I am 58 years old and this has never happened to me until today.

[iemitsu]

After dinner this evening as I was watering the front garden, a car full of teen aged boys drove by and one leaned out the passenger window and yelled, "Fuck you N*****!".
No one has ever yelled that at me before.
My back was to the street and so I had to turn around to see who was threatening me. A dumb white kid, surrounded by other white kids, was hanging out the passenger side window. Clearly proud of his bravado, he wore a huge grin and displayed an extended middle finger, as he accosted me for the entertainment of his friends.
I must admit I was surprised to be assaulted in this fashion. I have lived in this neighborhood since I was five, kids don't drive around verbally harassing old people here. At least not to my knowledge.
And I have German and Irish ancestry. And look like it.
Regardless of this fact, it was an unnerving moment. In my own front yard, minding my own business and teenagers intrude in my life in such an ugly way.
I don't suppose they will return to terrorize me or my family but I can imagine how one might feel if that threat was real.
I hope, one or more of the kids in that car, find themselves in my history class this coming fall. I plan to develop a lesson around this event, highlighting the psychology of group behavior, the identification of the other in society, and the use of racial epithets and other derogatory language toward innocent bystanders, and the impact that has on those accosted.
I don't get the thrill of being nasty toward strangers.

[Behind the Aegis]

1. I am sorry to hear this happened to you.

If you aren't AA, it seems odd they would shout it at you; though, I will say it has happened to me twice and I am white, with an olive complexion. For people like that, it is the "thrill" of being heard; it's that simple. It is nasty and hurtful, and if you are by yourself, it can be very scary. It doesn't matter if it is what was yelled at you, what I get much more often, "FAGGOT!", or someone yelling "nice tits, baby!" IMO, it is a form of personal terrorism.

I am glad to hear you are going to make a lesson of this, that is the BEST response!

[iemitsu]

6. I'm fine but thanks for your condolences.

It is the behavior of terrorists and in some circumstances I would be frightened by the incident.
Unknown to the joy-riding teenagers, behind the walls of my house sat my ethnically mixed wife and her mother, who has no European ancestors. I have seen ugly behavior and heard ugly comments before, just never been called the N word by strangers.

[HardTimes99]

8. When you build your lesson plan, be sure to consider integrating the

Milgram Experiment done at Yale U. (IIRC) in the late 50s. Don't have any links at the ready for you, but it will show how group think and authoritarianism (under color of 'science') go hand-in-hand.

[iemitsu]

19. Thank you for the suggestion.

I am familiar with the Milgram experiment and can work that into the plan.
High school students are fascinated by psychological experiments and the implications of psychology on society.

[Behind the Aegis]

29. One that may not be as "harsh" as that experiement, is "Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes."

I have used it several times, usually a variation. If you aren't familiar, let me know. I used to do diversity presentations all the time for college students. If you need any help, shoot me a PM.

[iemitsu]

33. Thank you. I've used Brown Eyes/Blue Eyes too.

I think the kids in my building read that in the 9th grade.

[brush]

69. Pls explain

Are you of mixed ancestry? I'm not understanding why they would do that if you are white.

On another note, I feel unfortunately that because of the zimmerman verdict the racists feel they have free reign to do this kind of stuff now, and even worse, because they can get away with.

[Papagoose]

100. I'm caucasian, just a regular, avarage white guy, and I've been called that

Just some people's "ultimate insult" word I guess.

I also had the misfortune of being the victim of gay-bashing despite not being gay. Walking alone one evening I was surrounded by a group of young men and physically beaten into near unconsciousness while they yelled anti-gay slurs at me.

[brush]

107. Sorry that happen to you

I hope all of this is just a last gasp spasm of racism as a result of our country's changing demographic and having a black man in the White House.

[iemitsu]

150. That is horrible, Papagoose.

The name calling dehumanizes the prey and legitimizes the attack. Packs of kids are more dangerous than packs of wolves because they can rationalize any behavior they like.
I'm sorry you were victimized, and hope you have recovered as well as you can.

[trof]

162. Damn. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

[Papagoose]

164. I live in Polk County, Georgia

And every day I look forward to the day I can move back to Philadelphia!

[iemitsu]

149. I'm not mixed race but I was wearing a batiked shirt.

My back was to the street, I'm old and have white hair (the part that not translucent), or, as the post above suggests, it was just an insult.
Who knows?
I am married to a mixed race woman, and her non-Euro mother lives with my wife and me, so I am a bit sensitive about the use of racial slurs. I have heard plenty of them, perhaps many more than my wife or her mother. But overt racism is not prevalent in this town or neighborhood. I was more surprised and dismayed than hurt by the incident.
I agree that Americans feel they have license to treat others in any nasty fashion they want. Overt racism is clearly on the rise lately. I hope we can put a stop to that trend.

[MADem]

2. It is fashionable for the young to be mean, to bully, to be snide.

I think they believe it makes them tough--it's like armor or something.

I wouldn't be surprised if your bellowing, finger waving, N word hollering, nitwit in a motor vehicle wasn't goaded on to that display of moronic bravado by his equally stupid companions.

They love the goading, too. It's an odd fad.

[villager]

4. Hell, bullying and snideness have become fashionable on this very website.

Alas.

[meti57b]

68. I agree, you are absolutely right on that!!!

[LWolf]

86. It's embedded in the larger culture.

Unfortunately.

[MADem]

104. Yes, it's a shame in many ways, isn't it?

Sometimes it's the failure of the written word (when people's intent is misconstrued), but other times it's "I don't like you/your opinion so I am going to say something insulting about your character to compensate for my inability to come up with a counter-argument!" Thus, we see conversations that start out about a topic, and end up with poop flinging. Other times, it's long - standing feuds. With no more "forced ignore" we see more of that.

It's way less civil around here lately, but in a way, taking the long view, looking at the Big Picture...at least we know where that's coming from and can avoid it.

