Would you attend parties at a club that was openly racist?

We have a local club where blacks are very vocally NOT allowed. The owner is a true old school bigot. We went once and he went on and on about how there would never be any of "those" in his club. For us, that was enough - we never went back. However, the place draws a crowd, and we often get invited to go there. We always decline, and if pressed, we do politely explain why. Most people will say, "oh yeah, he is like that, but its his place and its his right to allow whoever he wants in". I don't get that. To me, if you patronize a place that is racist, you are supporting the concept. I don't get mad at people about it, but the thing is that most people look at us as if we are nuts because we wont go there. Not sure what the deal is here. We've been in the LS for a while now and thought it was all about open mindedness? Are we missing something?

[VegasLee]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

To me, if you patronize a place that is racist, you are supporting the concept.

You answered your own question. Most people that are racist don't want to be upfront and out about it but they are more than willing to support the cause like you have stated.

Just how the world is. You are doing right in my eyes by not going there but that is only up to you. You have to do what is right for you.

You have to allow others to do what works for them even if you don't agree with it. If they came to our place and started voicing those views they would be asked to stop it or leave since that is not the views of the owners.

As you stated, it is his place and he does have the right and so do his guests. You don't have to take part in it and I personally would not support it but I will stand by his right to be the way he is.

[Rackir]

There wouldnt be a chance in hell that you would catch me in a club run like that. Sure, people are free to run thier buisness as they choose (to a degree, I suspect he may actually be breaking some laws here), but people are also free to watch and cheer as that same buisness goes under.

[sweet_tna]

It's like you said, it's their club, and they can decide who is and is not welcome. Their particular practices would keep me far away from their club, but that's my prerogative.

=)

[bbarnsworth]

My wife and I would not come near the club.

Let's see...
Same organs: Check
Same tooth color: Check
Same origin of species: Check
Same blood color: Check
What did you say about not of the same race?


Recently, I saw a profile where a couple said they don't play with non-whites, and won't play with people who do.

NEXT

[tscpl]

What is very noticeable on some swingers websites,is that some members mostly in the South include in their profile a preference to "stay within their own race".Guess some things never change!

[cplnuswing]

No, we wouldn't attend. #1 would be by attending we would feel like we were indirectly supporting something we are opposed to, and #2 we're out to have fun, so who wants to go somewhere and hear crap like that all night. Serious buzz killer there.

[socolais]

With so many clubs and party houses being raided at unpredictable times, the risk of being exposed in the local news media is enhanced when an establishment attracts undesirable attention. That would be a real buzz kill.

[LagniappeDC]

Wow, of all the things that I read on this site that leaves us shaking our heads, this is one of the tops. Unbelievable. Clearly our answer is no way. For us, we'd hate to get involved with a couple that held those beliefs. Totally unsexy if you ask us.

[Chicup]

Chicup isn't politically correct, sure I'd go.

Let me splain.

If the crowd was there because it was a great club and such, the fact the owner decided he didn't want blacks would be a minor concern. I'm going to meet couples not talk politics or bias.

If the crowd was LIKE the owner and it was a skinhead group, KKK like, or whatever, and they were there BECAUSE they didn't let in blacks then I'd not go because those are not the people we hang out with so I know we won't have fun.

Swing clubs are uncommon and while its not fair, sometimes I'd rather have fun than fight ever social injustice while staying home feeling offended.

[turnuptheheat]

Racism should be shunned in all forms.
My .02

[BiloxiCouple]

Sometimes you can be guilty just by association.

I don't think I need to say more.

[LFM2]

Some people put the darndest things in their profile, and it's all OK. If that's what they're looking for and wanting to play with, so be it.

It's the same with this club owner. It's his club and he can choose the type of patrons he wishes. I too feel like I'd be supporting his racism if I went, so we'd just rather find a club that appealed to and patronized everyone.

[The Fuse]

I'm politically incorrect too.

I wouldn't like the policy, and if we had another option on a night we really wanted to get out, we would choose the other option, because we don't want to support rascism. We play with dark-skinned people when we are attracted to them. It would bother me that the club didn't let them in, because discrimination is wrong, and because... well... some of our best friends are black. For real, they are.

But... we have played with one couple who had something in their profile about not wanting blacks. Doubtless some of our other playmates have felt that way too, and just not said so, so we didn't know it.

And... in life in general, sometimes we make the choice to support things we know are wrong, because we are getting some benefit we don't want to give up. Going to a club like that wouldn't make me happy, but I might do it if there were some strong incentive.

Like I said, sometimes we make those choices. Most of us make choices like this but don't acknowledge them or don't think about them. I buy my meat at the supermarket even though I know the animals are horribly mis-treated. I patronize places that probably are unfair to their workers. I could go on, but I think everyone who watches the news could come up with their own examples. These choices are just generally not thought of as badly as the choice posted by the OP, even though they harm other people too.

Racism is bad. But I realize I can't fight every fight, every time, so sometimes I compromise. In my opinion, we all do this in some areas of our lives. A few of us admit it.

[Rackir]

Originally Posted by The Fuse

I'm politically incorrect too.
Like I said, sometimes we make those choices. Most of us make choices like this but don't acknowledge them or don't think about them. I buy my meat at the supermarket even though I know the animals are horribly mis-treated. I patronize places that probably are unfair to their workers. I could go on, but I think everyone who watches the news could come up with their own examples. These choices are just generally not thought of as badly as the choice posted by the OP, even though they harm other people too.

I think part of what sets this apart is the apparent overtness of the bias involved. True most of us patronize places or businesses that we suspect may do things we don’t like, but when the proprietor comes out and makes it a selling point it crosses the boundary from speculative to cold hard reality.

Sure my Nike’s may have been made in a third world sweatshop, but I don't really know. However if a company advertised as "Passing slave labor prices onto our customers", I don't think I would wear their shoes.

It's not just self imposed ignorance either. When a company hides their shady practices, you can support that company without sending the message that you are totally fine with it. You are shielded from that by the veil of public uncertainty. When a company comes right out and advertises their reprehensible views though, then you are directly supporting those views by supporting the company. The description of this club made it sound as though the exclusion of non-whites was a prominent point of the clubs image, and as such (for me) it crosses the line.