just hit "forward" on any random email you get.

How do other people deal with this shit? I once got an email from a girl at work who sent it to a whole whack of people there about the possibility of the Canadian national anthem being sung in a different language at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, and how "awful it was". I wanted to report her to HR.

I'm a white anglo saxon male and racism pisses me off.

MaxGoldenrod

Dealing with the family would be a touchy subject, I would imagine. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that from mine.

The work issue is pretty cut and dry...it cannot be tolerated. Although, I would probably address it with the co-worker first. Something simple, but make it clear you don't approve of the email. If it continues, report it to your supervisor. That's what they (we) are here for...to handle shit like this. If he/she doesn't handle it, then get HR involved.

I agree with you though, it pisses me off too. Not just white racism, but reverse-racism and racism within the same race...there is no place for any of it in today's society.

satansbed

Those damn Canucks eh?

pandora

Paul David wrote:

I'm getting sick and tired of my Dad's siblings sending me bullshit emails about immigrants coming to Canada and trying to change "our ways", and the most recent one was from my uncle about the "truth about Muslim kids", which consisted of pictures that we usually see on CNN, then followed by pictures that we don't see which consist of these kids being militarized (assuming these pictures mean they hate Canadians/Americans).

I addressed it with my Aunt last year with regards to her dismay over some Native rights, and her response was that she thought I "had a sense of humour". Now my Uncle is bombarding me with these disgusting emails and I don't know how to address it. Whenever I make a comment about emails like this, people resort to the "don't take it so seriously" angle, which pisses me off. If you are going to send me an email that is completely biased against a certain race/religion/creed and of such a sensitve topic, then at least have the backbone to stand up for what you believe in. Otherwise, don't just hit "forward" on any random email you get.

How do other people deal with this shit? I once got an email from a girl at work who sent it to a whole whack of people there about the possibility of the Canadian national anthem being sung in a different language at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, and how "awful it was". I wanted to report her to HR.

I'm a white anglo saxon male and racism pisses me off.

Best way to handle this is to say something they can take to heart and think about.

Remind them this would be a better world if we all worked on being compassionate.
If we treated others with respect, the way we would like to be treated.

Remind them of the Golden Rule and how judging others is small minded.
Most people don't like to be told this and to have their character flaws pointed out.

This should stop the sharing of hate email.
Spread the love.

g under p

pandora wrote:

Paul David wrote:

I'm getting sick and tired of my Dad's siblings sending me bullshit emails about immigrants coming to Canada and trying to change "our ways", and the most recent one was from my uncle about the "truth about Muslim kids", which consisted of pictures that we usually see on CNN, then followed by pictures that we don't see which consist of these kids being militarized (assuming these pictures mean they hate Canadians/Americans).

I addressed it with my Aunt last year with regards to her dismay over some Native rights, and her response was that she thought I "had a sense of humour". Now my Uncle is bombarding me with these disgusting emails and I don't know how to address it. Whenever I make a comment about emails like this, people resort to the "don't take it so seriously" angle, which pisses me off. If you are going to send me an email that is completely biased against a certain race/religion/creed and of such a sensitve topic, then at least have the backbone to stand up for what you believe in. Otherwise, don't just hit "forward" on any random email you get.

How do other people deal with this shit? I once got an email from a girl at work who sent it to a whole whack of people there about the possibility of the Canadian national anthem being sung in a different language at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, and how "awful it was". I wanted to report her to HR.

I'm a white anglo saxon male and racism pisses me off.

Best way to handle this is to say something they can take to heart and think about.

Remind them this would be a better world if we all worked on being compassionate.
If we treated others with respect, the way we would like to be treated.

Remind them of the Golden Rule and how judging others is small minded.
Most people don't like to be told this and to have their character flaws pointed out.

This should stop the sharing of hate email.
Spread the love.

I think your family also needs a dose of empathy, they need to walk a mile in your shoes PD. Then they may see and feel how these emails affect you in the most negative ways. What we need is more love, which would therefore bring more......

Peace

Godfather.

Use the Delete Button my friend,sounds like they're just trying to get yer goat.

Godfather.

unsung

Beat me to it.


Ignore them. Why let them rile you up?

dunkman

find out what pisses your uncle off... i.e. close up pics of gay porn ... and then bombard him with these.

problem solved.

although he may question you sexuality now, so you might want to substitute the gay for hairy midgets.

Godfather.

dunkman wrote:

find out what pisses your uncle off... i.e. close up pics of gay porn ... and then bombard him with these.

problem solved.

although he may question you sexuality now, so you might want to substitute the gay for hairy midgets.

now thats some funny stuff !

