SNCF plunges itself into race row over "Romanian" posters.

Run_to_da_hills · 23-02-2010 03:13PM #1

SNCF The French National railway company put up the 'safety information' signs on trains running on Midi-Pryrenees lines in the south west of the country following a spate of thefts.

Translated into English, it reads: 'Over the past few weeks there have been worries with Romanians. ‘Indeed, a number of bag thefts have been noted

We ask you to re-double your vigilance. Besides, all sightings of Romanians must be reported.'

I thought that the Romanians were innocent and that it was the Roma that were responsible?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1253130/Railway-race-row-SNCF-displays-posters-warning-passengers-report-sightings-Romanians-thefts.html

Notification de SNCF en français

Biggins · 23-02-2010 03:18PM

The poster does not bode well for saying that progressive, fair and accurate thinking is alive in France.
If true, they have let only themselves down in this area.

prinz · 23-02-2010 03:19PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Besides, all sightings of Romanians must be reported.'

They mistranslated the French here. No suprise there then. What it actually tries to say is besides that, that all the facts of the Romanians/all incidents involving Romanians should be reported to the SNCF". Slightly less controversial. Nothing about reporting all sightings. :rolleyes:

Bottle_of_Smoke · 23-02-2010 03:40PM

prinz wrote: »

They mistranslated the French here. No suprise there then. What it actually tries to say is besides that, that all the facts of the Romanians/all incidents involving Romanians should be reported to the SNCF". Slightly less controversial. Nothing about reporting all sightings. :rolleyes:

Even still, should it not just be "all incidents of theft/pickpocketing should be reported to SNCF"

I do understand why they did it though. An American/Australian/African etc tourist is unlikely to know romas are dodgey as f*ck and to watch them.

prinz · 23-02-2010 03:52PM

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

Even still, should it not just be "all incidents of theft/pickpocketing should be reported to SNCF"

True, but there are more than likely those signs everywhere as it is, just like there are on Dublin Bus etc. this is probably a response/warning against a specific gang/threat... "In recent weeks there have been a number of incidents involving Romanians..." seems harmless enough tbh.

Cookie_Monster · 23-02-2010 04:13PM

The French tell it like it is generally. same reason they stand up to religious nonsense and ban all the crosses and head scarves and other religious crap from schools.

If most of the thefts are due to Romanians then say it like it is and tell people to be wary of them, simples

prinz · 23-02-2010 04:17PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

The French tell it like it is generally.

+1. Simple as. Guaranteed this wasn't a "race row" in France. People just coudln't be bothered, as evidenced by the 'suprisingly few numbers of complaints'.

wasper · 23-02-2010 04:18PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

SNCF The French National railway company put up the 'safety information' signs on trains running on Midi-Pryrenees lines in the south west of the country following a spate of thefts.

Translated into English, it reads: 'Over the past few weeks there have been worries with Romanians. ‘Indeed, a number of bag thefts have been noted

We ask you to re-double your vigilance. Besides, all sightings of Romanians must be reported.'

I thought that the Romanians were innocent and that it was the Roma that were responsible?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1253130/Railway-race-row-SNCF-displays-posters-warning-passengers-report-sightings-Romanians-thefts.html

Notification de SNCF en français

We should have signs here in Ireland; Attention Tourist business establishments that French tourist are the most cheap skate tourist & not to expect any spendings from this group.

genericguy · 23-02-2010 04:19PM

i love it. in france a spade is a spade, and a cnut is a cnut.

ejmaztec · 23-02-2010 04:23PM

It's ironic that Stratford upon Avon shop-keepers in Shakespeare country, would only allow French schoolkids into their shops two at a time, in an effort to cut down on the shop-lifting.

conorhal · 23-02-2010 04:28PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

The French tell it like it is generally. same reason they stand up to religious nonsense and ban all the crosses and head scarves and other religious crap from schools.

