Reinforcing Irish Stereotypes

QuantumP

On Friday I was on a train from Chester to Manchester and an Irish fella got on, he must have been in his mid 40's. He was rocking a scar on his face, a baseball cap, an addidas tracksuit top, the works. He looked like an older version of Nidge. When he was putting his bag down, in his Dublin twang he said to the people beside him "careful that doesn't drip on ye, there's some cu*ts head in there" and started laughing.

He tried to talk to everyone near him but just ended up talking at them, in between his phonecalls where he reminded "Skyeyes" to remember to "bring the apple in the morning" and a less cryptic instruction to "burn on that f*cking car". I have never seen a bigger scumbag in my life and cringed at every word that came out of his mouth. When he left the carriage the locals laughed and sighed with relief and made jokes about him being a "typical Irish son".

My brother popped his head up to defend us and said "we're not all like that" but the damage was done. I used to think the Irish stereotype was unfair but now I'm not so sure.Anyone else ever experience anything similar? Are we really that bad?

whirlpool

QuantumP wrote: »

On Friday I was on a train from Chester to Manchester and an Irish fella got on, he must have been in his mid 40's. He was rocking a scar on his face, a baseball cap, an addidas tracksuit top, the works. He looked like an older version of Nidge. When he was putting his bag down, in his Dublin twang he said to the people beside him "careful that doesn't drip on ye, there's some cu*ts head in there" and started laughing.

He tried to talk to everyone near him but just ended up talking at them, in between his phonecalls where he reminded "Skyeyes" to remember to "bring the apple in the morning" and a less cryptic instruction to "burn on that f*cking car". I have never seen a bigger scumbag in my life and cringed at every word that came out of his mouth. When he left the carriage the locals laughed and sighed with relief and made jokes about him being a "typical Irish son".

It's not typical, though.

QuantumP wrote: »

My brother popped his head up to defend us and said "we're not all like that" but the damage was done. I used to think the Irish stereotype was unfair but now I'm not so sure.Anyone else ever experience anything similar? Are we really that bad?

Nope.

better call saul

Fcuk off ya innocent fool ya junkiesbaastard ye

4zn76tysfajdxp

Oh sure, you think he's a scumbag. Remember, though, he was the one cracking jokes with everyone highlighting good communication skills and phoning all of his buddies for some goss because he has a healthy and active social life. Who's the real happy one here?

Ruu

Adidas top, workout gear, healthy eater by the sounds of it. Seems like a fine athlete in the making. Why do you always have to hurt?

Hachiko

he was just a scum bag, dont worry there are lots in the UK also.

The Dagda

QuantumP wrote: »

On Friday I was on a train from Chester to Manchester and an Irish fella got on, he must have been in his mid 40's. He was rocking a scar on his face, a baseball cap, an addidas tracksuit top, the works. He looked like an older version of Nidge. When he was putting his bag down, in his Dublin twang he said to the people beside him "careful that doesn't drip on ye, there's some cu*ts head in there" and started laughing.

He tried to talk to everyone near him but just ended up talking at them, in between his phonecalls where he reminded "Skyeyes" to remember to "bring the apple in the morning" and a less cryptic instruction to "burn on that f*cking car". I have never seen a bigger scumbag in my life and cringed at every word that came out of his mouth. When he left the carriage the locals laughed and sighed with relief and made jokes about him being a "typical Irish son".

My brother popped his head up to defend us and said "we're not all like that" but the damage was done. I used to think the Irish stereotype was unfair but now I'm not so sure.Anyone else ever experience anything similar? Are we really that bad?

Does it annoy you that your brother got all the brains and balls?!

donegal__road

yep, everywhere Ive been in the world, Ireland is immediately associated with excessive drinking.. I have often noticed that I was being used as the excuse to 'take out the bottle of hard stuff, the Irish guy is here'... and then feeling almost obligated to participate in a binge of Grappa or some such, so as to not let down my country by not living up to our stereotype...

QuantumP

The Dagda wrote: »

Does it annoy you that your brother got all the brains and balls?!

Out of fear of our pal Nidge overhearing and stabbing me I kept my mouth shut -

Balls: Maybe
Brains: I don't think so

The Dagda

QuantumP wrote: »

Out of fear of our pal Nidge overhearing and stabbing me I kept my mouth shut -

Balls: Maybe
Brains: I don't think so

And yet both you and your brother survived and you were able to relate this dubitable tale.

