‘Inherently racist’

daltonmd · 15-05-2012 12:18PM

Morlar wrote: »

If it did not work they would not do it.

The reason why it works is clearly because many people prefer an Irish driver over a non national one.

I think if the govt. want to involve themselves in this issue then they should start with addressing why many people prefer Irish born drivers over non national ones, rather than putting it's energies into trying to prevent customers from making an informed choice. That's a typical superficial step which is not going to address or resolve anything for anyone.

That's my point exactly. Are they going to force Hairdressing salons who advertise that they are "African" to take down those signs? Are these not racist? What if, instead of the "green light" they put "I am an Irish taxi driver" would this be racism?

So then the people who will choose these taxis are then racists?

Where To · 15-05-2012 12:20PM

Driving a taxi is about as unskilled a job as you can get, anyone who can drive can do it.

However, making a successful living from driving a taxi requires skills, hard work and dedication.

This is what the 'sense of entitlement' drivers find difficult to grasp.

Ellis Dee · 15-05-2012 12:21PM

It's a rare thing indeed for me to agree with anything Varadkar says or does, but he has my full backing on this one.:eek: Casual racism and xenophobia are far too common in Ireland, and most of it is rooted in nothing more than pig-ignorant thickness, loutishness and a pathetically bad upbringing. There is not much Varadkar or any minister can do about that, but he can at least prevent groups like taxi drivers, who have been granted privileges - licences - that not everyone gets from abusing those privileges. :rolleyes:

The solution to the problem of rude passengers is to have recording cameras in every taxi. The technology is well developed and inexpensive.:D

Here in Helsinki, where I am now, you take the next taxi at a rank, irrespective of what colour the driver's skin is. A passenger who tried to move down the rank to another taxi would in all probability be refused passage, because such an overt display of racism would identify him/her as the kind of troublemaker/sh1thead than no taxi driver wants to have in the vehicle.:)

As for taxis in Ireland, I have to say that I have never had a bad experience with those I've used.:)

Tym · 15-05-2012 12:21PM

Plenty of islamic taxi drivers advertise their religon within the car, playing islamic music, having korans and islamic texts prominently on display etc., I wonder if varadkar is also going to be bothered by that at all ?

Yes, but that's not advertising to every passer-by to drive with them just because they're Islamic.

newport2 · 15-05-2012 12:23PM

daltonmd wrote: »

That's my point exactly. Are they going to force Hairdressing salons who advertise that they are "African" to take down those signs? Are these not racist? What if, instead of the "green light" they put "I am an Irish taxi driver" would this be racism?

So then the people who will choose these taxis are then racists?

This is down to political correctness, so throw your logical and rational reasoning out the window.

Anyone should be allowed to illustrate their nationality. If a taxi driver has a green light indicating he is Irish he is not a racist. The issue lies with the customer who will only stop taxis with green lights.

BraziliaNZ · 15-05-2012 12:24PM

dark crystal wrote: »

My dad drove taxis for a while when work dried up a few years back and he worked long hours, took abuse, got robbed and assaulted and got talked to like he was dirt.

Yeah, he felt really privileged to be doing that job alright.

Yeah that's kind of the reason only immigrants do this job in most rich countries

15-05-2012 12:28PM

Morlar wrote: »

Those are not the choices. That's a very tired debating tactic if you don't mind me saying so.

:rolleyes: I asked the question, the choices were defined in the question. The fact that you couldn't give a simple answer speaks volumes

Morlar · 15-05-2012 12:28PM

Ellis Dee wrote: »

....

As for taxis in Ireland, I have to say that I have never had a bad experience with those I've used.:)

The last 2 taxi's I took in Dublin city were African drivers. One added approx 30% to the journey time by going the wrong way and then trying to bluff & bluster his way out of admitting it (this was a reasonably short trip - I was late for an appointment and didn't have time to walk across town). The other time the driver went a way that was technically correct, in that on paper it was the right way to go. However he took no allowance for roadworks at that time or of the volume of traffic at that time.

When I pointed that out he also tried to claim this way (sitting for approx 10 minutes in solid traffic) was as quick as the way that bypassed it when it clearly was not. My preference based on personal experience is for Irish national drivers. I am aware many of them are also assholes but they do know their way around and in my experience are less likely to try to rip me off either through their ignorance or intentionally. If they do make a mistake they are prepared to admit it and are less likely to try to bluff their way out of it pretending not to be aware of the issue. As the customer paying through the nose for this I don't see why I should be prevented from making an informed choice about which drivers I use based on my legitimate preference.

micropig · 15-05-2012 12:32PM

daltonmd wrote: »

That's my point exactly. Are they going to force Hairdressing salons who advertise that they are "African" to take down those signs? Are these not racist? What if, instead of the "green light" they put "I am an Irish taxi driver" would this be racism?

