Edgar the Lyft driver showed how to perfectly respond to an unhinged, racist customer

A Lyft driver in Reno, Nevada is the perfect example of staying calm in a heated situation with a racist.
The trouble started the minute that Edgar, the driver, picked up Richard who requested a four-mile ride to his home. After Richard got in the car, Edgar asked him to wear a mask, explaining that members of his family had been infected with COVID-19.
The passenger replied saying he didn't believe the government about the coronavirus. Edgar asked him to please cover his mouth with his hand, which he did.
Richard then questioned Edgar about the route he was taking and things escalated.
"You want to get out?" Edgar asked, calmly.
"No, I want you to take my ass home and I'll give you a shitty review," the passenger responded.
Hispanic driver's skull and hurls racial slurs at him after he asked him to wear a maskwww.youtube.com
The two then argued over where Edgar was able to drop him off and whether the car was Edgar's or Lyft's. The answer is easy. It's Edgar's car so he can do whatever he likes, especially if he feels threatened by a passenger.
Richard then called Edgar a "candy ass faggot with white glasses" and muses that he could crush his "fucking skull right now."
Edgar let him know that the interaction was being recorded on video and he quickly backpedaled.
The violent threat was the last straw for Edgar who stopped his car and asked Richard to get out. But Richard continued to squabble over whether the ride was canceled or not.
He then began poking fun at Edgar's accent.
"Where are you from, boy?" he asked with a condescending tone.
"I'm from here."
"No, you're not," the passenger responded.
"Yes I am," Edgar said confidently.
The passenger responded: "You're a fucking wetback."
Eventually, he got out of the car.
Lyft responded to the incident by banning Richard from using the service. "The behavior shown by the rider in this video is despicable and has no place on the Lyft platform," the company said in a statement.
"Lyft is committed to maintaining an inclusive and welcoming community, and discrimination is not tolerated."
Edgar should be commended for handling the situation calmly and confidently. He didn't feel compelled to drive the racist passenger home, he just dropped him off and went about his day.
What's insane about the entire incident was that Richard knew he was being recorded, but it still didn't stop him from going off on a racist, homophobic rant. That's probably because anyone who is a racist probably doesn't have much sense to begin with. Hopefully this video will serve as yet another reminder that people are paying attention and acts of bigotry and willful ignorance like this will not longer be accepted by decent people.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.