It used to be "the mods," using their standards of "decency" or "civil discourse," made the decision as to what posts just went "POOF" and what ones were allowed to stand. If one wasn't around when the offending post was made, it was like it never even happened, and we didn't get the 'full flavor' of an individual's personality. Now, we know, and can act accordingly!

[villager]

113. The name calling and snide attacks are puzzling, to some degree

The whole site feels like a giant "Gungeon" sometimes!

But the "broken" communications do seem on the uprise, perhaps because the actual political situation is continually imploding, and people feel increasingly desperate...

[MADem]

114. The old "battle lines being drawn, nobody's right, if everybody's wrong!"

Dating myself, with that reference!

[villager]

117. Well, something *is* definitely happening here....

[MADem]

123. I agree. We're in a period of change right now. Who knows what the future will bring? nt

[AAO]

140. If lovin' you is wrong, I don't wanna be right?

[MADem]

142. I like that tune much better! nt

[AAO]

143. It just dawned on me what your reference was to! DOH!

[MADem]

146. Hee hee! nt

[iemitsu]

7. You describe the teenagers I know, especially the boys.

Maybe not just the boys, teenaged girls can be pretty mean too.
Bravado can be worn as armor but once the armor comes off you find a kid inside. Usually a pretty needy kid, who wants some attention.

[MADem]

14. Yes. The meaner they are, the more they need some guidance, attention, notice.

The nice kids who get positive attention just don't seem to feel as much if any of a need to lash out.

[iemitsu]

16. Your description fits my experience.

And with twenty-three years of teaching high school students under my belt, I have some experience with them.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

70. I am a teacher also and I like your idea of a lesson.

I developed one on lynching in all its manifestations and it even had the Bubbas quiet in their seats. Keep in mind, I'm a 59 year old white guy in the south. They just need to have it put in their faces and shoved down their throats. There is nothing cool about racism and its presentation. It is ugly and needs to be shown as such.

[MADem]

106. I'd say you have a couple of Ph.D's in the topic!!! nt

[Jackpine Radical]

53. Weird. I really don't recall either myself or my friends

being anything like that in adolescence.

I think it would have freaked me out then as much as it would now.

[MADem]

103. Me neither...then again, I will acknowledge that my upbringing was atypical.

I was raised outside the USA for a good portion of my formative years, so I didn't get the full flavor of the American experience. However, I did get enough to know that there was bullying in school, but it wasn't quite so vicious, violent and unceasing as it 'seems' to be these days.

Of course, it could be that we're hearing about it more, and that magnifies the experiences. But in my heart, I have to say that I don't think it was quite this bad in the "old days," and I'm talking old days for the last fifty years or so.

I don't know if that "Mean Girls" film made us all more aware of it, or what...but I get the feeling that kids are just as uncertain as they have been down the years, but instead of masking the insecurity with quaint things like "hobbies" and "interests," many tend to dive into the 'net,' live virtually there, and/or put on a suit of snark armor and lash out at anyone who appears to be weaker than they are.

[AAO]

141. I loved my father for instilling in me, liberal values.

He gave me specific lessons (casually and unrehearsed) about racism, homophobia, and just how people must adopt societal norms to some extent for a society to function and thrive. Society has never lived up to Dad's ideals, but I have done my best to carry the flag, as best I can, on his behalf. If people would actually accept the US Constitution (not talking about 2nd Amendment here) and act accordingly (yeah, I looking at you Teabaggers) we wouldn't have half the problems we do today.

[heaven05]

75. fad?

is shooting unarmed black teenagers a fad too?

[MADem]

101. Was the person who committed that crime a teenager?

I don't think so.

I am talking about youth, not mature adults.

[heaven05]

124. Yeah

and I'm talking about youth that just so happen to have racist attitudes. Learned where? Internet,movies, HOME?

[MADem]

126. Why are you yelling at me?

Every time you reply to me, you do it in a confrontational manner.

I'm not interested in that sort of discourse.

[heaven05]

128. phhhffft

I'm not yelling. That's your bag. I am responding to your asinine logic that has been your hallmark in race centered stories on this site. That's all. My right to totally disagree with you. Free speech. I've called you no names or attacked in any personal manner, just don't agree with how you see things, and probably never will. No skin off my nose.

[MADem]

130. You are apparently operating under a misapprehension as to my ethnicity.

Not that I give a hoot what you think--you're rude, and boorish and I will not put up with further abuse from you.

And you have a nice day, too.

[heaven05]

131. doesn't

matter, your ethnicity. thomas, rice, zimmerman trial intern, and on and on. Hoot all you want and thank you. thomas, rice, zimmerman trial intern.

[MADem]

132. You're plainly confusing me with someone else, and I don't want to indulge your

curious, false screeds.

Have a nice day.

[Mojorabbit]

3. I don't know what to say

:HUG:
When I was a young woman I was always hyper aware when any groups of men approached. It was an uncomfortable feeling. People in groups will do things they would never do on their own. I am so sorry this happened to you.

[iemitsu]

11. Thanks for your compassion.

I am happy to say hello to strangers on the street and make an effort to be friendly with the neighbors but being yelled-at/threatened by a group of teen aged strangers is an uncalled for intrusion on my privacy and my space.
I think you are smart to be hyper-aware when groups of men/boys approach.
We live in a violent society. Too often we read of teens, who beat a homeless man or some other horrible act of senseless destruction. And women are too often the target of men's violence.
I feel a bit like "gangs of New York" have invaded my quiet neighborhood.

[heaven05]

76. +10000

gangs of Florida.

[Downwinder]

5. I have had bottles thrown at me from cars as

i walked over a bail road overpass. Don't understand it. Quit trying.

[iemitsu]

12. That sucks,

I hope you weren't hurt.

[Downwinder]

31. Nope. The only thing that comes in glass bottles these days is beer.

Figure the bottle was better than the bumper. I am a scruffy 70 yr. old. Might have thought I was a homeless target or something. No excuse. Like 7 year olds throwing rocks at cars. Thoughtless. I didn't take it as directed.