So then the people who will choose these taxis are then racists?

I here you a racist now father:p

It's about time the Taxi industry in Ireland sorted itself out. I don't care what nationality the driver is, as long as he can drive, clean car, decent price.

The worst I ever got ripped off was by an Irish Taxi driver who charged €75 for a 6KM journey. When asked for a receipt, he picked up a scrap of paper (old tesco receipt) off the floor and wrote €7.50 on it... WTF??.

Professional drivers my hole, it's scumbag Irish drivers like Jacko in the story above that give others a bad name. Now when in that town, I will never get in to a Taxi with an Irish driver. A foreign driver brought me on the same journey a week later for €10.

Renn · 15-05-2012 12:33PM

The last 2 taxi's I took in Dublin city were Irish drivers. One added approx 30% to the journey time by going the wrong way and then trying to bluff & bluster his way out of admitting it (this was a reasonably short trip - I was late for an appointment and didn't have time to walk across town). The other time the driver went a way that was technically correct, in that on paper it was the right way to go. However he took no allowance for roadworks at that time or of the volume of traffic at that time.

Show Time · 15-05-2012 12:34PM

I only ever use Irish cab drivers for the simple reason i don't want to be ripped off by some chap who has no idea where he is going.

Morlar · 15-05-2012 12:35PM

Renn wrote: »

The last 2 taxi's I took in Dublin city were Irish drivers. One added approx 30% to the journey time by going the wrong way and then trying to bluff & bluster his way out of admitting it (this was a reasonably short trip - I was late for an appointment and didn't have time to walk across town). The other time the driver went a way that was technically correct, in that on paper it was the right way to go. However he took no allowance for roadworks at that time or of the volume of traffic at that time.

If that is the case then you will have no problem with allowing customers to make an informed choice & let the market decide.

Victor · 15-05-2012 12:39PM

Morlar wrote: »

I disagree it's xenophobic to advertise your nationality.

It as much says "I'm Irish, hire me because I'm Irish"

Plenty of islamic taxi drivers advertise their religon within the car, playing islamic music, having korans and islamic texts prominently on display etc., I wonder if varadkar is also going to be bothered by that at all ?

I've never seen this. Regardless, how are you going to spot these things while hailing a taxi?

prinz · 15-05-2012 12:41PM

telekon wrote: »

If it is anyway true, I will avoid the green-lit cabs like the plague.

This. Happy days.

Feeona · 15-05-2012 12:41PM

I'd say foreign taxi drivers are complaining about racism because they're losing out on fares to Irish taxi drivers. If the green light on a taxi led to decreased fares for Irish taxi drivers, this situation wouldn't have been brought to Leo Varadkar's attention at all.

Looks like one-nil to foreign taxi drivers in the current fares war. In the media 'politically correct ideas' will always be deemed loftier than 'money-grabbing greed'. Time for the Irish taxi drivers to go back to the drawing board.

micropig · 15-05-2012 12:42PM

Victor wrote: »

.

I've never seen this. Regardless, how are you going to spot these things while hailing a taxi?

The taxi driver looks like this
http://www.streetgangs.com/graphics/alig2_web.jpg

daveyeh · 15-05-2012 12:42PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Just shut the fuck up & drive the taxi and stop whinging about "dem bleedin' black tuk ur jobs". No-one fucking cares.

Too good not to be quoted.

daltonmd · 15-05-2012 12:43PM

micropig wrote: »

I here you a racist now father:p

It's about time the Taxi industry in Ireland sorted itself out. I don't care what nationality the driver is, as long as he can drive, clean car, decent price.

The worst I ever got ripped off was by an Irish Taxi driver who charged €75 for a 6KM journey. When asked for a receipt, he picked up a scrap of paper (old tesco receipt) off the floor and wrote €7.50 on it... WTF??.

Professional drivers my hole, it's scumbag Irish drivers like Jacko in the story above that give others a bad name. Now when in that town, I will never get in to a Taxi with an Irish driver. A foreign driver brought me on the same journey a week later for €10.