If most of the thefts are due to Romanians then say it like it is and tell people to be wary of them, simples

100% agree. It's like the issue of racial profiling at the airport. Unplesent? Yes, but better than the joke that is hour long queues, as everybody from a small child to a pensioner gets treated as the same security threat and endures the same measures at airport security 'least we discriminate against any individual' :rolleyes:

The Roma gangs have become a serious problem on the trains in Europe and represent the majority of pick pockets so why not call a spade a spade and actually monitor and quantify the problem rather than everybody running scared from an accusation of racism and doing nothing about it at all or going about solving the problem in a non targeted ineffectual manner.
My folks just came back from Rome. On the train to the airport a guy was surrounded by roma standing about in a narrow carrage corridor and had his wallet lifted. He noticed what had happened and grabbed the girl responsible who went into hysterics screaming "my baby, my baby!". Cearly having seen it all before and being non-plussed by it he simply demanded "my wallet, my wallet".
She handed it over.
Here's the cherry on the pie however, a swarthy bloke in what looked like a uniform then demanded a mobile phone from a tourist to report the incident. You guessed it, the phone and inspector promptly dissapeared!

Chairman Meow · 23-02-2010 04:48PM

Maybe if the Roma stopped stealing sh!t this sort of thing wouldnt have to happen

Barracudaincork · 23-02-2010 04:59PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

I thought that the Romanians were innocent and that it was the Roma that were responsible?

You are right, there is a difference, Romanian people are from Romania, while Romani are from varies areas of central and eastern europe.

pickarooney · 23-02-2010 05:05PM

prinz wrote: »

They mistranslated the French here. No suprise there then. What it actually tries to say is besides that, that all the facts of the Romanians/all incidents involving Romanians should be reported to the SNCF". Slightly less controversial. Nothing about reporting all sightings. :rolleyes:

The original French is garbage in the first place. "Tous les faits de roumains" means nothing.

pickarooney · 23-02-2010 05:06PM

genericguy wrote: »

i love it. in france a spade is a spade, and a cnut is a cnut.

In this case a spade is a hoe though.

Pittens · 23-02-2010 05:12PM

So the sign is wrong then? I am not PC but were there a sign in England warning against the Irish, because of beggary ( or theft) by travellers would we not complain.

Run_to_da_hills · 23-02-2010 05:14PM

Barracudaincork wrote: »

You are right, there is a difference, Romanian people are from Romania, while Romani are from varies areas of central and eastern europe.

A Mate of mine, Romanian national owns / runs a Motorcycle shop in Harolds X, totally distances himself from Roma. He would not be too impressed with this at all.

prinz · 23-02-2010 05:16PM

Pittens wrote: »

So the sign is wrong then? I am not PC but were there a sign in England warning against the Irish, because of beggary ( or theft) by travellers would we not complain.

Yes. Which is why when it was brought to the attention of SNCF they ordered it removed.

Barracudaincork · 23-02-2010 05:17PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

A Mate of mine, Romanian national owns / runs a Motorcycle shop in Harolds X, totally distances himself from Roma. He would not be too impressed with this at all.

Same here I have Romanian friends and have sent a couple of them this link, it will be interesting to hear what they have to say back.

NothingMan · 23-02-2010 05:22PM

Pittens wrote: »

So the sign is wrong then? I am not PC but were there a sign in England warning against the Irish, because of beggary ( or theft) by travellers would we not complain.

We would complain and so should Romanians. It is the Roma gypsies that's the problem, not Romanians. Just like I wouldn't have a problem with a sign in England that said "Beware of Irish travellers (Pikeys)". Then I wouldn't complain.

Cuddlesworth · 23-02-2010 05:43PM

NothingMan wrote: »

We would complain and so should Romanians. It is the Roma gypsies that's the problem, not Romanians. Just like I wouldn't have a problem with a sign in England that said "Beware of Irish travellers (Pikeys)". Then I wouldn't complain.

You can be damm sure the pikeys would though.

NothingMan · 23-02-2010 05:46PM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

You can be damm sure the pikeys would though.

Then they should stop causing all the trouble they're known for, Just like the Roma's there might be a nice non criminal one, but i've yet to see one.

Ponster · 23-02-2010 06:52PM

Just a couple of points to make :

1. The notice was on display for about 1 week and only on some trains in the center of France. They have since been removed and the SNCF has since apologized.

2. One guy was responsible for the posters and put them up without permission. He has since been put on forced leave until the matter has been investigated.

