What do you say when your barber starts a racist rant?

Okay I have to ask is it racism or xenphobia (fear or hatred of anything foreign)?  While the two can eaisly be confused.  Forgive my ignorance but are Japanese considered to be their own race of people, or rather a sub group under Asian?

As for myself I am of Germanic/Celtic decent but I am still caucasain (constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features —used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation ...in orther words I fry easily).

As for your barber, sounds to me like it is more xenphobic, but if things in Japan were so much better...why the frak are you here, and not with your superior peeps? 

I had a friend in Germany who had to deal with some Ayran jack wads while stationed in Germany, he handled it with class, "My Grandfather was a Harlem Hell Fighter, my father fought in WWII, and he beat your sorry asses, what are you going for 0 for 3?"  needless to say they didn't start anything.

Often times people say things ot see if they can get a rise out of others.  As for me, I would play the devils advocate. " If Japan is so much better why did X happen?" or intresting concept, but if that is true why did this happen?  Shuts a lot of people up

Okay I have to ask is it racism or xenphobia (fear or hatred of anything foreign)?  While the two can eaisly be confused.  Forgive my ignorance but are Japanese considered to be their own race of people, or rather a sub group under Asian?

As for myself I am of Germanic/Celtic decent but I am still caucasain (constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features —used especially in referring to persons of European descent having usually light skin pigmentation ...in orther words I fry easily).

As for your barber, sounds to me like it is more xenphobic, but if things in Japan were so much better...why the frak are you here, and not with your superior peeps? 

I had a friend in Germany who had to deal with some Ayran jack wads while stationed in Germany, he handled it with class, "My Grandfather was a Harlem Hell Fighter, my father fought in WWII, and he beat your sorry asses, what are you going for 0 for 3?"  needless to say they didn't start anything.

Often times people say things ot see if they can get a rise out of others.  As for me, I would play the devils advocate. " If Japan is so much better why did X happen?" or intresting concept, but if that is true why did this happen?  Shuts a lot of people up

I think the barber was more racist than xenophobic (or perhaps both). His argument was based solely on the belief that better lineage (genetics) makes a  superior society (measured in this case by technological advances), but he did not exhibit any hatred towards outgroups.

Race, and thereby racism is a social construct. As a social construct racial categorization is subjective. I imagine that the barber in question would consider northern Japan to be distinct racial group, whereas an outsider might consider all of east Asia to be a distinct racial group.

Unfortunately, I live in an area where open racism is rampant. I am confronted with it on a daily basis. Very sad. It is so pervasive, to confront each small brain each time they expressed their ignorance would be an endless exercise in futility. It hurts my heart when I meet someone I like, and then find out they are just ugly little racists. 

Unfortunately, I live in an area where open racism is rampant. I am confronted with it on a daily basis. Very sad. It is so pervasive, to confront each small brain each time they expressed their ignorance would be an endless exercise in futility. It hurts my heart when I meet someone I like, and then find out they are just ugly little racists. 

Pssh Ed, you talk like you live in Utah or something.

Why even bother cutting your hair in the first place.......

Tell him he's behind the times. The Japanese were very racist up until about August 5th, 1945. From August 6th, 1945, not so much.

NotaSeal

I remember a story about this, Japanese got into a cab, Subaru take over and speed up in the freeway, Japanese comments Subaru made in Japan very fast...Jet flew on top of them, Japanese again commented Jet Engine made in Japan very fast. this Japanese went on and on and on about things that everything made Japan are very fast...Finally got to his destination Airport to downtown San Francisco...Cab driver says, that will $200.00, Japanese goes...What?!!! 200?!! are you crazy?! to which cab driver respond..Cab Meter made in Japan very Fast 

Speak with your dollars and never go back is about all you can do. I am lucky in that I have a little cambodian barber shop with a very pretty lady to go see. She always happy to see me and flirty but then I realize its cause I tip generously 

Racism is often mistaken for prejudice. We are all prejudice. All it is, is a pre-conceived expectation of events to come from a situation, based upon previous life experiences. It is our survival instinct.

I classify this as Racial Arrogance... Coming from where I do, others just might be better than I am. It's still not polite to brag and carry on, fluffing up. Seems to me, he might be a bit insecure? I will generally change the subject in a fairly obvious way. (I hear they have small -----s! So how about those cowboys!) Usually gets the point across. Often ends all conversation  Life is to short and there are to many COOL things about other people and cultures to listen to someone rant in a negative way. Start asking specific questions (uncomfortable?) about their culture you always wondered about.... You might just get good info!

I wouldn't say anything, I would let him finish my haircut and never go back.  I stay away from negative people, I do not need them in my life for anything.

I stay away from negative people, I do not need them in my life for anything.

That is what I say about ex-girlfriends!

What Brian said.

   Over the decades, I've heard that crap only from barbers, not from beauty shop operators, and I get better haircuts from the beauty shops.  Are there no ignorant beauty shop operators? I'm sure that's not true, but they keep it to themselves - maybe because they make more of their dough from tips than the barbers.
    But I agree, don't argue with a person with scissors in their hands,  even if they don't  stab you, you could still spend a couple of months growing your hair out so it looks decent, and if you didn't want it to look decent, why were you there?
   

I dont know what I would say but it would be choice for sure...also another reason I bought a set of trimmers and have my gal do my hair ...15  bucks and a tip saved and no more weird experiences in a chair ever again

but if she ever starts talking shit!!!!