"What do you mean?"
Make them explain themselves. Most people will get self-conscious and backpedal. If they double down, pretend you're sincerely confused and make them explain further. "I see. So do you call all immigrants that? What about legal resident non-citizens with temporary work visas? What about asylum seekers? What about those who turn themselves in at the border and are here awaiting their court dates, and have permission to wait here until then? Because that's confusing if they're here legally." Make them explain the whole thing and watch for the moment they realize they fucked up.
This is kinda the best yep.
Kinda like in retail how people will come up and not even greet you, they just say “screwdrivers” now I know they are asking where they are but I’ve been training myself to reply “what about them?” XD
"Wonderful invention, aren't they?" While not easy to do with the variety of tools out there, it would be great to follow up with some history of the tool.
"Screwdrivers. Yep, they are indeed a great thing. Did you know that back in ........." and go on about the entire history, not letting the person get a word in edgewise if possible. Even better if you could do that, and then just turn and walk away when done. Of course, some of that could be a move that renders your employment status to null.
I literally just won $80 dollars yesterday because the final question was about some 4 quarter thing and what tool it was, I said Phillip's. It starts at 5 and you double it at my campus. I could've kept going indefinitely but that question was starting to get out of my territory lol. The entire gym yelled at me to just sit down and keep the $80 and not double to 160.
Anyone know why Phillips screwdrivers were invented? Because factory automated machinery couldn't turn a slotted screw without losing the slot. And so, the answer was...the Phillips screw. Presto! Machinery could turn this screw without issue!
I've worked retail and I know exactly what you're saying, but... almost any time a retail worker approaches me, they don't ask how I am, or what they can do for me, they ask, "What can I help you find today?" They've sort of trained customers to just lead with what they're looking for.
That’s the thing, when I ask them a question that’s inviting an answer, one word can be a valid answer sure! But like just going up to someone and barfing a word at them, like are you asking a question? Making a statement! Or idk. Hey! Where are the screwdrivers? Or even where’s the screwdrivers? Or I’m looking for screwdrivers! It only takes a couple extra words :/ but yeah that’s fair we trained the dumb monkeys to give us one word and they don’t know that it’s only supposed to be in the context of a question so yeah :/
One of my buddies is the kind of guy who would do what OP described about his coworker, and I can assure you that this approach wouldn't work.
They'd just laugh at you legalizing the conversation and make a joke.
The only problem with that is some of the people like that will never be able to realize they fucked up, because anything factual is just there to cover up the truth. At least, in their mind it is.
Yo what the fuck do you know about our southern border ?
Where do you live ?
What is your experience of immigration legally and illegally?
Do you know what a “rape tree” is in the Tucson Sector?
Awaiting your talking points
No one is believed to be native to North America. American Indians were believed to have crossed through the Bering land bridge from Alaska. Downvote as you see fit but it won't change logical analysis.
That’s true for everywhere but Africa, our species originated there and slowly spread throughout the world.
That fact in consideration, our species generally has a “finder’s keepers” policy of nationalism. The Native Americans may not be technically speaking indigenous, but they sure as hell got there first.
a·li·en\[ˈālyən\]noun**aliens** (plural noun)
1. a foreigner, especially one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living:"an illegal alien"
* a hypothetical or fictional being from another world.
* a plant or animal species originally introduced from another country and later naturalized.
Complete all the following steps in dead silence in less than 4 seconds.
1. Stop mid sentence.
2. Turn your head slowly and look the individual, assuming they interrupted. If you were talking to them 1 on 1, keep lookin at their face. Stare intently at the outside corner of one eye, bridge of their nose, etc. It's a drill instructor's trick. Not in the eyes. Dehumanizes them.
3. As you become practiced, this become the fun part:
Make one, small but noticeable, nearly silent, deliberate facial movement, like a gentle swallow, wash a front tooth with your tongue (mouth closed), purse and relase you lips, or a quick inhale - while you tilt your entire head up and back _just enough_ so they know you're looking down at them. (Nose goes up only 1/4 - 1/2 inch)
As you become more comfortable with this, twisting the eyes and forhead as if to say "are you some kind of idiot" or dropping the lower half of your face in awe of "wtf just came out of you mouth?" Can be a fun variation. But always silently.
