The Only Thing Hurt Is His Feewings

I recently moved into an apartment with a roommate who’s very social. He seems like a nice guy at first, but it only takes a few days for me to discover that he has some very bigoted perspectives. I quickly learn to avoid chatting with him any longer than is necessary.

One day, a couple of weeks after I move in, I’m making dinner when [Roommate] decides to come up to me and complain about his coworkers. Apparently, he’s gotten in trouble for insulting a gay coworker whose husband came to drop something off at work, and everyone else in the office has been on his case about it.

Me: “Is someone getting hurt?”

Roommate: “Huh?”

Me: “When [Coworker] has his husband bring something in for him. Is someone getting hurt?”

Roommate: “No, what does—”

Me: “Are they violating workplace policy?”

Roommate: “No, why do you—”

Me: “Is [Coworker] falling behind in his work because of these visits, or is the quality of his work being lowered?”

Roommate: “Not that I can—”

Me: “Is anyone else falling behind in their work or having their work lowered in quality?”

Roommate: “I don’t think so, but—”

Me: “So, if everyone at your workplace is calling you out for insulting something that doesn’t hurt anyone, doesn’t affect anyone’s workflow in a meaningful way, and doesn’t violate workplace policy… why do you think you’re in the right here?”

[Roommate] was silent for a long moment and then stormed off.

The next day, he tried to have the landlord kick me out. When that failed, he deserted the place himself.