Would you be offended...

coolbeans · 08-05-2014 10:37PM #1

I've a lot of cause to be the in the UK at the moment where I interact with lots of Englanders on a daily basis. People are generally friendly and there's lots of push and shove banter when I deal with colleagues. I get called paddy, spud and people often shout "potatoes" in my wake. None of this bothers me in the slightest.
However, when I told an Irish friend this his eyes lït up with astonishment and fury. He tells me that I'm the subject of racist abuse and that I should report it. I think that's an absurd notion. Thoughts?

wp_rathead · 08-05-2014 10:38PM

Most important thing: context

mardybumbum · 08-05-2014 10:39PM

Spud, Potato, Paddy????

I would be as offended as fcuk.

Legs.Eleven · 08-05-2014 10:39PM

Haven't read the OP but as a fully paid up member of the PC Brigade I'm going to say, "YES :mad:".

Renegade Mechanic · 08-05-2014 10:39PM

Jaysus, tell your friend never to work in England! :eek:
My own opinion is that its not anything to be locking and loading over, give as good as you get and everythings fine:D

Chucken · 08-05-2014 10:39PM

Englanders.

?

fleet_admiral · 08-05-2014 10:40PM

call them pommies and limeys back

paddy mick and potato are racist

dirkmeister · 08-05-2014 10:40PM

As soon as I saw the word "spud" I started craving Taytos cheese and onion.

Riamfada · 08-05-2014 10:41PM

Life is too short to be offended and I don't understand people who get offended by these things. Ive been called cnut plenty of times. Words are just words.

Tilly · 08-05-2014 10:42PM

It wouldn't offend me tbh.

dee_mc · 08-05-2014 10:42PM

My first thought was 'it wouldn't bother me'
My second thought was, if I said something like that to a foreign worker in Ireland (which I wouldn't anyway) there'd be hell to pay

Dyr · 08-05-2014 10:42PM

I'm pretty sure that irish is classed as an ethnicity in english employment law, so yeah..they're bascially hurling racial abuse at you. Ya wont see them jokingly roaring Paki or Coon at anyone in the office

Freddie Dodge · 08-05-2014 10:42PM

Why would you continue to interact in any way with someone who abuses you and your country in such a fashion? Some sad need to be liked???

jackboy · 08-05-2014 10:43PM

You can only get offended if you believe the insult.

Muise... · 08-05-2014 10:44PM

Do they say "no offence, mate" afterwards? Because that seems to make it OK. English friends of mine in Ireland have to put up with all sorts of anti-English sh1te, followed by "no offence, like".

coolbeans · 08-05-2014 10:44PM

Riamfada wrote: »

Life is too short to be offended and I don't understand people who get offended by these things. Ive been called cnut plenty of times. Words are just words.

To be fair, kun* is something I wouldn't put up with. That's proper offensive. I'm surprised that some are offended by paddy. Spud, same again. Potatoes, it's just silliness. Couldn't believe my friend's reaction. He was offended on my behalf.

Duckworth_Luas · 08-05-2014 10:44PM

coolbeans wrote: »

people often shout "potatoes" in my wake.

Why?

bumper234 · 08-05-2014 10:44PM

coolbeans wrote: »

I've a lot of cause to be the in the UK at the moment where I interact with lots of Englanders on a daily basis. People are generally friendly and there's lots of push and shove banter when I deal with colleagues. I get called paddy, spud and people often shout "potatoes" in my wake. None of this bothers me in the slightest.
However, when I told an Irish friend this his eyes lït up with astonishment and fury. He tells me that I'm the subject of racist abuse and that I should report it. I think that's an absurd notion. Thoughts?

Tell your friend that Irish isn't a race so you're not being racially abused. Saying that it could be seen as inappropriate by some and offensive by others. If it doesn't bother you and you gibe the slagging back then leave it be, if it does offend you and you feel it's too much the report it. Only you can decide if it's offensive as you are on the receiving end of the banter/slagging/abuse.

Renegade Mechanic · 08-05-2014 10:45PM

Muise... wrote: »

Do they say "no offence, mate" afterwards? Because that seems to make it OK. English friends of mine in Ireland have to put up with all sorts of anti-English sh1te, followed by "no offence, like".

Cork!:D

kneemos · 08-05-2014 10:45PM

I think the Englanders are natural piss takers,if it's in good humour what harm.

ryan101 · 08-05-2014 10:45PM

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

give as good as you get and everythings fine:D

Exceedingly bad advice for a workplace.
The day they do move onto making remarks you personally find offensive, and sooner or that type of person always does, then you won't have a leg to stand on.

coolbeans · 08-05-2014 10:46PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

Why?

Because I'm Irish I suppose. I see no malice.

Muise... · 08-05-2014 10:46PM

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Cork!:D

Galway!

bumper234 · 08-05-2014 10:47PM

Muise... wrote: »

Galway!

Anywhere not Dublin

Stheno · 08-05-2014 10:47PM

I was once working in the North with a colleague from the UK.

I'd to turn around and tell him that wearing a union jack as a belt buckle was a bad idea.

Some people can just be unaware of their actions

Supergurrier · 08-05-2014 10:47PM

It would get old fast.

The Backwards Man · 08-05-2014 10:48PM

I've spent a fair bit of my time around different parts of England over the years and I've never once been called any of those things.

coolbeans · 08-05-2014 10:48PM

For thé record, I'm not in the least bit offended. My friend on the other hand...

Duckworth_Luas · 08-05-2014 10:48PM

coolbeans wrote: »

Because I'm Irish I suppose. I see no malice.

But what has Ireland got to do with potatoes?

ryan101 · 08-05-2014 10:49PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

But what has Ireland got to do with potatoes?

Famine and suchlike. The best way to insult someone is to hide it in 'humourous' remarks.
"Ginger haired tosser" is a subtle English favourite against anyone having an Irish/Scottish trait.

Tail Docker · 08-05-2014 10:49PM

I work over there a fair bit and get called Paddy by the odd knuckle dragger - in a work setting. They thereby die to me and we're done. They cease to exist as far as I'm concerned. But I smile as they say it. It's a lack of respect and rude, simple as. Outside work, fire ahead, like I care brit boy. Context is all.

Would you be offended...

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