Wow the casual racism of some people is shocking isn’t it?

[clary]

I was at an event today working with an older woman who seemed very pleasant (I don’t know her well). We had a list of names of people involved and she looked at an Irish name (Eoghan) and said to me “well how do you say that?” I said hmm, not sure, so I googled it and came up with the answer (Oh-an or Ow-en). All good. But then she says “Goodness me, I just wish they would spell their names correctly!”

This is a racist comment isn't it? I was aghast. I mean, I am by no means a perfect person, but I cannot imagine saying that. In fact even tho it was slightly awkward (it was a casual conversation with someone I don’t know) I did call her out on in and say “Well it is a different language! Would you say that about someone with a Russian name?” but I am not sure she took it on board.

Not sure what I am asking really. But have others come across this? Should we continue to challenge it and what should I say?

She sounds like an ignoramus with a misplaced sense of superiority.....unfortunately there's plenty of them around.

@ladykale your post contains so many logical fallacies, I almost don’t know where to begin.

The statement is logically flawed because it:

• Minimises a harm by comparing it to a perceived worse harm (relative privation)
• Treats different forms of discrimination as directly comparable (false equivalence)
• Attempts to silence the affected group (tone policing)
• Draws a conclusion that doesn’t follow (non sequitur)

Therefore, it is clearly completely wrong to say: “Discrimination against Irish people in Britain isn’t as bad as against other ethnic groups. Shut up, Irish people”.

While we’re on logical fallacies: calling the OP “ageist” simply for describing the woman as older is a category error (confusing a neutral descriptor with a prejudicial claim) and a straw man (reframing the OP’s statement into an accusation she didn’t make).

I had a very Czech maiden name growing up and people were forever insisting on spelling it wrongly, however many times we told them the correct spelling! It sometimes felt deliberate.

At school, the name led to me being bullied constantly. It was during the Cold War and my F was suspected of being a Russian spy, because of his Czech accent.

I was grateful when I married a man with a very traditional English surname.

I don’t think it’s racism, it’s just ignorance and possibly xenophobia.

@LizzieW1969I am so sorry that happened.

I worked closely with a Polish secretary once and asked her how to pronounce both her first and second names so I could understand how they should be said. She did it and I repeated it correctly. It was not hard: just required listening.

She was absolutely made up - I can only assume because it happened so rarely!

My first name is constantly confused for another very similar name. But that similar name is not actually my name and it really annoys me when people just brush under the carpet the fact they’ve got my name wrong as though it doesn’t matter. One woman with whom
I worked closely called me by the other name repeatedly and when I raised it for the umpteenth time, blamed her dyslexia. 🙄

If I was in another country and was told that I spoke the language well, I would take that as a compliment. Why isn’t mastering a different language something to be proud of?

I’m not sure I understand PP’s comment either, unless she means she already speaks English as a first language? Otherwise I don’t get it. I can’t see what’s wrong with admiring someone’s ability to speak a second or third language really well.

We are told that, when we are in our own country - and one of the official languages is indeed English. Apologies for not making myself clear enough. It's either a surprise, or a compliment.