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**Das Kitty** · 10-04-2008, 08:49

Thought there used to be a work problems forum but I can't find it.

This morning I received an incredibly racist joke in an email from a work colleague. It's full of bull about how immigrants are getting loads of handouts and free houses and stuff and then goes on to say how none of them have jobs. Now I've never met a Polish person without a job for a start.

Anyway I'm extremely offended that this guy, who I thought I knew, would think I would find this funny (it's not even a mildly amusing joke). Then, just as I'd finished replying to him to ask him not to send me on any racist forwards, I got it again, from someone else, again whom I thought I knew.

I'm sitting here raging. The list of people forwarding on this small-minded, inaccurate racist bull is really getting to me. I want to do more. It's supposed to be "Diversity and Inclusion" week here at work.

Should I notify HR about it? Now I'm not suggesting naming names or anything. I suppose I'm disheartened that A. So many people think like this, and B. That they think what seems like everyone in their address book feels the same way.

*cries*

**dudara** · 10-04-2008, 08:49

Moved to Work Problems.

dudara

**Das Kitty** · 10-04-2008, 08:51

Thanks, now I see where it is.

c - 13 · 10-04-2008, 08:51

It wasa joke. You didnt find it funny. End of story.

Do not under any circumstances draw HR into it INHO the **** will really hit the fan if you do, it generally involves tiightening email restrictions etc and the whole staff force will suffer as a result.

Just delete it from your inbox and think no more about it.

Zulu · 10-04-2008, 08:52

It you report it, you may as well be reporting their names as this can easily be got from the e-mail.
It's a pandoras box - do you want to open it?

*challengemaster* · 10-04-2008, 08:53

You're going to notify the HR about what? Them having a different sense of humour than yourself? That's excatly what it is.

Do you get just as uppidy when blonde jokes spread around?

**biko** · 10-04-2008, 08:56

Tricky one. You think you know people and then something like this happens.
Alt A
You could send the body of the message to HR and ask for them to clarify policy on work mail usage.

Alt B
However, it will not change the mindset of these people. Maybe you should just Reply to All in the mail and tell the original sender straight out what you think about jokes like these? Just to let them know that this stuff is not on. Perhaps other feel the same way as you?

Zulu · 10-04-2008, 09:02

Lets fact it it boils down to this:
You make a stand, hr get the e-mail, everyone is issued a warning, e-mail policies are restricted, you are ostracised.
Bodies may get fired if the mail is sent externally.

...but your moral high ground is maintained.

Your call.

**Das Kitty** · 10-04-2008, 09:04

Maybe I wouldn't have minded so much if it was actually funny, and to be funny there would have to be some truth in the message, which there isn't. The only way you could find it funny is if you agreed with what it was saying.

There's stuff in it like "Me Polish, me no work". Like WTF!

It's basically just listing out racist things, then putting a weak punchline at the end so they can say "it's only a joke"

I was just considering phoning the guy who's running the diversity week and letting him know that a racist email is being circulated.

You're right though, they could crack down on personal use of the email system then, and nobody wins.

I replied to the guy and told him not to forward me on this kind of bull, he just told me he was telling it like it is. Oh man.

The guy who sent it to me used to work with a Nigerian guy (who are also covered in the free-for-all) it's got me wondering if he was just pretending to be friendly with him and truly hated him for not being Irish.

**Das Kitty** · 10-04-2008, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulu

Lets fact it it boils down to this:
You make a stand, hr get the e-mail, everyone is issued a warning, e-mail policies are restricted, you are ostracised.
Bodies may get fired if the mail is sent externally.

...but your moral high ground is maintained.

Your call.

I see what you're saying. But I just need to vent, so I thought I'd do it here first rather than picking up the phone.

Sherifu · 10-04-2008, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Das Kitty

I see what you're saying. But I just need to vent, so I thought I'd do it here first rather than picking up the phone.