[iemitsu]

34. A bottle is better than bumper.

A democrat is better than a republican.
Don't you hate always having to choose the lesser of two evils?

[Downwinder]

39. It is nice to have options though I am not really sure

I have ever really been given a choice. More a path of least resistance.

[LeftinOH]

77. One kid alone is unlikely to do this; a group of kids-

well, that's another story. I never understood the dynamics of group/mob behavior.. even as a teenager. If you were able to ask them individually why they did it, they wouldn't have an answer --except to say "that's what everyone else was doing".

[geckosfeet]

9. Nasty little pigs. Give it the thought it deserves, then let it go.

Be well.

[iemitsu]

13. Thanks, they were acting like nasty little pigs.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

10. The Republicans ran the last election as if White Rule was on the ballot...

...and to the absolute SHOCK of a LOT of people they LOST.

This has caused a resurgence of the whole White Supremacy thing amongst the White Trash.

[iemitsu]

15. Yes. Open racism was popularized under W Bush

and has intensified 1000% percent since the election of President Obama.
Its really quite horrifying.
But the open racism is not really that usual in my corner of the universe. I live and work in an ethnically mixed part of an ethnically diverse town. I work in a public high school where 1/3rd of the students are black, 1/3rd white, and 1/3rd Asian/Pacific Islander/Other. That is how they are counted on enrollment documents but all are really brown.
I know the Klan is in town and they have membership, but they are not very vocal or visible.
Kids are kids and they egg each other into doing dumb things. I understand that. But, I don't like kids, who think calling others derogatory things and sounding threatening, is appropriate or acceptable, driving around my neighborhood or intruding on my peace.

[nxylas]

25. I was going to post something about Nixon's Southern strategy and Reagan's welfare queen

Then I noticed the key word: open racism. Yes, the election of Obama has really brought the pointy hoods out of storage. They are no longer even trying to hide their racism behind code words and dog whistles.

[iemitsu]

27. That's what I see too.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

30. You have to admit. Thanks to the web this period in history is being well documented....

A fact the racists STILL don't get. Future historians will look back at the beginning of the 21st Century as a major turning point.

Take comfort in the fact that there were no women in that car. There well could have been in the 50s.

[iemitsu]

36. The documenting is good.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

95. Makes it harder for them to deny it.

[Sherman A1]

17. At work last week

I was called an A**hole by one of the vendors, I simply looked back at him and said "Yes, I Am."

The "Gentleman" who did the name calling is young and a bit full of himself, unfortunately he has to come back to work in the area where I am in charge on a daily basis. My original thought was to simply call his boss and have him barred from returning, but that would have the effect of him most likely losing his job and frankly the the workers in his position never last very long anyway (as his employer really doesn't treat their people very well) so I will simply not speak with him and he will eventually just go away.

It is certainly disturbing to have someone be nasty to you either personally or in such an impersonal matter as what happened to you. The best result is to not allow it to ruin your day.

[iemitsu]

21. My day wasn't ruined.

I came in and shared the incident with my wife and mother-in-law.
We laughed and thought the kids were stupid.
It amazes me how people can be abusive toward others, who might have some power or influence over their lives. They never consider that someday they might need or want help from the very ones they abuse.
That, IMO, is kind of stupid.

[TexasTowelie]

18. Some people only feel good about themselves if they demean others.

I've talked about this with one of my friends. When he lived in Arlington, Texas he was called out as being gay because he rode his bicycle in bike shorts.

I've gotten the same treatment walking a few blocks to the store in Brenham without reason--I was wearing a T-shirt and Levis.

It can be hateful and disturbing, but don't let it get you down. There are plenty of stupid people in this world and you encountered the future Republicans of America.

[iemitsu]

22. Yeah, and those some people, who

demean others to feel better about themselves, are assholes. Especially if they are adults.
Sorry to hear that you and your friend are being harassed. Texas has some assholes too.
It does "get me down" that there are people with those behaviors and attitudes, but that has not been intensified by this evenings event.

[joshcryer]

20. That's horrific. Sadly I think it means your neighborhood is deterioating.

I have been called everything from "fa**ot" to retard and had cups of liquid thrown at me, firecrackers. I've been shaken down at knife point. At one point I was shot at. Bad neighborhoods breed bad people, sadly.

Hopefully it just means some idiots managed to get lost in your neighborhood and you're not looking at an encroaching deterioration. There is a culture out there that finds this sort of behavior perfectly fine.

[iemitsu]

24. Well, my story pales alongside the nasty encounters

you have experienced in your neighborhood. I hope you can remain safe there or move if you are unsafe.
Neighborhoods do go through cycles and I've been in this one long enough to witness several.
I don't think this particular neighborhood is on the downslide.
I live on an arterial, the kids were driving to the waterfront.

[joshcryer]

32. I've since moved, thanks!

This is actually why my opinion is reenforced because I lived there 6 years and basically once a week I was assaulted or denigrated in some way or another. It was completely demoralizing but you eventually get used to it and grow a thick skin (engaging these types results in even more shit coming down on you so I always kept to myself and let them denigrate me).

Where I am now is completely peaceful, I can walk outside at any time of the day and be treated like any other person, even after some recent stuff that I brought with me from the ghetto (I won't get into it but let's just say some of my previous issues I picked up in that environment are known or at least suspected by my block, I can sense it in the attitudes I get, but the people are still overwhelmingly nice and comforting and even understanding; I go out at night at 1AM for a 6 mile run, it's been unbearably hot here thus the reason for the late night runs, and I have met some of the most wonderful people, it's a really nice change).

Those kids sound like disrespectful trash and I'm so sorry you had to deal with it. Part of me thinks it was some kind of initiation or peer pressure thing so if that's the case I hope you realize the idiot kid that did that probably doesn't sleep at night thinking about what a fucking asshole they were. Hopefully if that's the case, and they do feel remorse for giving into egging on and peer pressure, they stop hanging out with those other people. I fear that maybe they don't care, but I'm going to think positively on this one and just hope for the best for you and for that kid that harassed you.

