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AIBU?

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Original poster

to report a taxi driver for what I perceive as a racist remark

176 replies

treesntrees · 30/12/2014 12:57

The taxi driver asked me for my address then jokingly (I thought) said oh you don't want to go there it is too rough. I replied that it was so quiet it was boring. He then said "It's ebola central". Not being quick witted my mouth dropped open in shock. When I had recovered my breath I said "that's a bit of a racist remark" His reply was that ebola comes from Africa and as a lot of Africans live in that road it is ebola central. My response was to stop the taxi and get out. If I had been quicker witted I would have stayed in the taxi then said sorry mate I can't pay you in case You catch Ebola. So should I put in an official complaint to the taxi firm or am I being unduly sensitive. In actual fact although there's about half a dozen African families in my road they are still very much in the minority.

OP posts:
Inthedarkaboutfashion · 30/12/2014 12:58

Yes, make a complaint, it won't stop him being a knob who thinks racist bullshit but it might stop him from spouting it out in future.

IsabeauMichelle · 30/12/2014 13:05

Racist taxi drivers are a staple to Britain, I'm afraid. I can't tell you how many times I've had to spend a journey listening to them spout their bigoted crap, it's stopped me taking taxis tbh. There are only so many times you can tell them to stop being racist - those people don't listen anyway.

joanne1947 · 30/12/2014 13:07

Report him.

Original poster
treesntrees · 30/12/2014 13:09

I am awaiting a call back from their complaints department.

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 30/12/2014 13:11

He loses his job, he knows where you live.

sorry for scaremongering but that would be my first thought.

LadyLuck10 · 30/12/2014 13:17

Nancy that would be my take on it too.

Patrickstarxx · 30/12/2014 13:18

I don't think he's racist. Uneducated yes but not racist.

Tryharder · 30/12/2014 13:20

Ok. You should've ideally called him out there and then. I would've said, that's a bit out of order isn't it? And not tipped him. Or ignored it.

As someone said, if he loses his job, he knows where you live. Even if he doesn't put a hit man on you, he may have a family to support and it's not their fault that their Dad's an arse.

I doubt he will lose his job though. I know of a taxi driver who referred to someone as a fat, greedy Jewish bastard to a passenger who was herself Jewish. She complained and nothing happened.

googoodolly · 30/12/2014 13:21

I'd be worried he'd come to my house if he got disciplined for it.

TooHasty · 30/12/2014 13:23

Aren't taxi drivers usually self employed?

DoubleValiumLattePlease · 30/12/2014 13:24

Patrickstarxx Tue 30-Dec-14 13:18:54

I don't think he's racist. Uneducated yes but not racist

Exactly this. Hope he doesn't lose his job because you've set yourself up as judge and jury OP.

ilovesooty · 30/12/2014 13:34

Set herself up as judge and jury? Of course she hasn't. It's up to his taxi firm how they want to proceed.

And I'd have reported it too.

Fluffy40 · 30/12/2014 13:37

Doesn't sound racist to me, maybe a bit silly though.

ilovesooty · 30/12/2014 13:38

He wouldn't be at risk of being disciplined if he hadn't made such an offensive remark at work in the first place.

Inthedarkaboutfashion · 30/12/2014 13:41

Setting herself up as judge and jury? The taxi driver made a racist comment and the OP is filing a complaint about it, I hardly see how that is making herself judge and jury. It is up to the taxi company to decide in what action (if any) to take. Based on OP making a complaint being described as setting herself up as judge and jury should nobody ever phone the police if they suspect a Crime has taken place or become aware of information relating to a crime?
I with more people had OPs courage and determination to make complaints when people behave in racist, bigoted or otherwise prejudice ways.

TheXxed · 30/12/2014 13:46

I think its a racist remark, OP please report the comment. I wish more people would report stuff like this maybe we could finally see an end to casual racism.

Viviennemary · 30/12/2014 14:00

It was a daft thing to say but it wasn't racist. Anybody can catch it.

ilovesooty · 30/12/2014 14:05

It was racist because that was quite clearly the intent behind the remark. If the street had been 100% white British he wouldn't have said it.

silveroldie2 · 30/12/2014 14:07

Not the crime of the century and not really racist. Report him to who? - I thought cab drivers were self employed.

TheXxed · 30/12/2014 14:09

The only way you stamp out racism/homophobia/ableism is by making sure people realise that there are consequences.

It was racist sooty has explained why.

TheReluctantCountess · 30/12/2014 14:10

It was a stupid comment, and an uneducated one. You would have been right to put him straight.
I think to complain is an over reaction.

ilovesooty · 30/12/2014 14:13

So if you give your address to a taxi driver who responds "In the middle of chinky town" or "yeah, the estate full of paki houses" do people think that shouldn't be reported either? I don't see this as any different.

lem73 · 30/12/2014 14:15

Best way to deal with ignorant offensive people like that is to tell them to their face. This will teach them that not everyone shares their mind view.

ilovesooty · 30/12/2014 14:17

She did tell him to his face. And hopefully if she reports him the taxi firm will be telling him the same. If he's self employed but hires the taxi from them they might rethink the arrangement.

TheXxed · 30/12/2014 14:18

I spent along time pretending that I wasnt effected when people made racist comments. I brushed off as 'banter' I remember once in sixth form defending someone who made a racist comment and veiled it as a joke when another non white person pulled her up on it instead of admitting that I was hurt by the comment I told her she was over reacting and joined it with everyone else taking the piss out of her. I was a coward. I wanted to be liked to be like everyone else.

I am done pretending. The comment that cabbie made was racist.