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| surprisingly offended |
| 06.14.05 (7:56 pm) [edit] |
I don't think of myself as someone who's too easily offended. I don't like anything having to do with sexual assault, but that's more due to personal experience than anything else. And don't fuck with kids if you want to have anything to do with me. Other than that, I think I let non-PC stuff roll off my back.But today, I was impatiently waiting for the older man at the Glenview/Northbr ook Costco to check off my receipt on my way out, and he was busy having a conversation with the man in front of me, apparently about buying a car. The Costco guy yelled after the car guy "Don't worry, you can Jew them down!" I almost swallowed my tongue. I dealt with plenty of anti-Semetic crap in college -- after all, Matt Hale was getting his psychotic start in downstate Illinois when I was at U of I, and he even aimed some of his vitriol at me since I was the Opinions Editor of the newspaper. But this really shocked me! What a dated, awful turn of phrase -- used in a mixed but strongly Jewish area! (Anyone who knows Chicago's North Shore knows that it's a huge home to many, many Jewish families.) Even though I was late getting out of Northbrook, I turned my cart around and complained gently to a Customer Service person, saying simply that the man had said this phrase and I found it offensive. She apologized -- seemed pretty shocked, too -- and said she was calling the floor manager right away. I didn't stick around for a public flogging, and wasn't asked for my info. In fact, the freaky liberal side of me almost felt bad for possibly getting someone into trouble. I'm sure this guy isn't some neo-Nazi masquerading as a semi-retired Costco worker; just someone who isn't aware of political correctness and it's conventions (no matter how irritating the principle of PC is). But, ick. And, frankly, the entrance smelled like B.O. So I think, since I'm moving away from my beloved Clybourn Costco, I'll use the Niles location instead of Glenview. It will be my own, subtle and probably extremely ineffective form of protest. |
posted by: Lizmommy2 (reply)
post date: 06.14.05 (6:12 pm)
You know, that is one of my peeves! You know he didn't think anything of it either. I think you did the right thing by complaining. I know you might of felt a little bad by getting him into trouble, but he shouldn't have said it. The was they store sounded by your description, I think I too would choose another store on my next trip.
posted by: themarina (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (8:23 am)
I'm glad you said something. It's just not an appropriate thing to say and sometimes, unless you're told, you don't even realize that it was done. Regardless, it's still a bit shocking.
posted by: trekguy (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (8:58 am)
Good for you! I'd have been extreamly offened if I had happend to have been there myself.
posted by: chicalookate (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (9:12 am)
I am glad you said something. Up here (in MI) there are usually comments about "nigger" or "fag" something or other. Occassionally there are jewish references, but Ann Arbor has a pretty activve Jewish community which tends to keep those comments few and far between. I always feel compelled to say something.
In some ways I think those sort of remarks are worse than the ones full of hate. If that makes any sense at all.
posted by: almsthvn (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (9:23 am)
I find myself thinking things like "going Dutch" or "trying to Welsh out of it"... and it bugs me that they come into my head even though they don't leave my mouth.
posted by: altricial (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (9:45 am)
Reply to: almsthvn
Now see!!! Those two I wouldn't have even thought of as racist/bigoted, if you hadn't brought it up. Dang....
posted by: ohboohoo (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (11:40 am)
You know, that one is pretty obvious. But I swear, If I ever say to you that I was gypped, you have to look the other way, because in my great ignorance I had no IDEA it was derogatory (in reference to gypsies, aka Jews)...Did any of you? I am so stupid. I am a bull in a china shop dear.
posted by: JT (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (6:46 pm)
Reply to: ohboohoo
No... you're my only link from the Pit of Despair to the outside world. And you're no dummy!
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (6:47 pm)
Reply to: Lizmommy2
I'm glad to hear someone else agrees with me -- I know I get dramatic sometimes and overreact...
posted by: JT (reply)
post date: 06.15.05 (6:47 pm)
Shit, that was me...
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