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Original poster

How would you discipline this racist joke from someone you manage

286 replies

davidbrent · 29/01/2017 16:14

This is identifying but I don't care.

So a work colleague was complaining that her computer was running really slow to which another colleague piped up:

'paint it black it will run faster'. Then everyone burst into fits of laughter and it was forgotten. This colleague does like to have a joke at work but it good at the job.

Locality manager didn't seem to have any issues and didn't mention anything. I'm sure it's forgotten within the office. Everyone working here is White British. Luckily a Nigerian colleague was on a visit at the time.

Would you be concerned by this joke. Would you discipline the employee? I would certainly have at least called him into the office but let locality manager take the lead as he was in the room too.

OP posts:
Changednamesorry · 29/01/2017 22:59

*Pretending stuff isn't racist

Dothehokeykokey · 29/01/2017 23:15

This thread is hilarious.

How, in the name of all that is holy (oops, religionalist) is that comment racist?

It like saying bigger blokes aren't better at rugby, or small bloke aren't better jockeys.

Different people have different body types and muscle structures. That's a fact and it is t racist to pass comment onit or make a joke about it.

If a white person wins the 100m and 10,000m in the same year as a black person wins the Tour de France I will sell my penis (or give it away) for medical research because it ain't happening and pointing it out isn't racist.

Is it racist to suggest women are better at having babies than men are?

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 29/01/2017 23:19

Don't be a dick.

Dothehokeykokey · 29/01/2017 23:29

Who is being a dick? I genuinely don't get it.

Coloured people are better runners than white people.

Red haired people burn in the sun more quickly than dark people.

Birds fly better than snakes

Which of the above are racist? None. They are all just facts

DJBaggySmalls · 29/01/2017 23:30

Changednamesorry You are not alone Flowers

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 29/01/2017 23:30

Oh dear. Your terminology is as offensive as your posts.

This horror: Coloured people are better runners than white people

Is NOT any kind of fact. It's an offensive stereotype.

Dothehokeykokey · 29/01/2017 23:34

Have you ever watched the Olympics? If not look the results for the last few years up on the internet.

It Is a fact.

user1477282676 · 29/01/2017 23:36

Why wouldn;t it be a formal meeting? It's racist comment. Surely that warrants some formality?

user1477282676 · 29/01/2017 23:37

Hokey we don't say "coloured" people any more. Surely you know that? Or are you a troll? Or do you live in a time warp?

And it's racist to say all black people are good runners. THey're not. No more than all white people can't dance.

ilovesooty · 29/01/2017 23:37

Coloured people?

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 29/01/2017 23:39

It Is a fact

No its NOT A FUCKING FACT.

conserveisposhforjam · 29/01/2017 23:40

I think it would be great if people could RTFT.

And then, if they can ACTUALLY challenge what namechange is saying, they could do that.

And otherwise they can fuck off back to 1973, or wherever the rock they live under is, and bleat about 'PC gorn mad' there.

Dothehokeykokey · 29/01/2017 23:44

Sorry. Genuinely don't know what is wrong with the term "coloured". What do we use instead?

I am "skinny" "ugly" "bald" and "pasty"

Regardless of the terminology I don't see how it changes the fact that some people are better st certain things than other.

If anyone can seriously look at the results from international althletics competitions and tell me that my skinny, bald, pasty body gives me an equal chance to win a medal to some others who are born with other body types then please let me know.

That is not racist. It's just a fact

Dothehokeykokey · 29/01/2017 23:45

"
It Is a fact

No its NOT A FUCKING FACT."

Prove it. Because all the results I look at say it is

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 29/01/2017 23:55

No, thats not how facts work. You need to prove it is, not I that it isn't.

Who won at the Olympics is not proof.

Dothehokeykokey · 29/01/2017 23:59

Who won the Olympics (or any other major athletic event) at most distances over the last 50 years isn't proof?

What do you want?

A Ferrari is faster than a Ford Fiesta (straight from the factory) and that is as obvious from fmdoing a quick google or based on general knowledge as is the fact that white people don't win many running medals

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 30/01/2017 00:02

Who is that won so many medals over the last X number of years? Clue : its not "all black people".

Try reading some info, this is an excellent article that explains well: www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14679657

DJBaggySmalls · 30/01/2017 00:07

The 'joke' is still racist even if you pretend to believe it means that black people or cars or computers run faster.
You can pretend its PC gone mad to not be able to compliment black people on their athletic ability, but it just makes you sound like you're a paid up member of the BNP.

KarmaNoMore · 30/01/2017 00:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dothehokeykokey · 30/01/2017 00:13

Link from your article proving it's not " all black people"

I give up. Try reading stuff instead of just being outraged without thinking it through.

At the point you can show me white people have a better ability to run I will accept what you are saying. At the moment you are just being offended for the sake of being offended

"Every winner of the 100m since the inaugural event in 1983 has been black, as has every finalist from the last 10 championships with the solitary exception of Matic Osovnikar of Slovenia, who finished seventh in 2007."

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 30/01/2017 00:21

You have to read past the first line, dear.

[hmm']

ilovesooty · 30/01/2017 00:23

All this guff about the Olympics is irrelevant.

It's unacceptable behaviour in the workplace as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad I work for a company where this sort of incident is taken seriously.

Changednamesorry · 30/01/2017 00:44

sighs
Thank you to those who either already got it or get it now.

I have posted so many articles and explanations that anyone who is now claiming that it's just because the guy likes Mo Farrah 's style or similar os just trying to bait people.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 30/01/2017 01:53

I think I'm more moderate than most on this thread. He is a young guy who has said a comment that was inappropriate for the workplace. However at the age he is he probably hasn't connected the racist undertones in his joke.

We have all said stupid things in our time and we need to be put straight on this. However living in the area that I live I have heard much worse deliberately offensive things said from all races to each other. I really can't get too worked up about this. I do think a firm word in a meeting and record of this would suffice. Sometimes we have to pick our arguments when tackling any type of stereo typing and prejudice. Sometimes a gentle approach has more affect in changing behaviour and opinion than a sledge hammer approach that sometimes exacerbates the issues and make it worse.

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