3. No complaints from the public were received.

Biggins · 23-02-2010 06:56PM

I'd have a lesser grievance to the poster if it was more accurate.
For a start, the Romanians are much different than the Roma's.
There seems to be some confusion in the poster itself over this.

sdanseo · 23-02-2010 06:59PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

SNCF The French National railway company put up the 'safety information' signs on trains running on Midi-Pryrenees lines in the south west of the country following a spate of thefts.

Translated into English, it reads: 'Over the past few weeks there have been worries with Romanians. ‘Indeed, a number of bag thefts have been noted

We ask you to re-double your vigilance. Besides, all sightings of Romanians must be reported.'

I thought that the Romanians were innocent and that it was the Roma that were responsible?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1253130/Railway-race-row-SNCF-displays-posters-warning-passengers-report-sightings-Romanians-thefts.html

Notification de SNCF en français

There's your problem there RTDH. Might as well quote a 2 year old.

oppenheimer1 · 23-02-2010 07:07PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

SNCF The French National railway company put up the 'safety information' signs on trains running on Midi-Pryrenees lines in the south west of the country following a spate of thefts.

Translated into English, it reads: 'Over the past few weeks there have been worries with Romanians. ‘Indeed, a number of bag thefts have been noted

We ask you to re-double your vigilance. Besides, all sightings of Romanians must be reported.'

I thought that the Romanians were innocent and that it was the Roma that were responsible?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1253130/Railway-race-row-SNCF-displays-posters-warning-passengers-report-sightings-Romanians-thefts.html

Notification de SNCF en français

I don't get it, people here constantly give out here about the views spouted by the Daily Mail and the like, but yet it must be the most quoted newspaper on this site.

Its things like this which annoy me about boards.

the_syco · 23-02-2010 07:17PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

A Mate of mine, Romanian national owns / runs a Motorcycle shop in Harolds X, totally distances himself from Roma. He would not be too impressed with this at all.

The Romanians hate the Roma more than the Irish hate the travellers.

Biggins · 23-02-2010 07:25PM

the_syco wrote: »

The Romanians hate the Roma more than the Irish hate the travellers.

100% true. I have a few Romanians who are friends. They regard the Roma's and their questionable adopted lifestyle/antics as disgusting.

There is a world apart between the Romanians and the Roma.

bnt · 23-02-2010 07:50PM

If they meant Gypsies, then they would have said "Tsiganes" or "Roma", but "Roumains" means Romanians specifically. The Daily Telegraph has more details:

SNCF, which is government owned and makes profits of more than £1 billion a year, today said the poster should not have gone up."An internal inquiry is under way," said a spokesman for SNCF in the Mid-Pryrenees, the largest region of France.
"A local SNCF official put it up on certain local trains in the area after using this unfortunate language. We have alerted all SNCF officials in the area who are looking for the posters. They will be taken down immediately when found."
The spokesman said there had been few complaints about the poster, but that it was "unacceptable".

Anyone working at SNCF could have printed that out and stuck it up: someone who needs a lecture about how this represents his company and could tarnish its image.

Run_to_da_hills · 23-02-2010 08:01PM

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

I don't get it, people here constantly give out here about the views spouted by the Daily Mail and the like, but yet it must be the most quoted newspaper on this site.

Its things like this which annoy me about boards.

If you do a Google News search you will find the subject identically covered by other media networks including the Telegraph and other foreign news agencies.

Big Nasty · 23-02-2010 08:12PM

Biggins wrote: »

100% true. I have a few Romanians who are friends. They regard the Roma's and their questionable adopted lifestyle/antics as disgusting.

There is a world apart between the Romanians and the Roma.

+1

Romanians here get an awful hard time because of the Roma connection. Romania (originally Dacia) was invaded by the Romans back in the day and has a very large influence on society, i.e language, dark hair and eyes, sallow skin and of course the name - Romania. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Romania the difference between Roma and Romanians is very clear.

Roma originated in south Asia and migrated all across the world, especially in Eastern Europe and Northern America. They are dark skinned gypsies, have their own culture and language. They tend to live in squats or shanty towns and would be close enough in culture to what we know as itinerants, in fact some are well known for their work with metals, similar enough to tinkers.

They are not Romanian and nor did they originate there - the only similarity is the name.

SNCF plunges itself into race row over "Romanian" posters.

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