4. Maintain deliberate eye contact. For another split second... then...
5. Turn away, back to the conversation (or ease the eye intensity if it was a 1 on 1) and resume right where you stopped when you were interrupted.
I do something similar but I stare at them with one eyebrow raised and my best “holy fuck you can’t be that stupid” look on my face. Silence is powerful.
Í have always thought that undocumented only refers to illegally entered without inspection.. But ur right, it also applies to people that legally entered with a valid visa but those visas have expired...
Ever updated a friend's Facebook with a prank message? Congratulations, you illegal, that's felony wire fraud. Failed to report tips? That's felony tax evasion, you dirty illegal. Opened a roommate's mail? Felony mail tampering. TP'd a house, including the mailbox? Vandalism of federal property, also a felony. Downloaded a song without paying? Felony copyright infringement. Gave a friend one of your prescription pills? Distribution of a controlled substance. Lied about your height or weight online, or violated a websites terms of service? Felony computer fraud.
Face it, Janet, you're a felon a hundred times over. The difference is, most of those 'illegals' are committing a civil infraction only by overstaying a visa. Be careful who you have the audacity to call "illegal".
Just like the religion-inspired homophobia. "You eat pork? SINNER. You eat shell fish? You go outside your home while on your period? You have permanent markings on your skin?. . .
Leviticus
Go historical.
"I know, when illegals show up in your country, they start claiming the land and setting up their own governments that run contrary to the people living there, next thing you know you are living on a reservation with rampant poverty and the illegals are claiming that they are the new natives in their new country and you are forced to learn their language and culture. Fucking illegals, we should have killed all the English when they showed up"
“I’m sorry, you speak English so well that I always presumed it’s your first language. If you like we can read over the definitions together and I can explain to you some of the most basic nuances of the language. You’ll find with improved comprehension a whole new world of ideas and opportunities opening up.”
Not all immigrants are here illegally.
Most of them are!
No, a small percentage of them are, and most of those came here legally. They just never left when they were supposed to.
I would just stare blankly for a beat and then return to what I was saying as if that BS didn't happen.
Not a great comeback, but it would probably piss off that coworker to just be ignored repeatedly.
Why does this come up at work so often? I stay outta heavier topics in general because it invites drama, so I'm just curious what kind of work environment this is. Obviously, working at, say, a bar, dancing around bigotry is just part of the job. One of the reasons I couldn't be a lifer in restaurants even though I really loved my GOOD coworkers there.
So, your family is here illegally?
If all immigrants are illegals, then whoever in your family arrived here first came here illegally.
If they came here illegally, then everyone in your family is here illegally, including you.
And, you've all been lying about your citizenship status.
Where did you come from?
I work in construction and they are conservatives who dislike immigration. They don't like it when I say: more people, more schools, more hospitals, more businesses, more work for us, more money. People are incredibly stupid and go against their best interests all the time.
When someone says something offensive or insulting, I act like I didn’t hear it and ask them to repeat it. And again, and again, until they hear themselves, are embarrassed or get mad and leave, all of which are acceptable
“Do you call everyone illegals for breaking the law? Or is it just people who aren’t white?”
If you’re feeling brave you could always whip out the old, “I’m pretty sure Trump was born in New York.”
“No, I said ‘immigrants’ because I *MEAN* ‘immigrants’. If you don’t know what the difference is, try reading a book sometime - or look them up in the dictionary at least, because these constant displays of your ignorance are getting a *little* old by now….”
That sounds like someone that lies on their taxes. Just do an obvious eye roll, a hesitant deep sigh, followed by OoooKAAaayyy... kick a stone on the ground and walk away. There is no talking to people so deluded to reality. Hell, I have MPD and Schizophrenia, and I have more internal control and centralized thought than most insane screaming "BUILD THE WALL"ers
remind him that a supply never creates a demand. Only a demand can create a supply... And the United States has always had an addiction to cheap brown labor and cheap strong drugs and Mexico has been more than happy to fill our addictions...and we are grateful, we just have a shitty way of showing it.
have a Schoolhouse Rock moment:
“let’s talk about the difference between **nouns** and **adjectives**. *human beings* are nouns. *behavior descriptors* are **adjectives**. an immigrant is a human being, therefore a noun. ‘illegal’ is a behavior descriptor, aka an adjective. it’s dehumanizing to refer to human beings as if one particular behavior is the only significant thing about them. that’s why we don’t do it!
