for reporting my manager

[Jillyhere]

Advice very much appreciated. I work for an educational establishment. Last month we had a training session on managing students who mis-behave. My manager who i've always suspected was a racist made the following comments "the reason ethnic minorities hang around so much after class is because they know if they return home they will be forced to work in their shops". This was not said as a joke. Indeed, there were fifteen members of staff present, including someone who originated from the West Indies. This individual was rightly upset, hence, my decision to report the manager in question. The fact that he wasn't joking disturbs me even more.

I would like to ask those far clever than me whether or not I was correct in reporting this individual. Deep down, I know this statement is wrong. However, I find myself questioning myself. I'm afraid I am new on here, butr can assure you my concerns are very much genuine. If the matter is dismissed, who can I go to?

Slobby I pity you. It must be hell.

at Slobby

Thanks - I'll rest easy knowing that someone's out their thinking about my tormented life.

Asking someone if they've had chips for dinner may or may not be racist. Perhaps your colleague is making comments about your weight, SoleSource?

The comments in the OP however, are undoubtedly racist. I can't believe anyone thinks they're not; it doesn't mean that the manager goose-steps around the office, it means he made a racist comment which may lead people to believe that he is racist. He may be horrified at the idea of being thought of as racist, or he may not care. Either way, he needs pulling up.

This kind of racism goes unchallenged far too often.

Slobby that's the whole point you can not make assumptions about a person from one sentence. You are then as big a fool as the guy in question. To challenge racism you need to identify it and tackle it with reasoned arguments and factual non emotive statements. It's frustrating that cash and carry and you are showing a lack of intellect in the way you present your argument but by using big word name dropping about "noted" family members and your own well educated career does not add substance to your argument. A real intellect does not need to tell you they are intelligent it's blatantly obvious. Cash and carry IS ranting. They need to factually state their argument without criticising all MNers that is just stupid.

Comments can be racist, even if the person using them is doing so out of ignorance.

If a small child said the word 'paki', this would not mean that the child is racist; however, the word is racist, no matter who uses it.

Though slobby you cant say what was meant for sure can you ( re the original op). Until his side of the story is heard, well you just cant. Who knows what students may have said to him about their home life and how it impacts on them. He may be a racist bastard, he might not be, he may of overgeneralised by talking about a few students and lumping everyone into one category. But we don't know the whole facts behind the comments. If we knew the facts and they were meant in a negative way then fair play to have a rant. It would be interesting to hear what the op comes back with when she hopefully has a word with him.

Oh sure, tethersend, actually yes, i was missing something here. You are right actually.

Oh that's a bit unfair Can'tfit - yes I was ranty. I don't apologise for that. It's an emotive subject and I do think I used rational and reasoned arguments to prove my point even if my point was not to your liking.

As for Slobby, I can't speak for her but I think your responses to her have been nitpicky and that's a low blow regarding "namedropping" - unnecessary and irrelevant. Slobby was simply sharing her experiences as well as her rationale for her beliefs. It's common for posters to use their own experience as their touchstone - any thread will show that. I think you're just being mean for mean's sake albeit in a slightly more clever way than Solesource (no offence meant to Solesource by that comment).

Rather than picking on any one poster's opinion (something you'll see I desisted from in my opening post) why not simply state your opinion and which posts you disagree with and why. It's really a simple principle and prevents threads degenerating into a bunfighting free for all which doesn't help the OP or those who wish to educate themselves by reading the different points of view (and I count myself amongst those).

Although some sayings/statements ideally shouldn't be said, between equals or collegues, you can challenge it and only if they repeat it, take it further.

A person in a position of authority/power, as in this case, a Manger, should not be using racial stereotyping of any sort about his clients/service users and if done, then it should be taken higher, not just challenged, because it is worrying that they cannot see why they should not be doing that.

It just needs correcting by their senior.

Personal attacks are not generally accepted Can'tfit - I shan't report your post because I wish to let it stand so that it can demonstrate the pointlessness of bunfighting when discussing important issues for ourselves and our children.

Sigh - the connotations are everything.

Asking someone if they've had chips for dinner is either as I said before shit wind up merchantry, pig ignorance or someone who's incredibly thick.

If it's the former, it's certainly in poor taste, but if anyone seriously thinks stating that anyone who's english eats chips for tea is comparable to saying that anyone of a certain ethnicity has parents who force them into labour, then I think you need a reality check.

Of course, it could be a sleight about someone's weight - in which case totally unacceptable.

Oh and as for my intellect and ability to argue - you've got me bang to rights. Utterly awful.

I'm not quite sure what you mean solesource...

Jesus, is everybody drunk or something?

Yes, my friend in sixth form hung around because if she went home her father would have roped her into helping him out. It was all 'thread the catheter through the artery' and 'position the stent.'

I'm a bit drunk, if I'm honest.

Doesn't show Tethers

I'm just jealous because I can't drink due to this ridiculous diet

Can we all please stop sniping? It's a valid discussion which is helping the OP and no doubt many others. We can display passion in our respective points of view without it turning nasty.

What diet you on cashncarry? I seriously need to get thin. Is it working?

No - am most definitely lard arse of the century! It's a "lifestyle" change diet - basically the principle is that if I stop filling my body with utter crap, I will somehow magically stop having crippling tummy pains at night. Hasn't worked - I've eaten goddamned gluten free crispbreads and turkey for lunch with no dinner, just fruits and my tummy hurts like a bastard

Gin and slimline tonic laughs in the face of diets, Cash.

Unless you mean some sort of healthy diet.

What did you have for dinner? Chips?

Narked ...... See an actual Argument with substance!! One sentence is all it takes to prove a point.

Off to bed now as my head hurts from the brick wall I've been banging it in.

Apologies to all I've offended.