[hondasam]

Originally Posted by ICANN

I always wondered where it came from because I had absolutely no idea!!!

This is where it came from and it's not one bit funny. We are supposed to have a sense of humour and take any old crap that's thrown at us as humour.
I have a sense of humour but only if they person dishing it out can take it as well and the English are not great at seeing the funny imo.

[Paddy Cow]

Used to work in an office and we had an American client who had very little respect for the Irish. She would give out about our accent and how hard it was to understand us, refer to us as "you people" and just generally be a cnut. Her attitude was awful but it was more funny than offensive as she was only letting herself down.

Did the backpacking thing in Australia and I stayed in a small town for awhile because I had a brother there. There wasn't more than 3 or 4 Irish people in the whole town so I was a novelty for them. Most were sound but there were a few gob****es who took it too far asking if I had connections in the IRA and taking the p!ss out of the fact I didn't pronounce my "th's" properly.

[bwatson]

Originally Posted by johngalway

Just like the way I like how the "Empire" followed the British back to Britain and half it's former colonial population is now on benefits and housed by them in Britain, all at British taxpayers expense

Trying to use an group of people as a stick to taunt "the Brits" with? Seems a little classless to me. Not to mention completely ignorant. The Asian population of Britain makes up less than 6% of the population but contributes more than 6% to the British economy for example. Just shows how clueless and how rude you are.

[old hippy]

Originally Posted by woodoo

Next time Kieth Lemon is in Ireland someone should punch him to let him know he has guaranteed another generation of english people will take the piss out of Irish people about potatoes.

And let everyone else know how we can only solve problems with our fists

[ruthloss]

Not to my face, but remarks were made in 'stage whispers' about 'bleeding IRA' and 'Terrorist' in my presence, this was in London.

There is a certain middle class in England who absolutely detest the Irish Nation, they take every opportunity to make snide comments about us, when you pull them up on it, they soon back off. Bastwards!!

[Enkidu]

I never had anything nasty said to me actually.

I did get a funny exchange in Canada once when buying a Pepsi:

Me: Just this please!
Woman behind me in queue: Oh an English accent, I believe in democracy, not the "queen".
Me : (In head:????) Oh, I'm from Ireland actually
Woman: Is that part of France or something, I'm not to fond of the French.
Me: Eh, no it's an island in Northern Europe.
Woman: Oh, you're German, I love Germany.
Me: ?????

As I learned in Canada, a lot of people don't even know what Ireland is, let alone have prejudices towards it.

[indioblack]

Originally Posted by later12

Indeed. And from Welsh Taffs, to Scottish Jocks, to Sassenachs; from West End pretty boys to East end chavs, from plastic cockneys to Norfolk dumplings, Geordies and Scousers, pie eaters and Mickey Mouses, we forget how tribal the UK actually is within itself. I have lived with Scots, English guys and Londoners and heard (and probably made) at least as many jokes about their regions than they did of mine.

Sometimes, poking fun about this kind of thing can just guys' way of getting along. Some people manage to do it with humour, others take it too far sometimes, but it's worth bearing in mind that the Irish are not being targeted specifically. In human history, whenever a people were grouped together, they were immediately characterised with certain traits that in the cold light of day, most people do not take seriously. We're no different to anybody else in these terms.

You left out us carrot-crunchers down here in the south-west!
My old Ma came over from Cork during the war. As a lad growing up here she had a bit of stick fron one neighbour, (from Yorkshire!).
It occasionally happened to me, but since I was born here with a thick Wiltshire accent I gave as good as I got, (inherited my mothers temper!).
I've found that if there is an attitude towards the Irish, it's beneath the surface - and therefore hard to detect and quantify.
Mostly, as has been pointed out, people are generally the same everywhere. I've had my fair share of comments about England when I've visited my Irish relatives.

[Palo Alto]

I originally started studying over at Oxford Uni and was shocked how many people as soon as they heard I was from up North asked me what religion I was without knowing anything else about me. Really got my goat up.

[Bam Bam Mickey]

Only on Xbox Live!!!!!!

[later12]

Originally Posted by Palo Alto

I originally started studying over at Oxford Uni and was shocked how many people as soon as they heard I was from up North asked me what religion I was without knowing anything else about me. Really got my goat up.

I do that with the Northeners as well though.

Well, I don't ask them "what's your religion", because it wasn't a religious conflict. I usually ask them something like who they's be supporting in the football, the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland; or which team they'd be supporting at the Olympics, to give a topical example.

I guess it's because having grown up in the Republic, I find the idea of that sort of everyday, subliminal undercurrent of division between neighbors a little intriguing. It's not like anything we have here in the South, not even between Protestants and Catholics.

[imme]

Originally Posted by kfallon

Also a bunch of us were called 'Paddy wankers' by a guy no taller than 4 foot at a race meeting in England before. He said it as he walked past and said it in such a low tone he didn't think we'd hear but I did. Found it hilarious!

was he a jockey

[cameramonkey]

Originally Posted by Palo Alto

I originally started studying over at Oxford Uni and was shocked how many people as soon as they heard I was from up North asked me what religion I was without knowing anything else about me. Really got my goat up.

what religion are you?

[steelcityblues]

I have gotten a few anti-white comments, which I consider much worse.

[woodoo]

Originally Posted by steelcityblues

I have gotten a few anti-white comments, which I consider much worse.

Shut up cracker

[Augmerson]

Originally Posted by woodoo

Shut up cracker

That's just taking the Ritz.