I agree - explicitly pointing out and condemning this stuff can make a big difference. I wouldn't focus on confronting the person, though, because I think that

I agree - explicitly pointing out and condemning this stuff can make a big difference. I wouldn't focus on confronting the person, though, because I think that rarely influences the individual. What I've seen matter most is making clear in front of others that it's not something people will "let go" or ignore. I fortunately haven't been in this position since I became a developer, but better jobs do offer more leeway in regard to this. The other question, of course, is power dynamics. Calling out a coworker has more potential to help than calling out someone who can fire all their critics without trouble.