Me When One Of My Friends Says Something A Little Out Of Order And I Don't Know If I Should Investigate

me when one of my friends says something a little out of order and i don't know if i should investigate the possibility of racism lurking amongst us

“Is My Dog Racist?” A Dog Owner’s Honest Inquiry into Behavior, Bias, and the Bigger Picture

Believe me or not, this is a question I’ve heard more than once, often whispered with a nervous laugh, or wrapped in caveats like, “I know it sounds weird, but...” When Cookie came into my life, I had no intention of asking myself philosophical or sociological questions. But dogs have a funny way of making you do that. Over time, I started to notice that Cookie was consistently more barky around people of color, and I couldn’t ignore the shame that came with that realization.

It sounds absurd on the surface. Dogs, after all, don’t “see race” in the way humans do. Race is a human-made construct, rooted in history, culture, power, and politics. Dogs don’t carry that baggage. And yet, what about their behavior makes us even entertain this question?

👉 Familiarity vs. Bias: What’s Really Going On?

Let’s start with Cookie. She spent her early puppy stages in Istanbul, a densely populated city with mostly white residents in the neighborhoods we lived in. During that critical socialization window, she was exposed to very few people of color. So, later on, when we moved to Pittsburgh and she encountered a more racially diverse environment, she sometimes reacted with fear or heightened alertness around unfamiliar people. Not just people of color, also tall men, people with deep voices, heavy movements or even individuals wearing bulky clothing.

These reactions don’t stem from racism. They’re a result of unfamiliarity.

Luckily, dogs are not capable of racism because they lack the complex cognitive framework to categorize and judge people based on race. What they are capable of is reacting to environmental cues and learned associations—both positive and negative. It is argued that dogs are pattern-based learners. When something doesn’t fit their learned pattern of “safe and familiar,” they may respond with fear or caution. That unfamiliarity is often mistaken for bias. But it’s really about exposure and safety.

I adopted Cookie because I was alone. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was making a big mistake by keeping her world so small. It was mostly just the two of us. (My husband was living abroad.) Aside from the occasional neighbor, she didn’t have much interaction with others. Sure, we went outside, and she saw people and dogs in passing—but I never approached it as intentional socialization.

To Cookie, safety meant our quiet little home, just the two of us. Everything outside that bubble felt unpredictable, loud, strange, possibly dangerous.

Now, loud laughter from the neighbor or a deep voice can set her off. If someone moves in a way she’s not used to—taller, broader, heavier footsteps—she startles. It’s the same with objects. If the garbage bins are out before pickup day, she has to inspect every one to be sure it’s not a threat. A new item on the sidewalk? She clocks it immediately. And don’t even get me started on holidays... Christmas and Halloween decorations require a whole adjustment period. She used to lose it over black clothing draped around the house or large, dark trash bins. One winter, we were walking to the vet when a woman in a massive black coat passed us—Cookie froze, then bolted in panic.

The throughline in all of this? Exposure. Or the lack thereof.

According to behavioral science, dogs go through a "socialization period" early in life where positive interactions with different people, sounds, and environments are critical. As Whole Dog Journal puts it, “Dogs that aren’t exposed to a wide range of people in a positive way may develop fear-based reactions to people who are different from what they know.”

👉 Dogs Mirror Our Anxieties—Even the Ones We Don’t Speak

Here's the part that really made me pause: multiple studies suggest that dogs can pick up on human body language and emotion, even subtle, subconscious cues. This phenomenon, known as emotional contagion, can make dogs anxious if their humans are tense or nervous.

In some cases, our biases, discomforts, or prejudices may unintentionally get passed down to our dogs through our behavior. As the Rescued by Training blog bluntly states: “It’s possible that we’re the ones carrying racial bias, and our dogs are simply responding to how we respond.”

Even when we think we’re being neutral or calm, dogs might notice a shift in our posture, tone, or energy and then act on that. It’s not mind reading. It’s attunement. And they are really, really good at it!

👉 Dogs and Racism: A Violent History Worth Acknowledging

While dogs themselves can’t be racist, the use of dogs in racist systems is a whole different story and one we cannot ignore.

Historically, dogs have been weaponized to uphold racial violence. From their use in patrolling plantations during American slavery to their deployment during the Civil Rights Movement, dogs were intentionally trained and used to harm Black individuals. A DOJ report from Ferguson, Missouri, for example, noted that every documented police dog bite involved a Black victim.

So, when someone says, “dogs and racism,” they may not be talking about behavior but might be referencing history, and rightly so.

As a dog owner, I believe it's essential to be aware of this legacy. When a person of color sees a dog lunge or bark at them, especially in public spaces, they might not think, “Oh, this dog wasn’t socialized properly.” They might think: “I don’t feel safe.” And that is valid.

