Taxi fail

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 12:29am #1

Just witnessed another fine moment of humanity from one of Galway's taxi drivers.
Bunch of people just out of gobus and waiting for taxi. 3 women approached a driver who's sign was lit. He told them he was collecting a family member. They turned to wait and hail another one a which point the driver said "just mind not to get one of THEM fellas". He woman asked him what he meant and he clarified "them blacks and Africans - they'll only rip you off".

The woman was looked horrified and one of the girls said they'd report him. Name of company on the side, quite ironic as it means 'friend'. Would leave a bad taste in your mouth, not even a row or when you're IN the car - now they're hawking this bs to passers by??

gordongekko · 28-01-2012 12:32am

inisboffin wrote: »

Just witnessed another fine moment of humanity from one of Galway's taxi drivers.
Bunch of people just out of gobus and waiting for taxi. 3 women approached a driver who's sign was lit. He told them he was collecting a family member. They turned to wait and hail another one a which point the driver said "just mind not to get one of THEM fellas". He woman asked him what he meant and he clarified "them blacks and Africans - they'll only rip you off".

The woman was looked horrified and one of the girls said they'd report him. Name of company on the side, quite ironic as it means 'friend'. Would leave a bad taste in your mouth, not even a row or when you're IN the car - now they're hawking this bs to passers by??

Whats your point?

AG2R · 28-01-2012 12:34am

inisboffin wrote: »

Just witnessed another fine moment of humanity from one of Galway's taxi drivers.
Bunch of people just out of gobus and waiting for taxi. 3 women approached a driver who's sign was lit. He told them he was collecting a family member. They turned to wait and hail another one a which point the driver said "just mind not to get one of THEM fellas". He woman asked him what he meant and he clarified "them blacks and Africans - they'll only rip you off".

The woman was looked horrified and one of the girls said they'd report him. Name of company on the side, quite ironic as it means 'friend'. Would leave a bad taste in your mouth, not even a row or when you're IN the car - now they're hawking this bs to passers by??

I got a taxi, in dublin last night and our taxi man said this to us too. At first I was a little taken back then i just laughed it off.

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 12:46am

gordongekko wrote: »

Whats your point?

I'm disgusted.

Bunch of tourists just off the bus too. First impression of Galway. Wonderful :mad:

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 12:47am

AG2R wrote: »

I got a taxi, in dublin last night and our taxi man said this to us too. At first I was a little taken back then i just laughed it off.

It's not that I haven't heard that cr*p before, I usually do laugh it off and inform the driver that well I won't be using them again:p
But this guys was doing it *on the road* while off duty ffs

BhoscaCapall · 28-01-2012 12:56am

I tend to go for the black drivers, as they're the only ones that don't spew racist drivel. Last ignorant pr*ck I had giving it all that, I pissed in the back of his car. Course I wouldn't advise that sort of behaviour.

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 12:59am

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

I tend to go for the black drivers, as they're the only ones that don't spew racist drivel. Last ignorant pr*ck I had giving it all that, I pissed in the back of his car. Course I wouldn't advise that sort of behaviour.

He'll likely blame the p*ss on a black lad anyway!;)

BhoscaCapall · 28-01-2012 1:11am

inisboffin wrote: »

He'll likely blame the p*ss on a black lad anyway!;)

I'd like to think he now refuses to pick up white people. Sure aren't we all incontinent.

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 1:15am

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

I'd like to think he now refuses to pick up white people. Sure aren't we all incontinent.

At least it's the right continent!

JONJO THE MISER · 28-01-2012 1:21am

I dunno what your point is buddy.

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 1:28am

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

I dunno what your point is buddy.

My point?

My point again is that behaviour like this is pretty repulsive, and never mind the human element, does nothing to encourage tourists to return to Galway and spend their tourist cash.

ben.schlomo · 28-01-2012 1:50am

Racism is the point and anyone who doesn;t get that has a serious problem.
Inisboffin you should have taken his taxi plate number and reported him for it.

