Whats the most uncomfortable/racist thing you witnessed abroad?

Ickle Magoo · 15-06-2010 03:34PM

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

Brit does = English. It also = Welsh, Scot and (in the context of the UK) UK and N.I.

Whats the prob?

Exactly, Brit = English, Welsh, (some) Nordies & Scots. The prob is when people use Brit as a disparaging way of talking about the English - usually ironically followed by some statement about the ignorance of other nationalities.

saywhatyousee · 15-06-2010 03:34PM

i was in florence train station last august
went up to a ticket checker at the gate
and asked him what platform was the train to poggibossi
(i bought the return ticket in poggibossi smaller station)
i asked the man at the gate
he snapped no INGELSE and started to walk away
i said no no i am from irlanda
he turned around and oh im sorry i taught u where english platform 5(in perfect english)

i taught that behaviour was completly un accetable
if i happened to be english what would he expect me to do walk
if it was a bar i could sort of understand but no in a public place like a train station

IITYWYBMAD · 15-06-2010 03:37PM

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

Exactly, Brit = English, Welsh, (some) Nordies & Scots. The prob is when people use Brit as a disparaging way of talking about the English - usually ironically followed by some statement about the ignorance of other nationalities.

Ahhhhh...as in when people talk disparagingly in any way about any group of people...hardly racist to call an English man a Brit though, is it?

Ickle Magoo · 15-06-2010 03:39PM

saywhatyousee wrote: »

i was in florence train station last august
went up to a ticket checker at the gate
and asked him what platform was the train to poggibossi
(i bought the return ticket in poggibossi smaller station)
i asked the man at the gate
he snapped no INGELSE and started to walk away
i said no no i am from irlanda
he turned around and oh im sorry i taught u where english platform 5(in perfect english)

Had that quite a few times abroad as well...followed by cries of "Nooo! Scozzese!!!" - probably explains why we're always pushing for distance from the whole "brits" thing... :pac:

conorhal · 15-06-2010 03:40PM

Meself, being both unintentionally racist and homophobic on a trip to Switzerland!

When in the US I'm usually conscious to avoid referring to cigarettes as 'fags', much less so elsewhere.
As a Dubliner I'm also fond of expressing incredulity with the time honored phrase, 'me hole!', occasionally changing it up with a bit of rhyming slang .

Needless to say, the two obviously gay black lads holding hands on a tram in Geneva were both confused and nonplussed when I replied rather loudly to the question, "are fags more expensive here then at home?", saying "FAGS? THEY ARE IN ME SWISS ROLL!"

20goto10 · 15-06-2010 03:40PM

saywhatyousee wrote: »

i was in florence train station last august
went up to a ticket checker at the gate
and asked him what platform was the train to poggibossi
(i bought the return ticket in poggibossi smaller station)
i asked the man at the gate
he snapped no INGELSE and started to walk away
i said no no i am from irlanda
he turned around and oh im sorry i taught u where english platform 5(in perfect english)

i taught that behaviour was completly un accetable
if i happened to be english what would he expect me to do walk
if it was a bar i could sort of understand but no in a public place like a train station

Italians are pricks about speaking Enhlish. But if you put even the minimal effort into trying to speak Italian to them you will usually get a bit of respect and they will turn the conversation English. Unless they can't speak English of course :-)

Claasman · 15-06-2010 03:40PM

In one of my first jobs in Australia, on the first day at smoko, my south african manager told the group how he saw 'a bus stop of n|gger children' on the way to work and wanted to 'mow them all down' with his ute. He wouldnt even watch a film or tv programme with a black person in it.

He had some scary sh1t to say about what was going on in sa aswell.

Ickle Magoo · 15-06-2010 03:46PM

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

Ahhhhh...as in when people talk disparagingly in any way about any group of people...hardly racist to call an English man a Brit though, is it?

Who said anything about it being racist to call an English man a Brit? Who said anything about calling English men anything apart from you?

I said people who think Brit = English ie consider no other nationality when bandying around the term Brit disparagingly...

I'm talking about people who say "Them brits...*insert reference to english football fans/english holiday makers/oliver cromwell here*" while in the same breath decrying the ignorance of other countries not knowing all about Ireland...

Ya see.

Thirdfox · 15-06-2010 03:46PM

Ireland is a tiny country - and not so important on the global stage so it's not surprising that people don't know much about us - from what I gather people know the:

1. IRA/Bombings
2. U2
3. Guinness
4. Celtic Tiger (though that's old news - just like the bombings)

It's not unusual that I have to say "we're just beside England" in terms of geography... how many Irish people know where Azerbaijan is?

