The Fine Line Between Racism and Ethnic Banter

MiciG91

I was training for a football team the other night and it was pitch black and there were 2 Africans on the team Lassana,and Kenny i'm good friends with Kenny anyway we were warming down and one of the lads shouts out wheres Kenny cue a everyone laughing including Kenny..After we were told the other lad was offended

Now i think its fairly retarded that something so clearly ment as a joke could upset someone.

How fine is the line between Racism and Ethnic Banter.

amiable

MiciG91 wrote: »

I was training for a football team the other night and it was pitch black and there were 2 Africans on the team Lassana,and Kenny i'm good friends with Kenny anyway we were warming down and one of the lads shouts out wheres Kenny cue a everyone laughing including Kenny..After we were told the other lad was offended

Now i think its fairly retarded that something so clearly ment as a joke could upset someone.

How fine is the line between Racism and Ethnic Banter.

'retarded' is offensive

MiciG91

:rolleyes:

amiable wrote: »

'retarded' is offensive

Cheap Thrills!

...huh?

FearDark

amiable wrote: »

'retarded' is offensive

Only to retards.

amiable

MiciG91 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Well it is. I'm sorry but i find it so and maybe this is what boards is all about to have different opinions but i think that comment was offensive.

JPA

Why were you training in the dark?

Liam Byrne

It was dark, so I'd imagine the "joke" was based on something like this

GLaDOS

It is racist. That's not necessarily a bad thing though (odd as that may sound), as no real offence was intended. I had a great laugh on holidays before with lads who joked about us (Irish) being alco's. Once people know it's all in good fun I think it's alright.

Din Taylor

MiciG91 wrote: »

How fine is the line between Racism and Ethnic Banter.

Really depends on the person and the context. Generally I don't mind being called "paddy" at work by my friends as I'm an easy going person. However if my boss said while giving me orders I would be straight down to the HR department.

questionmark?

Lassana needs to get a sense of humour. :rolleyes:

amiable

FearDark wrote: »

Only to retards.

I'm not retarded and i find it offensive

Fart

Surely Kenny was at the spot where the floating television was. No need to make a joke out of something so obvious.

MiciG91

Ah another time in school he asked the the teacher for a skin colour pencil and the art teacher hadnt a clue what colour to give him so she brought him down both. She looked so awkward and nervous and the two of us were in stitches !

amiable

amiable wrote: »

I'm not retarded and i find it offensive

What are you on about? He called a situation retarded, not a person. There's a difference and you should learn it.

Daemos

I think a lot depends on how well they know you, i.e. a friend will take it as a joke, the way it was intended, whereas others who overhear it might think otherwise.

Example, I was hanging out with a group of friends, one of whom was black. Another made a joke insulting someone by calling him black, which was quickly followed by a very nervous silence and apology, which was accepted.

So yeah, anyway... I forgot what point I was making

amiable

Deleted User wrote: »

What are you on about? He called a situation retarded, not a person. There's a difference and you should learn it.

I find referring to something as 'retarded' as offensive

Cheap Thrills!

Hope he's not reading this thread OP !

Shanotheslayer

Some of my close friends are black and we'd all slag each other as we know it's a bita banther was referred to as ''snowflake'' after one of them heard it out of Prison Break. Although some of my friends don't use the N word and I would never say it to them.

GLaDOS

amiable wrote: »

I find referring to something as 'retarded' as offensive

Mentally retarded is an accepted term though?

4zn76tysfajdxp

amiable wrote: »

I'm not retarded and i find it offensive

Are you sure?

amiable

amiable wrote: »

I find referring to something as 'retarded' as offensive

Fair enough.

longshanks

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

Some of my close friends are black and we'd all slag each other as we know it's a bita banther was referred to as ''snowflake'' after one of them heard it out of Prison Break. Although some of my friends don't use the N word and I would never say it to them.

nigel?

Shanotheslayer

longshanks wrote: »

nigel?