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 1:55am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Racism is the point and anyone who doesn;t get that has a serious problem.
Inisboffin you should have taken his taxi plate number and reported him for it.

The people who he spoke to took his plate and afaik were reporting him via phone

JONJO THE MISER · 28-01-2012 2:55am

Some people live a very sheltered life.

inisboffin · 28-01-2012 3:02am

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Some people live a very sheltered life.

Evidently. Otherwise they wouldn't be such d*cks to everyone with a different skin colour.

gordongekko · 28-01-2012 8:34am

I was outside supermacs and said to someone not to go in there that they will rip you off. Im clearly a racist

mrsweebri · 28-01-2012 9:35am

gordongekko wrote: »

I was outside supermacs and said to someone not to go in there that they will rip you off. Im clearly a racist

I see this kind of logic (lack of) so often. If you said, don't go into supermacs - one particular Irish business- this is a comment on the one business, not racism. If you say, don't use that black/African taxi driver, that is a comment on an individual, not racism.

If you say, don't use Irish businesses, that is a general comment based on nationality. This is xenophobia/racism. If you say, don't use black or African taxi driverS, that is a derogatory and damaging comment based on race and is racism.

I know you're IRISH, but It's not that hard. (get it yet?)

gordongekko · 28-01-2012 9:55am

mrsweebri wrote: »

I see this kind of logic (lack of) so often. If you said, don't go into supermacs - one particular Irish business- this is a comment on the one business, not racism. If you say, don't use that black/African taxi driver, that is a comment on an individual, not racism.

If you say, don't use Irish businesses, that is a general comment based on nationality. This is xenophobia/racism. If you say, don't use black or African taxi driverS, that is a derogatory and damaging comment based on race and is racism.

I know you're IRISH, but It's not that hard. (get it yet?)

The taxi driver was just giving his opinion. He was just giving a visitor to our fine city advise, its up to them to either accept it or not. It was not racism. The racism card is played all the time. This was not racism just friendly advise.

mikemac1 · 28-01-2012 10:01am

inisboffin wrote: »

The woman was looked horrified

She's a fragile soul, easily upset

Taximan was just giving his opinion

ben.schlomo · 28-01-2012 10:05am

gordongekko wrote: »

The taxi driver was just giving his opinion. He was just giving a visitor to our fine city adviCe, its up to them to either accept it or not. It was not racism. The racism card is played all the time. This was not racism just friendly adviCe.

FYP.

And the way inisboffin tells it clearly shows this wasnt a case of 'oh he will rip you off there, your man from cab company x' he clearly meant that it was his his skin colour which would lead to him ripping you off. If you cant see that then there really is something wrong with you.

mrsweebri · 28-01-2012 10:15am

Taximan was just giving his opinion[/Quote]

Correct. A racist opinion. Racism and opinion are not mutually exclusive. For example, one could say "in my opinion, Irish people are particularly stupid." This is a racist opinion, one which people on this thread are doing a spectacular job of perpetuating. In my opinion.

gordongekko · 28-01-2012 10:19am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

FYP.

And the way inisboffin tells it clearly shows this wasnt a case of 'oh he will rip you off there, your man from cab company x' he clearly meant that it was his his skin colour which would lead to him ripping you off. If you cant see that then there really is something wrong with you.

Most of us here have been overcharged by both white and black taxi drivers at some stage. Unfortunately most of the time it happpens is late at night when im on the way home from a pub so once drink is involved you dont have a leg to stand on.

So i use either of the 2 biggest taxi companies anymore. Do i get overcharged. Yes it does happen every now and again. But at least now i have comeback as i can ring and complain. Do i have that option with most of the Black taxi drivers. NO because a lot of them are not involved with a cab company. Do i tell people to use the 2 biggest companies because of my experiences. Yes. Does this made me a racist. HELL NO. IM JUST GIVING AN OPINION JUST LIKE THE TAXI DRIVER WAS TO THE TOURISTS.

mrsweebri · 28-01-2012 10:26am

gordongekko wrote: »

So i use either of the 2 biggest taxi companies anymore. Do i get overcharged. Yes it does happen every now and again. But at least now i have comeback as i can ring and complain. Do i have that option with most of the Black taxi drivers. NO because a lot of them are not involved with a cab company. Do i tell people to use the 2 biggest companies because of my experiences. Yes. Does this made me a racist. HELL NO. IM JUST GIVING AN OPINION JUST LIKE THE TAXI DRIVER WAS TO THE TOURISTS.