Huzzah.

Last_Minute

90% of the alcohol consumed in Ireland is drank by 10% of the population.

QuantumP

The Dagda wrote: »

And yet both you and your brother survived and you were able to relate this dubitable tale.

Huzzah.

You seem like a lovely person

The Dagda

Last_Minute wrote: »

90% of the alcohol consumed in Ireland is drank by 10% of the population.

What about the alcohol in Chester?

The Dagda

QuantumP wrote: »

You seem like a lovely person

Thank you.

Your brother is lucky to have you.

ElChe32

Elmo is a rat

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Is the Irish stereotype scumbaggy? The hard-drinking stereotype is very prevalent and has a biteen of a basis in fact, but I thought it was more along the lines of your hard-drinking leprechauns/terrorists than your hard-drinking scobeys.

QuantumP

Alina Poor Mud wrote: »

Is the Irish stereotype scumbaggy? The hard-drinking stereotype is very prevalent and has a biteen of a basis in fact, but I thought it was more along the lines of your hard-drinking leprechauns/terrorists than your hard-drinking scobeys.

I think in the UK it would be along the lines of the pikey/alcoholic stereotype. There's lots of Irish travellers in the UK and whenever I'm getting the boat and train to MCR for a match there's nearly always a scene involving them. Don't think the movie Snatch helped our cause too much either.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

QuantumP wrote: »

I think in the UK it would be along the lines of the pikey/alcoholic stereotype. There's lots of Irish travellers in the UK and whenever I'm getting the boat and train to MCR for a match there's nearly always a scene involving them. Don't think the movie Snatch helped our cause too much either.

Ah don't mind them limey bastards what would they know. They don't even like dags.

dd972

There's so many, let's say, mobile, Irish people in Outer London where I'm currently staying that I'd almost greet that Dublin scobe as a long lost brother.

QuantumP

dd972 wrote: »

There's so many, let's say, mobile, Irish people in Outer London where I'm currently staying that I'd almost greet that Dublin scobe as a long lost brother.

Incidentally there was a few headed your way on Friday too. Sail and rail the preferred mode of transport because passports and stuff.

QuantumP

QuantumP wrote: »

On Friday I was on a train from Chester to Manchester and an Irish fella got on, he must have been in his mid 40's. He was rocking a scar on his face, a baseball cap, an addidas tracksuit top, the works. He looked like an older version of Nidge. When he was putting his bag down, in his Dublin twang he said to the people beside him "careful that doesn't drip on ye, there's some cu*ts head in there" and started laughing.

He tried to talk to everyone near him but just ended up talking at them, in between his phonecalls where he reminded "Skyeyes" to remember to "bring the apple in the morning" and a less cryptic instruction to "burn on that f*cking car". I have never seen a bigger scumbag in my life and cringed at every word that came out of his mouth. When he left the carriage the locals laughed and sighed with relief and made jokes about him being a "typical Irish son".

My brother popped his head up to defend us and said "we're not all like that" but the damage was done. I used to think the Irish stereotype was unfair but now I'm not so sure.Anyone else ever experience anything similar? Are we really that bad?

Ah yes....Were all exactly like him......:rolleyes:

--LOS--

I haven't really heard of that scummy stereotype from non Irish, the drink one ye of course. I'm studying abroad at the minute and nearly everyone I encounter has a positive reaction to Ireland and to the irish Much more positive than I have, bless their cotton socks

QuantumP

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah yes....Were all exactly like him......:rolleyes:

Ah you know what I meant man. Clearly I wasn't implying that every Irish emigrant is an alco scumbag (I've lived abroad myself). I'm just concerned that a large number of our emigrants reinforce negative stereotypes and that maybe the stereotypes are more true than we like to think. I've never felt less proud of being Irish than I did on Friday. I know the Aussies don't look at us too fondly either.

QuantumP

QuantumP wrote: »

Ah you know what I meant man. Clearly I wasn't implying that every Irish emigrant is an alcho scumbag (I've lived abroad myself). I'm just concerned that a large number of our emigrants reinforce negative stereotypes and that maybe the stereotypes are more true than we like to think. I've never felt less proud of being Irish than I did on Friday. I know the Aussies don't look at us too fondly either.

