Did someone just tell me (an Irishwoman) an anti-Irish joke?

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

I was sitting in a cafe with DD earlier today. We sat down next to a man who was on his own. He said hello to DD and then chatted to me a bit about the weather; how it was too warm last week.

Me: well, being Irish, I'm not great with hot weather (ho ho)
Him: did you hear about the Irishman who was on Mastermind recently?
Me: [thinking he was actually going to tell me about a Mastermind contestant] oh no, I didn't
Him: they asked him his name and he said "pass"
Me: oh... oh... em, no, no

We went back to eating lunch and he left.

So, maybe I'm misunderstanding, but I am guessing this is supposed to mean he's so thick he can't even remember his name? Because he's Irish? Is that what he meant? I'm genuinely confused ! If that's what he meant, did I just confirm his prejudices by looking like this at him?

He seemed a pleasant enough man, so I don't think he was being intentionally hurtful to me. Maybe I'm missing something or being over sensitive, (although actually I feel more confused than outraged about it).

[AdalindSchade]

Yeah I think he did. What a knob.

[Backingvocals]

Oh dear. Yes I think so. Awful to be stuck with someone telling you jokes. Worse for it to be a joke about how thick you are

Clutching at straws - no I can't even think of one.

[Branleuse]

What a knob

[villainousbroodmare]

Yes, I think so. I was blissfully unaware of our international reputation for stupidity ( thought we were mostly feted for alcoholism and sociability) until a client recently told me that I seemed surprisingly intelligent.

[StickThatInYourPipe]

Yes he did but I think you opened yourself up by laughing about another stereotype first

[user1495884620]

Read your first paragraph again. We sat down next to a man who was on his own. I suspect there was a reason why he was on his own.

[queenofthedump]

I do find it slightly amusing that you're not sure about the meaning of the joke.

[Balfe]

It's not a stereotype to say you don't do well with the heat, being from Ireland.... that's geographical fact.

[StickThatInYourPipe]

Oh I thought it was a stereotype, I'm sure not all Irish people actually hate the cold!

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

Huh. Well there you are.

Thanks for confirming, (although, if you're Irish I have to discount what you say, due to you all being thick and probably drunk like I am*. Sorry about that ).

Fucks sake. Of all the things to be 'known for'. Lovely. When did this become an acceptable stereotype to bring up to a stranger in a cafe?

*I am not drunk (or thick I hope). I am pregnant (and actually have a degree and read books and EVERYTHING).

[StickThatInYourPipe]

hate the heat! Ffs

[StickThatInYourPipe]

OP I don't think he was actually intending you were thick, maybe he just though you would chuckle and read the situation wrong. I don't think people actually believe all Irish people are stupid

[JumpingJellybeanz]

"Why are Irish people so stupid?"

"So people like you* can understand them."

• The 'joke' teller not the OP

[Backingvocals]

I haven't heard a joke like that in the mainstream for years but as a child they were standard. Along with MIL jokes. And jokes about other races and homosexuality.

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

stick

I am from a cold part of the world. I am unaccustomed to warm weather for that reason. I don't think it's the same as implying Irish people are stupid?

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

stick (again sorry - x post with your last one)

Oh God no, I'm positive he didn't mean to call me thick personally. He did it with such a pleasant smile on his face, I'm sure I was meant to laugh along with him, but I didn't think it was a particularly nice joke to make immediately after meeting me. So chuckle, I did not.

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

Should be "...I'm sure I was suppose to laugh along with him. But..." sorry.

[MrsPorth]

I haven't heard a joke like that for many years. Jokes about Irish people, black people, women drivers etc were commonplace when I was a kid but thankfully people are more evolved now. Well, most people.

[StickThatInYourPipe]

OP I think YANBU but I also do feel a tad sorry for him, sometimes people say shit as a joke which they would never normally think or say and then think 'why the hell did I say that??' Or he could have just been a dick. Who knows - you're not thick so I wouldn't worry about it

[TheweewitchRoz]

He sounds like a dick to me Op.

[OuchBollocks]

Are you in England? It is apparently totally acceptable across much of England to make anti-Irish 'jokes', jibes and comments and it pisses me right off. Any time I've ever pulled anyone up on it I get told I'm uptight, take myself too seriously. It's done in 'polite' company, where making corresponding comments about people of virtually any other nationality would be rightly slammed.

Lots of people will now say "I've never seen/heard that"; I have, from many types of people over the past 20 years and it gets very tired very fast.

[scottishdiem]

I think its an insulting basdardisation of this one:

"Paddy, what is your specialist subject?"
"Irish History"

"Paddy your minute starts now. Who was the leader of the
Irish Revolution?"
"Pass"

"In what year was the revolution?"
"Pass

"How many men died during the Easter Revolution?"
"Pass"

"What was the name of the British informer who helped
the rebels?"
"Pass"

All of a sudden his friend stood up in the audience and
roared "Good man Paddy, tell the fúcking English nothing"

[Emma2803]

Another Irish person here who's not fond of the heat ✋ 21/22 degrees is my limit!!!

Op, some people are just twats. I would have given him a wtf look too.

I remember when I was about 15 being told by this "family friend" from England how many counties were in the province I lived in in a did you know sort of a way!! Me and my 13 yr old sister both looked at him in a wtf "of course I fucking know you idiot I live here" kind of way!!! 🙄

[Balfe]

Good man Paddy, tell the fúcking English nothing

Heh

[Decaffstilltastesweird]

OuchBollocks

Yes, in Home Counties, so very multicultural. That makes it even more .