The most racist thing I've witnessed - a Japanese person being refused entry into a club for his race in a Chinese university, made me quite angry at the time. The only time I've walked out of a lecture theatre in protest was in a separate incident at the same university... there's a lot of bad blood left over from WWII between Japan and its neighbours but that doesn't excuse the racism directed against the Japanese people...

Kev_ps3 · 15-06-2010 03:48PM

Kiera wrote: »

Abroad? I've witnessed some horrible stuff right here in Dublin.

Why do some people on here always turn discussion back onto Irish/Ireland when we are discussing something foreign:rolleyes:

Sofa King Great · 15-06-2010 03:51PM

The most uncomfortable thing i have witnessed is the amount of Irish/British/Americans who assume it is acceptable to go up and speak in english to someone in another country where English is not the first language and gets annoyed when they respond in Spanish/French/Italian!

who what when · 15-06-2010 03:53PM

Thirdfox wrote: »

Ireland is a tiny country - and not so important on the global stage so it's not surprising that people don't know much about us - from what I gather people know the:

1. IRA/Bombings
2. U2
3. Guinness
4. Celtic Tiger (though that's old news - just like the bombings)

It's not unusual that I have to say "we're just beside England" in terms of geography... how many Irish people know where Azerbaijan is?

The most racist thing I've witnessed - a Japanese person being refused entry into a club for his race in a Chinese university, made me quite angry at the time. The only time I've walked out of a lecture theatre in protest was in a separate incident at the same university... there's a lot of bad blood left over from WWII between Japan and its neighbours but that doesn't excuse the racism directed against the Japanese people...

The japanese killed at least 10 million chinese during world war two.
Thats a good enough reason to hold a grudge as far as im concerned!

Dyr · 15-06-2010 03:53PM

Funky Kingston wrote: »

While working in Quebec I got a ton of refrences about the 'Fighting Irish' from alot of the Quebecois .... one guy asked me not to punch in him in the face once becuase apparently i will automatically pick a fight with him....because i am Irish .

No no no, it because everyone punches french candians in the face.

NOGMaxpower · 15-06-2010 03:56PM

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

Why do some people on here always turn discussion back onto Irish/Ireland when we are discussing something foreign:rolleyes:

while in Belfast (technically abroad) I was attacked and chased by a mob of loyalists. they seemed to just know I was a southerner and it was as if they were trawling the streets looking for trouble.

Needless to say I ran as fast as i could as they threw stones/bottles at me, they still chased me while i drove away shouting Paddy, Taigh, free stater etc chants of hang him etc.

I've been to Belfast hundreds of times with no issue, admittedly I stayed in mostly nationalist areas. but in this case i was in the city centre near where the bus tours start strolling back to my car from the shops.

FearDark · 15-06-2010 03:56PM

brianthebard wrote: »

footnote reading fail.

I really have to start putting these::pac::pac::pac::pac: into more of my posts for you people.

IITYWYBMAD · 15-06-2010 03:56PM

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

Who said anything about it being racist to call an English man a Brit? Who said anything about calling English men anything apart from you? I said people who think Brit = English ie consider no other nationality when bandying around the term Brit disparagingly...

I'm talking about people who say "Them brits...*insert reference to english football fans/english holiday makers/oliver cromwell here*" while in the same breath decrying the ignorance of other countries not knowing all about Ireland...

Ya see.

Ahh, apologies..I do see. I was under the misapprehension that the was a thread about the most uncomfortable/racist thing you witnessed abroad?

As for the answers to your questions:

1) Who said anything about it being racist to call an English man a Brit You. In answer to the OP.

2) Who said anything about calling English men anything apart from you? You in post number 24.

3) I said people who think Brit = English ie consider no other nationality when bandying around the term Brit disparagingly... Ahhh, as in Brits?

4) Who said Brits hate the scottish? Nobody FFS, get over yourself!! You and your kilt wearing brothers....*

*I may have invented that part!!

Ickle Magoo · 15-06-2010 04:04PM

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

Ahh, apologies..I do see. I was under the misapprehension that the was a thread about the most uncomfortable/racist thing you witnessed abroad?

Ya...I am abroad. See?

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

1) Who said anything about it being racist to call an English man a Brit You. In answer to the OP.

Quote me, I think you'll find I did nothing of the sort. The OP asks "most uncomfortable/racist" - I went with the former...

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

2) Who said anything about calling English men anything apart from you? You in post number 24.

Nope again, I didn't mention English men...

I said people followed by two nationalities...

