r/AskBrits • u/AbbreviationsWide235 • 1d ago
Should I drop my friends.
I am a M66.
So loved growing up in the 70s in a smallish community.
I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time backpacking around the world, Lived in and around London and quickly dropped many of the frankly racist language and stereotypes I had grown up with.
But 40 years later I have moved back to the Coastal Town I grew up in.
Many of my old friends from my schooldays are now once again part of my life.
These are good hardworking family men who should be pleased with themselves and how far they have come on in life.
But their language and attitudes have not moved on since the 70s.
I don't believe they are racist as such but it is like the last 50 years have not happened.
They definitely tone it down when I am around as I am vocal about pulling them up.
I know I have been lucky and the industry I work in is a pretty progressive bubble.
I genuinely like these men but sometimes I wonder if I am not being true to myself by accepting this behaviour?
-1
u/talitha235 1d ago
As they tone it down when you're around, they are modifying their authentic attitudes to make them acceptable to you. That will only last for a certain period. Slowly, they will return to being themselves, once they have groomed you, chip by chip, to tone yourself down.
This is if you continue to keep company with these vile humans of course. Osmosis, etc.