I think our problem is that we are inclined to give too much of a shít what the other nations think of us. As individual people we are only responsible for ourselves. Aussies aren't perfect either.

Riddle101

"careful that doesn't drip on ye, there's some cu*ts head in there"

He should have enforced the Irish stereotype even more and said there was a bomb in his bag, and hinting that he was a member of the IRA. But I guess that only works if you're from Northern Ireland.

Jimoslimos

QuantumP wrote: »

I think in the UK it would be along the lines of the pikey/alcoholic stereotype. There's lots of Irish travellers in the UK and whenever I'm getting the boat and train to MCR for a match there's nearly always a scene involving them. Don't think the movie Snatch helped our cause too much either.

Wait a minute...how can you complain about stereotypes when you're just given yourself as one of the biggest - namely a United football fan who travels from overseas to see matches.

A Primal Nut

Most Irish people love to play up to the stereotype when they are abroad to be fair, it's certainly not just scumbags.

"Look how much I can drink, it's coz I'm Irish hahaha. Oh and the Guinness here is utter s***e."

colossus-x

I wouldn't worry about that at all. What the commentator meant was when it comes to Irish scumbags this guy typifies them rather than that guy typifies all Irish people. Big difference.

brummytom

Anyone on a train from Chester to Manchester wouldn't even bar an eyelid, they'd have met 20 English blokes like him on their way to the station.

Lapin

QuantumP wrote: »

When he left the carriage the locals laughed and sighed with relief and made jokes about him being a "typical Irish son".

My brother popped his head up to defend us and said "we're not all like that" but the damage was done.

Wrong appraoch by the brother there I reckon.

A simple response like - "No, it was typical Irish sons that built the railway you're travelling on now" would have won it for ye.

QuantumP

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Wait a minute...how can you complain about stereotypes when you're just given yourself as one of the biggest - namely a United football fan who travels from overseas to see matches.

Its a little beyond the point, I could have been going anywhere. I also don't see how attending a football match reinforces a negative stereotype. The club has a rich history of Irishness and the vast majority of locals are very welcoming to Irish supporters.

guest2014

QuantumP wrote: »

Ah you know what I meant man. Clearly I wasn't implying that every Irish emigrant is an alco scumbag (I've lived abroad myself). I'm just concerned that a large number of our emigrants reinforce negative stereotypes and that maybe the stereotypes are more true than we like to think. I've never felt less proud of being Irish than I did on Friday. I know the Aussies don't look at us too fondly either.

Here we go again, our inferiority complex strikes again, 99% of Irish people are hard working, honest and friendly people, you should know that as you are Irish, if we don't know that ourselves then no wonder other nationalities sometimes think the worst of us. also I doubt most Australians have anything against us and the ones that do are probably uneducated morons that hate all other nationalities. I am proud to be Irish, you should be to.

Buona Fortuna

QuantumP wrote: »

On Friday I was on a train from Chester to Manchester and an Irish fella got on, he must have been in his mid 40's. He was rocking a scar on his face, a baseball cap, an addidas tracksuit top, the works. He looked like an older version of Nidge. When he was putting his bag down, in his Dublin twang he said to the people beside him "careful that doesn't drip on ye, there's some cu*ts head in there" and started laughing.

He tried to talk to everyone near him but just ended up talking at them, in between his phonecalls where he reminded "Skyeyes" to remember to "bring the apple in the morning" and a less cryptic instruction to "burn on that f*cking car". I have never seen a bigger scumbag in my life and cringed at every word that came out of his mouth. When he left the carriage the locals laughed and sighed with relief and made jokes about him being a "typical Irish son".

My brother popped his head up to defend us and said "we're not all like that" but the damage was done. I used to think the Irish stereotype was unfair but now I'm not so sure.Anyone else ever experience anything similar? Are we really that bad?

I think you've got this guy all wrong.

He is probably head of HR for some multi-national and was just kicking back some of the pressure at the weekend. Hey why shouldn't he relax how he wants.:D

Valetta

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

I think you've got this guy all wrong.

He is probably head of HR for some multi-national and was just kicking back some of the pressure at the weekend. Hey why shouldn't he relax how he wants.:D

Either that, or he was a Swansea supporter.