Inadvertent Racism or Just Friendly Ignorance?

⏱ Estimated Read Time: 3 minutes

Hey everyone, it’s been a minute! I have a question for you all: Have you ever experienced what I like to call ‘inadvertent racism’? I’m not talking about the blatant ‘get out of our country’ kind of racism. We all know that’s obviously racism. I’m talking about the kind where you’re left wondering, ‘Was that racist?’, but it was delivered so politely that you almost feel bad for even considering it.

I was at my Nanakin (grandma’s place) last weekend, and I popped into the local Canadian Tire. I was just browsing, looking for some odds and ends, when one of the employees helping me out did a double take. First, he tried to sell me a gun. He was seriously trying to convince me, asking if I had a gun license. When I said no, he told me, ‘Listen, a gun license here isn’t hard to get. You don’t even need your Permanent Resident card!’

Now, that made me pause. Why did he assume I didn’t have my Canadian citizenship? I wanted to be like, ‘No, sir, I am a Canadian citizen!’ But I decided to play along and see where he was going with this. He continues, ‘You don’t even need your PR. Just go over there, take a one-day course, and get your gun license. I highly recommend it.’ Clearly, this guy wasn’t afraid of me owning a gun, which, you know, is somewhat progressive of him. So, I just said, ‘Yeah, thank you, I’ll definitely look into that.’

Then, while he was gathering the items I wanted, he said, ‘Yeah, we have a shit ton of these.’ Then he adds, ‘I’m going to teach you an English phrase right now. We have a ton of these in the back.’ I couldn’t help myself and said, ‘Oh, you’re teaching me English, sir?’ He replied, ‘I have a ton of these in the back. I mean, do you know what a ton is?’ I told him, ‘I’ve heard that phrase before.’ He said, ‘Okay, just making sure, because I know a lot of your people haven’t heard that statement before, and it could cause you a lot of trouble if you use it outside.’

I’m thinking, ‘Man, this guy doesn’t think I speak a lick of English or that I am a citizen, but he’s willing to help me get a gun, and he’s being super helpful.’ I was almost delighted by his ignorance, as we might call it. But honestly, he was the nicest guy in the world! He continued, ‘Listen, get your gun license. Come back to me. I can hook you up, and we have a great gun range here. You’re gonna have a blast!’ And I was like, ‘Dude, I love you! You’re amazing! Thank you for trying to get me armed and dangerous!’ I would definitely come back to him if I ever needed to buy a firearm. I didn’t even realize Canadian Tire actually sold them, but apparently, they have some level of hunting rifle, which is pretty cool.

There was one more thing he tried to explain to me, another ‘English’ phrase, but it was so common that I never thought about it. Oh! It was when he said, ‘Getting your gun license shouldn’t be a problem. I have very good English. You speak well for your type.’ I was like, ‘Yes, thank you.’ I don’t know, was that racism? I can’t be sure, but I definitely felt a bit of ignorance there. But it was friendly ignorance. I’d much rather deal with a bunch of guys like him than the overtly hateful ones, you know what I mean?

Anyway, that’s the story. I’m hoping to get back to making videos regularly. It’s summer now, so I need to get back on course and get back to writing. Until the next one, peace!

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updated_at 31-07-2025
Ai Disclosure: The above posts were transcribed using AI tools. Some language may not have been accurately transcribed.
Ai Header Image Prompt: An abstract digital art piece, high quality, with intricate details and sharp focus, conveying a sense of polite miscommunication and subtle cultural assumptions. Two primary abstract, human-like forms subtly interact within a soft, ethereal space. One form, representing the blogger, is slightly more defined and contemplative, emanating a thoughtful, questioning aura. The second form, representing the employee, is less distinct, radiating a benevolent but somewhat oblivious presence. Their 'interaction' is conveyed through an intricate flow of fragmented, soft-edged linguistic symbols and abstract shapes that subtly swirl between and around them; some elements appear to blend harmoniously, while others gently disrupt the visual flow, symbolizing the nuanced verbal exchange and underlying cultural disconnect. In the background, subtly blurred and integrated hints of structured shelving or a retail environment can be discerned within the abstract composition. A minimalist, highly abstract metallic gleam or an angular, non-literal form, almost blending into the background, subtly alludes to the gun discussion without depicting an actual weapon. The color palette is a thoughtful blend of muted, earthy tones (soft greys, moss greens, deep blues) contrasted with strategic pops of digital luminescence (subtle purples, electric blues, warm oranges) within the abstract elements, creating an atmosphere of gentle tension and contemplation. The art style is surreal and impressionistic, featuring visible digital brushstrokes and organic textures, designed to avoid an overtly polished or generic AI aesthetic. The human forms are anatomically suggested rather than strictly defined, ensuring natural-looking limbs and hands where discernible, without any obvious AI deformities. The composition is inherently abstract and open to interpretation, with no bold text or titles present. Studio lighting.