Godfather.

nuffingman

Godfather. wrote:

Use the Delete Button my friend,sounds like they're just trying to get yer goat.

Godfather.

Yep! The good old delete button works every time. Chain emails, sales emails and do you want a larger knob emails.

zarocat

There is nothing worse than having a family member make you mad/frustrated etc.

Drowned Out

If it bothers you too much to ignore (as it probably should), then keep engaging them like you would a poster here - respectfully and factually. Don't let them get away with the 'don't take it so seriously' response. That's a cop out. If they can keep sending you things you disagree with or find offensive, you have every right to take it seriously and refute them.
I see one of three outcomes to that - either they get pissed off that you are taking it seriously and refuting them; to which I say 'who cares?' As it stands, they're pissing you off... turnabout is fair play, right?
Or...they'll come around to your point of view, maybe learn a thing or two from you....
Or...they'll just stop sending the emails.

mysticweed

my mom will still occasionally drop the n word or the fuck bomb
of course she is bat shit crazy

in fact, of all the "colorful" language i do use, i will never say n----r
i guess i do have a line
hmmm

Hugh Freaking Dillon

I dont' think so, GF. I highly doubt my Dad's brother knows I don't appreciate this garbage. most people who send this crap out send it to pretty much their whole address book, thinking everyone would agree.

And my Dad's sister was pretty surprised when I told her I didn't like it, she got all defensive, but the end result was she doesn't send me those anymore.

Godfather. wrote:

Use the Delete Button my friend,sounds like they're just trying to get yer goat.

Godfather.

eyedclaar

I have zero problem telling family and/or friends to not send me that kind of crap. I let them know point blank that I am not amused.

Jeanwah

Paul David wrote:

And my Dad's sister was pretty surprised when I told her I didn't like it, she got all defensive, but the end result was she doesn't send me those anymore.

Isn't this the answer to your original question? Tell the rest not to send you chain e-mail anymore.

RW81233

i usually let them go but i've had a couple run ins with my dad, uncle, and aunt (different husband than uncle). My dad works for lockhead martin and sends me some bullshit about 'Merica blowing shit up, and I give him a hard time. He knows I'm right, but also has to provide for my family so it's usually more in fun. My uncle stopped sending them to me when I beat him down over something. Then recently my Aunt sent me something about how education is becoming a part of the socialist regime or some stupid shit like that and I had at her. Basically she didn't want her child to do forced community service to graduate, and I said that might be a small part where socialism worked out, but capitalism and the bottom line have taken over education not socialism. I did however enjoy the fact that she's sending her daughter to work for the Ayn Rand institute. Not because I agree with its inane politics, but because she turned a negative into (her personal NOT MINE) a positive. It was a good example of using the system against itself.

Hugh Freaking Dillon

but we also didn't have any communication for a long time after that. it was uncomfortable. and I'd like to keep a good rapport with this uncle.

Jeanwah wrote:

Paul David wrote:

And my Dad's sister was pretty surprised when I told her I didn't like it, she got all defensive, but the end result was she doesn't send me those anymore.

Isn't this the answer to your original question? Tell the rest not to send you chain e-mail anymore.

RW81233

that sucks but family is family and eventually you'll work it out

dustinpardue

Drowned Out wrote:

If it bothers you too much to ignore (as it probably should), then keep engaging them like you would a poster here - respectfully and factually. Don't let them get away with the 'don't take it so seriously' response. That's a cop out. If they can keep sending you things you disagree with or find offensive, you have every right to take it seriously and refute them.
I see one of three outcomes to that - either they get pissed off that you are taking it seriously and refuting them; to which I say 'who cares?' As it stands, they're pissing you off... turnabout is fair play, right?
Or...they'll come around to your point of view, maybe learn a thing or two from you....
Or...they'll just stop sending the emails.

Exactly. People learn pretty quick to not send me that shit. For example, remember that right-wing radical email of all this stuff John Glenn said that was going around a few years ago. I went through each statement, wrote the true story and actually what happened, cited sources for those conclusions, and mass emailed it back to everyone (about 90 people). Yes, I spent a long time making John Glenn look like a dumbass but it was completely worth it. The only response I got from anyone was "wow, you really know your history don't you."
They will stop if you address it correctly, and you may gain some respect in the process.

Black Diamond

How about sending him emails like this but take your point of view.. As many as you can...

He will either get the hint or it will allow you to start a debate on a non nasty term.