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AIBU?

if I reported this as a racistremark?

55 replies

LowFatMilkshake · 10/02/2007 14:44

I was in my local Somerfield this morning - it's a tiny place with 3 very narrow aisles that employs a number of local fish wives (as well as some nice people too) and some nasty little man in some sort of managerial position.

I have never been impresed with the level of proffesionality by some people in there - talking about dates and nights out etc, and the manager bloke is quite rude to customers too - not verbally but in behaviour, like tutting if you and your pram can't get passed his trolley of stock.

But this morning as I was squeezing passed him and two other members of staff all stacking the same shelf with two pile of crates . I heard him say quite loudly during a conversation:
"Have you seen our new cleaner?" "Did you understand him?" "I'm not being racist or anything but there's a bit of a language barrier"

I was really shocked that he was saying this so loudly in a shop that had quite a lot of customers in - especially given the recent headlines following Celebrity Big Brother. I dont know where the cleaner had gone, I had seen him earlier on sweeping up outside where the trollies are kept, but as far as the manager knew he could have been in the next aisle, along with anyone else who could have taken offence.

Do you think it is unreasonable to take this further?

OP posts:

Report

FluffyMummy123 · 10/02/2007 14:45

Message withdrawn

Freckle · 10/02/2007 14:46

Sounds like a statement of fact to me.

sunnywong · 10/02/2007 14:47

I think unless you yourself have had a go at understanding this cleaner then you can't really judge the relevancy of the remark.
People comprehension difficulties all across the racial spectrum.

Maybe he is difficult to understand but from Wales? You would have to find out for yourself

tamum · 10/02/2007 14:49

I don't really see how it can be racist to suggest that not everyone in the world speaks perfect English. If I was in France and someone said they found it hard to understand me I wouldn't think they were being racist, just that I was crap at French (yes, I know they're not a different race, it's just to illustrate the point).

LowFatMilkshake · 10/02/2007 14:53

I think why his comment stood out to me was that he had to say "I'm not being racist or anything". If he had made the other two statements alone I probably would'nt have taken much notice.

The cleaner is of Asian appearance, and was very polite to me when I entered the store - so no problems with communication there.

But if this bloke is the manager why would he employ someone he can't understand?

The area I live in is not well known for it cultural diversity, and comments like his just highlight that.

Perhaps he is just ignorant - would definatley go with his character

OP posts:

tirnanog · 10/02/2007 14:54

Don't think you could summize from that one comment as to whether they are racist or not

tirnanog · 10/02/2007 14:54

that was to the op

brimfull · 10/02/2007 14:57

yes ,unreasonable to take this further imo,don't think he's actually saying anything racist ,although he does sound a gossip.

Gobbledigook · 10/02/2007 14:57

I don't think it's racist either. Just stating a fact - he is difficult to understand. No slur on a race there that I can see.

VioletBaudelaire · 10/02/2007 14:58

Doesn't seem at all racist to me.

LowFatMilkshake · 10/02/2007 14:58

Okay will get of my high horse on the racism thing - but I am still unimpressed about the level of proffesionality!

I would use another supermarket in point of protest - but we dont have one!

OP posts:

Freckle · 10/02/2007 14:59

I think people have heightened awareness of the backlash of being accused of racism. They therefore preface any remark they may make, which could be construed as negative, against someone of a different background with the "I'm not a racist, but..." comment.

Maybe he is a racist, but that comment doesn't make him one.

Jimjams2 · 10/02/2007 15:14

Our local Somerfield is painful as well. I frequently come out seething at the rudeness of the staff.

madamez · 10/02/2007 22:37

This chap wasn't talking to you but to his colleague. He said, basically, that he has trouble communicating with another member of staff. He didn't, as far as you report in your post, say anything actually abusive about the other staff member (ie, didn't use racially defamatory language or suggest that the other staff member smelled bad or was dishonest - merely that there was a communication problem). If you work with a person who does not speak the local language as well as you do, it's not being racist to complain about the difficulty of communicating with that person.

Taking it further would not only be unreasonable but would make you look pretty officious. What's in it for you apart from your picture in the local paper as a Heroic Anti-Racism Crusader or soemthing?

Spidermama · 10/02/2007 22:44

I saw Goody Proctor with the devil.

Stiller · 10/02/2007 22:44

I don't think it's racist to be honest - it could well be factual.

I don't get the fish wives comment - what's a fish wife?

Spidermama · 10/02/2007 22:45

I think others might accuse you of being fish-wifist LFMS.

chocolatekimmy · 10/02/2007 22:46

Sounds like an ordinary conversation, nothing untoward.

I think your observations/references about fish wives (and the comment to suggest they are not nice people) and 'nasty little man' are more offensive. You sound very rude.

Why don't you shop somewhere else if you don't like it (or the people they employ) there?

CountTo10 · 10/02/2007 22:47

I would say that you are being unreasonable and why he felt the need to say i'm not being racist also seems a bit ott. If you're having difficulty understanding someone as they do not speak english, its not the end of the world to state that fact. They do sound like the supermarket from hell though!!!

Spidermama · 10/02/2007 22:47

See. Told you.

Stiller · 10/02/2007 22:48

Does it mean gossipy then?

Whoooosh · 10/02/2007 22:51

I agree choc-and LFMS-would you feel the same way had they said "have you seen our new cleaner-she's really fat isn't she?"

Why should racism be any differnet from fish-wife-ism/fatism/glasses-ism-the world has goen far too pc mad in my view.

taffy101 · 10/02/2007 22:52

hear hear mademez - this pc thing is going totally beserk and making everyone paranoid

BassMama · 10/02/2007 22:52

Thats not racist. Thinking thats racist (and the fact that he even felt the need to specify he wasnt being racist) just goes to show how when people try too hard to be PC they become un-PC!

Agree with the un fish-wifeist comment though!! tut tut..

bet the staff in your local somerfield wont like being called 'fishwifes' more than this man will admit he has a different accent!

SparklyGothKat · 10/02/2007 22:58

I phoned BT today 3 times and each time I got a person with an accent (have they moved their call centres overseas??) They struggled to understand me and I struggled with their accents. We don't all speak perfect english and all he was stating that he had touble understanding his accent.

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