👉 The “Is My Dog Racist?” Question Isn’t Really About Dogs

It’s about us. It’s about what we teach our dogs, intentionally or not. It’s about what we expose them to. It’s about how we react in certain situations, what we normalize, what we avoid, and how we show up in diverse environments.

So instead of brushing off the question as silly, I think we should explore it. Not because dogs are racist, but because asking it helps us reflect on our own habits and environments.

👉What You Can Do

If your dog shows fear or reactivity toward certain people, here are some concrete steps to help:

Desensitization and Counterconditioning: Gradually expose your dog to new people in safe, positive settings. Use treats, praise, and distance to ensure the experience isn’t overwhelming.

Socialization Early and Often: If you’re raising a puppy, start socialization during the critical window (3–14 weeks). Make sure they meet people of different races, ages, sizes, and genders in positive ways.

Check Your Own Reactions: Are you tensing up when someone unfamiliar walks by? Are you changing your route, pulling the leash tighter, or holding your breath? Your dog may pick up on all of that.

Work with a Trainer: Seek out a certified behaviorist who uses positive reinforcement and understands the complexity of these issues.

Be Honest and Stay Curious: Instead of being embarrassed or defensive about your dog’s behavior, use it as a tool for self-reflection. Dogs are not mirrors of our prejudice, but they are mirrors of our behavior.

💭 Final Thoughts

Your dog isn’t racist (obviously) but sensitive. And that sensitivity, shaped by their environment and the people around them, can sometimes look like bias. That’s why it is important to ask: What can I do to make my dog feel safe in all kinds of human company? How can I show up better, for my dog, for my community, for the people they share this world with?

Because in the end, dogs are our companions, not just our pets. And raising a good dog, like raising a good human, means helping them navigate the world with confidence, empathy, and trust.

💞 Cookie & Seda

Resources

Reframing “Can Dogs Be Racist” Into a More Scientific Conversation – An Interview

Man’s Best Friend? How Dogs Have Been Used to Oppress African Americans by Shontel Stewart

Could My Dog Be Racist? By Laurie C. Williams

Your Dog Is Not Racist – Unleashed Unlimited

Exploring ‘Racist’ Dog Reactions: Misunderstanding or Prejudice? by Kate LaSala

Not directly related to our topic but a good read: Afro-Dog: Blackness and the Animal Question by Bénédicte Boisseron.

Source: “Is My Dog Racist?” A Dog Owner’s Honest Inquiry into Behavior, Bias, and the Bigger Picture

Eden 2.0, or the Trials and Tribulations of A. J. Crowley, Game Programmer and Absolute Disaster

Chapter 1: First-Time User Experience

good omens // aziraphale/crowley // human AU, game development AU // rated T // chapter 1/?

Crowley – just Crowley – is a programmer at a video games studio, coasting from project to project with a bare minimum of emotional investment. He gets a good paycheck, his coworkers leave him alone, and, well, the misgendering really doesn’t bother him that much. So what if he’s tired and constantly on the verge of changing his job on a whim– he’s fine. Really. But then along comes Aziraphale, fantasy author, consulting writer and, worst of all, a kind-hearted bastard who still sees the good in people. So maybe there is a point to it all. And maybe it’s enough to change one person’s life.

read full chapter on AO3 here!

Crowley glares at the coffee machine.

The coffee machine, clearly not considering him a worthy opponent, does not glare back, no matter the intensity of Crowley’s gaze.

It’s been a long week. Every week in the lead up to the release date is usually a long one, gah, not to mention the background talks of a brand new project. No rest for the wicked, as is the industry way. It’s this time of the year when Crowley spends his free time idly browsing LinkedIn and various tech job boards.

Not that he’s really planning on changing his job. The devil you know, right? Far less effort than endless job interviews and email chains.

So, it’s been a long week. And the coffee machine is broken. Of course, it’s already been replaced with a new one, but then thing is – the thing is, the new one is just as broken. Crowley wants to scream. He doesn’t. Instead, he bangs his hand against the top of the stupid machine and promptly winces in pain.

“Oh!” A voice from somewhere behind Crowley interrupts his miserable train of thought. “Are you okay, dear girl?”

Crowley flinches at the word, but he says nothing about it. He turns around and there’s a tight smile on his face. “I’m fine,” he grumbles. “Just–” He waves a hand at the machine. “New coffee machine. Broken piece of junk.”

“Let me?”

With a shrug, Crowley steps out of the way. “Be my guest.”

