So racial abus6is character-buikding and therefore acceptable?
Don't remember saying anything about racial abuse.
Apart from some blokes in a Securicor depot in Kent calling one of their mates 'Chico Mendez' for growing a Mexican style moustache.
I suppose that might be seen as racist. But then again, you can't have it both ways. It's not possible for a white man to be 'racist' towards a Hispanic/Mexican because they are also classed as 'White' - just look at the FBI statistics!
I'm not being flippant here. Latinos/Latinas are classified as Caucasian in all those reports. And good luck with trying to tell a Mexican he looks 'Black' - then you will come to know real 'racism'.
Besides, our chap there in the deepest darkest depot in Kent, was in fact 'White'. So I still don't see how it could be 'racist'. I guess you can always find a way if you look hard enough.
Racial abuse is wrong. There's a time and a place for it. For banter I mean. But 'abuse' as such is wrong. That's why it's called abuse. But many people get abused every day, causing them great trauma, but it never gets as far as someone taking responsibility for it. Usually, the abuser will be someone in a position of true power, who knows the person they abuse can not kick back. I just got abused by my bank - the TSB. Left me on the verge of suicide after being suicidal for many years. Sought out greater advice, got it, yes, you have been abused, these people must pay for what they have done to you. Could I get someone to take it on? Can I afford physicallly, mentally, financially to take it on? No. Time to move on.
Abuse comes in many forms. We all know when it's unsavoury.
I was working the skip one day in St.John'sWood. By where all the Jar Head yanks had a base. Didn't like me and my long hair. Happened to have a black girlfriend at the time. No one at work knew. Didn't hide it. Didn't broadcast it.
Cockney lad kicks off about a blonde blue eyed bird that gets walked home every day by her black boyfriend. Or 'n***er' boyfriend as he called him. My blood rose. "So what about me going home to my 'n***er' girlfriend?". Fight.
I choose my battles well. But that was a good one. Bit of fisticuffs till I got sacked the next day. No biggie.
So I don't tend to like people who have hate in their heart. But I'm more than happy to crack up laughing when my black and half-black mates go on about '******* Niggers this', '******* Niggers that'. Taking the piss out of racists. Some who happened to be our good friends, believe it or not. They even mimicked a Cockney accent perfectly. Banter? Who knows? I think it went beyond that to some other place of higher metaphysical comedy, that I still can't explain to this day. A white racist, in full view, in a room full of black people, using the 'N' word? And them all cracking up in hysterics. I think context and intent is the trick here.
Some people are ignorant, and some people are malicious. And most people can tell the difference.
I know that some people see me as a racist for using the 'N' word. But it's ingrained in to me. I grew up around black people and used that word around them.
But I also see those that call me a race-traitor for having a black girlfriend, and not tolerating their use of the 'N' word when it is used maliciously.
I ******* despise racists. And their pitiful black hearts. But I also understand why it's probably not a good idea to flood a country with a totally different demographic that will not integrate. Many people like to conflate the two. I make the distinction.
I want to be able to go back in to my group of black friends and interact with them with a clean conscience. But I've known a few black racists too, btw - maybe for another day that one.
To answer your question: No racial abuse is never acceptable and it's never character building. When it's true racial abuse.
I read the other day in the news they are banning people from wearing Sombreros to fancy dress partys now. "Chico Mendez" probably isn't happy.
Whatever next? Stopping people from eating Leeks because it's just taking the piss out of the Welsh?
We aren't special little snowflakes. We can take it. Don't pretend to speak for me.
There probably is a fine line between banter and harassment. But most decent people know where that line is drawn.