Thread by @viewthrudifeyes

A thread on ignorance, bigotry and racism which I feel I need to share. Please bear with me on this one..

I was just at the hairdressers and where I overheard a woman explaining to one of the staff that she was selling her house and she proceeded to describe potential buyers...

She started to talk about a particular couple, describing them as "you know, those western Asians, not the religious type like those who wear the funny clothes." She went on to explain that she was "surprised they liked dogs because Asians don't like dogs, do they?!" 2/...

You're as dumbstruck now as I was. Her stupity did not stop there... She continued to say that she really liked them because "they seemed like the type who would integrate into the community and not just stick to their own." 3/...

I was fuming at this point but couldn't leave my chair as my hairdresser was mid cut. Her swan song came when the couple had said they liked the house but the kitchen was too small. 4/....

She said "I told Ken (her husband I presume) that they loved the house but I knew the kitchen would go against us as you know those lot, they need big kitchens to make batch loads of curry." I looked around & saw that all the staff had their heads down. 5/....

I couldn't contain my fury any longer so I clearly told her that I could not tolerate her words any longer & that she was polluting the air. I explained that it was my duty to educate her, which I did, leaving her under no allusion as to why her behaviour was wrong . 6/...

My worry in this is that we live in echo chambers. I could not believe that people genuinely believed such claptrap and people feel it is ok to share such bigoted views in public because it wouldn't ever enter into my thinking.

But clearly some believe this ignorance. 7/...

We have a duty to call this type of hatred out.

I dont know whether I have changed this woman's views but she knows now that it's not ok to spew ignorance and prejudice in public. 8/...

Furthermore, it proves the importance of education. Some students will be hearing these attitudes in their homes and we mustn't overlook that.

We have to do everything in our power to nurture a tolerant and inclusive society which challenges ignorance and hate.