General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGraphic about stopping Islamophobic harassment
(sent to me by a friend. please spread around).
Leith
(7,809 posts)When there is a situation involving a deranged asshole harassing a young woman like that, calm and rational discourse is not always the way to go. Monsters like that don't understand anything but overwhelming force.
Warpy
(111,267 posts)You do not engage the ranting dirtbag. You don't even make eye contact. You concentrate on the person being attacked.
Leith
(7,809 posts)describing what you do when the harasser starts yelling at you or even indulges in violence.
I ask because it has happened. My response was to bring out the mace I had secreted in my pocket before attempting to create a safe bubble of air around the one being attacked.
My point is that a person who is capable of attacking a stranger like that is not rational to begin with. Rational behavior will not be effective.
Warpy
(111,267 posts)on gentle intervention. Trumpsters who are wound really tight won't respond really well to this, but perhaps other people who see what is happening will join you in creating safe space.
DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)While the graphic is informative, that image is wrong and drawn from a westerner's viewpoint. Embrace/touch only if invited to. If you are male, you DEFINITELY do not touch unless expressly invited to. Never assume that because you strike up a conversation with a person, that gives you the right to enter not just their personal space (unavoidable on a subway or bus bench for instance) but their intimate space as well (physical contact in this context, not sexual).
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)n/t.
DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)One in particular, a woman, I tried to make feel welcome and safe. She was an avid swimmer, and given her "need" to wear a full-body covering (but not the face) at all times, I wrote up special pool signs making clear to staff and other members that "burkinis" were allowed swim attire because she was getting static for it and I was not OK with that.
*Like most conservative religious followings, her "need" to wear a full-body covering is simply because as a woman she isn't a full Human, just property of whatever man she belonged to. I had many great conversations with her as she grew comfortable with me and there was mutual respect there despite disagreement in worldviews. I hated that she chose to make herself lesser and subservient to men (She was a convert to conservative Islam! smh) but I made sure that at least in my pool, she and her burkini were always welcome and safe.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Could definitely see this behavior increasing the likelihood of violence, especially if the attacker has a knife (as was the case in Portland) and/or is mentally unstable (as was also the case in Portland).
Also do not think it is appropriate to put hands on someone's shoulders in the manner indicated in number four. This particular graphic shows a female as the witness, but if the person wishing to stop the harassment is male (again, as was the case in Portland) - putting hands on the woman's shoulders is probably inappropriate and potentially even offensive.
MichMary
(1,714 posts)Random conversation with a stranger could be seen as condescending. And "escorting them to a safe space" sounds a little like stalking.
Mosby
(16,317 posts)How about racist harassment?
I guess we need some different infographics.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)I believe the graphic centers harassment of Muslims because that is the one of the most prevalent forms of harassment in this country at the moment.
EllieBC
(3,016 posts)The victims of religious based hate were largely Jewish. https://ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2015/topic-pages/victims_final
But you know, we can just go have a seat and wait our turn for someone to care but make sure we come out for every cause while apologizing for our existence and and hoping you'll forgive us because every Jew is responsible for Middle East conflicts.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Antisemitic attacks are indefensible and it's wrong to collectively blame Jews for the Israel/Palestine situation(it's especially wrong to put such blame on the growing number of those in the Diaspora who are speaking out against Netanyahu and all that he does, but it shouldn't be done to anyone else in that community as well)
It's not as though we have to pretend that Islamophobic harassment isn't a problem to do that, though.
sarisataka
(18,656 posts)that the harasser will act exactly as expected. I would not depend on rational actions from an irrational person.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)I was just forwarded this last night.
Perhaps it could be modified.
sarisataka
(18,656 posts)IME simply becoming involved has been enough. I have never said more words than "Go away" to a person who was harassing another. I am not an especially imposing person so I know it isn't intimidation. Most such folks are bullies and will back down at the first challenge.
Maybe some day I will encounter someone who won't back down easily but doing nothing is not an option.
romanic
(2,841 posts)The only way to shut down Islamophobia is for Muslim Americans to condemn and fight against extremists in thier religion.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)You can't hold all Muslims collectively responsible for the actions of the worst of the worst.
That's exactly what is done to responsible gun owners.
madinmaryland
(64,933 posts)B2G
(9,766 posts)And I'll bet you hate it.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Gun owners aren't being harassed in the streets, or menaced on public transportation.
And nobody's been beaten or killed for looking like a gun owner.