I know taxi drivers who will not take black people - especially black women one told me of a fare he took from a hosptial in town to Dun Laoghaire one Sunday morning - the fare should have been about 50 euro but he felt sorry for her and charged her 35 - she immediately accused him of being "racist" and robbing her.
When he tried to explain Sunday rates to her, she changed tack and said she would call the Garda and accuse him of "touching" her up - he was petrified and said he simply wouldn't take the chance again.

fishy fishy · 15-05-2012 12:46PM

while I am living in a democratic (and I use the word loosely) country, I will chose to get into whatever taxi I want - ALWAYS a reputable company taxi. I really don't care what varadker has to say - I'm sure he's not stranded late at night waiting on taxi's. Maybe before he spouts out about things he doesn't know about he may want to turn taximan for a weekend and experience the job himself - I'm sure he could find a taxi driver to "lend" him his cab for the weekend.

In the meantime I try to ignore rants from politicians who pretend they are all about the good of the people.

al28283 · 15-05-2012 12:46PM

Fromthetrees wrote: »

Are they victims of circumstance or are they small minded bigots?

What is the difference between a small minded bigot and a big minded bigot?

tigger123 · 15-05-2012 12:47PM

Non national taxi drivers are fare less likely to talk to you when you're in their cab, and therefore much preferable imo.

I cannot stand the small talk/moaning that comes out of some drivers when you're in their cab.

Feeona · 15-05-2012 12:48PM

al28283 wrote: »

What is the difference between a small minded bigot and a big minded bigot?

Money

prinz · 15-05-2012 12:48PM

Feeona wrote: »

Looks like one-nil to foreign taxi drivers in the current fares war. In the media 'politically correct ideas' will always be deemed loftier than 'money-grabbing greed'. Time for the Irish taxi drivers to go back to the drawing board.

It's nothing to do with political correctness it's to do with stupidity. You don't walk into a Tescos and expect all the staff to have their nationality on display so you can choose which checkout to go to. You don't go to a restaurant and expect the waiters to have a little pin on flag on their uniform so you can choose which waiter/waitress you want to deal with. You don't go into Spar, and ask all the staff their nationality first...

... the reason for this is that their nationality has no bearing on their ability to do the job of scanning your shopping, waiting your table or bagging your stuff. Just like driving a taxi.

I've had problems with taxi men of various nationalities. One moreso than others.... the Irish.

Nothingbetter2d · 15-05-2012 12:48PM

daltonmd wrote: »

I know taxi drivers who will not take black people - especially black women one told me of a fare he took from a hosptial in town to Dun Laoghaire one Sunday morning - the fare should have been about 50 euro but he felt sorry for her and charged her 35 - she immediately accused him of being "racist" and robbing her.
When he tried to explain Sunday rates to her, she changed tack and said she would call the Garda and accuse him of "touching" her up - he was petrified and said he simply wouldn't take the chance again.

thats why any decent taxi driver installs cameras inside his/her car.

Show Time · 15-05-2012 12:48PM

prinz wrote: »

This. Happy days.

At least by using an Irish cab you can be certain the fare money is staying in Ireland and not going Western Union way out to some other country.

golden lane · 15-05-2012 12:49PM

al28283 wrote: »

What is the difference between a small minded bigot and a big minded bigot?

renumeration....and expenses...

Morlar · 15-05-2012 12:50PM

prinz wrote: »

.... You don't walk into a Tescos and expect all the staff to have their nationality on display so you can choose which checkout to go to. You don't go to a restaurant and expect the waiters to have a little pin on flag on their uniform so you can choose which waiter/waitress you want to deal with. You don't go into Spar, and ask all the staff their nationality first...

... the reason for this is that their nationality has no bearing on their ability to do the job of scanning your shopping, waiting your table or bagging your stuff. Unlike driving a taxi. .

There ya go.

That'll be €14.50. Do you need a receipt ?

Feeona · 15-05-2012 12:50PM

prinz wrote: »

It's nothing to do with political correctness it's to do with stupidity. You don't walk into a Tescos and expect all the staff to have their nationality on display so you can choose which checkout to go to. You don't go to a restaurant and expect the waiters to have a little pin on flag on their uniform so you can choose which waiter/waitress you want to deal with. You don't go into Spar, and ask all the staff their nationality first...

Their jobs are contracts. Doesn't matter how many customers come in, they still get paid.

prinz · 15-05-2012 12:50PM

Show Time wrote: »

At least by using an Irish cab you can be certain the fare money is staying in Ireland and not going Western Union way out to some other country.

If I knew it was going Western Union to some other country I'd tip more.

Renn · 15-05-2012 12:50PM

Show Time wrote: »

At least by using an Irish cab you can be certain the fare money is staying in Ireland and not going Western Union way out to some other country.

Amazing

‘Inherently racist’

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