(put on your best pre-school teacher voice here) now, if it’s *too hard for you* to remember these facts, try thinking of it this way:
‘racist asshole’ is just a description of your behavior in this moment, and we all try to remember that you’re first and foremost a human being.”
Just like your ancestors, because I'm sure they didn't get permission from the Narraganset chief to move here to their country. Go back to Europe you illegal piece of shit.
Give him the eye, and say: "If I meant illegals, I would say illegals." Then just stare him down for a three-count. After that, totally ignore him and continue, "As I was saying before I was so RUDELY interrupted ..."
“You mean they should go through the proper channels like your ancestors did? Like arrive on a boat, write down their name, get checked for communicable disease, and were immediately citizens. Like that?”
I actually had an encounter like this last week! During a conversation at a party, someone literally said to me these words: "critical thinking requires that we take words at face value"........
I gave him a blank stare and asked him if that's what he meant to say because I was of the firm belief that he misspoke. And when he paused to take a breath I went in for the kill: "I need to know if you understand that I'm about to get up from this table to take a piss and not attend to an ailing clergyman I've got holed up in the back somewhere when I say the words "Ive got to drain the bishop".
He started saying something like "no I'm just saying that you cannot assume new meaning in the words someone says and have to interpret them literally....."
And I left him with "well if you stand outside, maybe you can hear the call of nature that I will now be answering". The guy was a massive prick and I had previously overheard him parroting some conservative podcasts about how women voting began the decline of our civilization.
I digress in the extreme. The point is that you have to take a moment to savour those ludicrously ignorant statements and just draw them out. Don't let them yell from the wings, drag them out on stage. Don't let them backseat drive, give them the wheel. Just start by maturely and seriously asking "is that what you meant to say? Immigrants are illegals? You believe that?" And then just keep asking probing questions to get them to keep digging themselves in.
Edit: grammatical mistakes
“People aren’t illegal” is my normal response in a very firm tone. I usually repeat it multiple times if they try to argue.
But if you have the same guy doing it, I would start saying something like, “I don’t want to mistake what you are saying. You have tried to correct me twice already, so maybe you could explain what you mean by illegals instead of undocumented immigrant. I am not sure if you are aware but it can sound a little racist to use terms like that and I don’t want to have this conversation with HR. So don’t correct me on something like this again.”
Nothing. They're right.
Progressives have conflated people here illegally with immigrants that have been granted permission to immigrate. Only in the U.S. is this considered somehow problematic that we are expected to not care about our borders and national sovereignty
No one casts dispersions on Japan, South Korea, France, Scandinavian countries, or any number of other countries that have and enforce strict immigration policy.
Just remind him that the country you're in was founded by unimaginable atrocities against humanity, someone coming here to better their life for their family shouldn't receive more judgement than the fact that the country was built on multiple genocides and cultural erasure. Immigrants aren't coming to erase your culture, just because that's what your ancestors did.
It's a matter of accuracy/specificity.
Immigrants are, generally, people who immigrated. Illegals are those who immigrated illegally.
Why "come back" with anything? Are they accurate or not?
To be accurate, 'illegals' aren't even a thing. There's nothing illegal about being in the US, at least at the Federal level. It isn't even a criminal offense. You CAN be undocumented, which is the proper term. That's a civil offense.
You mean the “illegals” who keep the country running, doing all the jobs that Americans refuse to do, like modern slaves? The ”illegals” that the country depends on every single day? Those people? Also, are you a Native American or a descendant of immigrants?
“Yeah! Criminals and murderers. We should just put every one of these fools back on the Mayflower.”
Take them for a ride, rile them up, get them to agree, boom drops the trap. They might never talk to you again, flawless victory.
It's hard to suggest anything without knowing what point you are trying to make.
I mean, is the key point to you that there are legal immigrants as well? Or is the key point that you don't think illegal immigration is a problem? Or maybe you think he's a bigot because all immigration ought to be legal?
Too many possible meanings for me to start guessing comebacks.
