need to get something off my chest.

[Ollie Garkie]

I am not sure if here or GD would be the better place, but here goes.
I am a cis hetero white guy in his early 40s, I live in a medium sized
metro area, grew up in the suburban part but now live in the city.
Here's the thing: I. LOOK. CONSERVATIVE. AND. I. CANNOT DO. OTHERWISE.
Good job, nice clothes, nice hair, can't pull off any other look. Tattoos and a big
neckbeard just wouldn't work on me. But, I do love booze and weed, which people
are always shocked to find out. Conservative white people always think I'm one of
them, and say all kinds of awful shit, sometimes followed by " you know, right?" or
some presumptive shit like that, then they shit a brick when I calmly and logically
tell them why they are full of shit. I could go on and on, can anyone relate, or even
know what I'm talking about?

[NNadir]

1. I can definitely relate. Sometimes I suspect that my kind, old fat white bald guys are...

...genetically inferior, since so many of us utter stupid shit.

I feel better, however, about old white guys since one of us restored the US Presidency to human beings.

[blm]

4. Heheh

[elleng]

2. I can't relate, no such experience, even tho might be considered that I

'look conservative' too (even tho I'm an attorney, female, now retired.)

SOMEONE here recently had a good take on things to say, and it did NOT include telling anyone they are 'full of shit,' more like suggesting 'I don't understand,' or somesuch.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. What does a conservative look like?

I've only been able to ascertain a person's political worldview when they talk.

[Ollie Garkie]

5. Good point,

You can only know for sure when someone starts talking, but my point was
that a lot of these people nevertheless assume I guess because
of demographics that I'm one of them.

[OAITW r.2.0]

6. Old white guy here that might be mistaken for a conservative....

until I voice my opinions. Then there is no fucking doubt on where I stand.

[Karadeniz]

13. Very often, I can tell by a man's Republican hair! There's a certain look...

[OAITW r.2.0]

14. The way they part their hair? Left vs. Right?

Just kidding.

[NBachers]

19. I just cut my hair with my FlowBee, and was accused of having a Mike Pence haircut.

I enjoy a good joke on myself.

[LuvNewcastle]

7. I think they're probably doing it because you're a white male.

I don't think I look conservative but people say all sorts of shit to me, too.

[mr_lebowski]

8. I'm not sure of what the problem you want us to help you solve is?

None of this sounds all THAT bad.

First World Problems, if you will.



People saying stupid shit to me makes me feel superior, honestly ...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. My take is that you should appreciate

being able to fly under the radar.

Many of us are judged by what we look like, which often does not match up with who we are. Enjoy your anonymity, so to speak.

[Ollie Garkie]

31. Under the radar,well yeah

But at the same time I resent the shit out of it.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

10. Yes, I can relate.

Last edited Sat Feb 6, 2021, 03:49 AM - Edit history (1)

My appearance and attire is usually "clean cut" too, but mostly to "blend in" with the background as much as possible.

I even had a very liberal sociology professor who obviously assumed before she got to know me, many years ago, that I was a "young Republican" or whatever. She was the type of person who still dressed in "hippie clothes" and such, not that I cared how she dressed. I'm just not the type of person who would suddenly wear a neck-band if I smoked marijuana, or any number of things that people do to announce their particular "tribe" to the world.

It's mostly allowed me to hear some of the dumbest comments imaginable from right-wing coworkers over the years. They will also often assume that I'm "one of them".

Edit:

I suppose that my "look" generally fits in with the typical students in my old math and physics classes. Very bland and boring, and certainly nothing like the false stereotypes shown in "The Big Bang Theory" and other pop culture.

The dumber the person, in general, the more they seem to seek some deeper meaning or messaging to my appearance.

[relayerbob]

11. Oh I absolutely agree and have a similar problem

[Bayard]

12. Just your average middle-aged white chick here

But I understand. We live in very red southern KY, and don't get out too often--now more than ever. But people just assume you are a rethuglican bible thumper. I had one woman go on about how much she admired Sarah Palin. Many just assume you voted for trump. Still a few signs up about how Dems are going to rule in hell.

I don't volunteer anything, just a vague smile and look away. A Democratic atheist would probably be lynched. I have met a few like-minded people, but they are rare.

[cayugafalls]

15. I look like an Ewok...not sure I understand your issue.

People say weird shit to Ewoks too...

Life is strange.

[MyMission]

16. I work part-time in an old Army Navy store

And we also carry some sporting goods and assorted merchandise for the outdoors.

Over the many years I've worked there, I've heard some unbelievable stuff come out of people's mouths, mostly men. Some were questions, to which all answers are no: "do we carry tRump flags? Ammo (we used to sell guns and ammo, stopped 30 years ago), Kevlar? Confederate caps, uniforms? Dixie or Betsy Ross flags.

Aside from the questions, I've had many folks praise Bush and 45, berate Obama and both Clintons, assuming that I believe as they do. I don't look conservative, but don't look like a radical leftie, and the town is republican. I dress casually, neatly, sometimes patriotically in red white and blue, or with a flag motif. I actually met an older Qannon couple 4 years ago, who gave me a card and told me their delusional beliefs. At first I thought they were talking about pedophile right wing types and their conspiracies and imminent arrests!

