How xenophobic is Ireland?

LolaLuv

As you can tell from my sig, I'm leaving the US for Dublin in about a month. I've never been and I must say some threads on boards are scaring the crap out of me. I've heard lots of good things about the Irish attitude towards foreigners, but as the time approaches I'm paying more attention to the bad and now I'm petrified that I'll spend the next year of my life with no enjoyable contact with the Irish! I'm not a big supporter of America myself, so I don't get bothered by people pointing out the flaws in American culture (as long as it's legit). I'm more afraid that people are going to hear an accent and immediately start abusing me personally for being American.

Anyway, I'd like to know what I'm in for so I can brace myself. All feedback will be appreciated.

Quazzie

Don't worry, Come on over!!

Grabs pitch fork

Dudess

Don't worry - you're white, western, English speaking and speak with an accent that's very familiar to us due to the saturation of American television shows/films.
You won't even be considered a "foreigner"...

genericgoon

You come from an affluent country so you'll only get a slight slagging. See only people from poor countries are threatening our jobs. :P :pac:

As long as you're not black or eastern european, you'll be grand.

The guy

American's aren't going to receive as much racism (or any really) as black people, muslim and eastern europeans.

thefinalstage

Ireland is a grand place but Americans usually have a problem here mainly because they have weird dating rules and generally have no sense of humor.

That said we slag each other to bits and we just want immigrants to feel like one of te gang!

You will be grand. Don't worry

LolaLuv

But I am worried! Maybe it's just from all the stress from preparing for an international move, but I have lived in Japan, India, and France and have never been so concerned as I am about Ireland. I keep hearing horror stories!

metaoblivia

Don't worry Pillypen! I've traveled and lived outside the US, in the UK and most recently Australia. I found that if you were nice, most people were nice right back. The ones who had never been to the US were very curious and asked a lot of sincere questions. I was never made to feel looked down upon or anything. I hope that helps!

LolaLuv

thelastangryman wrote: »

Ireland is a grand place but Americans usually have a problem here mainly because they have weird dating rules and generally have no sense of humor.

That said we slag each other to bits and we just want immigrants to feel like one of te gang!

You will be grand. Don't worry

Lol, what weird dating rules? I don't mind slagging, I have balls of steel and love to bitch about America so that will be a great time. I'm more worried about being written off because of being an American.

LolaLuv

metaoblivia wrote: »

Don't worry Pillypen! I've traveled and lived outside the US, in the UK and most recently Australia. I found that if you were nice, most people were nice right back. The ones who had never been to the US were very curious and asked a lot of sincere questions. I was never made to feel looked down upon or anything. I hope that helps!

That does help. I probably am over-reacting, but a few posts on the gold medal count thread scared the hell out of me.

Edit: It wasn't the Olympics thread, it was the "Ireland is the nicest country eva" thread.

Overheal

oh weird dating rules. you know. weird. like, instead of "making love to a young woman", you "shag a bird raw". And alcoholism has a somewhat more lateral definition. And yea you are going to get slagged for that accent just a bit.

Oh and let the Guinness settle before you drink it. thats important

brianthebard

PillyPen wrote: »

But I am worried! Maybe it's just from all the stress from preparing for an international move, but I have lived in Japan, India, and France and have never been so concerned as I am about Ireland. I keep hearing horror stories!

Srsly??? Three of the most xenophobic countries you could've lived in imo. You will get digs about wars and bush, even if you don't support him, sorry but thats just how it is. Otherwise its not like anyone will snub you because you are American.

PillyPen wrote: »

Lol, what weird dating rules? I don't mind slagging, I have balls of steel and love to bitch about America so that will be a great time. I'm more worried about being written off because of being an American.

Irish people don't "date" as such, they meet up, casually shag for a while and then boom you're a couple.

FruitLover

We're not xenophobic, it's them bleedin' fordnors.

metaoblivia

PillyPen wrote: »

That does help. I probably am over-reacting, but a few posts on the gold medal count thread scared the hell out of me.

Edit: It wasn't the Olympics thread, it was the "Ireland is the nicest country eva" thread.

What people say and how they present themselves on the internet is very different from how they present themselves in real life. Anonymity does wonders for some people...
That said, you will get slagged on bit, but it's all in good fun. From reading your posts, you take that well, so I don't think you'll have a problem. :cool:

LolaLuv

brianthebard wrote: »

Srsly??? Three of the most xenophobic countries you could've lived in imo. You will get digs about wars and bush, even if you don't support him, sorry but thats just how it is. Otherwise its not like anyone will snub you because you are American.

Exactly, I don't know why I'm so worried when I handled those three just fine. I didn't go on boards before I went to the other three, maybe that's why. :rolleyes:

LolaLuv

FruitLover wrote: »

We're not xenophobic, it's them bleedin' fordnors.

Lol, sounds like an American. Maybe things won't be so bad after all.

thefinalstage

PillyPen wrote: »

Lol, what weird dating rules? I don't mind slagging, I have balls of steel and love to bitch about America so that will be a great time. I'm more worried about being written off because of being an American.

