I think even more than that , people need to understand that principles don ' t change based on the person . If you don ' t want racism , don ' t be racist . at all , to anyone . If you don ' t want sexism , don ' t be sexist . at all , to anyone . If you don ' t want sexual identity or orientation to be denigrated , don ' t do it . at all , to anyone . It ' s not as gratifying , fun , or even easy to hold yourself back from being an asshole , but that ' s why people who manage to hold back are respected while people who don ' t are equated to anuses . You can vent without being prejudiced , it ' s just a bit harder . You can be angry without prejudice , it ' s just a bit harder . You can take the easy way out and spew all the misguided vitriol you decry in others , but the price for that is your credibility . Put in the work , or pay with the label , but don ' t think that anything that happened to you gives you any more pass to lazy , broadbrush thinking .