Best of luck and apologies if I assumed the worst there, I was about to go on a run and I just remembered the environment I just came from and it felt like, damn, your neighborhood is going to shit. I hope that's not the case, sincerely.

[iemitsu]

35. I'm glad you moved.

Everyone should be treated with respect by others they meet on the street. But, alas, its just not so.
When Kerry was running against Bush I put a sign in my yard saying Bush could steal one election, but not two. The sign was stolen the first night it was out.
I was discussing the incident at school the next day and to my surprise a student came up to me and confessed to being in on the sign stealing caper. He and other ROTC students had been stealing Kerry signs all over town. They took me to the signs, stashed in the woods near the school.
ROTC had the kids do some community service to pay their due. they confessed and they learned a lesson.
Several of those students became close to me before graduating and one still comes back and visits.
They did not know it was my sign when they took it.

[joshcryer]

38. That story actually warms my heart.

That a student would confess to stealing a sign (a felony I think, if a DA went to the fullest extent of the law). I like that story at lot. It means that people can still understand what they did wrong and that they'll remedy it when they're faced with the repercussions.

Fortunately I've never had to deal with sign theft though I know it is rampant in every election and sign thieves are the worst (why bother? I'll never understand it). I did have a Dean sign up back in 2004 but that was during the primaries and I removed it when he started losing. But it wasn't even taken down by Kerry fans or even anti-Dems. It sat there in my yard, in a deeply southern state, until I removed it. My bumber sticker remained pro-Dean until I sold my car. No scratches, no abuse of that kind. I know it happens and I read about it a lot but somehow I managed to avoid it. I did have an Obama sticker on my car (edit: in 2008) but that didn't change that my radio was stolen, antenna snapped off, and back window smashed in. I think the hooligans / thieves are apolitical. Maybe that's the problem.

[sakabatou]

120. Holy crap

[Raine]

23. I'm a white female and ever since I can remember I've hated to be around a group of boys or men

that are driving around or hanging out and the white ones are the absolute worst. I don't know how many times I have had catcalls, and rude crude remarks directed my way, it's been many times. It's hard to brush it aside, it's not only hurtful and demeaning but threatening too because they feel free enough that they can do it.

[iemitsu]

26. All the behaviors you describe are unacceptable

in civilized society.
It is a gross liberty fro men or groups of men to take with women. Especially when women are alone.
It is not complimentary or flattering, it is intrusive and threatening.
Good thing for all the catcallers that you aren't George Zimmerman.

[tblue37]

91. That's the whole point: it is intended to be intrusive and threatening, NOT flattering. nt

[Shankapotomus]

46. As odd as it sounds,

I'm a white male and have felt the same way around groups of white males (and females) I don't know ever since I can remember. There does seem to be a cultural (not racial) strain that says they can be more arrogant and obnoxious than other groups by unwritten right.

But once I know they are liberals I tend to relax much more because a lot of liberals have become liberals as a response to those attitudes amongst their own cultural group. It's the right wing and apolitical ones that seem to be the most offensive to me.

[brush]

71. That cultural stain . . .

is really "white privilege" and it is, IMHO, racial in their entitled arrogance, even over other groups.

I think we're also going through a last gasp spasm of racism coming from these types who sense that the country is changing demographically and their grip on predominance is fading. And it's symbolized to them by a black man being in the White House.

[Nay]

63. Oh, heavens, I hate groups of men/boys, too. Being a young female around such groups

is horrendous. The catcalls, etc., and even overt attempts to grab you. I'm old now and don't get that kind of attention any more, thank god. But it was horrible, threatening, insulting, and demeaning. It's no wonder that so many women are wary of men in general.

[LWolf]

88. I'm 53 and a grandmother now.

My hair went gray early, and I stopped covering it up in my late 30s. It's been a couple of decades since anybody sent those kinds of remarks my way.

I grew up with them, though. I was physically precocious, and looked 16 when I was 11/12. As the only child of a single mother with no extended family, I grew up knowing that males valued my body, not me, and spent my years, teen through younger adulthood, trying unsuccessfully to "hide" to avoid that kind of attention.

[JI7]

28. probably not the first or last time they will do it

[DeSwiss]

37. I don't get the thrill of being nasty toward strangers.

It's an attempt assuage their own fears of their own inferiority by lashing out at the perceived cause of their fears. It is perpetuated and kept alive through ignorance and societal divisions that are solely man-made. In their mind, if they ''lose'' to this enemy, they lose all value. Because they've been taught to define their worth and value as a human in terms of their belief of being ''better'' than this ''___(Fill-in-the-blank)___'' other.

This teaching serves a larger system that depends upon our dissension within the ranks, prejudices, hatreds and fears of other ethnicities, religions, nationalities, colors, anything and everything that will keep us from coming together as ONE. That is its sole purpose.

And unfortunately it still works, but not as well as it once did. Hence the renewed efforts to stir society up by TPTB. This incident is no doubt, an ancillary effect of that effort. TPTB have a direct and vested interest in keeping the system the way it is, for as long as possible. Lest they lose all control and power, which they are.

But even these efforts are failing apart because people are starting to recognize (or admit due to overwhelming evidence) -- some for the first time -- that it's all -- everything -- is based upon lies. Their time is over and they know it.

- They do what they do because they don't know what else to do. And their hearts are too dark to admit they were wrong.....

