Do caucasian people ever get offended by racist comments?

Question

I don't go around making racist comments at all, but I was just interested in this question.

Answer 1

You might make racist comments and not realized it. Have you ever gotten ripped off and said "Wow -- that guy totally gypped me".  Racist comment if there are any Romanians listening.  It refers to the gypsies, who have long had a reputation for being thieves.  I'm Romanian, but I don't get offended when someone says that -- I know that many people don't know the origin of the word.

I also try to not be easily offended.  I am never offended if someone says something that they do not realize could be taken the wrong way.  As far as I see it, it all matters on what the intent of the speaker was.  For example, I do not take offence if the 'n' word is used in a general way -- but I would feel very differently if the word was used in a malicious or hurtful manner.  That could be said about any word.  The word "honey" can be quite nice most of the time.  But if it being said by a male chauvinist while speaking to a woman, and is said in a tone that is dripping with sarcasm the word has a totally different meaning.  Tone is everything.

I have recently been offended by someone calling me a racial slur, and I am Caucasian.  The comment was made in a very rude and maliscious manner.  If he had used the same words in a differnet sentence, I would not feel the same way.

I am Canadian -- the slang for which is "Canuck".  We Canadians call each other Canucks all the time -- it's no big deal.  But when someone addresses me as "a typical f#$ing Canuck" followed by some more curse words then even I (who tries to be as understanding and open-minded as possible) will be offended. To me, it's not much different than black people using the 'n' word among themselves while laughing, but becoming offended when the white guy says it.  

If it were up to me, I would type the proper word because I am not using it in a maliscious manner. Words only hold the power that we give to them. However, this is a public board and I do not wish to offend someone else.

Answer 2

No, because I'm not as Caucasian as I look.

I do drive my daughter crazy tho because I'm always questioning how some rappers and actors can be considered as "black" while their skin is lighter than mine.

It can't be the nose, because Haley Berry's nose is more Caucasian than mine.  It can't be the hair, because Beyonce's hair is way more lustrous than mine.  

What really does define race?   It's getting complicated...

Answer 3

yeah, i was getting on a bus recently and the bus driver made a racist comment, there wasn't anyone on the bus that the comment was directed at but i was offended enough to report the driver to the company.

if people think it is ok to make racist comments to other white people without being pulled up on it then that's the same as me agreeing with them. which i don't.

Answer 4

While I try never to be "easily" offended, there are times when I am offended by racist comments directed towards Caucasians, especially when they are not true.

The one I dislike, and am offended by the most, is that "all whites are racist."  This simply is not true, and I DO resent being ... oh shall I even use the term... "whitewashed" with such a broad untruthful brush.

Have a polite day.