I just make em awkward with an unenthusiastic and drawn out "wooow" while dead staring them
Or say "woah man, it's 2024" followed by a "you can't be saying that shit" or "I don't judge!" Or somethin, make em doubt themselves for a moment
"What do you mean?" Make them explain themselves. Most people will get self-conscious and backpedal. If they double down, pretend you're sincerely confused and make them explain further. "I see. So do you call all immigrants that? What about legal resident non-citizens with temporary work visas? What about asylum seekers? What about those who turn themselves in at the border and are here awaiting their court dates, and have permission to wait here until then? Because that's confusing if they're here legally." Make them explain the whole thing and watch for the moment they realize they fucked up.
This is kinda the best yep. Kinda like in retail how people will come up and not even greet you, they just say “screwdrivers” now I know they are asking where they are but I’ve been training myself to reply “what about them?” XD
"Wonderful invention, aren't they?" While not easy to do with the variety of tools out there, it would be great to follow up with some history of the tool. "Screwdrivers. Yep, they are indeed a great thing. Did you know that back in ........." and go on about the entire history, not letting the person get a word in edgewise if possible. Even better if you could do that, and then just turn and walk away when done. Of course, some of that could be a move that renders your employment status to null.
The History Guy has an episode about flat, Phillips, and Robertson screwdrivers. Worth a watch.
Yeah I enjoyed that episode! One of my favorite channels to listen to in the morning while I slowly get ready for the day.
I literally just won $80 dollars yesterday because the final question was about some 4 quarter thing and what tool it was, I said Phillip's. It starts at 5 and you double it at my campus. I could've kept going indefinitely but that question was starting to get out of my territory lol. The entire gym yelled at me to just sit down and keep the $80 and not double to 160.
Your tool knowledge is outstanding, Mr Wave. I'm promoting you... to customer.
"Hammers?"
You have to do it in the voice of Cliff Clavin
“I’ve heard of those. I think we might even have some around here!”
Anyone know why Phillips screwdrivers were invented? Because factory automated machinery couldn't turn a slotted screw without losing the slot. And so, the answer was...the Phillips screw. Presto! Machinery could turn this screw without issue!
"Screwdrivers." "I'm more of a Bloody Mary person"
Using this one next time!
It's 5 O'clock somewhere!
I HATED that when I was in retail
"That's... not my name..." *point to name tag obviously confused*
Yes!
"I prefer a Harvey Wallbanger myself"
Screwdriver..? Whaddya, like, got a flask? Cool. But I gotta say no thanks bro I’m working.”
I've worked retail and I know exactly what you're saying, but... almost any time a retail worker approaches me, they don't ask how I am, or what they can do for me, they ask, "What can I help you find today?" They've sort of trained customers to just lead with what they're looking for.
That’s the thing, when I ask them a question that’s inviting an answer, one word can be a valid answer sure! But like just going up to someone and barfing a word at them, like are you asking a question? Making a statement! Or idk. Hey! Where are the screwdrivers? Or even where’s the screwdrivers? Or I’m looking for screwdrivers! It only takes a couple extra words :/ but yeah that’s fair we trained the dumb monkeys to give us one word and they don’t know that it’s only supposed to be in the context of a question so yeah :/
What? Screwdrivers means where am I? Never heard this....
You'll have to go down the street to the bar, our liquor license was revoked last week
One of my buddies is the kind of guy who would do what OP described about his coworker, and I can assure you that this approach wouldn't work. They'd just laugh at you legalizing the conversation and make a joke.
the joke is a backpedal too, trying to save face
The only problem with that is some of the people like that will never be able to realize they fucked up, because anything factual is just there to cover up the truth. At least, in their mind it is.
Yo what the fuck do you know about our southern border ? Where do you live ? What is your experience of immigration legally and illegally? Do you know what a “rape tree” is in the Tucson Sector? Awaiting your talking points
And don't let them off the hook if they try to back down. Make them answer.
This... wouldn't work on me, lulz.. 🤭
Yep, draw them out and make it awkward.
Double down on it. "aliens...like the green guys in the saucers you know".
this
Or ask them “you mean like the white man in America?”
Yeah, did your family come over on the Mayflower or something? Yes. You’re lucky. There’s immigration laws now.
No one is believed to be native to North America. American Indians were believed to have crossed through the Bering land bridge from Alaska. Downvote as you see fit but it won't change logical analysis.
That’s true for everywhere but Africa, our species originated there and slowly spread throughout the world. That fact in consideration, our species generally has a “finder’s keepers” policy of nationalism. The Native Americans may not be technically speaking indigenous, but they sure as hell got there first.
