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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

This is offensive, but is it racist?

105 replies

unsurebutworried · 07/03/2012 11:51

.

OP posts:
Pudden · 07/03/2012 11:54

a full stop is offensive???

imnotmymum · 07/03/2012 11:54

what a full stop offensive/racist ??? maybe I drank too much coffee but...

OhChristFENTON · 07/03/2012 11:55

I am deeply offended Shock

imnotmymum · 07/03/2012 11:57

OMG I did three on my last post ... oh and again lock me up !!

Original poster
unsurebutworried · 07/03/2012 11:58

My son is in primary school. We are Irish. A boy was in his group stated Irish accents sounded stupid. I know it is insulting and a cheap way of denigrating my son and needs to be addressed as it will inform my son's sense of self. Am I overstating it by regarding it as racist. They are under 10 years. I would like him to apologise to my son and to have it pointed out to him to brand an accent as stupid was insulting. What would you do?

OP posts:
BelleEnd · 07/03/2012 11:58

Yes, it is offensive. Just because I have a massive spot on my chin

MyNameIsntFUCKINGWarren · 07/03/2012 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BelleEnd · 07/03/2012 11:58

X-post. YANBU. That is racist.

Kennyp · 07/03/2012 11:58

I feel violated.

backwardpossom · 07/03/2012 11:59

YABU

bejeezus · 07/03/2012 12:00

where do you live? It could only be racist if you live in Africa/Asia/China for example? If you live in the UK, then it cant be racist, as Irish/ English are different nationalities, but we are the same race

Confused
catontheroof · 07/03/2012 12:01

yes it is clearly rasist. I don't understand how it could not be?

LadyBeagleEyes · 07/03/2012 12:01

I don't understand.
.

EightiesChick · 07/03/2012 12:05

It's definitely offensive, and I would focus on getting the school to address that as unaccepable behaviour, rather than on whether it is technically racist or not. I would also think about how you are going to talk to your son about it and give him some responses to use to this in this future - because there will, sadly, be moments when stuff like this is said and the teacher isn't around to intervene, and it will help if he is prepared to deal with them.

Coatgate · 07/03/2012 12:06

I think Birmingham accents make people sound a bit thick.

TubbyDuffs · 07/03/2012 12:06

I would like to think that this boy is just picking something to pick on him about iykwim, not that he is a racist, but then who knows what he hears at home?

He is obviously a bully who is being nasty to your son and that needs to be addressed.

I would struggle to brand him a racist on this incident alone, he needs speaking to to get to the bottom of his obvious dislike of your son and to see where it is rooted.

Original poster
unsurebutworried · 07/03/2012 12:06

Yes, but accent is an attribute outside of your control. Just the same as skin colour. It is denigrating a group of people and rendering them with a trait (ie stupidity) because of origin. It wouldn't bother me as I think it says more about the orator. My son is at an impressionable age and I don't want him to take this on board.

OP posts:
imnotmymum · 07/03/2012 12:08

Oh there is a point [ha ha point] to this they are under 10 and lots of things are stupid tell him not to worry as most girls love the irish accent. Would flag up to teacher though if a problem but my DCS get it all the time as we have moved. "you say that wrong" blah blah they are just kids

MaMattoo · 07/03/2012 12:09

Discriminating and making fun of someone because of their speech and accent is definitely racist. Even if you are the same race the discriminatory aspect of it makes it racist. One can be racist against ones own kind too unfortunately! YANBU...

seeker · 07/03/2012 12:09

It doesn't actually matter whether it's racist or not- it's offensive and potentially bullying and needs to be dealt with . Go and talk to the teacher about it today.

ILoveSanta · 07/03/2012 12:10

Yes it is racist, however the children may not realise they are being racist, and may well be mortified if it is pointed out to them.

Our school had to report a similar incident last year with a welsh boy when another coup,e of boys followed him round baaaaaaa-ing at him! And they are old enough to realise it is racist!

backwardpossom · 07/03/2012 12:11

There is nothing racist about it. The boy just happened to choose his accent to insult your DS. Another day it would be his hair. Another day his clothes.

Original poster
unsurebutworried · 07/03/2012 12:11

I think they are both friends with a third boy and maybe this was an attempt to elevate the orator by denigrating my son. Just a guess.

OP posts:
DeWe · 07/03/2012 12:11

I got picked on for having a "posh" voice at primary school. Otherwise known as having a southern accent in a northern school. Wouldn't call it racist.

bejeezus · 07/03/2012 12:12

Yes, but accent is an attribute outside of your control. Just the same as skin colour. It is denigrating a group of people and rendering them with a trait (ie stupidity) because of origin

This may or maynot be true- but it is irrelevant to your question- the boy that insulted your son is the same race (I assume) so the remark was not racist

It may have been a lot of things- xenophobic/ facist/ prejudiced etc but it was not racist