Neighbour

W.Shakes-Beer

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

.... N word and I would never say it to them.

NAGGERS?

MiciG91

longshanks wrote: »

nigel?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmyrEj76zqE&feature=related


I believe naggers was the word you were looking for

Pauleta

Put it this way. You are in the company of some black men and its also snowing. Would you be offended if one of them said hey wheres <insert name here>?

sponsoredwalk

Look if you had an albino friend who stood in front of a white wall and appeared less distinct for a split second your eye would notice. It's not racism it's biology.

I think it's a stupid joke and extremely unfunny in it's childishness but calling this racism is like saying it's racist to notice someone is black, let alone mention it.

bonerm

MiciG91 wrote: »

it was pitch black and there were 2 Africans on the team Lassana,and Kenny i'm good friends with Kenny anyway we were warming down and one of the lads shouts out wheres Kenny cue a everyone laughing including Kenny..After we were told the other lad was offended

Is the rest of your team radioactive or something?

AnonoBoy

DaPoolRulz wrote: »

Example, I was hanging out with a group of friends, one of whom was black. Another made a joke insulting someone by calling him black

Your friends are idiots if they think it's an insult to call someone black.

Overheal

People can go far away if they find the term Retarded offensive. Thats like saying calling something Stupid is offensive.

Now if I go and say "That idea is totally Disabled/Downs Syndrome/Gay", then sure, sue me.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/retardation with special (not Special special) emphasis on definitions 1 and 3.

amiable

Overheal wrote: »

People can go far away if they find the term Retarded offensive. Thats like saying calling something Stupid is offensive.

Now if I go and say "That idea is totally Disabled/Downs Syndrome/Gay", then sure, sue me.

So essentially your opinion is more important

Overheal

amiable wrote: »

So essentially your opinion is more important

I said that where?

Superbus

MiciG91 wrote: »

Ah another time in school he asked the the teacher for a skin colour pencil and the art teacher hadnt a clue what colour to give him so she brought him down both. She looked so awkward and nervous and the two of us were in stitches !

I guarantee that that didn't happen.

ejmaztec

bonerm wrote: »

Is the rest of your team radioactive or something?

They're trying to kill Kenny, the bastards.:eek:

Bonito

That fine line is fine. Anyone know her name?

vodafoneproblem

Din Taylor wrote: »

Really depends on the person and the context. Generally I don't mind being called "paddy" at work by my friends as I'm an easy going person. However if my boss said while giving me orders I would be straight down to the HR department.

This is why I would never want to work in England. So racist! I'm glad you made the point about not accepting it from your boss, though. Still, why would you accept it from your equals in work? Can you call them equally dismissive names back with no consequences?

GLaDOS

vodafoneproblem wrote: »

Can you call them equally dismissive names back with no consequences?

What makes it dismissive, if it isn't said in a dismissive way?

Sharpshooter

MiciG91 wrote: »

I was training for a football team the other night and it was pitch black and there were 2 Africans on the team Lassana,and Kenny i'm good friends with Kenny anyway we were warming down and one of the lads shouts out wheres Kenny cue a everyone laughing including Kenny..After we were told the other lad was offended

Now i think its fairly retarded that something so clearly ment as a joke could upset someone.

How fine is the line between Racism and Ethnic Banter.

amiable wrote: »

'retarded' is offensive

FearDark wrote: »

Only to retards.

amiable wrote: »

Well it is. I'm sorry but i find it so and maybe this is what boards is all about to have different opinions but i think that comment was offensive.

Deleted User wrote: »

What are you on about? He called a situation retarded, not a person. There's a difference and you should learn it.

amiable wrote: »

I find referring to something as 'retarded' as offensive

I'm sorry amiable, but I have to agree with the above posters.
I really dislike racisim but you are not getting what they are saying to you.

The OP said he thought the situation was retarded, and he is entitled to his way of putting his thoughts down.

He did not call anyone retarded.:)