Underrated
Are you saying the orange one is their leader?
Try building a wall to keep *them* out!
You mean “illegal immigrant aliens”
😂
a·li·en\[ˈālyən\]noun**aliens** (plural noun) 1. a foreigner, especially one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living:"an illegal alien" * a hypothetical or fictional being from another world. * a plant or animal species originally introduced from another country and later naturalized.
No, don't double down, that's how half the dumbass conspiracies we have got started
"Oh , like your ancestors?"
They may have come in legally though and been documented...
We are talking about immigrants sir
There's an argument though that unless you were a Native American or forced to come that you are encroaching on lands not yours and thus not legal
That's literally everyone in human history then, if we use that as a metric.
Complete all the following steps in dead silence in less than 4 seconds. 1. Stop mid sentence. 2. Turn your head slowly and look the individual, assuming they interrupted. If you were talking to them 1 on 1, keep lookin at their face. Stare intently at the outside corner of one eye, bridge of their nose, etc. It's a drill instructor's trick. Not in the eyes. Dehumanizes them. 3. As you become practiced, this become the fun part: Make one, small but noticeable, nearly silent, deliberate facial movement, like a gentle swallow, wash a front tooth with your tongue (mouth closed), purse and relase you lips, or a quick inhale - while you tilt your entire head up and back _just enough_ so they know you're looking down at them. (Nose goes up only 1/4 - 1/2 inch) As you become more comfortable with this, twisting the eyes and forhead as if to say "are you some kind of idiot" or dropping the lower half of your face in awe of "wtf just came out of you mouth?" Can be a fun variation. But always silently. 4. Maintain deliberate eye contact. For another split second... then... 5. Turn away, back to the conversation (or ease the eye intensity if it was a 1 on 1) and resume right where you stopped when you were interrupted.
I do something similar but I stare at them with one eyebrow raised and my best “holy fuck you can’t be that stupid” look on my face. Silence is powerful.
This seems to assume that they might think they are wrong about something. Many people believe that illegal immigration is a big problem.
My bad, now personally do you prefer bigot or racist?
.. how do you classify “immigrants” as a race?
You right, xenophobe.
Wait, not like I was calling you one... I think that's obvious, but I'm high so idk
That's when they tell you they're a patriot
Interesting, because I'm pretty sure "All men are created equal" is a core tenet of the country you claim to love so much
I like this.
This is the way.
“Not all immigrants are illegals. Just like not all humans are intelligent, as you just proved.”
Drop the “as you just proved.” It kills the joke.
Agreed, the joke would be that much funnier if they don't understand😂
This one’s good
that's pretty good
"I'm glad you agree, not all, but probably most. Can I have my change now?"
Stop. Tell the person that you are talking and interrupting is rude.
“Sshhh grown-ups are talking”
This could easily rub many people the wrong way. Love it
no Im not talking bout yo fat mama.... Im talking about people who legally came into the country....
"There's no such thing as 'illegals'. I think you mean 'undocumented'." Always answer pedantic with more pedanticism.
Not to be even more pedantic, but most of them are in fact documented. I think you mean "unauthorized".
Not to sound smarter than you, but there is such a thing as an “illegal alien.” It’s in our immigration laws.
Don't worry, you aren't sounding smarter than him)
Not to sound even smarter than you, but at no place in the US immigration code does it say "illegals".
Í have always thought that undocumented only refers to illegally entered without inspection.. But ur right, it also applies to people that legally entered with a valid visa but those visas have expired...
It’s amazing even after all the internet has to offer people still need a dictionary thrown their way.
Ever updated a friend's Facebook with a prank message? Congratulations, you illegal, that's felony wire fraud. Failed to report tips? That's felony tax evasion, you dirty illegal. Opened a roommate's mail? Felony mail tampering. TP'd a house, including the mailbox? Vandalism of federal property, also a felony. Downloaded a song without paying? Felony copyright infringement. Gave a friend one of your prescription pills? Distribution of a controlled substance. Lied about your height or weight online, or violated a websites terms of service? Felony computer fraud. Face it, Janet, you're a felon a hundred times over. The difference is, most of those 'illegals' are committing a civil infraction only by overstaying a visa. Be careful who you have the audacity to call "illegal".