All I know is I can never get a smile out of Any American girls and others in the same group are in stitches.

Balls of steel? If you are male you will slot in nicely and you will have a niche market with the ladies if you are a woman I'm sure you can make a slot somewhere....:P

LolaLuv

metaoblivia wrote: »

What people say and how they present themselves on the internet is very different from how they present themselves in real life. Anonymity does wonders for some people...
That said, you will get slagged on bit, but it's all in good fun. From reading your posts, you take that well, so I don't think you'll have a problem. :cool:

I think you're right it is just boards. And if the slagging they do on boards is the same sort of slagging they do in person I can handle that. But not making a single Irish friend the whole time sounds awful!

thelastangryman wrote: »

All I know is I can never get a smile out of Any American girls and others in the same group are in stitches.

Balls of steel? If you are male you will slot in nicely and you will have a niche market with the ladies if you are a woman I'm sure you can make a slot somewhere....:P

I wonder why that is about American girls. I'm always loling at boards, maybe the Irish sense of humor gets predictable or something? Our sense of humor is really odd, but I guess every country's is when you look at it.

I'm a woman. Women with steel balls ftw!

thefinalstage

PillyPen wrote: »

I think you're right it is just boards. And if the slagging they do on boards is the same sort of slagging they do in person I can handle that. But not making a single Irish friend the whole time sounds awful!



I wonder why that is about American girls. I'm always loling at boards, maybe the Irish sense of humor gets predictable or something? Our sense of humor is really odd, but I guess every country's is when you look at it.

I'm a woman. Women with steel balls ftw!

So your a hermaphrodite? A cyborg hermaphrodite...

jells bells

Hi PillyPen,

I'm from Chicago...living in Dublin for over four years now and love it. As above, you won't be written off for being American. If some individual has a problem with it, do you really care what they think of you anyway?

By and large people don't think twice if they hear that you're American and often times then tell you about how much they like to visit/when they sold icees on the Jersey shore on a J1.

Dating is different...the sense of humour is different...but it's all good fun figuring these things out. Kinda. Sorta.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or want to chat

thefinalstage

jells bells wrote: »

Hi PillyPen,

I'm from Chicago...living in Dublin for over four years now and love it. As above, you won't be written off for being American. If some individual has a problem with it, do you really care what they think of you anyway?

By and large people don't think twice if they hear that you're American and often times then tell you about how much they like to visit/when they sold icees on the Jersey shore on a J1.

Dating is different...the sense of humour is different...but it's all good fun figuring these things out. Kinda. Sorta.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or want to chat

Smooth, like toothpaste. You can pm me too pilly! I'll gladly play with your balls! Oh, wait....

Rowley Birkin QC

No more xenephobic than a country that practised segregation based on race up to about 50 years ago I'd imagine.

Yeah, I went there.

jells bells

thelastangryman wrote: »

Smooth, like toothpaste. You can pm me too pilly! I'll gladly play with your balls! Oh, wait....

That's how they do it back home...watch and learn angryman.

But I'm a woman too btw, and not so inclined...

thefinalstage

bigkev49 wrote: »

No more xeenephobic than a country that practised segragation based on race up to about 50 years ago I'd imagine.

Yeah, I went there.

We became a state 80 odd years ago. From start to end thats pretty short!

jells bells wrote: »

That's how they do it back home...watch and learn angryman.

But I'm a woman too btw, and not so inclined...

Thats how I do it here . Why muddle your intentions? You must have tried it to know you don't like it .

jells bells

thelastangryman wrote: »

Thats how I do it here . Why muddle your intentions? You must have tried it to know you don't like it .

Hazy memories of mardi gras circa age 19. That's all I'm saying...

Overheal

bigkev49 wrote: »

No more xeenephobic than a country that practised segragation based on race up to about 50 years ago I'd imagine.

Yeah, I went there.

When did we stop?

brianthebard

thelastangryman wrote: »

We became a state 80 odd years ago. From start to end thats pretty short!

Think kev meant the US.

thefinalstage

jells bells wrote: »

Hazy memories of mardi gras circa age 19. That's all I'm saying...

You can't give a taster like that, this is not a supermarket and you are not selling ice cream. Dish the dirt .

LolaLuv

jells bells wrote: »

Hi PillyPen,

I'm from Chicago...living in Dublin for over four years now and love it. As above, you won't be written off for being American. If some individual has a problem with it, do you really care what they think of you anyway?

By and large people don't think twice if they hear that you're American and often times then tell you about how much they like to visit/when they sold icees on the Jersey shore on a J1.

Dating is different...the sense of humour is different...but it's all good fun figuring these things out. Kinda. Sorta.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or want to chat

Oh, that's such a relief. I will PM you, I'd like to hear more about the differences in humor and dating and such. Thanks!

thelastangryman wrote: »

Smooth, like toothpaste. You can pm me too pilly! I'll gladly play with your balls! Oh, wait....

I'll PM you too, but it will just be an awkward silence.

bigkev49 wrote: »

No more xeenephobic than a country that practised segragation based on race up to about 50 years ago I'd imagine.

Yeah, I went there.

