Taxi with sticker saying 'Irish Taxi Driver'

Amalgam · 26-07-2010 12:14PM

Dun Laoghaire please.

Darmok, and Jalad... at Tanagra!
Temba, his arms wide!

Oh ffs. Bloody foreigners.

Andrew33 · 26-07-2010 12:14PM

eightyfish wrote: »

The right to free speech, yes, including the right to criticise racist signs. I'm not saying they shouldn't be allowed to have the signs as you seem to be implying, I said I wouldn't give racist taxi drivers my business. I'm being narrow minded by expressing my opinion? Stop taking rubbish.

So you'd discriminate against a driver who declared his nationality on the side of his car? Blacks don't have to put a sign on their car reading "African/African American/Afro Caribbean driver"

You're just as much of a bigot, you just don't have the balls to fly your colours. You wrap yourself up in your nice cosy "non racist" blanket and think "oh what a wonderful person I am"

Andrew33 · 26-07-2010 12:16PM

eightyfish wrote: »

Oh for God's sake, it's more than just a sign. You can tell if your taxi driver is black or not immediately. The sign is not there to inform customers that the driver is Irish. The sign is there as a form of silent protest against the black taxi drivers "coming over here and taking good Irish taxi driver's jobs." If you think otherwise I'd say that's naive.

In your little head maybe.

XxMCRxBabyxX · 26-07-2010 12:17PM

LilMsss wrote: »

I view this as a good thing, and it would give people a choice of who they would like to get a taxi with. I've been in taxis with foreign drivers coming home from nights out and they have been tense journeys, they have taken routes I didn't recognise and some have made me generally uncomfortable, so much so that I would almost ask them to pull over and let me out.

As a woman travelling alone, getting a taxi where you feel safe can be a lottery. That's not to say I haven't had foreign and Irish drivers who have been courteous and professional, but there is always that niggling worry when you flag down a taxi that it's going to be a foreign driver who may or may not get you to your destination safely. There just isn't the same sense of worry when it's an Irish driver.

Regardless of whether or not it is politically correct to say so, most women do not feel safe getting in a taxi with a foreign driver. If my friends are putting me in a taxi after a night out, they will wave it on if the driver is not Irish.

So basically you're saying that foreign drivers are more dangerous than? I thought people were over this kind of discrimination by now. I'd feel just as uncomfortable in a taxi on my own with an Irish guy than a foreign guy. Either can decide to take you on some 'shortcut' that lands you in a horrible situation.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 12:18PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

So you'd discriminate against a driver who declared his nationality on the side of his car?

If a driver wants to put up a sign, that is his choice. If I want to move on to the next cab because of the sign, that is my choice. It's not "discrimination". He wasn't born with a sign on his taxi.

Andrew33 wrote: »

You're just as much of a bigot, you just don't have the balls to fly your colours. You wrap yourself up in your nice cosy "non racist" blanket and think "oh what a wonderful person I am"

Your argument makes no sense. Once again how am I discriminating?

Do not call me a bigot. Attack the post and not the poster please.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 12:19PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

In your little head maybe.

Stop with the insults.

Bill2673 · 26-07-2010 12:20PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

They're hardly going to tell you they arrived in the country 3 months ago.

Maybe I'm overstimating my powers of of observation but I think it would be fairly obvious to me if a driver said they were here 8 years when actually they were only here for 3 months. Its easy to make assumptions and I do that often myself. I was in a taxi recently, Vietnamese driver, I did the usual 'how do you like Ireland, are you here long?'. Told me he'd been here since he was five, that a bunch of refugees came over in the early 1970s during the war, that there is a community of them. I never knew that.....Of course, maybe he made this whole thing up and I'm just a thick.

In addition, I would guess that the average non-national living in Ireland has been here at least three or fours years. Maybe I'm wrong, I;m just guessing. But my guess is that most non-nationals arrived here between 2000 and 2007; I'd be surprised if I'm wrong.

Andrew33 · 26-07-2010 12:24PM

Bill2673 wrote: »

Maybe I'm overstimating my powers of of observation but I think it would be fairly obvious to me if a driver said they were here 8 years when actually they were only here for 3 months. Its easy to make assumptions and I do that often myself. I was in a taxi recently, Vietnamese driver, I did the usual 'how do you like Ireland, are you here long?'. Told me he'd been here since he was five, that a bunch of refugees came over in the early 1970s during the war, that there is a community of them. I never knew that.....Of course, maybe he made this whole thing up and I'm just a thick.

In addition, I would guess that the average non-national living in Ireland has been here at least three or fours years. Maybe I'm wrong, I;m just guessing. But my guess is that most non-nationals arrived here between 2000 and 2007; I'd be surprised if I'm wrong.

If the driver was Chinese or Vietnamese there is a good chance they've been in the country a while as we've had communities of both for the past 30-40 years, however if the driver is clearly of African appearance and tell you they're here 7-8 years? very doubtful.

Andrew33 · 26-07-2010 12:26PM

eightyfish wrote: »

If a driver wants to put up a sign, that is his choice. If I want to move on to the next cab because of the sign, that is my choice. It's not "discrimination". He wasn't born with a sign on his taxi.