K&R

[iemitsu]

155. There is much wisdom in your post.

[DeSwiss]

160. De nada.

[LiberalLoner]

40. I am so sorry this happened to you.

[belcffub]

41. I never understood that nastiness towards strangers either

About two years back I used to walk with a group of guys at lunch (I go to the gym now). One day the four of us were walking and this kid walked passed us and about five feet or so behind us and yells "what a bunch of faggy ass white guys". We didn't say anything... more in shock then anything else... we walked daily and are always polite... go single file on the sidewalk to allow people to pass... never do anything... just a bunch of middle aged guys out for a walk at lunch... never had in issue when walking for 4 or 5 years of doing it... just seemed so weird... I don't understand people sometimes... we have turned it into some kind of a joke when we look back at it... just laugh it off...

[lunamagica]

42. How awful. So much hatefulness and stupidity. Two weeks after I was born,

my mother went by herself to run an errand nearby. A group of men in a car approached, and one of them wanted to pinch or pat her bottom. They miscalculated and she was hit by the car, which send her flying several feet. Thankfully, her injuries were not life threatening, but serious enough to be hospitalized for several days.

Group mentality a scary, scary thing

[Orrex]

43. You've got some nerve, watering your own garden

Who the heck do you think you are?



In addition, what a bunch of assholes. Too bad you couldn't blast them with the hose.

[closeupready]

44. I just avoid eye contact with people - too many drama queens.

Such as these boys who accosted you.

Seems like so many people ache for involvement with others, but who feel only abusiveness is the acceptable way to engage with others.

No. You (in general) may not be to blame for being poorly-raised, but I am also not to blame for being raised to respect myself and carry myself with dignity. So, I'd prefer my own company, thank you very much. K&R

[raccoon]

45. Why are some people nasty to strangers? Two reasons I can think of right of.

1- A-non-y-mi-ty. Most people won't do that if they know the person(s) they're being nasty to. If they know they'll
see that person at the local grocery store, their school, church, etc., they wouldn't do that. One of the consequences of
living in a large city or a more mobile society than most of us did in past decades.

2- No consequences. These people know, in all probability, they won't have to face consequences for their ugly behavior.

I wish when these turkeys throw things at pedestrians or bicyclists, someone could get their license number and report them to the cops. That's assault, and battery if it hits you. I do realize that when you're the pedestrian or bicyclist, their license number won't likely be the first thing to come to mind...

[closeupready]

56. You fail to account for motive, though.

You have opportunity down, but there has to be something that DRIVES someone to be nasty to a stranger.

In other words, when you encounter a new person, do you feel hostility automatically?

[raccoon]

67. Motive: Just meanness. nt

[HillWilliam]

47. Hoddang. I'm so sorry a ratty bunch of kids tried to steal your day

I guess I had a pretty sheltered upbringing. I never heard the N-bomb until I was 9 or 10. I had to ask my granddad what that meant. (I was afraid it was pretty bad so I knew I could ask granddaddy privately.) I still believe today what he told me then: it's a trashy word usually surrounded by trashy behavior.

If that's what those kids are willing to display in public, one shudders to think what kind of behavior goes on at home where most folks can't see...

[steve2470]

48. so sorry you had to endure this

Hopefully the kids in that car will regret this one day. I think so. I know I did things at that age that I now regret, but thank god none of them encompassed racism.

[justiceischeap]

49. This reminds me of an incident several years back

I was walking down the street, in the middle of the day, near a local lesbian bar. A kid on the opposite sidewalk, probably no older than 11 or 12, looked at me with such hate in his eyes and yelled, "Dyke!" Now, I just so happened to be a lesbian and it wasn't that he called me a "dyke" that bothered me so much as the hate that was in is eyes. I couldn't help but wonder what he was learning at home. Now that I think back on it, I wonder what happened to him at home to make him so hateful at such a young age.

[heaven05]

79. oh

I encounter that type of hate in white peoples eyes all the time now. It seems the election of a man of color over neocon racists, coupled with the Martin murder circumstances have emboldened amerikas substantial racist sub-grouping that comprises 47% of the electorate. Did I say subgroup? Scratch that.

[justiceischeap]

81. Yeah, it's never comfortable to see that look of hatred aimed at you for

nothing other than the color of your skin or your sexuality (particularly if you're obviously homosexual).

[heaven05]

84. yep

[hfojvt]

92. I find that it is fairly typical of the young

perhaps they just feel threatened, but many is the time I have been biking around strange parts and had some little five year old kid - cute little kid, yelling at me and shaking his fist. Being so small I cannot hear what they say, but the hostile attitude is clear.

In many ways, it is just animal behaviour, like the little dog yapping at all the people and other dogs going by his yard. Gotta defend the territory - even when you are clearly too small to defend anything.

It is not just homophobia either. As a male who had worn his hair long, I often get shouts of "hippie" as I go by or "get a haircut".

But even rednecks face it. I bought a straw hat (so I could goto fireman's dances) but I found that I could seemingly not wear it without having somebody mockingly yell "yee haw" as I walked past.

And I suspect that some of the crap I take is based on the fact that I look skinny and weak and thus look like a safe target.

[Javaman]

50. They suffer from an acute case of

testosterone poisoning coupled with raging case of racist flu.

usually in a situation like that, there is one that is the carrier, the typhoid mary if you will, the others just go along because they are just either too stupid or fearful of the carrier.

I went to high school with many of these disease carriers only to discover years later at the reunion just how remorseful they were and were all sorts of apologetic.

I had no patience with them then and I had no patience with them when they "apologized".

[treestar]

51. I'm so sorry

there is no excuse for that and their parents should have raised them a lot better.

could be some Zimmerman fallout. I like the idea of the unit in your history class.

[Puzzledtraveller]

52. societal degradation

[heaven05]

80. been

happening since Nixon. Exacerbated by Raygun and accelerated under the bushmonkey cabal.

[dembotoz]

54. it has become cool to be as racist again

[ladjf]

55. The teenagers displayed some very bad behavior. However, I doubt that it was directed at

you personally in any way. More likely, you happened to be there at a moment that they were
looking for anyone to insult. They were showing off for each others' amusement.