Good call tbh. I wouldn't report it. If it's that bad put it down to a bad joke, move on. Some people forward on emails whether they think they're funny or not imo.

**biko** · 10-04-2008, 09:12

Hey if you're not part of the solution you're part of the (xenophobic) problem. There is a time a place for jokes like that and it's not at work.

Actually it's at Lolocaust.

Zulu · 10-04-2008, 09:17

What I'd do is, reply to all the origional e-mail, but add critisims, ie:

"Me Polish, me no work". - 1/10, spelt Polish right, but pathetic attempt at humor.
"other racist crap" - 0/10, etc

Very poor over all effort, I got more fun reading through my daily influx of spam about cheap drugs. Unless I'm missing the part of this e-mail that states: "this is taken from a hick redneck web-site that encourages inter-family sexual relationships" then I'm really lost for words. Sufice to say, Billy/John/Mary, this is the lamest spam e-mail I've ever recieved.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
You go away and think about what you've done.

Ps: dosen't anyone know how to block a moron sender?

- should highlight your position, belittle and shame their's and HR doesn't need to get involved.

Zulu · 10-04-2008, 09:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by biko

Hey if you're not part of the solution you're part of the (xenophobic) problem. There is a time a place for jokes like that and it's not at work.

Actually it's at Lolocaust.

That's true Biko, but reporting it isn't the only solution. You don't need to sacrifice yourself in order to be part of the solution. (see my other point)

**Das Kitty** · 10-04-2008, 09:20

Rang both people who forwarded it to me now and they know what I think, tried to keep my voice from going up but I probably failed.

Asked the first guy why he didn't forward it to his Nigerian "friend" as he does with all his other forwards. "Because he's black". So I told him if he believes this kind of thing he should be open about it and not act friendly to someone's face then peddle this kind of rubbish behind his back.

Don't think I'll be getting any forwards at all from either of them anymore, no loss, it's all rubbish about dying kids needing email forwards and such.

10-04-2008, 08:49	#1
Das Kitty (✿◠‿◠) Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gaillimh Posts: 8,812 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Galway County	Racist "Joke" in Work Email Thought there used to be a work problems forum but I can't find it. This morning I received an incredibly racist joke in an email from a work colleague. It's full of bull about how immigrants are getting loads of handouts and free houses and stuff and then goes on to say how none of them have jobs. Now I've never met a Polish person without a job for a start. Anyway I'm extremely offended that this guy, who I thought I knew, would think I would find this funny (it's not even a mildly amusing joke). Then, just as I'd finished replying to him to ask him not to send me on any racist forwards, I got it again, from someone else, again whom I thought I knew. I'm sitting here raging. The list of people forwarding on this small-minded, inaccurate racist bull is really getting to me. I want to do more. It's supposed to be "Diversity and Inclusion" week here at work. Should I notify HR about it? Now I'm not suggesting naming names or anything. I suppose I'm disheartened that A. So many people think like this, and B. That they think what seems like everyone in their address book feels the same way. cries Last edited by Das Kitty; 10-04-2008 at 12:16. Reason: adding inverted commas ;)

10-04-2008, 09:17	#13
Zulu Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dublin. Posts: 8,376 Adverts \| Friends	What I'd do is, reply to all the origional e-mail, but add critisims, ie: "Me Polish, me no work". - 1/10, spelt Polish right, but pathetic attempt at humor. "other racist crap" - 0/10, etc Very poor over all effort, I got more fun reading through my daily influx of spam about cheap drugs. Unless I'm missing the part of this e-mail that states: "this is taken from a hick redneck web-site that encourages inter-family sexual relationships" then I'm really lost for words. Sufice to say, Billy/John/Mary, this is the lamest spam e-mail I've ever recieved. You should be ashamed of yourself. You go away and think about what you've done. Ps: dosen't anyone know how to block a moron sender? - should highlight your position, belittle and shame their's and HR doesn't need to get involved. Last edited by Zulu; 10-04-2008 at 09:20.