Your argument makes no sense. Once again how am I discriminating?

Do not call me a bigot. Attack the post and not the poster please.

How's that blanket? cosy enough? or does it itch after a while?

Bill2673 · 26-07-2010 12:26PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

If the driver was Chinese or Vietnamese there is a good chance they've been in the country a while as we've had communities of both for the past 30-40 years, however if the driver is clearly of African appearance and tell you they're here 7-8 years? very doubtful.

Why is that? Explain please.

As I've said already, I believe most foreign nationals arrived here btn 2000 and 2007. Which would mean most have been here three years or more.

Cookie_Monster · 26-07-2010 12:36PM

eightyfish wrote: »

If a driver wants to put up a sign, that is his choice. If I want to move on to the next cab because of the sign, that is my choice. It's not "discrimination". He wasn't born with a sign on his taxi.

of course its discrimination, your basing your decision on what the sign says, ie nationality

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 12:37PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

of course its discrimination, your basing your decision on what the sign says, ie nationality

No, I'm basing my decision on the fact that the driver chooses to put up the sign.

Mimikyu · 26-07-2010 12:37PM

This post has been deleted.

foggy_lad · 26-07-2010 12:45PM

Bill2673 wrote: »

The issue I had was where you said most foreign drivers don't know the route.

There's a long way from, here's one example of a foreign driver who didn't know the route, to, most foreign drivers don't know the route.

the driver previous to him was also foreign and did not know the route but at least was able to understand my directions and did not charge extra for going at least a mile off course.

Bill2673 wrote: »

I was in a taxi recently, Vietnamese driver, I did the usual 'how do you like Ireland, are you here long?'. Told me he'd been here since he was five, that a bunch of refugees came over in the early 1970s during the war, that there is a community of them. I never knew that.....Of course, maybe he made this whole thing up and I'm just a thick.

in 1979 ireland took in several hundred vietnamese "boat people" who were fleeing the new communist regime in vietnam, strangely enough the government here had rejected appeals three years previous from the UN to accept 14 vietnamese and Cambodian refugees

Andrew33 · 26-07-2010 12:47PM

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

No, you cop on. How old are you? I remember a time in Dublin not so very long ago that you would not see a black person on the streets. You might see one in a hospital working as a doctor but they were a rarity, FACT.

The vast majority of Africans in this country now have only arrived in the last 4-5 years.

Cookie_Monster · 26-07-2010 12:51PM

eightyfish wrote: »

No, I'm basing my decision on the fact that the driver chooses to put up the sign.

so you don't think businesses should be allowed advertise the fact that they are Irish owned and run?

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 12:53PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

so you don't think businesses should be allowed advertise the fact that they are Irish owned and run?

See post 13 and 20.

Cookie_Monster · 26-07-2010 12:58PM

eightyfish wrote: »

See post 13 and 20.

or just answer the question.

All these signs are is promoting the fact that the taxi driver owns and runs his own Irish business nothing more.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 01:05PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

All these signs are is promoting the fact that the taxi driver owns and runs his own Irish business nothing more.

And if the taxi driver was Nigerian/Indian/Polish, that makes it not an Irish business, is that what you're saying?

"Guaranteed Irish" simply means the produce is made in Ireland and and supports Irish jobs.
"Irish jobs" in this case means jobs in Ireland - filled by people from many nationalities who are living here. It does not mean "jobs for only Irish people and not foreigners".
"Irish business" is the same. If the business is registered here, and pays taxes here, and provides jobs here, it is "Irish owned". It doesn't necessarily meant the owner is ethnically Irish. It has nothing to do with ethnicity.

LilMsss · 26-07-2010 01:11PM

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

So basically you're saying that foreign drivers are more dangerous than? I thought people were over this kind of discrimination by now. I'd feel just as uncomfortable in a taxi on my own with an Irish guy than a foreign guy. Either can decide to take you on some 'shortcut' that lands you in a horrible situation.

That's not what I said at all, but there is a more inherent risk (perceived at least) with some foreign drivers, and it's a risk I'd prefer not to take. Yes you're right that any driver can put you in a bad situation but I'll take my chances with a) Irish drivers/foreign drivers well-assimilated into Irish culture and b) with taxis called directly from a cab company.

My preference is for an Irish driver or driver of any nationality from a reputable company, and if a car pulled up and I was apprehensive about getting in, regardless of who is driving, it is my right to choose a different driver. This is not about discrimination, it's about safety!

Cookie_Monster · 26-07-2010 01:13PM

eightyfish wrote: »

And if the taxi driver was Nigerian/Indian/Polish, that makes it not an Irish business, is that what you're saying?

yeah, clearly.

eightyfish wrote: »

"Guaranteed Irish" simply means the produce is made in Ireland and and supports Irish jobs.

"Irish jobs" in this case means jobs in Ireland - filled by people from many nationalities who are living here. It does not mean "jobs for only Irish people and not foreigners".