Ah well now that you've shouted your point it can't be racism.

Indeed, advising one to use a reputable company which happens to be all or mostly white is not racism, because the advice is based on the good reputation of the company and skin colour is incidental. This is quite different from advising one not to use black drivers because (in your opinion) they are unlikely to be working for a reputable company. If this is the essence of your opinion, then the advice should have been, use a reputable company, or don't use drivers who are not with a reputable company. Quite different from giving the racist opinion that one should avoid black taxi drivers because they will rip you off. Or should I have put all that in caps for you?

gordongekko · 28-01-2012 10:29am

mrsweebri wrote: »

Ah well now that you've shouted your point it can't be racism.

Indeed, advising one to use a reputable company which happens to be all or mostly white is not racism, because the advice is based on the good reputation of the company and skin colour is incidental. This is quite different from advising one not to use black drivers because (in your opinion) they are unlikely to be working for a reputable company. If this is the essence of your opinion, then the advice should have been, use a reputable company, or don't use drivers who are not with a reputable company. Quite different from giving the racist opinion that one should avoid black taxi drivers because they will rip you off. Or should I have put all that in caps for you?

So we are agreed it was not racism. HAPPY DAYS

mrsweebri · 28-01-2012 10:29am

BTW does anyone else hear "the race card" card as an increasingly common precursor to an invariably racist opinion?

elefant · 28-01-2012 10:32am

gordongekko wrote: »

So we are agreed it was not racism. HAPPY DAYS

It looks as blatantly racist as it gets to me. I'm slightly bemused as to how someone can construe 'Don't use a black taxi driver' as non-racist.

mrsweebri · 28-01-2012 10:33am

gordongekko wrote: »

[
So we are agreed it was not racism. HAPPY DAYS

I agree that your eventual explanation does not appear racist. I don't agree that the original post was not racism. Because there was no mention of a reputable company, only a reference to black cab drivers ripping people off. Clearly racism.

Mr. Presentable · 28-01-2012 10:36am

OP, why were you following these tourists so closely?

actuallylike · 28-01-2012 10:40am

Just a thought here, but I know of a lot of people who say they have gotten ripped off by black taxi drivers, so much so that they refuse to get taxis with them based on these experiences. Of course, they're hesitant to say it because of the accusations of racism. Now I assume that majority of black taxi drivers are from Nigeria, if all Nigerians were white would there be as much of an issue? I don't think this taxi driver had it in for the others because of the colour of their skin but more so what country they were from. I've read and heard from countless sources that the Nigerian's attitude can be very different from ours, sometimes aggressive, etc. (that counsellor for instance who refused to meet with them). Is that what he was suggesting rather than a direct attack on all black people world wide (obviously distastefully put but what ya gonna do)?

amdublin · 28-01-2012 10:41am

gordongekko wrote: »

The taxi driver was just giving his opinion. He was just giving a visitor to our fine city advise, its up to them to either accept it or not. It was not racism. The racism card is played all the time. This was not racism just friendly advise.

^^^
complete bullsh1t

Fine if the taxi driver had said "don't go without fella there we have proof he overcharges people"

Instead he applied a blanket charge to a whole race. Based on what?? His racist opinion.

Your fine city does not sound so fine in this story about this particular guy spewing his xenophobic opinions. And you defending it.

Motorist · 28-01-2012 10:49am

Have had 5 bad experiences with taxis over the past 3 years.

1. Irish driver who took me up the M50 to the airport (added around 12 euro to the fare) and missed turn off for airport. The guy was a bit insane talking about magic tricks and was trying to speak foreign languages to me.