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10-04-2008, 08:49	#2
dudara Category Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dublin Posts: 17,357 Adverts \| Friends CMod: Consumer Issues, Fashion & Appearance, Personal Issues, PI Mods, Biz	Moved to Work Problems. dudara

10-04-2008, 08:51	#3
Das Kitty (✿◠‿◠) Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gaillimh Posts: 8,812 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Galway County	Thanks, now I see where it is.

10-04-2008, 08:51	#4
c - 13 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,135 Adverts \| Friends	It wasa joke. You didnt find it funny. End of story. Do not under any circumstances draw HR into it INHO the **** will really hit the fan if you do, it generally involves tiightening email restrictions etc and the whole staff force will suffer as a result. Just delete it from your inbox and think no more about it.

10-04-2008, 08:52	#5
Zulu Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dublin. Posts: 8,376 Adverts \| Friends	It you report it, you may as well be reporting their names as this can easily be got from the e-mail. It's a pandoras box - do you want to open it?

10-04-2008, 08:53	#6
challengemaster Subscriber Join Date: May 2006 Location: End of girlfriend's whip Posts: 10,828 Adverts \| Friends	You're going to notify the HR about what? Them having a different sense of humour than yourself? That's excatly what it is. Do you get just as uppidy when blonde jokes spread around?

10-04-2008, 08:56	#7
biko Percolator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galway City Posts: 36,837 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Blogs / Wikis / Social Networks, Galway City, Nordic, West, Motoring	Tricky one. You think you know people and then something like this happens. Alt A You could send the body of the message to HR and ask for them to clarify policy on work mail usage. Alt B However, it will not change the mindset of these people. Maybe you should just Reply to All in the mail and tell the original sender straight out what you think about jokes like these? Just to let them know that this stuff is not on. Perhaps other feel the same way as you?

10-04-2008, 09:02	#8
Zulu Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dublin. Posts: 8,376 Adverts \| Friends	Lets fact it it boils down to this: You make a stand, hr get the e-mail, everyone is issued a warning, e-mail policies are restricted, you are ostracised. Bodies may get fired if the mail is sent externally. ...but your moral high ground is maintained. Your call.

10-04-2008, 09:04	#9
Das Kitty (✿◠‿◠) Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gaillimh Posts: 8,812 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Galway County	Maybe I wouldn't have minded so much if it was actually funny, and to be funny there would have to be some truth in the message, which there isn't. The only way you could find it funny is if you agreed with what it was saying. There's stuff in it like "Me Polish, me no work". Like WTF! It's basically just listing out racist things, then putting a weak punchline at the end so they can say "it's only a joke" I was just considering phoning the guy who's running the diversity week and letting him know that a racist email is being circulated. You're right though, they could crack down on personal use of the email system then, and nobody wins. I replied to the guy and told him not to forward me on this kind of bull, he just told me he was telling it like it is. Oh man. The guy who sent it to me used to work with a Nigerian guy (who are also covered in the free-for-all) it's got me wondering if he was just pretending to be friendly with him and truly hated him for not being Irish.

10-04-2008, 09:12	#12
biko Percolator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galway City Posts: 36,837 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Blogs / Wikis / Social Networks, Galway City, Nordic, West, Motoring	Hey if you're not part of the solution you're part of the (xenophobic) problem. There is a time a place for jokes like that and it's not at work. Actually it's at Lolocaust.

10-04-2008, 09:20	#15
Das Kitty (✿◠‿◠) Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gaillimh Posts: 8,812 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Galway County	Rang both people who forwarded it to me now and they know what I think, tried to keep my voice from going up but I probably failed. Asked the first guy why he didn't forward it to his Nigerian "friend" as he does with all his other forwards. "Because he's black". So I told him if he believes this kind of thing he should be open about it and not act friendly to someone's face then peddle this kind of rubbish behind his back. Don't think I'll be getting any forwards at all from either of them anymore, no loss, it's all rubbish about dying kids needing email forwards and such.