Are they being unreasonable? Banned from local KFC today

[GraciousLife]

Popped into my local KFC today. Due to the area I live in, they have screens up between customer and cashier (like in post offices and banks), which makes it hard to hear what is being said. I didn't understand what the girl asked me, and, as I often say when I don't understand what someone has said, I jokingly said "Can I have that in English please", without thinking/realising/noticing the cashier was from another country (english being her second language).

The cashier got very upset. More upset than I would have thought is necessary, and refused to continue to serve me. I was shocked. She got her manager and told her what I had said. To cut a very long story short, I have been banned from the store.

what sort of gravy do you get with kfc? doesn't it make the crispy chicken soggy?

Gosh - I've heard that phrase used thousands of times and never thought it was offensive. Its possibly a little old fashioned now?

One could legitimately use it in response to someone who was talking a load of management speakery bollocks but possibly it wasn't wise to say it to someone who really doesn't speak great English.

Total over-reaction to have you thrown out of KFC for it though!

They probably get racist remarks all the time, and classify this with all the other put-downs foreigners get in this country.

Especially on a day like today, with the heading in Daily Mail, about foreigners coming to take even MORE jobs....

I am actually craving some chicken burgery thing now.

The phrase itself is a fairly common one and I have never heard it said in an offensive way and most definitely not meant in a racist way. It's normally only said if you mishear someone.

However, because the cashier didn't have English as a first language in this case I can see how they could have taken offense at it. I know you say you hadn't noticed beforehand. But surely once you did, did you not apologise - and also explain to the manager?

What happened after this for you to be banned?

MMM Big Daddy meal with Pepsi and gravy!!

Also, it's not really a phrase I've heard people use with strangers or in this kind of setting - more between friends after a mishearing. So def not normally an offensive term.

Seriously OP....what did you have for lunch?

southeastastra Oh you haven't lived. You poor the gravy on the plate next to your chicken and dip it in. It's scrummy. Mind you after I have eaten KFC I spend the rest of the evening despising myself

Sarcastic comment at the very least, very rude of you IMO why couldn't you just have said pardon?

I've never hear of gravy with a kfc!

I could go for some despising myself right now...

I think you used the phrase out of context, like other posters have said. As for her reaction, well as a person who doesn't live in their native land I can understand that. There are a few people living my town that have took the piss out of my German on a day when I wasn't in the mood and got more than they bargained for. Its a cheap shot and it is really below the belt, specially if you are doing your best. If she happened to take it as a racist remark then I think you'll just have to accept that and remember not to use it in future. There's loads of KFC's anyway - you aren't banned from all of them!

Obviously you don't poor, you pour!

Shudder at pardon.

Say what!

Probably best that they banned you.

After that little gem, you would have been looking at a lifetime of phlem coated chicken wings...

Clearly she and her manager interpreted what you said to her as a racist attack and that is why you were banned.

Kfc gravy is the best

I can't imagine how they could NOT have thought you were being racist. I accept your explanation that you weren't, but it would be the obvious assumption in the circumstances.

The phrase you used is a light-hearted/offensive one which means "you are making no sense". It doesn't mean "I can't hear you".

If someone said it to me, even as an English speaker, I would think they were being rude and implying I was waffling on or something. It would never occur to me that they simply hadn't heard me.

i dont think you used it out of context - i think it very much depends where you live.

and even if you did - to ban you is a gross over reaction - but in your favour as KFC is fucking hiddious aweful shite in a bucket with sides that no one eats.

when i was swimming yesterday - they had swimming lanes set up - just the one - the other was used for lessons and the rest of the pool for kids ...there were so many of us swimming that we wee actually queuing after each length, i said to woman in front ' very british all this queuing' she replied in an eastern european accent and i thought ' shit' talk about putting my foot in it

To be honest if you just said it without noticing like you said you did and then apologised then I think KFC have blown it out of proportion. It seems like a fairly minor thing to happen if it was just a casual remark. Like if you'd said it and then immediately clarified it with "I mean I couldn't hear very well because of the screen thing," then I don't see why there was a massive issue to be honest.

Part of me thinks KFC need to get a grip.

if dh says something i dont understand i say ' come again in english this time' its something i could imagine saying easily to someone. i think the manner in which you say things often belies the intent

And it's hardly a "racist attack" however you look at it is it really?!

I didn't say it was one, I said they clearly interpreted it as one.

Which they did.

They banned her.