So I ignore the comments 99 out of 100 times, neither agree not disagree, direct the conversation towards merchandise or disengage to help another customer. But then there's that one time I have to reply, just because I've stayed silent so many times, but I do so respectfully. "I think Obama/Clinton is/was/would be a very good president" "He was elected to a second term" "He was not elected to a second term" "I'm not one of the people who voted for him" "I voted for him and think he's doing a good job"

My boss, who's a Democrat, used to tell me "it's best not to engage with them, to stay silent" which is what I usually do. But I explained that every once in a while I need to let them know that not everyone thinks as they do. He's ok with that. When they complain about wearing masks, I often "confess" I don't really like to wear clothes, but I do so to be considerate of others because it's what we do in polite society. That shuts them up! Lol

But when they start spouting the Christian Jesus crap, I usually tell them I'm Jewish (in case they miss the Jewish star earrings I always wear) and don't share their religious beliefs.
When they wish me Merry Christmas, I usually say "thank you, and Happy Chanukah to you"

The topic of booze and weed rarely comes up, and I always play dumb when it does.
But to you I'll admit wine is fine, but herb is superb!

[bringthePaine]

17. sure thing - undercover work, intentional or not, def counts as a major stressor

[DanieRains]

18. I Wear A Biden / Harris Baseball Cap

No one thinks I am conservative.

Not an idiot, probably, but not a conservative.

Welcome to Seattle.

[NBachers]

20. I have long-term work relationships with some people of conservative beliefs. I'm able to maintain

a good working relationship, based on common ground I can create with them. I'm not opposed to letting them know I come from a different direction from them, and they don't seem to respond badly when I do. But I'm always ready to steer things in a "common ground" direction that steers things in a stealth propaganda direction.

[betsuni]

21. Yes, when I visit my sister in Seattle.

She works in a neighborhood where practically everyone has piercings, tattoos, whatever the current popular clothing and hairstyles are and that makes them hip and cool and "progressive."

I do not. They assume I'm some kind of horrible Republican from the suburbs. Pretty funny. They're the fashion victims falling for trends and advertising and look the same, not me.

[Skittles]

22. I've had people say racist things to me, thinking I will agree

I fucking SLAM them....they never make that mistake again

[Laffy Kat]

23. Yes. I've always looked like a Republican.

People are shocked when they discover how leftist I am. It doesn't bother me, though. I tell them I am merely disguised as a Republican white woman. I'm originally from TN and I still have a slight southern drawl that augments pre-conceived notions

[rainy]

24. What are you trying to say? Progressives and democrats

can’t dress themselves and look and be professional?

“ Here's the thing: I. LOOK. CONSERVATIVE. AND. I. CANNOT DO. OTHERWISE.
Good job, nice clothes, nice hair, can't pull off any other look. Tattoos and a big
neckbeard just wouldn't work on me”

Explain!

[The Figment]

25. Lol,I can relate!

Me...
Shirt hair, gray goatee,glasses, black jeans, blue tee shirt,Dale Earnhardt Daytona Jacket,STP Oil trucker cap.
Folk here think that I'm a Trumper,boy do they go into shock when I tell them to take that type of thinking and "Cram it"

[Chainfire]

26. I live in an area where almost all white people are hard core Republican

I dress like them, I have a vocabulary and accent like them, and I fit in. Being old and white, they make certain assumptions and I get to "share" in the secret language. They certainly say things around me that they wouldn't say in a work environment. I stay under their radar until forced out into the open by over-the-top blatant bullshit. When I call people out on some of the things that they may say I am rewarded with a shocked expression followed by either grumbling or dead silence.

[Mr.Bill]

27. I'm 67 years old, white and almost bald.

I dress casual, but clean. I live in a 60% blue small town in Northern California. And yes, every now and then people will just walk up to me and start talking like we were both at a Trump rally last night. I just tell them I don't like Trump and never voted for him. If they start arguing political stuff, I just say, Look, pal, I spend about ten hours a day on political forums on the internet. You don't want to get into this with me, trust me.

[Kali]

28. I'm a hefty old white broad, people almost never know where I am coming from.

if I'm not completely invisible, then I am just dumb and irrelevant. it is fun to fuck with people's assumptions.

[ooky]

29. I know conservatives and liberals with beards and tatoos and the clean cut look too.

And I know drinkers and weed smokers on both ends too.

It’s all in what spills from their mouths that differentiates.

[Iggo]

30. I'm half white and I look white.

Been there hundreds of times.

[qwlauren35]

32. You're PASSING!!! :-)

I am a very, very light skinned black woman. And some people can't recognize my heritage. As a result, I let people know by weaving it into the conversation as early as possible, even at work, even with clients. So that I don't have to go through what you are going through.

However, because I'm in this strange no-man's land, I can reach and I can teach if I choose to. I used to. Now I'm too tired.

If you're not too tired, please use your heritage and appearance as an opportunity to reach and teach... until you get tired of it. Then, just drop the bomb early in the conversation that you voted for Hillary and think that Kamala will make a great president in 2024. That will stop all of the "you're one of us, right?" shit. I promise.