Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this was a weird question, and a bit racist?

101 replies

Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:37

Mil lives in a city, I live in a small village with nearest city a good 60miles away.

We were visiting and we were watching citizen kahn, my ds thinks it's hillarious!

Mil sat next to me and asked if we had any of them near us, gesturing to the telly. I kind of looked at her, knowing what she meant and just played dumb saying any of who? She tutted and changed subject.

It has made me think that maybe she's racist? It's made me dislike her a bit more but am i over thinking it? Why ask such a random question, and does it really matter?

OP posts:
KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 22/12/2016 11:41

I've not seen Citizen Kahn, what's it about?

I'm guessing some kind of forriner?

SquirmOfEels · 22/12/2016 11:43

I'd see it just as an enquiry.

I live in a highly diverse city, but in practice there are different communities in different areas. And I happen not to be particularly near areas with a community that matches that of Sparkhill.

So I'd simply say 'no'. Straightforward descriptive answer.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 22/12/2016 11:44

Yes, use of the phrase "any of them" is racist.

Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:45

It's a comedy about a muslim family living in uk.

Thanks I couldn't work out where she was going with it, and why mattered.

OP posts:
KathArtic · 22/12/2016 11:45

She probably is racist but is from THAT generation.

Kel1234 · 22/12/2016 11:46

I think that programme is hilarious. However I do think it's wrong to refer to anyone - regardless of race or ethnic background as "any of them". Does it matter if you do or you don't?

Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:46

That's what I thought bibbity the use of that phrase made me uncomfortable.

OP posts:
MissDreanor90 · 22/12/2016 11:46

I don't see it as racist, just a question ?

I think your attitude is rude, you should have just asked what she meant! Not play dumb Hmm

Wonderflonium · 22/12/2016 11:46

Yeah, a bit racist but not beyond rehabilitation. You handled it beautifully, by the way.

Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:47

Exactly kel why does it matter who lives in my village or area?
She's 70, so from that generation

OP posts:
CockacidalManiac · 22/12/2016 11:47

Yeah, pretty racist. Unless by 'them' she meant brummies.

PavlovianLunge · 22/12/2016 11:47

You might well be right, and it's an weird thing to say, but I'd have thought that if she was racist, she'd have said plenty of other things over the years to have confirmed your suspicions.

ghostyslovesheets · 22/12/2016 11:47

'Any of them' smacks of racism to me - and age has nowt to do with it my mum is 70 and not racist in the slightest

Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:48

I wasn't expecting the question miss and thought it was a bit rude to ask it

OP posts:
Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:49

Fil has pav but in that subtle, generational way were there's no hate involved.

OP posts:
PavlovianLunge · 22/12/2016 11:50

On reflection, the use of 'them' does have a whiff of racism about it, it's very othering.

NavyandWhite · 22/12/2016 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:51

Yes ghosty age shouldn't be an excuse.
They do they same about gay/lesbian too. You know not hate, bit they'll let you know if someone, such as their friend's dd who I've mever met, is gay. Which I don't really need to know

OP posts:
Nameforsaken · 22/12/2016 11:52

I don't like confrontation navy I wanted to switch subject as I didn't want to answer her question

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 22/12/2016 12:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dollydaydream114 · 22/12/2016 12:03

Yes, I think there's a pretty clear subtext in 'any of them' and also in her refusal to elaborate when you asked her what she meant.

While I do get that there can be a generational aspect to remarks like that, I don't think people should use it as an excuse. My parents are in their 70s and they wouldn't dream of asking a question like that - certainly not in that way, anyway.

SapphireStrange · 22/12/2016 12:05

It was clearly a racist question. And she clearly didn't want to expand on what she meant by 'them' because she knew that what she would have said would have got a negative response from the OP.

Generation is not an excuse, either.

NavyandWhite · 22/12/2016 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hoddtastic · 22/12/2016 12:10

they/them is usually used perjoratively - it's seldom neutral.

nell15 · 22/12/2016 12:10

That generation - what you mean -old ?

Swipe left for the next trending thread