Ooh, social rebel we have here! How brazen of you. :P Yeah, America sucks, but that's not what I'm asking.

Rowley Birkin QC

Well George Wallace in '63 springs to mind. I know it's an extreme example.

Anyway thats the end of my sh!t stirring for this evening.

thefinalstage

PillyPen wrote: »

I'll PM you too, but it will just be an awkward silence.

Just like every other conversation I have had

Beruthiel

PillyPen wrote: »

As you can tell from my sig, I'm leaving the US for Dublin in about a month. I've never been and I must say some threads on boards are scaring the crap out of me. I've heard lots of good things about the Irish attitude towards foreigners.

This site doesn't really reflect your day to day dealings with people. What's said on this site can be exteem.
I have an American friend who tells anyone who asks that she Canadian. She got fed up explaining Bush.
So apart from having to explain your government, you'll be grand.

gcgirl

The guy wrote: »

American's aren't going to receive as much racism (or any really) as black people, muslim and eastern europeans.

Unless your BONO with his lovely American accent!

Overheal

gcgirl wrote: »

Unless your BONO with his lovely American accent!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY3NxPMYaAw

LolaLuv

Beruthiel wrote: »

This site doesn't really reflect your day to day dealings with people. What's said on this site can be exteem.
I have an American friend who tells anyone who asks that she Canadian. She got fed up explaining Bush.
So apart from having to explain your government, you'll be grand.

Wow, what did they want her to explain? What an embarrassment he is. Thank god he's almost out, although I'm not sure his replacement will be any better.

biko

It'll be like moving from USA to Canada. You'll have to take some slagging until people get used to you.
Dublin is full of white/black/brown foreigners anyway so no-one will pay much attention.

At least you're not a muck savage

Overheal

I lived among the muck savages. they werent all that bad tbh. its when you get stabbed or shot in limerick that you start running into the troubles.

Earthhorse

Overheal wrote: »

I lived among the muck savages. they werent all that bad tbh. its when you get stabbed or shot in limerick that you start running into the troubles.

Don't mind him, he's only a yank.

The troubles were mostly confined to the North.

Beruthiel

PillyPen wrote: »

Wow, what did they want her to explain? What an embarrassment he is.

I suppose after th 50th time of having to discuss American politics, she got tired of it.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Dudess wrote: »

Don't worry - you're white, western, English speaking and speak with an accent that's very familiar to us due to the saturation of American television shows/films.
You won't even be considered a "foreigner"...

Presses 'Booooo' button.

OP, no matter what race, creed or colour you'll find a very warm welcome here in Ireland.

Overheal

hot lead has that effect

LolaLuv

biko wrote: »

It'll be like moving from USA to Canada. You'll have to take some slagging until people get used to you.
Dublin is full of white/black/brown foreigners anyway so no-one will pay much attention.

At least you're not a muck savage

That puts it into perspective pretty well. Canadians are so damn nice. God love 'em, it's a shame they have to copy everything America does. :pac:

Overheal wrote: »

I lived among the muck savages. they werent all that bad tbh. its when you get stabbed or shot in limerick that you start running into the troubles.

I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm not looking it up because I have the feeling it will not ease my worried mind.

Ronan|Raven

Please do not take the ****e that is posted on this forum as a view to the irish mindset.

LolaLuv

Ronan|Raven wrote: »

Please do not take the ****e that is posted on this forum as a view to the irish mindset.

I'm not going by what the Irish are saying because that hasn't been an issue at all really. I'm more worried about what the foreigners are saying about their experiences in Ireland. It was just that one thread and I do think I was due for a pre-departure freakout.

inforfun

I am not Irish myself but managed to live here for 6 years now.
You ll get the occasional dipstick that tells you that you have his job, live in his house bla bla bla.
Other than that it is all fine.
I found out pretty soon that it is actually pretty easy here. There only 2 groups of people here: Complete a55holes and really nice people.
The last group is the majority.
And it seems there is nothing in between and you ll find out in minutes if not seconds to what group someone belongs.

As for going out... i found this thread earlier
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055364640

Might come in handy.

Good luck!

Overheal

without fail, everytime im ready to take a flight I hear about a plane crash on the news, or the history channel does an all day marathon of air crash investigations. youre just excitable, chillax.

Earthhorse

PillyPen wrote: »

I'm not going by what the Irish are saying because that hasn't been an issue at all really. I'm more worried about what the foreigners are saying about their experiences in Ireland. It was just that one thread and I do think I was due for a pre-departure freakout.

There really isn't much to worry about. We do have some antiquated laws though. For instance, as a foreigner you are obliged to hand over 50% of your earnings to a native of your choice.

Tell you what though, select me and I promise to only keep 25%.

ejmaztec

As long as you don't ask anyone for money, wash windscreens or clone ATM cards, you'll be fine.

LolaLuv

ejmaztec wrote: »

As long as you don't ask anyone for money, wash windscreens or clone ATM cards, you'll be fine.

What else would I be going abroad for? Thanks for killing the dream, man.

Overheal

oh yeah ATMs... cover the keypad with your wallet when you punch in your pin. feckers with their cameras.