A White Boy’s Observations of Sexism and the Adria Richards Fiasco

I spent two years as an LDS missionary in the Caribbean islands. Influence by slavery and indentured servitude, the most common races down there were African and Indian descent. White people were a rarity (so much so that it was common to hear people a block away yell out "White boy!" many times a day). Despite this, more than a few people would say things like "You're white. Things are easy for you." I thought this was crazy, since I was definitely a minority in the area, but now that I'm older, I see what they meant.

> There's an expression that I've heard multiple times in the northeast US, to talk about bartering a price for a car: "jewing the salesman down". I absolutely find that extremely offensive. And I've called people out on it. There is no response that's actually acceptable.

> If I politely say "You know, that's relying on a stereotype of me and my ancestors that's really hurtful", the response is: "Oh, come on, it's just harmless. I'm not talking about you, it's just a word. You're being oversensitive". If I get angry, the response is "You Jews are so strident". If I go to an authority figure in the setting, "You Jews are so passive aggressive, why couldn't you just talk to me?".

> No matter what I do, I'm wrong.

Did this guy consider that he might actually be wrong? Why would it be acceptable for him to restrict other people’s speech just because it makes him feel uncomfortable?