I have a stereotype, white people don't know what it's like to be in Moball's position so how do they know what overreacting to the situation is? I'm not saying she was being mean, but it's not like there was a truck in the driveway with "Moball's Carpentry" painted on the side. Also, Moball's, you should have said "I don't do this for a living" instead of what you said.
a) i'm not white (not that you were replying to me, just saying that everyone replying saying it's an overreaction isn't white) b) why can't white people know? a person was working on a door. a person asked him if he works on the door for a living or if he lives there. said person did NOT assume he worked on it for a living...she asked the question.
I disagree with everyone; you should be offended. If you were a contractor, you'd be in pants and shoes, regardless of the weather. Did you have a van or truck in the driveway that could possibly be a work truck? Do you have all your tools and whatnot there in the garage for her to see? It doesn't seem to me like the lady considered anything about the tableau other than the work you were doing and your color. But, I think it happens to everyone eventually. You've probably insulted people unwittingly with false assumptions. My worst one was a tried to give money to a panhandler in a wheelchair waiting outside a store -- except he wasn't a panhandler. That was a decade ago, and I still feel bad.
I don't know if the best way to retort an ignorant racist comment is to snap back with another ignorant racist comment. That makes you just as wrong as him. Yes and Yes. Back in high school, getting accused of being in a gang because i was wearing a white t-shirt. Getting searched by police at a gift shop because some old hag thought i was stealing a key chain. DWB's etc, etc,
I get stereotyped all the time. I'm an hispanic and I dont know a lick of spanish and lot of latin folk talk to me in spanish, assuming I know it. Given the fact I know I look hispanic, I dont exactly think I deserve it, since I'm one of those light skinned types with green eyes.
My wife and her brothers are black-chinese mix, and people often think they are hispanic. They'll occassionally be reproached for not knowing "the mother-tongue."
That's ridiculous. Before you go talk to someone you should evaluate everything completely...check for what tools are in the garage?? She just asked a quick question given her initial evaluation of the scene.
MoBalls- I think you may be reading too much into it. I'm Hispanic as well and call racism when I see it, but i think this is just because you were out doing it. I mean work like that isn't as common as maybe cutting your grass. If you were doing that and she asked if you did landscaping, then I could see it. Thats only because she probably would have passed other people doing their yards and left them be. I can see how you can grow to expect those thoughts from people, but I think this was just a neighbor trying to jump on an opportunity.
When I'm around in town, people talk to me in Vietnamese. Don't those fools know I'm Chinese and not Vietnamese? Those ignorant bunches of twats. When I'm in China, people speak to me in Chinese. THe nerve....don't those morons know I'm from America and I don't know Chinese? Friggin idiots!!
No truck or van. Just my car. All of my tools where in my garage and not visible. Yeah, I though about my attire too. I was at home and thats what I wear....tees, cargos and sandals (or tennis). Most contractors wear work boots or pants and tees.
Especially considering the shortage of available handymen due to Hurricane Ike, there's nothing wrong with asking someone who is in the act of doing home repair if they would do home repair for them.