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

3) I said people who think Brit = English ie consider no other nationality when bandying around the term Brit disparagingly... Ahhh, as in Brits?

Aye, that's the one.

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

4) Who said Brits hate the scottish? Nobody FFS, get over yourself!! You and your kilt wearing brothers....*

*I may have invented that part!!

Hmmmm, I think you may have....

NOGMaxpower · 15-06-2010 04:09PM

There's a Korean player called "Gook"

savage wha

IITYWYBMAD · 15-06-2010 04:18PM

NOGMaxpower wrote: »

There's a Korean player called "Gook"

savage wha

He's the Wan allright..I also think he's got the Ghey!!

fullstop · 15-06-2010 04:59PM

irish-stew wrote: »

'green hills' santa ponsa, anyone whoes been there will understand

:eek:

And for those of us who haven't, are you going to tell us or leave it all cryptic?

Sergeant · 15-06-2010 05:11PM

I was once in Budapest while Interrailing. We were travelling with a number of Canadian's at the time, one of whom was black. We decided to get off the Metro at the houses of parliament. There was at least 200 neo-nazi skinheads protesting outside the place. We walked quickly past, but our friend was spotted, and was kicked/spat on by these thugs. Shocking stuff, never had I seen racism so visceral.

15-06-2010 05:20PM

In Italy i met the Brits abroad type who....shouted in a very load voice at a bus driver....CAN YOU SPEAK ENGLISH... emphasizing every word as if speaking slowly would make him understand him...made me laugh more that anything

Sergeant · 15-06-2010 05:21PM

formula wrote: »

Let recyclingbin defend himself. Maybe he can elaborate on how my people are racist. The Romans (along with the Greeks) invented western civilisation. While we were out conquering the known world, Ireland was full of knuckle-draggers constantly bashing each other over the head. You must be so proud.

fontanalis · 15-06-2010 05:21PM

formula wrote: »

Let recyclingbin defend himself. Maybe he can elaborate on how my people are racist. The Romans (along with the Greeks) invented western civilisation. While we were out conquering the known world, Ireland was full of knuckle-draggers constantly bashing each other over the head. You must be so proud.

Ha? I thought Caligula was conquering (Roman PC for slaughtering and pillaging) his sister.

Sofa King Great · 15-06-2010 05:23PM

formula wrote: »

Let recyclingbin defend himself. Maybe he can elaborate on how my people are racist. The Romans (along with the Greeks) invented western civilisation. While we were out conquering the known world, Ireland was full of knuckle-draggers constantly bashing each other over the head. You must be so proud.

For one thing they thing Irish are a substandard race due to their role in society over 1000 years ago!

aDeener · 15-06-2010 05:23PM

formula wrote: »

Let recyclingbin defend himself. Maybe he can elaborate on how my people are racist. The Romans (along with the Greeks) invented western civilisation. While we were out conquering the known world, Ireland was full of knuckle-draggers constantly bashing each other over the head. You must be so proud.

ohhh, ahhh, hmmm i wonder should i bite......

Sofa King Great · 15-06-2010 05:25PM

Oh and also... because of Paulo Di Canio

http://bestfootballers.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/dicanio1.jpg

aDeener · 15-06-2010 05:25PM

Thirdfox wrote: »

Ireland is a tiny country - and not so important on the global stage so it's not surprising that people don't know much about us - from what I gather people know the:

1. IRA/Bombings
2. U2
3. Guinness
4. Celtic Tiger (though that's old news - just like the bombings)

It's not unusual that I have to say "we're just beside England" in terms of geography... how many Irish people know where Azerbaijan is?

The most racist thing I've witnessed - a Japanese person being refused entry into a club for his race in a Chinese university, made me quite angry at the time. The only time I've walked out of a lecture theatre in protest was in a separate incident at the same university... there's a lot of bad blood left over from WWII between Japan and its neighbours but that doesn't excuse the racism directed against the Japanese people...

thats impressive, i sure as hell wouldnt be able to tell the difference...... unless they showed me a passport :pac:

brianthebard · 15-06-2010 05:42PM

aDeener wrote: »

thats impressive, i sure as hell wouldnt be able to tell the difference...... unless they showed me a passport :pac:

I think Thirdfox has said in the past that he's Chinese....

Sofa King Great · 15-06-2010 05:50PM

formula wrote: »

Do you hate your skin colour?

Well yes at the moment. I was out in the sun earlier and got a bit of a farmers tan. I hate that. I'd rather have an even tan, but in time I will grow to accept it i suppose.

Whats the most uncomfortable/racist thing you witnessed abroad?

Comments