to be shocked at the accepted racism on TV at the moment?

[Bogeyface]

There has been alot of racism recently about Polish people in the UK. Dara O'Brain in his new tour says that Irish immigrants now all work in IT so if they are booked to build your wall they go "Google it! There must be some instructions on how to build a wall!..........well translate it from Polish..." cue HUGE laugh.

I am not having a go at D O'B, I love his stuff generally but that made me feel uncomfortable. Its not just him, been a big thing in "comedy" recently.

But what is so different about what is being said about the Poles in the UK now and what was being said about black and asian immigrants in the 50's and 60's? And Irish immigrants before that?

It strikes me that the whole thing is scarily reminiscent of "Love thy Neighbour" or "Mind your Language".

My biggest shock was the my black husband didnt get it until I pointed out that a lot of the abuse his own mother suffered when she moved here in 1960 and the stuff hurled at him when he was a child was word for word the same as the "jokes" that are being told now.

AIBU to think that this should be stopped both in RL and on TV?

[scottishmummy]

no,polish isn't a race one isn't identifiably polish.one is identifiably black
now if you don't like content or tone that's fair enough
comedy skates around edges of taste,sometimes gets it right/wrong

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

You should hear some of the things the eastern europeans say about us, in their own language so we dont know.

It might not be in good taste, but there have been worse jokes made.

[WorraLiberty]

Am I missing something?

What Dara said was in no way racist at all

Many Poles are builders. There used to be many more Irish builders than there are now.

It's not racist to point that out or to work it into a comedy routine.

[Bogeyface]

You should hear some of the things the eastern europeans say about us, in their own language so we dont know.

Dont you see? That is exactly the sort of thing my very racist uncle says about Asian people! Its just the same!

[Bogeyface]

Fine, I am wrong, but I would rather be wrong than racist thanks.

[WorraLiberty]

Well me too

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

No no. I have heard them and a friend translated. Actual experience.

[scottishmummy]

I don't actually get what's your beef your example isn't racist
Kevin bridges he Scottish takes piss out scottish that's just good observation
are you polish do you feel got at

[BridgetBidet]

You should hear the things that the Irish say in English about the English. And the Poles will say it in English too given half a chance.

I think it's hilarious, my husband is Irish and my best friend is Polish and I would say about 80% of our relationship is based on mutual racism and the fact that we all find it funny.

[Pagwatch]

Add message | Report | Message poster Bogeyface Fri 12-Oct-12 23:15:17
Fine, I am wrong, but I would rather be wrong than racist thanks.

Are those the only two options then?

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Oh and in N.I you should hear the sectarian banter between friends of different religions.

[WorraLiberty]

You should hear what those bastards at NetMums say about us MumsNetters

[AgentZigzag]

I haven't seen the joke you're talking about, but I get the feeling from the people I know that Polish people are well liked and there's a banter with them.

It's not the same as making 'jokes' about things Bernard Manning style where the group is the butt to be laughed at, it more inclusive and recognising of their worth as good workers who get the job done.

I think there's a good relationship between British and Polish people going back to the second world war, of course there are always wankers spouting about them taking all our jobs, but they're just wankers.

[FromEsme]

I don't think that the Dara O'Brian thing is offensive at all, but I also think "oh well, the eastern Europeans are horrible about us too" is pretty much the kind of shit racists say all the time.

I am feeling hyped up on this issue atm, this woman I work with keeps on with the racist shit day in day out and I am at the end of my tether.

[scottishmummy]

Scotland and sectarianism now that's wild
nothing in your examples is racist,simply not to your taste
goading and taking piss in comedy is to extent how it goes.they all do it

[Bogeyface]

Ermm....yep, pretty much! Because otherwise I have to agree that this was fine, and I really dont think it is.

My issue is with it being on TV, and I just cant help wondering whether in 20 years we will all be cringing and trying to excuse ourselves by saying "oh it was a different time...."

[Bogeyface]

Oh well Worra those NMers really should fuck off back to where the came from

[Bogeyface]

they

[Frontpaw]

I just ran the Dara joke past my Polish friend (married to a Polish builder). She foumd it very funny. My builders were middle eastern.

[AgentZigzag]

Yeah, but they're right worra

What did they say wannabe? Just out of interest like.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

I saw Dara O'brain tonight too, there was absolutely nothing racist about it.
He was more joking about the Irish anyway.

[WorraLiberty]

Yes but all he's done is point out that there are lots of Polish builders.

Surely we'll look back in 20yrs and think 'Yes there were'?

I was going to say it's not racist, it's stereotyping...but actually it's not even that.

It's just observational humour.

[scottishmummy]

why shouldn't Dara be on Telly.he's funny
not to your taste maybe. who knows in 20yr how will be viewed
you do need to be clear this isn't racism.it's humor you don't like.that's different

[Bogeyface]

I am not Polish but have been on the wrong end of very horrible racism as I married a man who is black, his mother was a 60's immigrant. As a result I am very sensitive to things like this and I thought that my mixed race dd was growing up in a better world than her dad, and I find that actually, it isnt that much better :(

[BridgetBidet]

General Polish consensus seems to be that English women are extremely ugly.