Maxwell G.
Yelp
If you are wondering where the Sexist, Homophobic, Racist men are hanging out in Oakland, this is the place. I went here to watch the second half of the Women's World Cup Final between team USA and Japan, as the bar I usually frequent was not open in time for the game.
I was glad I found the place not too busy (as usual) and was able to sit down at the bar and watch the game. The two patrons to my right, both middle aged men, one who kept mentioning how he'd rather be watching the NASCAR race, the other sporting a USC hat, and a few other people at the bar, including the big, bald, bartender, were making derogatory comments about the women playing on TV throughout the game.
I ignored it as best I could, ignoring the Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima bomb references about the Japanese team, ignoring the comments about how the US team's female coach looked like Mr. USC hat's dad, ignoring the comments about how the US team looked like lesbians, ignoring how in the Air Force they referred to the female service members as "marine mattresses" and the constant comments about each player's looks.
After 30 minutes or so of this, I could ignore it no longer.
I can't believe, living in a diverse a place as Oakland, where we pride ourselves on our multiculturalism, and progressive values, even in my own neighborhood, I had to ask these people to cut out the Homophobic, Racist, Sexist talk. The bartender's answer was "Fuck being PC", but the other guys did tone it down after I asked them to stop. Little comments would still slip out here and there, mostly about me being "too sensitive" and watch out what you say around this guy, but I could tell they were just going to keep quiet while I was still there, than resume as soon as I left.
To be fair, there were also a lot of patrons not joining in the banter, but aside from one other guy asking people to be nice, nobody else said anything. I guess since there were no Women, Asian people, or (presumably) nobody that was gay, the people making the comments felt it was safe for them to do so.
Now I know why this place is so empty, and it's not just because they allow smoking.