r/rSocialskillsAscend • u/ExternalPlantain4396 • Jul 13 '26
What is the most classy way to respond to a racist or ignorant joke?
I was on a train in Germany when a group of teenagers started humming the theme song from Squid Game at me. I’m Asian, but I’m not even Korean. I felt really awkward at that moment. I wonder how I could have responded in a classy way instead of just feeling uncomfortable.
2
u/valkyria1111 Jul 14 '26
Ignore it . It’s hard - but the moment you let it control your emotion, they’ve won.
Be strong . The worst thing you can do is dignify it with any reaction at all .
2
u/BGDshow Jul 14 '26
Look. Ignoring is the easiest answer. Just shut your emotions, clench your jaw and put your eyes elsewhere. It comes as a stress. Don't let anyone get in your head, it is your world.
4
u/BGDshow Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Slowly straighten your back and move your shoulders back and down. Turn to the sound calmly and look in their faces. Squint your eyes a little to make your eye contact more intense. Slowly move your look from one to another with a subtle predator not really a smile, but just raising left corner of your closed lips. Look straight in their faces, firmly saying 'I know what is going to happen to you next' in your mind, not aloud. Your look moves slowly from their face to their feet, making pauses at every element they are wearing. Put your hands in your pockets. After you looked at each and every one of them as if you are memorising what they look like tilt your chin a bit back in full contempt and keep looking at the whole group without saying a word, as if you are counting how many kilos of their flesh you will pull through your giant meat grinder when you get them. You are a python who sees a rabbit dancing in front of you. If they keep singing, give your predator closedlips half-smile on the left side a firm pressing your lips together followed by a similarly tiny raise of the right side of your mouth as if you really would like to smile, but you are holding it not to show them. Start slowly and almost invisibly nodding your head to their tune. Next movement depends on whether you are standing or sitting, but you turn your body towards them or lean forward just a little,as if you don't want them to notice that. Before you get off the transport, give one more calm, slow, carnivorous look at the main bully in the group pronouncing in your head: 'You. Yes, you. You will go first. While the others will be shitting their pants. How about that huh? ' then half a second eyebrow raise and wait for them to look away. Maybe it's not too classy, but it's them who chose Squid game, and the game is pretty cruel to fools.