WIBU to delete someone off my FB for sharing Irish 'jokes'...

[FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast]

You know how years ago people used to tell really unfunny jokes based on the premise that Irish people were stupid/alcoholic/ terrorists?

Well it pissed me off 30 years ago but in general these days people no longer tell Irish 'jokes'.

so there is this English woman on my FB that I worked and lived with years and years ago. I hardly know her as an adult tbh as we were teens back then.<

Anyway so she shares this meme that is so unfunny, I didn't even smile. Something about 'Paddy' and a lorry of turf, and him wanting to send his lawn away to be cut. 'What's dat' says his mate...

So we have the 'funny accent' and the purported 'stupidity' of the Irish being shared as hilarious.

One of the women who 'liked' it is Jewish! (I knew her back then too) Imagine if I shared a Jewish joke!!? (well I wouldn't but it would go down like a sack of shit, and rightly so)

It is a little personal to me as my dad is Irish, spent his working life as an academic. So these kind of jokes piss me off. Especially in 2018.

WIBU to defriend her and tell her why? or would that be an over-reaction?

not really, I was just interested because I had never actually heard any English jokes before.
FWIW I didn't find them very amusing.

the English are well known for being able to take the piss out themselves

Are they? I’ve never heard that “well known” fact about English people? Genuinely asking as I’ve never even had a whiff of this generalisation. And I am a non-English person living in England, so you’d think I’d have heard it... Is it something English people say about themselves or something the rest of the world says about the English? Because I’ve never heard it till I read that post.

Plus, historically, England had the power. You don’t normally take the piss out of a nationality / group of people who historically did not have power. Racism equals prejudice plus power and all that.

That said, I don’t like anti English jokes either.

My Irish dad always responded to these types of 'jokes' with, 'Do you know why Irish jokes are so stupid? So amadáns understand them.'

It’s because you’re English and (pardon the stereotype) the English are well known for being able to take the piss out themselves

This 100%. We do enough to ourselves - we don't need everyone else to do it for us, we get in first!

That joke you described was racist shit and I would have deleted them too.

@WhatATimeToBeAlive

I’m genuine intrigued! This is clearly a (perfectly nice) stereotype I should have heard of.

Do you know any examples of jokes English people famously make about themselves? Is it things like “we like to drink a lot of tea”? Genuine question btw. I appreciate it’s difficult to convey a friendly tone on here, so you’ll have to take my word for it .

@WhatATimeToBeAlive

yes maybe you could share for example, a fb meme that is doing the rounds among English people , 'taking the piss' out of themselves?

*genuinely

Have a look at comedians like Sarah Millican, Micky Flanagan and Jon Richardson. Most of their comedy is self deprecating.

It’s not something that I actually only attribute to the English - I would usually say British humour is generally piss taking

Mock the week, Have I got news for you... all take the piss quite equally.

I think YABU op, but in the context that you suffered bullying because of your family situation, your response is more understandable.

Like many actual Irish people have come on and said - it doesn’t bother me. It’s a joke. To me, the joke has always been laughing at the ridiculous stereotypes, not the people involved.

If anything, you taking it literally and taking offence is more offensive than the actual joke.

Doing the rounds on Facebook 😝

" you taking it literally and taking offence is more offensive than the actual joke. "

oh don't be silly.

In that case, let's all start telling Jewish jokes and if anyone complains, tell them that their complaint is offensive...

Do you know any Jewish people, op!?

istole . Love it! As the wife of an Englishman I would have to agree . Hardly self deprecating though, is it?

Do I know any Jewish people? this thread is getting more bizarre by the minute...

Yes I know some Jewish people....I was raised in North London ffs.

And none of them have ever shared a joke about themselves with you? Your social group must be dry.

Not self depreciating, no, but showing the ability to have a laugh at our own expense

" Your social group must be dry. "

Must it really? OK love, whatever you say.

Everyone is your love!

But that isn’t at the expense of the English. It’s a jokey bit of willy waving / bravado, no? It’s not like saying, (using the frankly horrible stereotype about Irish people being thick), “oh ho, we English are so stupid we can’t even manage to x, y or z”.

It’s at the expense of the England football team maybe. Which is different to being self deprecating or having a laugh at yourself I think? But then I’m not a footie fan either! Maybe to mock one’s team is to mock oneself?

So it’s slightly slagging off the English got all team while also giving a massive compliment to the rest of England’s men... I think?

So the opposite of self deprecating. Self promoting, at the expense of the football team. Is how I read it. But might be missing the point.