I am struggling to find the best Responses to Racism and other offensive posts.

It troubles me that there are instances when these posts are left standing in a thread but responses to them, including blank posts with a member's or guest's name, are deleted. If racist and otherwise offensive posts are not deleted, it seems to me that ignoring their existence and failing to respond in any way sends the message to "trolls" and other persons reading the thread {including those who might happen upon it through Google and other search engines}that this forum is soft on such postings and/or accepting of racism. Again, my struggle with this issue was the reason for me starting the Responses to Racism thread.

Joe, {and Joe Clones},if blank posting by me {and I assume others} is frown upon or is outright prohibited, what do you consider the best way for members & guests of this community to register our distaste and opposition to racist and other offensive posts?