[robinlynne]

57. I love your response... to teach!!!!

[ctsnowman]

58. I drive a prius

and had the same type of shit happen to me. I call it Prius envy. Faggot seems to be a favorite among the toughest ones.
One night in a drive through lane, I had a couple punks in a car pretend to ram me from behind. I am so glad I didn't have my baseball bat with me.

Hang in there.

[Botany]

59. The word "n****r" is in common use by many young people now in large part to ....

... its use in popular music and in certain social situations* and although it is an
awful word with a brutal history some people using it do not see it that way.

Without knowing all the facts in the case these teens were just being dumb ass
kids and that has been going on and on for many many years. They might do stupid
random acts of vandalism but I doubt that they will come back to "terrorize" your family.

* the African American quarterback of my son's high school football team and had
played football and had been friends with him for years used to come up to him
(he is white) in the halls of the high school and say, "what's up my n****r?" and give
him a hug.

[Scurrilous]

60. Kick

[JEB]

61. Lord of the Flies

should be required reading for all High Schoolers with plenty of time to discuss the issues raised.

[Sheepshank]

62. I guess the media, the courts and vocal racists have all

permitted and endorsed and excused such action as part of the norm in society.

I too cannot understand why such vocal (and not just subtle) intollerance has become the accepted mode of behaviour.

My only hope is that one or more of those kids in the car will remember this moment and at some point feel some level of shame and regret. Enough that they will talk to their own kids about it, because frankly they will never talk to their peers about it. Your classroom lesson could certainly be very powerful. Raising awarness to the social psychology of group think helps them fight and buck group think.

[KittyWampus]

64. Sorry this happened, glad you are a teacher, hope you are allowed enough time/leeway to introduce

your very important lesson to the class.

Being nasty to strangers is very common on the internet. I'd suggest bringing that up.

[cecilfirefox]

65. Hey, your not in the special minorities club until someone slurs us! Here's your toaster!! ;) nt

[iemitsu]

153. I'm proud to finally be a member of that club.

Actually I am sure I was initiated into the club many years ago and have been re-nominated many times since. But thanks for the toast.

[one_voice]

66. Shit heads!

Using this nasty experience as a way to teach others is commendable, thank you for doing that.

[marble falls]

72. The reason you don't get "the thril of being nasty to strangers" is that ....

you aren't an ignorant coward.

[AlbertCat]

73. Well...

But I've been called "queer" "faggot" "homo" "cocksucker" and the like at least every month from the 6th grade on. It slacked off a bit (used to be daily) after I left school but to this day, at age 56, it hasn't disappeared. And I'm not a drag queen, or even limp wristed with a lisp. I do like bright shirts and talk about ballet, opera, theatre and classical music a lot though.

Anyway.... this guy has had a charmed life. It's nice to know someone can get upset by name calling. I've become so tired of it, I don't care anymore what anyone calls me.


P.S. In Jr. High for a while there I was called a "kike" and "fuckin' Jew-boy" (I'm not Jewish).... to which I would answer "I'm Presbyterian!". "Don't lie about it, Jew!" is the answer I would get. I would just say "Fine... Mazel tov everyone!" This is when I learned the truth rarely matters over what people want to think.

[narnian60]

115. Wow.

Unbelievable. I was teased a lot for being tall & flat-chested, and it hurt, but what you had to tolerate--wow.

[AlbertCat]

133. I'm no martyr

That's for sure.... I got beaten up a couple of times, and my artwork vandalized....and when I got home both my parents told me every time it was my fault....

But many other people had and have it worse. And that was in the 70's.... Today RuPaul has TWO show on TV... TWO! I'd never have believed it back then that such a thing could be.. but things have moved forward.

[heaven05]

74. that's

how hitler did it. Control of group behavior. The neocons are using that playbook. Expect this type of racist white behavior to happen more and more, and don't expect the MSM to mention it much.

[abelenkpe]

78. "I don't get the thrill of being nasty toward strangers"

I know right? Daily occurrence on the Internet though. Sorry that happened to you in your own neighborhood.

[Flatulo]

82. I used to take long walks along the back roads

in my town. Several times I had bottles or cans hurled at me from passing cars full of teen boys. Never when there were just one or two in the car - always a full house.

Something about the group dynamic that brings out stupid and cruel behavior.

I was never injured, but the experience was always terrifying.

Glad nothing worse happened to you.

[Apophis]

83. I'm sorry this happened to you, iemitsu.

I like that you're going to turn this into a learning experience for the kids in the fall. Good for you. I hope they learn something.

Getting called a n***** is a weekly occurrence for me. I live in a small town and there aren't very many minorities around, so seeing one if foreign to them.

[iemitsu]

156. It sucks that life is still like that in small town America.

Though I live in a diverse city and neighborhood, the small towns (that have become suburbs) surrounding the urban core still retain much of the old rural flavor.
As a child I imagined that life in such a community would be ideal. But after becoming involved in an inter-racial relationship I came to realize that urban life is more comfortable for those categorized as " the other".
Where I live and work everyone has an ethnically diverse family (not really everyone but it is common). My family (siblings and spouses, their children and their spouses) includes: Euro-Americans, Asians (Japanese), Hispanic-Asians (Filipinos), African-Americans, Caribbean-Islanders - Dominicans (mixed ancestry), Latin-Americans - Ecuadorians (mixed ancestry), and Native-Americans - Pacific Northwest Tribal affiliations.
Last year in class, I had a tall thin student with a Vietnamese last name. He was half Vietnamese and half Black. I thought it somewhat unusual for a Vietnamese man to marry an African-American woman so I asked him about his family. Both of his parents are also half Black and half Vietnamese. Their fathers were American servicemen during the war. As mixed race and illegitimate children they suffered discrimination at many levels and both eventually found their way into relocation programs for the children of American veterans. They met in the US, and their wonderfully, tall and handsome, "Black" son with a Vietnamese last name is the result.
It is nice to live around people, whose experiences are somewhat like yours.
I believe that small towns can and will accept the "other" but only in that role, the other. A defined role that all you accomplish will be filtered through.
Maybe one can't escape that reality anywhere but it is less obvious in the city.

