that being said do you feel it is your job to step inbetween two people whom you do not know.
Well it depends. For example and I'll use the NBA basketball player Russell Westbrook as an example. If I was in the same arena watching Russell Westbrook play and I encountered the alleged exchange between a heckler and him (Westbrook) and I heard the alleged remark of "get on your knees like you used to," I may interject and say something (see the incident I'm referring to here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...mmunity/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.be4ba6110627). But it also depends as well. If someone says something blatantly racist I will most likely say something, but if the comment is vague and most likely the result of some sort of common heckling I'll stay in my lane.
A) their relationship with each other, and B) how deep that friendship might be, to step between them and tell them how they should be speaking to each other?
To answer this I'll use another scenario.Suppose a black guy and a white guy are at a restaurant and both having a good time and the white guy starts making racial jokes. Depending on how loud the joke is and the context of the joke I'll remain quiet. But if it gets out of hand I would kindly remind them to tone it down and that their joking is inappropriate given the setting. As I told another person here, just because you may have that one minority friend or even several friends that are okay with it, it does not mean everyone will be okay with it. I believe the best teacher of someone who isn't cognizant of their behavior is one who addresses the issue and makes it known to the person or persons. Remaining silent can also mean you condone the behavior.
Do you intervene on the "streets" as it were.
I have before. Again, I'm not some tough guy badgering people and threatening them with physical violence because after all I have a license and I like my freedom and my job. I also believe that people best learn by not being pelted physically. There is a way to do things.
Like when you overhear some conversation and you hear something offensive you just have to try to talk some sense into them??
Depends on the environment but in most instances I'll kindly ask people to tone it down and be mindful of their surroundings. Ironically when there are a lot of blacks present nine times out of ten inappropriate jokes aren't about black people, it is usually about other ethnic groups. the way I look at it regardless whether if the joke that appears offensive to me is about black people or not, in a public setting if the joke is distasteful and inappropriate and loud enough and there is no other person interjecting I'll kindly remind the company. I think most people in my mother and grand-father's generation have done that to people who were "loud and obnoxious" cause you know, the whole "it takes a village" thing.
What about as you said, self deprecating humor/?
Again, as I said it depends on context and how loud it is. I'm not going to trip on someone if they're making a humorous joke about grape soda or grape kool-aid or friend chicken in reference to black stereotypes. But if the likes of words like "chinkette" just flip it to reference black people or any other ethnic group that is loud, disruptive and distasteful then yes I'll say something. I don't care if the other party that is joking along is a minority the fact is everyone isn't cool with that kind of humor.
But I think one has too much temerity to step in on everyone else';s conversation and try to dictate how they should be speaking to each other.
If it's inappropriate yes I will step in regard;less if the party is joking with each other. this is how fights start and to prevent someone from getting their a*** kicked, a guy like me that just gives them a friendly reminder ought to be good enough. If you've ever been to a sporting event these things happen especially when alcohol is involved. I would hope a white person would intervene if two white guys were making inappropriate jokes about black people especially if the jokes were blatantly racist.
Especially when you don't know the level of A & B with the people.
Again, if the conversation is loud enough and if me and my company are aware of it and it continues and it is distasteful then yes I'll intervene. If I can't hear the conversation and I'm unaware then they can have at it.
