it's not just fandom, you guys

[flea]

The past 24 hours on my neighborhood list-serv have gone like this:

(Note: I don't actually know any of the people; some are regular posters and others are not. I am paraphrasing except when exact quotes appear, and leaving out a lot of chatter. The neighborhood is very racially and economically diverse (on a block-by-block basis), but the listserv seems much less so.)

Crime Victim: My house was broken into this morning via an AC unit, for the 3rd time in a year. Neighbors saw a black man in a parka. "I hate to say it this way, but if you see any minorities on or around [address], please call the police immediately."

Calm Person: "Generally, when you find yourself typing the words, 'I hate to say it this way...' this is a sign that you should stop typing."

Black Man: So, you're saying that I should not walk down your block or you'll call the police on me?

Sarcastic Woman (who is married to a black man, maybe or maybe not the above Black Man): Hey, white people! Go rob [address]! Nobody will call the cops on you!

Crime Victim: I am sorry people were offended, but I am not a racist. How do you even know I am white?

John Birch Society Dude: Black Man is such a bully!

Random New Person: I don't like Sarcastic Woman's tone!

Two Neighbors of Crime Victim: Crime Victim is not a racist. He is a nice man and you are being mean to him. He apologized!

Me: Headdesk.

Comments

[serrana.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought, what, of the several hundred people who must have Known You When, you didn't think any of them would notice when you were profiled in a major national newspaper? Really?

I do feel sorry for her kid, though.