[LuckyLib]

85. Great that you will use this to foster discussion in class. Another good piece that gets kids

talking is Peggy McIntosh's White Privilege.

http://www.library.wisc.edu/EDVRC/docs/public/pdfs/LIReadings/InvisibleKnapsack.pdf

[wtmusic]

87. Not sure why random nastiness is so unsettling -

it is for me too.

His attitude will have far greater implications for his future than yours.

[ellennelle]

89. ashamed to be white

more and more.

i can only apologize that this ever happened to you at all.

i blame the shock jocks and the hate spewing from fox 24/7, and the high-ranking government officials who will not condemn such attitudes and actions.

here's hoping the rest of the drive-by gang was embarrassed and shunned the pathetic kid's attempts to "fit in."

here's hoping they never come back, at least not to harass you further; coming back to apologize would of course be nice.

[Blue_Tires]

90. sometimes the "childish internet mentality" acts out in real life...

[AndyA]

93. Those kids think it's OK since respect, tolerance, and consideration for others are foreign to them

Their parents probably listen to right wing radio, which stirs up a lot of anger and fear among their listeners--those with tiny minds that barely function and don't question what they're told as long as it fits in with what they believe.

It sure seems to me that we've taken a huge step backward as a society when it comes to equality, women's rights, and having respect for your fellow citizens.

I'm sorry you had to endure that attack. I hope it's the last time such a thing ever happens to you.

[TRoN33]

94. I was raised to be very respect toward the elders...

No matter what background they are from and what their beliefs are, my dad taught me to be very gentleman and be respectful of elders. I'm sorry for what happened to you. Its wrong. These teenage idiots were taught to hate and to prejudice all their life and its unfortunate for them, not you. You are very proud and stand tall, most of people already respect you for who you are.

[Chaco Dundee]

96. shame that happened

Those kids are dumb,but the credit for their behavior goes to their parents.

[ewagner]

97. As a friend of mine once pointed out...

"Ronald Reagan taught us to be comfortable with our prejudices"...

The modern GOP ....teaches white Americans to be PROUD OF THEIR PREJUDICES

[Warpy]

98. Teenagers, possibly drunk, do find a thrill in being hateful

especially when they're protected by a shell of metal going too fast for a person on foot to catch.

Most of them will eventually sass the wrong person and have cause to regret it and grow into reasonable adults. A few will stay punks all their lives.

You, however, possess a great deal of worth they will likely never know. Pity them and move on.

They'll hate that most of all.

[DissidentVoice]

99. Inexcusable...and cowardly

It's very easy for them to do that while driving by.

I'd bet they wouldn't do it face-to-face.

[hrmjustin]

102. I am so sorry this happened.

[myrna minx]

105. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

[Common Sense Party]

108. Cultural entropy.

Teens have always been jerks with low impulse-control (I know; I was one once). But it does seem that as society disintegrates more and more, there is less inhibition, less respect, less kindness.

[mountain grammy]

109. When I was 11, our adult male neighbor looked my mom in the eye and called her a dirty Jew.

We were playing ball in the back yard and when the ball rolled into his yard, he wouldn't give it back. My mom politely asked him to give the kid's back their ball. He looked at her and said "get out, you dirty Jew!" That was in Enfield, Ct. in 1959.

Wow! My first thought was "we're not dirty."

Still plenty of haters around. I'm really sorry about your experience. It's so mean and hurtful and unnecessary.

[Generic Other]

148. Dirty Jap

First slur I heard as a kid. My mom just said "you aren't dirty."

[Liberal_in_LA]

110. car full of losers

[LiberalEsto]

111. I'm so sorry this happened to you

[SunSeeker]

112. K & R

[hamsterjill]

116. As you said, age is a factor, too.

First, I'm sorry that you had to endure this. No one should have to!

I'm in my fifties, too, and a white female. I've gotten smart ass remarks from punks before while waiting in line somewhere, while putting gas in my car, and at my home, as well. You hit the nail on the head as to the group behavior. What one of them might not do when alone, they seem to have a real need to impress their friends when several of them are together. This, at the expense of others.

Little do these twerps understand that THEY, too, will age. That is IF they are lucky.

[BlueJazz]

118. Shame you had to put up with that crap. Have you ever watched The Dome ?

Now THAT would have been a nice surprise for the carload of nasties.

[William769]

119. Sorry this happened to you.

[roamer65]

121. America is mean.

I'm sorry and hate to hear what happened, but I think it's gonna get worse before it gets better.
This country has major issues to deal with.

[chervilant]

122. Two things I just want to share:

If Calhoun's research on overpopulation is accurate, we're seeing the negative behaviors commensurate with this oft-ignored global stressor.

Perhaps William Ryan's "Blaming the Victim" might help your students see how we identify "others" and then create self-fulfilling reasons to vilify or isolate "others."

My baby sister married a man who counted among his ancestors African-Americans, Native Americans, and Caucasian-Americans. His skin was the color of milk chocolate. My sister and I were tow-heads, and pale. He and my sister helped me move to north Arkansas in the mid-80s. We stopped at a little diner in Hope, Arkansas for breakfast, and the entire restaurant reacted negatively. Customers left. The wait staff congregated as far from us as they could, and--for twenty minutes--debated who would serve us. Finally, the oldest waitress came over and slammed three glasses of water in front of us, took our order, and left--all without saying a word. Kobe, my BIL, helped keep my sister and me calm, and said we should politely accept our food, leave a tip as per usual (20%, even in those days), and be unflinchingly polite even in the face of this hatred. It took forty minutes to get our breakfast. We ate and talked and paid and left...

Kobe died in Costa Rica a year ago this August. I miss him every day.