While the stranger approaches the counter, Crowley leans against a nearby counter and takes a look at him. He has blond hair, white almost, though it looks natural, unlike Crowley’s signature red. His clothes are something else – vintage, beige and brown and blue; and, most peculiar of all, he’s wearing a bloody bowtie. He looks horribly out of place against the white-grey walls of a modern game development office.

“And… all done! I believe your coffee machine is actually in a tip-top condition!”

“Tip-top… what?”

Crowley circles around the stranger and looks over his shoulder at the culprit. The coffee machine continues to be suspiciously quiet and so his gaze bounces between it and the man standing at his side. Perhaps sensing his disbelief, the stranger picks up one of the cups and places it underneath the muzzle. He smiles at Crowley and gestures for him to do the rest. Fine. One eyebrow raised, Crowley slowly reaches out and presses a few buttons on the touchscreen at the front of the machine. It whirrs and clanks and bonks and at last dark liquid pours out and into the cup.

Crowley exhales in relief.

“Consider me impressed,” he drawls. “You are a real miracle worker.”

“Oh, hardly.” The stranger waves off the compliment, though his cheeks appear to take on a distinct shade of pink. He takes a step back, putting some more distance between the two of them. “I worked at an office with this type of machine. They can be rather fiddly, so it’s no wonder you were struggling with it.”

“Well, either way.” Crowley picks up the cup, downs the coffee like a shot and immediately places it under the muzzle for a refill. The stranger gapes at him wordlessly. “I suppose I should thank you.”

“No need, truly.”

Crowley hums. “You new around here? Or are you remote? Dropped by to finally see our glorious office, did you?”

“Ah.” The stranger folds his hands on his round stomach and smiles politely. “The former. I quite enjoy these face-to-face interactions, far too much to give up on office work entirely.”

“Lucky if you got to choose,” Crowley mutters, mostly to himself. “I’m Crowley,” he adds, offering his hand for a handshake.

“Aziraphale.” Crowley’s hand is enveloped by one much thicker and warmer than his. “I’m a new writer. Well, consulting writer.”

Now that rings some bells. “So you’re that author everyone’s been raving about.”

“Dear me. In a good way, I hope?”

Crowley lets go of his hand and shrugs. “Mate, I don’t know. I don’t read and I’m certainly not consulted on these decisions.” Seeing a brief flash of hurt on Aziraphale’s face, Crowley sighs and continues, “But, you’re here. So you must be good.”

It works. Aziraphale’s face lights up in an instant, like a bulb with a far too high wattage. Crowley’s glad he’s wearing sunglasses. “Thank you, dear. Now, tell me, what do you do? Oh, I know! You must be one of the lovely women making art! You look like an artist.”

Two strikes, there. Women, immediately followed up by, so you must be making art. Bloody hell. At least he didn’t guess at QA. Or, worse, that he’s a producer.

With a blank look on his face, Crowley responds, “I’m a programmer.”

“You must excuse me, dear,” Aziraphale says, looking as though he does feel bad. “I didn’t mean to make assumptions. Lord knows I’ve heard enough of those myself.”

Crowley looks him up and down, making a rather clear point of it.

“Oh, yes, I know, but there really is–”

“There you are, Aziraphale, buddy, my man!”

The booming voice that interrupts them belongs to Gabriel – the creative director. Crowley sighs, already planning a strategic exit – you never want to get accosted by Gabriel, not under any circumstances. Thankfully, he’s always been the type of creative director who mostly stays hands off, letting the individual teams do their thing as they please, but, well. He’s also very talkative, irritating and horribly American.

There’s also the other matter – namely, that the new project is entirely Gabriel’s idea. Which means Aziraphale is going to be spending a lot of time chatting with the guy. Oof.

“It is so good to finally meet you in person–” Gabriel continues and Crowley takes this opportunity to slink out of the kitchen before he’s spotted.

He doesn’t say goodbye. He does make sure to catch Aziraphale’s eye, though, and mouths a silent good luck at him. Then he’s gone.

Back to the grind it is. Maybe it’s about time that Crowley called in a favour from that guy at EA. See if he can wriggle his way in there before the new project properly kicks off.

He won’t. But it’s still nice to daydream.

read full chapter on AO3 here!

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imaboringtwat

1 month ago

vivian wilson, el*n m*sk’s trans daughter, is actually the funniest fucking person on the planet, I’m obsessed with her

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imaboringtwat

1 month ago

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imaboringtwat

1 month ago

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imaboringtwat

1 month ago

Trump’s staff hides negative news from him to keep him happy. Musk was so affected by getting booed at Dave Chappelle's performance he had a mental breakdown. Their egos are horribly weak. This is how we defeat them—unyielding insults and mockery.

This is what we trained for. This is our moment. We need to get a lot louder and way more petty.

I believe in you.

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