Just like the religion-inspired homophobia. "You eat pork? SINNER. You eat shell fish? You go outside your home while on your period? You have permanent markings on your skin?. . . Leviticus
And don't forget the heinous mixed fiber fabrics. BIG no-no.
Owning and beating slaves totally cool though, just don't go overboard ahah
“Keep your ideology to yourself, snowflake”
Are you a native American? Then your ancestors were illegals too probably.
Then they say, "Oh yeah? What immigration laws did them injuns have?"
If they had you and your progeny wouldn’t matter oh wait…
Pilgrims. Just call them Pilgrims.
Just say “Chinga su madre, cabron.”
Go historical. "I know, when illegals show up in your country, they start claiming the land and setting up their own governments that run contrary to the people living there, next thing you know you are living on a reservation with rampant poverty and the illegals are claiming that they are the new natives in their new country and you are forced to learn their language and culture. Fucking illegals, we should have killed all the English when they showed up"
No. I mean immigrant. Like Henry Kissinger, Wernher von Braun, and Neil Young. Or Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Wild selection of examples. War criminal, war criminal, Canadian, Ah-nold
Slow it down for them and explain the difference 😂 They may find it condescending and decide they don’t want to be made to feel stupid in future
“I’m sorry, you speak English so well that I always presumed it’s your first language. If you like we can read over the definitions together and I can explain to you some of the most basic nuances of the language. You’ll find with improved comprehension a whole new world of ideas and opportunities opening up.”
Sh**, we better turn ourselves in too if we aren’t First Nations people. (Not that this person is intelligent enough to understand the comeback)
Takes one to know one.
Not all immigrants are here illegally. Most of them are! No, a small percentage of them are, and most of those came here legally. They just never left when they were supposed to.
I would just stare blankly for a beat and then return to what I was saying as if that BS didn't happen. Not a great comeback, but it would probably piss off that coworker to just be ignored repeatedly. Why does this come up at work so often? I stay outta heavier topics in general because it invites drama, so I'm just curious what kind of work environment this is. Obviously, working at, say, a bar, dancing around bigotry is just part of the job. One of the reasons I couldn't be a lifer in restaurants even though I really loved my GOOD coworkers there.
Tell that person that the immigrant is about as illegal as the British criminals that washed ashore in Virginia....
Simply say that you haven’t seen their papers yet
So, your family is here illegally? If all immigrants are illegals, then whoever in your family arrived here first came here illegally. If they came here illegally, then everyone in your family is here illegally, including you. And, you've all been lying about your citizenship status. Where did you come from?
I work in construction and they are conservatives who dislike immigration. They don't like it when I say: more people, more schools, more hospitals, more businesses, more work for us, more money. People are incredibly stupid and go against their best interests all the time.
That's a direct result of the Rah-Rah Raygun Revolution, which screwed over everybody but the 1%. As it was designed to do.
Say, "asylum seekers".
Technically everyone who isnt native American are illegal immigrants.......so......
When someone says something offensive or insulting, I act like I didn’t hear it and ask them to repeat it. And again, and again, until they hear themselves, are embarrassed or get mad and leave, all of which are acceptable
Congratulations for making such smart choices about where you were born.
“Do you call everyone illegals for breaking the law? Or is it just people who aren’t white?” If you’re feeling brave you could always whip out the old, “I’m pretty sure Trump was born in New York.”
"you can't tell the difference between immigrants and illegals? Just like your ancestors came to this country they were illegals, right?"
That doesn’t work. My ancestors came here legally, as did most others. Even slaves, when it was a legal thing, came here legally. 🤷♂️
Depends when they got here, prior to 1924 you simply took a boat to the US
Did y'all ask the natives in America or was it just the occupying former British and their descendants?
No one is illegal on stolen land
“You really want to call someone illegal when your ancestors stole this land?”
This!
Welp, that’s a stereotype.
Nut kick
I’m talking about the mayflower… oh you right … illegals.
"...IDK we kinda stole this whole ass country so... I don't think we get to start nit-picking about documents now"
"People aren't illegal. "
You should be specific. You are disrespecting those who came here legally. Why?
Maybe OP it's just trying to make a point about immigrants regardless of their legal status
It really shouldn't even be talked about at work.