2. African driver on Aungier St who would not take me to my destination because it was not far enough (against taxi regulations)

3. African driver on Camden St who would not take me to my destination because it was not far enough (against taxi regulations)

4. African driver who did not know where Connolly train station was from Rathmines. I had to tell him every single turn to take.

5. African driver who brought me from James Street down to the Quays before crossing back over the Liffey to bring me up to Dame Street. Totally unnecessary.

I still jump into the first taxi I see on the rank. I think it's important though that you know your route as some times taxi drivers take mad routes - whether there is a cynical motive behind this or a lack of route knowledge, I dont know. It's also good to know that a taxi driver is obliged to take you to any destination 30km or less.

(Apologies for the Dublin references, just noticed this is the Galway forum)

mikemac1 · 28-01-2012 11:04am

Cúirt Na Rásaí my good man

The looks I get back, they think I'm mad

Right, Ballybrit so. I wasn't trying to confuse you, no need for the blank and confused look

Some of the drivers struggle mightily with the estate names. Ok sir, I'll direct every step of the way, sigh

dilallio · 28-01-2012 11:12am

gordongekko wrote: »

Most of us here have been overcharged by both white and black taxi drivers at some stage. Unfortunately most of the time it happpens is late at night when im on the way home from a pub so once drink is involved you dont have a leg to stand on.

So i use either of the 2 biggest taxi companies anymore. Do i get overcharged. Yes it does happen every now and again. But at least now i have comeback as i can ring and complain. Do i have that option with most of the Black taxi drivers. NO because a lot of them are not involved with a cab company. Do i tell people to use the 2 biggest companies because of my experiences. Yes. Does this made me a racist. HELL NO. IM JUST GIVING AN OPINION JUST LIKE THE TAXI DRIVER WAS TO THE TOURISTS.

I've been blatently overcharged 5 times in 25 years in Galway.

4 of these times have been using cabs from the 2 biggest companies in town.

If you think you are been overcharged, before you get into an argument with the driver, just ask them for a receipt with the starting location, end location, price, date & time, and their name & number. They are obliged to give you this information. Get this before you hand over any money.

Some taxi drivers will threaten to take you to a Garda station if you complain about a fare, but if you have the receipt, and even if you're drunk, a proper filled receipt will prove your case. Without a receipt, it's the word of a drunk person vs. a sober person.

The last time it happened to me, the driver told me if I didn't pay the full amount he would take me to Mill St Garda station. I showed him the receipt and asked him to take me there and we could let the Gardai decide. He then told me to f**k off out of his taxi and drove off without taking any money.

If you pick up a cab on the street, make sure that the meter is only started after you get in. Once the extras have been added, the meter shouldn't start increasing until 1km has passed. If it starts going up sooner, then the driver may have the meter running before you get in.

Fuinseog · 28-01-2012 11:18am

gordongekko wrote: »

Whats your point?

probably that all Irish taxi drivers are racist.

Fuinseog · 28-01-2012 11:22am

Motorist wrote: »

Have had 5 bad experiences with taxis over the past 3 years.

1. Irish driver who took me up the M50 to the airport (added around 12 euro to the fare) and missed turn off for airport. The guy was a bit insane talking about magic tricks and was trying to speak foreign languages to me.

2. African driver on Aungier St who would not take me to my destination because it was not far enough (against taxi regulations)

3. African driver on Camden St who would not take me to my destination because it was not far enough (against taxi regulations)

4. African driver who did not know where Connolly train station was from Rathmines. I had to tell him every single turn to take.

5. African driver who brought me from James Street down to the Quays before crossing back over the Liffey to bring me up to Dame Street. Totally unnecessary.

I still jump into the first taxi I see on the rank. I think it's important though that you know your route as some times taxi drivers take mad routes - whether there is a cynical motive behind this or a lack of route knowledge, I dont know. It's also good to know that a taxi driver is obliged to take you to any destination 30km or less.

