Microaggressions — everyday slights that undermine people from marginalized groups — are anything but small. In fact, they can harm people’s health, safety, opportunities, personhood and more. Here are six common questions and comments to avoid.

Neymar on the field in 2014

Germany’s 7-1 victory over host country Brazil in the World Cup semi-finals this week followed the injury of Brazilian soccer star Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, whose collision with Colombian player Juan Camilo Zúñiga during the quarter-final game last Friday led to a hail of racist epithets aimed at Zúñiga. Ready to go beyond the headlines? 5 primary sources worth reading next.

This week’s haul of great comments includes thoughts on Jamila Lyiscott’s spoken word essay, the happy memory of an excellent teacher, and a shared photo of a cockroach carcass, inspired by Ed Yong’s tales of dastardly parasites.