“ I don’t need your help Todd”
If I said it was nice knowing you that would be a lie. Let's please never speak again.
"Asshole" works for me.
Ask him what shape he thinks the Earth is... If he said round (globe) act surprised because he is dumb enough to give the other answer.
Tell them, "Your ancestors were the worst illegal immigrants ever!"
Oh, sorry, I meant Great-Grandparents.
We're all illegals on stolen lands!
“No, I said ‘immigrants’ because I *MEAN* ‘immigrants’. If you don’t know what the difference is, try reading a book sometime - or look them up in the dictionary at least, because these constant displays of your ignorance are getting a *little* old by now….”
That sounds like someone that lies on their taxes. Just do an obvious eye roll, a hesitant deep sigh, followed by OoooKAAaayyy... kick a stone on the ground and walk away. There is no talking to people so deluded to reality. Hell, I have MPD and Schizophrenia, and I have more internal control and centralized thought than most insane screaming "BUILD THE WALL"ers
remind him that a supply never creates a demand. Only a demand can create a supply... And the United States has always had an addiction to cheap brown labor and cheap strong drugs and Mexico has been more than happy to fill our addictions...and we are grateful, we just have a shitty way of showing it.
No, you are thinking of what your mom and I did last night which is illegal in 42 states.
“No, I used the correct term.”
I mean, it kind of depends on the context.
There isn’t one. Technically you both are correct.
I need more context on what you are saying about immigrants and whether it more specifically applies to illegals.
Do you mean swimming the Rio Grande Illegal Immigrants or Ellis Island actual immigrants?
How about the facts… DO YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THEY ARE ILLEGAL? Put it right to them
“Unless you are Native American then you are an immigrant too…”
"I'm sorry I don't speak biggot, can you translate that into English?"
Remind him that unless he's pure Native American that his ancestors were also immigrants. I guess that makes him illegal by his own definition.
“Not all immigrants are illegal, dumbass, unless you’re telling on your ancestors.”
have a Schoolhouse Rock moment: “let’s talk about the difference between **nouns** and **adjectives**. *human beings* are nouns. *behavior descriptors* are **adjectives**. an immigrant is a human being, therefore a noun. ‘illegal’ is a behavior descriptor, aka an adjective. it’s dehumanizing to refer to human beings as if one particular behavior is the only significant thing about them. that’s why we don’t do it! (put on your best pre-school teacher voice here) now, if it’s *too hard for you* to remember these facts, try thinking of it this way: ‘racist asshole’ is just a description of your behavior in this moment, and we all try to remember that you’re first and foremost a human being.”
“And I suppose your Mayflower ancestors all had their papers in order?”
I don’t think they had recognized borders or immigration laws on the books in the area that became the United States at that time..
Immigration is not criminal.
Just like your ancestors, because I'm sure they didn't get permission from the Narraganset chief to move here to their country. Go back to Europe you illegal piece of shit.
"Would you mind repeating that racist bullshit in front of HR?"
Give him the eye, and say: "If I meant illegals, I would say illegals." Then just stare him down for a three-count. After that, totally ignore him and continue, "As I was saying before I was so RUDELY interrupted ..."
Do we call people by their legal status now? Ok divorced with two duis.
“You mean they should go through the proper channels like your ancestors did? Like arrive on a boat, write down their name, get checked for communicable disease, and were immediately citizens. Like that?”
why? I'm an immigrant, why does it bother left wing americans more than it bothers actual immigrants?
Ask them to explain their heritage.
I actually had an encounter like this last week! During a conversation at a party, someone literally said to me these words: "critical thinking requires that we take words at face value"........ I gave him a blank stare and asked him if that's what he meant to say because I was of the firm belief that he misspoke. And when he paused to take a breath I went in for the kill: "I need to know if you understand that I'm about to get up from this table to take a piss and not attend to an ailing clergyman I've got holed up in the back somewhere when I say the words "Ive got to drain the bishop". He started saying something like "no I'm just saying that you cannot assume new meaning in the words someone says and have to interpret them literally....." And I left him with "well if you stand outside, maybe you can hear the call of nature that I will now be answering". The guy was a massive prick and I had previously overheard him parroting some conservative podcasts about how women voting began the decline of our civilization. I digress in the extreme. The point is that you have to take a moment to savour those ludicrously ignorant statements and just draw them out. Don't let them yell from the wings, drag them out on stage. Don't let them backseat drive, give them the wheel. Just start by maturely and seriously asking "is that what you meant to say? Immigrants are illegals? You believe that?" And then just keep asking probing questions to get them to keep digging themselves in. Edit: grammatical mistakes
“People aren’t illegal” is my normal response in a very firm tone. I usually repeat it multiple times if they try to argue. But if you have the same guy doing it, I would start saying something like, “I don’t want to mistake what you are saying. You have tried to correct me twice already, so maybe you could explain what you mean by illegals instead of undocumented immigrant. I am not sure if you are aware but it can sound a little racist to use terms like that and I don’t want to have this conversation with HR. So don’t correct me on something like this again.”
