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Original poster

Policy on under the radar racism

83 replies

Steroidsandantidepressants · 09/12/2020 08:26

Hi mnhq.

This isn’t a tatt but it’s come to light on another thread that there are a number of issues around tone and language that feels exclusionary to posters from Ireland, the Celtic nations of the UK and America as well.

It’s things like Halloween being decried and how it’s an American import, turnips, mockery of Irish names and their spellings and categorising them as naughty names.

Also the “have a paddy”. The haitch is horrible, Santa is horrible. And an Americanism.

It contributes to a feeling of not being welcome here. And it is a subtle racism.

Is there any chance you could have a chat in the office and come up with a stronger policy that would take this into account?

OP posts:
Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 08:57

Totally with you OP. I’ve witnessed this battle for years on MN. I do think it’s better than it was though. What you will get now is a load of goady faux naïveté threads popping up throwing in a casual “paddy” or “Irish twins” comment to get a rise out of us all.

Original poster
Steroidsandantidepressants · 09/12/2020 08:54

It’s the micro aggressions.

Gotten. Who says that. It’s such a horrible Americanism. No. It’s not.

OP posts:
Smallsteps88 · 09/12/2020 08:54

@picklemewalnuts

The people who use those terms- throw a paddy, haitch/aitch - are not aware of the racism behind them.

Those people are not racist.

There is an area where people perceiving racism does not overlap with actual racism.

Please stop.
FelicityPike · 09/12/2020 08:52

I’m neither American nor Irish (I’m Scottish) and I happen to completely agree.

Original poster
Steroidsandantidepressants · 09/12/2020 08:50

@picklemewalnuts

The people who use those terms- throw a paddy, haitch/aitch - are not aware of the racism behind them.

Those people are not racist.

There is an area where people perceiving racism does not overlap with actual racism.

Oh so if someone used a racist term towards a black person, not knowing it was racist, that would be ok and allowed to stand?

I don’t think so.

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 09/12/2020 08:47

The people who use those terms- throw a paddy, haitch/aitch - are not aware of the racism behind them.

Those people are not racist.

There is an area where people perceiving racism does not overlap with actual racism.

MindyStClaire · 09/12/2020 08:43

Following with interest.

As I said on the other thread, I'm a serial reporter of "having a paddy" as are I suspect a few other Irish posters. It is mostly deleted without debate these days which is progress.

Barmbraic · 09/12/2020 08:39

Agree wholeheartedly

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