(Apologies for the Dublin references, just noticed this is the Galway forum)

regarding point number 4 if he had a D sticker on his cab he should know his way around Dublin. I have encountered several non national taxidrivers in Galway who do not know their way around. they should have to do a basic test.there should be some kind of standards.

ben.schlomo · 28-01-2012 11:22am

Fuinseog wrote: »

probably that all Irish taxi drivers are racist.

Not all but a % would be just like there is a % in Irish society at large, as can be seen in this thread to a lesser degree. Maybe racism is too strong for whats being said here but certainly racial ignorance is being demonstrated.

ben.schlomo · 28-01-2012 11:24am

Fuinseog wrote: »

regarding point number 4 if he had a D sticker on his cab he should know his way around Dublin. I have encountered several non national taxidrivers in Galway who do not know their way around. they should have to do a basic test.there should be some kind of standards.

Agreed that there should be a basic standard but the customer can contact the regulator and report any driver they are unhappy with. Its simple really.

Fuinseog · 28-01-2012 11:26am

mikemac1 wrote: »

Cúirt Na Rásaí my good man

The looks I get back, they think I'm mad

Right, Ballybrit so. I wasn't trying to confuse you, no need for the blank and confused look

Some of the drivers struggle mightily with the estate names. Ok sir, I'll direct every step of the way, sigh

some estates just have a Gaelic name.
I just usually mention a landmark in the vicinity, if they do not know that I get out. I do not trust some dude who is just in galway taxidriving for the weekend. support the local boys who live here.

Fuinseog · 28-01-2012 11:28am

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

I tend to go for the black drivers, as they're the only ones that don't spew racist drivel. Last ignorant pr*ck I had giving it all that, I pissed in the back of his car. Course I wouldn't advise that sort of behaviour.

thats it. blacks are incapable of being racist. its only whites that be ever racist black taxi drivers are beyond reproach. only a racist would criticise them.

Fuinseog · 28-01-2012 11:36am

mrsweebri wrote: »

I see this kind of logic (lack of) so often. If you said, don't go into supermacs - one particular Irish business- this is a comment on the one business, not racism. If you say, don't use that black/African taxi driver, that is a comment on an individual, not racism.

If you say, don't use Irish businesses, that is a general comment based on nationality. This is xenophobia/racism. If you say, don't use black or African taxi driverS, that is a derogatory and damaging comment based on race and is racism.

I know you're IRISH, but It's not that hard. (get it yet?)

maybe the taxidriver was trying to give the OP some friendly advice. there are some normal black taxi drivers and there are some cowboys. taxidrivers are at the coalface every night. they see life differently.
I find it funny how irish people hate tinkers but will pounce on you if criticise blacks.
in any case i am not sure how much of a debate can take place here. the last time I criticised black taxi drivers for parking on double yellow lines outside cps I was banned.

Fuinseog · 28-01-2012 11:38am

ben.schlomo wrote: »

Not all but a % would be just like there is a % in Irish society at large, as can be seen in this thread to a lesser degree. Maybe racism is too strong for whats being said here but certainly racial ignorance is being demonstrated.

shock horror. There are people in Galway who are intolerant and dislike other races. i was in America sharing a taxi with well heeled, well educated Americans who openly used the term 'nnigger' and no eyebrows were raised. I was shocked, though here he same ind of people would be horrified by he usage of the n word, but would not have a problem referring to members of the travelling community as 'knackers'.
how would Galway cab drivers in Nigeria fare? Even if they were not kidnapped the locals would resent outsiders coming in taking their business. it s the same the world over.

mikemac1 · 28-01-2012 11:46am

I avoid the taxis with Mayo GAA stickers, a good few of them around

Run them out of town :mad:

Fuinseog · 28-01-2012 11:50am

mikemac1 wrote: »

I avoid the taxis with Mayo GAA stickers, a good few of them around

Run them out of town :mad:

do they have a G sticker or are they just working here the weekends?

amdublin · 28-01-2012 11:51am

Fuinseog wrote: »

I find it funny how irish people hate tinkers.....

Excuse me!

Speak for yourself please.

biko · 28-01-2012 12:02pm

OP have got their point across. If someone from the taxi company in question wants to respond PM me.

Taxi fail

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