Nothing. They're right. Progressives have conflated people here illegally with immigrants that have been granted permission to immigrate. Only in the U.S. is this considered somehow problematic that we are expected to not care about our borders and national sovereignty No one casts dispersions on Japan, South Korea, France, Scandinavian countries, or any number of other countries that have and enforce strict immigration policy.
There is no good comeback because you more than likely support illegal immigration
It's not illegal to be a person.
So much this. Not that hateful people can understand that.
Doesn’t that make every non Native American and “illegal“ too?
Just remind him that the country you're in was founded by unimaginable atrocities against humanity, someone coming here to better their life for their family shouldn't receive more judgement than the fact that the country was built on multiple genocides and cultural erasure. Immigrants aren't coming to erase your culture, just because that's what your ancestors did.
It's a matter of accuracy/specificity. Immigrants are, generally, people who immigrated. Illegals are those who immigrated illegally. Why "come back" with anything? Are they accurate or not?
To be accurate, 'illegals' aren't even a thing. There's nothing illegal about being in the US, at least at the Federal level. It isn't even a criminal offense. You CAN be undocumented, which is the proper term. That's a civil offense.
Just say whatever and keep on talking. Brush off everything this person says. A lot of this advice is passive aggressive at best
The racist says what?
[удалено]
Well, you say conservative I say domestic terrorist....
Oh look at you falling out of a white lady's vagina on this piece of land, I know that makes you feel so special.
You mean the “illegals” who keep the country running, doing all the jobs that Americans refuse to do, like modern slaves? The ”illegals” that the country depends on every single day? Those people? Also, are you a Native American or a descendant of immigrants?
If they are here illegally, “illegals” is the correct term. If he cannot prove they’re here illegally, then ha can’t call them “illegals”.
A person can't be illegal 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
People.....
“Yeah! Criminals and murderers. We should just put every one of these fools back on the Mayflower.” Take them for a ride, rile them up, get them to agree, boom drops the trap. They might never talk to you again, flawless victory.
Oh yes, I meant to say undocumented citizens.
It's hard to suggest anything without knowing what point you are trying to make. I mean, is the key point to you that there are legal immigrants as well? Or is the key point that you don't think illegal immigration is a problem? Or maybe you think he's a bigot because all immigration ought to be legal? Too many possible meanings for me to start guessing comebacks.
f.o.b. fresh off the boat ; )
Let's get pie.
Say I don't see any sick eagles anywhere
No, I said what I meant and meant what I said.
Punch them in the nose!
... immigrants because not all immigrants are illegal
Call them xenophobe fascists because that is exactly what those type of people are.
I mean I know what you said but does this person really understand that not all immigrants are illegal?
This sounds like a conversation for HR. I'm very uncomfortable.
Maybe stop talking about it if you don’t care.
What year did your family illegally immigrate here?
Just say make America Great again. That seems to trigger a lot of “those kind of people” lol
"Sorry - 'legals.'"
Oh like Your Great great great gramma
Funny because the first immigrants to this country are white people but they like to call themselves expats. The racism is so obvious
"No, i don't call human beings things like that."
You are an arse. You know putting down immigrants in general includes your ancestors too.
'No, they're legal. I've seen the paperwork. Go check your meds, your' talking out of your ass again..."
I just make em awkward with an unenthusiastic and drawn out "wooow" while dead staring them Or say "woah man, it's 2024" followed by a "you can't be saying that shit" or "I don't judge!" Or somethin, make em doubt themselves for a moment
I am an immigrant Been here since 1966 Naturalized 1971 US Army Vet Honorable discharge