[iemitsu]

152. Once, about 20 years ago, I attended an educational conference

in New Mexico. I and two co-workers (both women, an elderly blonde and an AA woman. I am German and Irish.) drove to the event from the northwest. On our return trip we passed through Montana and somewhere in the mountains we stopped at a busy diner for lunch. The sign at the counter asked customers to seat themselves, and so we did. There were dozens of people in the place and a full wait and kitchen staff was available to meet their needs.
We sat and waited for service. We watched as those, who came in after us were served, and attempted to get the attention of a wait person. They, the restaurant employees, all successfully managed to avoid noticing our need.
It was as if we were invisible.
We were there for a bit more than an hour and no one ever addressed us or responded to our attempts to get attention.
Eventually, we just left.
Businesses, and their employees, don't treat customers that way in the Puget Sound basin. None of us expected to be treated like that, in Montana.
Our culture (probably driven by our economic system) does stress that victims are themselves to blame for their own victimhood. I suppose it is our way of dealing with life, in an environment where we can't meet the needs of too many. Rather than examine a system that creates such need we blame the needy.

[kardonb]

125. abuse `

My husband always has a saying , and he is so right " one boy = one brain . two boys = 1/2 a brain , 3 boys = no brain at all .
Besides that , their parents have not instilled respect in them for other people , regardless of how they look .

a car , 3 testosterone laden kids = disaster .

[johnnyreb]

127. Dear iemitsu,

I am fifty-five, white, born and raised in the capital of the former Confederacy. You are my American countryman and neighbor, and wherever our paths may cross, you will be my friend.

[iemitsu]

157. Thank you Johnnyreb.

I will remember that and consider you a friend also.

[heaven05]

129. you

are a better man than I. Your proposed solution is admirable. Kudos.

[stlsaxman]

134. PLEASE video or record your lessons around this event...

I would LOVE to see/hear it.

All best to you, Good Sir!

[busterbrown]

135. i can imagine the father of many of the kids such as the ones you mentioned coming

home each night, fearful of his situation at work ( Boss upset, wages not enough,bills to pay) and just taking his anger out on the whole family.

Economic insecurity effecting the adults in a family must have a huge effect on the children. If thats the case as so many of you have mentioned this kind of dumb mindless behavior must be on the rise..

[kairos12]

136. Sorry this happened to you.

[Blue Palasky]

137. good for you for wanting help their ignorance.

as for me, I hope they drove head first into a ditch at full speed.

[The Wizard]

138. They were

raised by wolves or Republicans, take your pick.

[AAO]

139. Talk about making lemonade!

That was a terrible thing they did. No doubt about that. I just think the 2 things you wanted to teach "psychology of group behavior, the identification of the other in society", should be available to all kids - at a young age and reinforced as they grow older. You could apply that to racial, as well as LGBTQ attitudes. We need more kids to grow up caring about all people, not just specific approved groups. What you are doing will transcend the impact of these kids. Kick some ass!!

[YOHABLO]

144. I doubt very seriously any of those boys will be in your history class.. sorry to say.

It seems that in these times, we're seeing more hatred than ever. This is what happens when a society's wealth goes from the bottom to the very top. No education, no jobs, no security .. we create morons.

[tavalon]

145. I'm horrified

What the fuck has been unleashed? I guess a leaking wound is preferable to pretending the strange scars aren't there. This is crap being dredged up from 150 years ago. Doesn't make it okay.

I had an ageism thing thrown at me by a bunch of drunk teenagers at a store. I flipped them off but I was shocked.

Mannerless thugs.

[iemitsu]

158. I like your phrase,"... a leaking wound is preferable to pretending

the strange scars aren't there.".
In so many ways we are encouraged to live whatever fantasy life we like. To hell with history, reason, evidence, common sense, or human decency.
We need to move on from events, which wound and scar us, but we must not forget what it was that caused the harm, so that we are not harmed in the same way twice.
Teenagers, drunk, are the worst.

[DontTreadOnMe]

147. Racism seems to be very regional in the United States

I live in the NorthEast, and I rarely ever see overt racism. Of course it exists, but at least younger people do not express it so openly. Racism is a learned trait. Someone teaches this behavior. And it is often encouraged in some communities.

Such an ugly part of our society.

I wonder if there are any studies that indicate any relation to poverty levels to racist attacks. It seems to me that when times are good, racism goes down. When times get tough, especially unemployment levels - racism goes up.

I remember when I was in Junior High School, and we started listening to Frank Zappa records. The classic 1967 song "Trouble Every Day" really stuck out to me... in the middle of the song Frank interrupts and and declares

"Hey, you know something people?
I'm not black
But there's a whole lots a times
I wish I could say I'm not white."

That really hit me, and I was only 15 at the time.

[vaberella]

151. I live in NYC and I'm a native New Yorker.

I experience racism in some way shape or form on a daily basis or at the very least every three days. The only time I didn't feel racism, or one that I cared about or felt something from was in London. However in NYC...that chip on my shoulder from experiencing racism, came back with a vengeance. I'm an Afro-Caribbean female.

I'm just saying it's not regional. Racism is all around. If it is not verbal words, it's in behaviour, or it's the institutionalized fact. And Racial profiling is prevalent in the North East, particularly sweeps. I know my area goes around a sweep or walk through by the cops every few months.

[great white snark]

161. Don't mean to hijack this important topic but..

Damn it's good to see you. Your perceptive input is sorely missed.
Hope you are well.

[vaberella]

163. Hey GWS! How are you?!

I've missed everyone here too. It's been a tough year. New teacher at NYC schools is not sweet. Almost quit my job. So I was working through the ups and downs of teaching for the year. I found a new school, with a very encouraging principal so I am hopeful I can do a lot of cool things, this coming year in order to make a name for myself in my field. I hope all is well with you.

[Arugula Latte]

154. Damn. I'm so sorry that happened.

Deep down the little shits know they're little shits so they're looking for a way to make themselves feel powerful and important...Pretty pathetic.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

159. Horrible!

I hope that they don't come back. Take care!