So I live in a part of town with quite a large number of ethnicities well represented, including a strong Afro-Caribbean element. My house is next door to a "Caribbean" hairdressers where black looking people often party outside of of an evening. Lockdown easing has occurred here on Monday last and people have been partying. On Tuesday I heard a very loud "BANG BANG!" on my front window - I thought somebody was trying to break it and it made me jump like billio, so I went to the front window to see what the fuck was going on in a state of some agitation. 

After pushing the curtain aside I saw that there was a push bike leaning against my window with the handlebars in direct contact with the glass. There was a black looking fellow chatting to somebody who, it seemed to me, had just arrived on the bike, as it was directly behind him. I loudly said "what the fuck bruv, don't be banging on my window?!" and he, wide eyed, made gestures of sincere apology, which I accepted as being a sincere apology and admittance of wrong doing, so nodded my head in acknowledgement and made the peace sign (2 fingers raised) and left the window, to carry on my evening.  

Approximately two hours later I hear people outside my window, both male and female, shouting about how I'd picked on the rider for being black and that I am a racist and, in particular, that I should "come out and fight" which is, by my mind, criminal and a hate crime albeit one with no real consequences perhaps other than making me feel I may be on the receiving end of a kicking before long. I did not reply to the taunts, left the front room and (tried to) go to bed. I did the right thing there, no doubt, although a part of me was sincerely tempted to go out and defend my self fervently I thought better of exacerbating such a confrontation largely as my temper was....perilous? Something like that.

The next day there's a clatter coming from the back garden and I find that next door have thrown a large refuse plank of wood into MY garden. Unprecedented disrespect.

My crime? Being white. Their crime? Buying into the proliferated lie that racism is "everywhere" and predominantly manifested by white men against black men. And also being violent/uncivilised. 

There have been no more words through the window from next door about this so maybe nothing more will come of it, and wow of course I hope for that. I refuse to talk to the staff next door about this as it's so ugly, offensive, stupid, acrimonious and potentially dangerous that I refuse to engage with it in person, if at all possible.

Analogies about the lack of evidence for racism in the killing of George Floyd seem...pertinent? BLACK LIVES MATTER - RARARA! Well guess what, the vast majority of people aren't racist and MY life matters too.

Anyway, joy. I just love walking out of my front door these days, as you might imagine. Stress.

Teach them a lesson.

Yup.

Boru

Edit: got ninja’d. My reply was for the Lawz’ assessment of the situation, not Eleven’s reply.

I'm half tempted to call the popo about it TBH Boru....yet, fuel on the fire = bad? It's a tough call...

(April 17, 2021 at 7:48 am)Lawz Wrote: I'm half tempted to call the popo about it TBH Boru....yet, fuel on the fire = bad? It's a tough call...

Calling the peelers is a much better option than your first instinct. At least make them aware of the situation. Personally, my reaction would be to go next door and start breaking people, consequences be damned.

Don’t be me.

Boru

(April 17, 2021 at 7:44 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Edit: got ninja’d. My reply was for the Lawz’ assessment of the situation, not Eleven’s reply.

But I give best advice.

(April 17, 2021 at 7:52 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(April 17, 2021 at 7:48 am)Lawz Wrote: I'm half tempted to call the popo about it TBH Boru....yet, fuel on the fire = bad? It's a tough call...

Calling the peelers is a much better option than your first instinct. At least make them aware of the situation. Personally, my reaction would be to go next door and start breaking people, consequences be damned.

Don’t be me.

Boru

I'ma hope everybody involved has seen the light and that nothing more will come of it, I think. Getting events down in writing and sharing it here feels very therapeutic to me, so thanks to AF. 

After the last time I filled somebody in Boru, and the lengthy (and lenient) punishment I received from the law, the salient lines I remember from conversations with my probation officer were my saying: "It's a brick wall - you just can't go around beating people up." Fortunately for me that line prevails for now in my mind. Holy cow I've been angry about it all on and off over the last few days however - believe.

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(April 17, 2021 at 7:41 am)Eleven Wrote: Teach them a lesson.

They've been excluded from school.

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I wrote "Getting events down in writing and sharing it here feels very therapeutic"

Having said that...

I’ve dealt with some kids like that in my job at the candy store (which I’m currently on a Cough That Won’t Fucking Die-related sabbatical from.) Admittedly, in my case, I explained exactly what the problem was in no uncertain terms, and some of my other coworkers were willing to “lay down the law” in ways I wasn’t, and I think the dynamics of the situation (both age-related and work-related) might have kept it from escalating.

The best solution would probably be to let the cops know what’s going on. Unless this feud gets to Straw Dogs levels, or they start actually trying to beat you up and there’s no other options, then and only then should you beat them up.

(April 17, 2021 at 12:00 pm)Rev. Rye Wrote: I’ve dealt with some kids like that in my job at the candy store (which I’m currently on a Cough That Won’t Fucking Die-related sabbatical from.) Admittedly, in my case, I explained exactly what the problem was in no uncertain terms, and some of my other coworkers were willing to “lay down the law” in ways I wasn’t, and I think the dynamics of the situation (both age-related and work-related) might have kept it from escalating.

The best solution would probably be to let the cops know what’s going on. Unless this feud gets to Straw Dogs levels, or they start actually trying to beat you up and there’s no other options, then and only then should you beat them up.

I’ve always reacted badly to public rudeness. Except for the time a woman cut the grocery line in front of me with her box of tampons, bottle of wine, and quart of Ben and Jerry’s. In the interest of self-preservation, I let that one pass.

Boru

(April 17, 2021 at 12:22 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(April 17, 2021 at 12:00 pm)Rev. Rye Wrote: I’ve dealt with some kids like that in my job at the candy store (which I’m currently on a Cough That Won’t Fucking Die-related sabbatical from.) Admittedly, in my case, I explained exactly what the problem was in no uncertain terms, and some of my other coworkers were willing to “lay down the law” in ways I wasn’t, and I think the dynamics of the situation (both age-related and work-related) might have kept it from escalating.

The best solution would probably be to let the cops know what’s going on. Unless this feud gets to Straw Dogs levels, or they start actually trying to beat you up and there’s no other options, then and only then should you beat them up.

I’ve always reacted badly to public rudeness. Except for the time a woman cut the grocery line in front of me with her box of tampons, bottle of wine, and quart of Ben and Jerry’s. In the interest of self-preservation, I let that one pass.

Boru

Wise decision on your part.