"Irish business" is the same. If the business is registered here, and pays taxes here, and provides jobs here, it is "Irish owned". It doesn't necessarily meant the owner is ethnically Irish. It has nothing to do with ethnicity.

1 GI just means the final production is Irish
2 yes, obviously
3 of course it does. Tesco is registerd here, pays taxes here and provides jobs here, it still not Irish. Nor is Aircoach, on the topic of transport, it was originally but no longer is.

JHMEG · 26-07-2010 01:15PM

eightyfish wrote: »

Oh for God's sake, it's more than just a sign. You can tell if your taxi driver is black or not immediately. The sign is not there to inform customers that the driver is Irish. The sign is there as a form of silent protest against the black taxi drivers "coming over here and taking good Irish taxi driver's jobs." If you think otherwise I'd say that's naive.

Hmm, I took it to mean the driver was Irish, no more no less. Does an Irish taxi driver not have the right to use his nationality (note: nationality, not race) as a unique selling point? Does a Nigerian driver not have the same right?

Meat · 26-07-2010 01:16PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

and a taxi is a service business so they are advertising that they are an Irish owned and run company.

You're not differentiating between an Irish business and an Irish person working within an Irish business.

An Irish taxi driver with one of those stickers on his car could be working for a taxi company based in Dublin but owned by a foreign parent company and operated and managed by non-Irish people. So just because the driver is Irish that doesn't make his business 100% Irish.

sitstill wrote: »

Now I will only take a taxi with an Irish diver and I'm not afraid to admit that. I don't care if people see that as being racist because I know that I don't have racist motivations for it.

"racist motivations"? What are they? Treating other nationalities based on their skin, colour or ethnicity? Just because you're not carrying a stick and beating every black, yellow and brown person you see doesn't mean you're exhibiting racist behaviour.

Andrew33 wrote: »

Still doesn't make it a disgrace, we live with the right to free speech and the right to express ourselves. You're being just as narrow minded as the driver with the sticker.

"dis·grace

/dɪsˈgreɪs/

Show Spelled [dis-greys]

Show IPA noun, verb, -graced, -grac·ing.
–noun 1. the loss of respect, honor, or esteem; ignominy; shame: the disgrace of criminals."

I don't know how you don't think these stickers display a loss of respect to other people living in our country, how it doesn't bring shame to the driver and is definitely not an honourable thing to be proud of.

I find it so embarrassing that so many people in modern Dublin and Ireland hold racial prejudices.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 01:18PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

3 of course it does. Tesco is registerd here, pays taxes here and provides jobs here, it still not Irish. Nor is Aircoach, on the topic of transport, it was originally but no longer is.

Its ownership base is in the UK. Its where the profits go. Any company with owners living here is a Irish business.

The take away down the road from me which is owned and run by a Pakistani guy who's been living here 14 years - which employs two Indian chefs and two Irish drivers - are you telling me that is not an Irish business because its owner is Pakistani?

trellheim · 26-07-2010 01:19PM

If I get into one of these taxis how many generations Irish am I assured of or is it just the passport ? Can I be sure of complete racial purity ? Remember, this is important.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
Reductio f***king absurdum.

Andrew33 · 26-07-2010 01:19PM

I don't know how true the following story is but it's doing the rounds.

A young lad was knocked down and killed by a speeding taxi on the N11 at Stillorgan recently. The father of victim is a barrister/solicitor and is taking a case against the Taxi regulator's office as the driver of the taxi had only arrived in Ireland a matter of weeks before the accident.

As I said, I can't vouch for the veracity of the story but it possibly has a grain of truth to it, just like a pearl has a bit of dirt/grit at its centre.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 01:20PM

JHMEG wrote: »

Hmm, I took it to mean the driver was Irish, no more no less.

Exactly. So its not the same as supermarkets promoting "Buy Irish" because it supports Irish jobs etc, which is my point.

Cookie_Monster · 26-07-2010 01:20PM

Meat wrote: »

You're not differentiating between an Irish business and an Irish person working within an Irish business.

An Irish taxi driver with one of those stickers on his car could be working for a taxi company based in Dublin but owned by a foreign parent company and operated and managed by non-Irish people. So just because the driver is Irish that doesn't make his business 100% Irish.

I'm taking this on the basis of a self employed driver, which most are.

eightyfish · 26-07-2010 01:21PM

Andrew33 wrote: »

As I said, I can't vouch for the veracity of the story but it possibly has a grain of truth to it, just like a pearl has a bit of dirt/grit at its centre.

And that anecdote is relevant how?

Bill2673 · 26-07-2010 01:22PM

LilMsss wrote: »

there is a more inherent risk (perceived at least) with some foreign drivers, and it's a risk I'd prefer not to take.

Thats a big statement. What evidence could support a statement like this? I don't see how you could back it up.

If you said, I think some foreign drivers are dodgy, based on my gut feeling, but I have absolutely nothing else to back it up.....then fair enough. But what reason can you give to say there is a more inherent risk with foreign drivers? Really? Please explain why you think this risk exists.

Taxi with sticker saying 'Irish Taxi Driver'

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