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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is fairy tale of New York a sackable offence ?

240 replies

Veeveeoxox · 07/01/2022 09:36

My OH played fairy tale of New York the censored version on a zoom Christmas party, he works in IT contracting moved from financial services to the public sector. They are now saying many people got offended and hurt by the song and they are wondering if he's a good cultural fit for this department .

AIBU to think this is absolutely ridiculous ? My OH is already looking for another job as the field is such in high demand he's not worried. They also waited until today to tell him instead of a month ago when the supposed incident happened.

OP posts:
notacooldad · 07/01/2022 12:39

I presume he was making a political statement? He wanted a reaction? And now he has got one
I wouldnt have assumed that at all.
The song seems to be on every Christmas playlist, in bars, restaurants and shops along with I believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake (whose video could be argued as being political as it shows scenes from Vietnam war and filmed in part on the West Bank.)
To me it's just a blokey song that gets played at Christmas.

Whatayear81 · 07/01/2022 12:40

@CorrBlimeyGG

Are you sure there was not more to it? In itself it seems a big overreaction, which would make me question if there have been other complaints.
Correct

Always a back story generally in cases like this

Straw. Camel. Broke

Sonex · 07/01/2022 12:40

there is a censored version recorded by the Pogues. They recognised the need to it.
Use it

He did!

ErrolTheDragon · 07/01/2022 12:49

As a matter of curiosity, is Money for Nothing off the approved playlist too nowadays?

WingBingo · 07/01/2022 12:51

No complaints about “slut” I bet.

notacooldad · 07/01/2022 12:53

As a matter of curiosity, is Money for Nothing off the approved playlist too nowadays?
In the summertime still gets played, so does My Sharona!

Sonex · 07/01/2022 12:56

All the rap and grime songs about hos and bitches also seem to be fine as well. Though admitedly you prob wouldn't play these at a Christmas party.

Bumpsadaisie · 07/01/2022 12:57

I don't think I could work with colleagues who got offended at FToNY ...

Freedom22 · 07/01/2022 13:00

If I was your DH I wouldn’t want to work with those people

girlmom21 · 07/01/2022 13:02

It seems really strange that multiple people would be offended even if he'd played the original

unless

OP he doesn't work with a lot of people who don't celebrate Christmas, does he?

steppemum · 07/01/2022 13:03

@Sonex

*there is a censored version recorded by the Pogues. They recognised the need to it. Use it*

He did!

I wasn't refering to the OP but to the poster I quoted
Comefromaway · 07/01/2022 13:04

Steppemum - Apart from the fact he is about 10 years younger you could be describing our friend. The last thing he wants when shopping at Christmas or attending a work Christmas party is a reminder of the abuse and violence he was subjected to in the 60's and 70's simply living his life.

There is a massive difference between a song that is portraying a character as a performance on stage say and having to listen to the slurs whilst going about your everyday life.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/01/2022 13:05

@girlmom21

It seems really strange that multiple people would be offended even if he'd played the original

unless

OP he doesn't work with a lot of people who don't celebrate Christmas, does he?

If they don't celebrate Christmas, they wouldn't be at a Christmas party. Not sure what your point is anyway?Confused
girlmom21 · 07/01/2022 13:06

@ErrolTheDragon duh - I completely missed the party bit!

My point was he could've been being antagonistic and trying to force Christmas on to everyone every zoom meeting but that's clearly not the case!

BruceBogtrottersWife · 07/01/2022 13:07

It isn't a homosexual slur, it I an Irish song by an Irish band and the Irish meaning of 'faggot' is quite different. It has been playing in my local pub all over Xmas and the landlord is gay. Im gay as feck and don't find it the least bit offensive. They're being ridiculous and I doub they'll be able to sack him over this and if they do, he will have good cause for tribunal.

Yaya26 · 07/01/2022 13:07

OMG the world has gone mad. Is it not the most popular Xmas song ever. I'm assuming it's faggot, arse , slut that's offensive. Tell them to give their head a wobble. It's the words of a down at heel.drunken couple arguing. What would they like the words be changed to? Had the complainers never heard the song before. How could it have been upsetting to hear it at that party. My 6 year old children can sing it word for word nearly from hearing it on the radio. Thankfully the rudeness is over their heads

RaininSummer · 07/01/2022 13:09

They sound like vindictive children.

Yaya26 · 07/01/2022 13:10

@RaininSummer

They sound like vindictive children.
Mine or the complainers?
ErrolTheDragon · 07/01/2022 13:13

@BruceBogtrottersWife

It isn't a homosexual slur, it I an Irish song by an Irish band and the Irish meaning of 'faggot' is quite different. It has been playing in my local pub all over Xmas and the landlord is gay. Im gay as feck and don't find it the least bit offensive. They're being ridiculous and I doub they'll be able to sack him over this and if they do, he will have good cause for tribunal.
I don't suppose the OPs DP is Irish... if he was then he might be able to raise merry hell over the 'cultural fit' thing.
saleorbouy · 07/01/2022 13:25

Oh dear the snowflakes are melting, when really they should understand the meaning and context of the word. It does not just have one meaning.

BasketBlocks · 07/01/2022 13:29

I strongly suspect the song is cover for whatever their real reason is. Happens all the time, employers just waiting for something to land in their lap.

Yummayumma · 07/01/2022 13:33

This is literally incredible.

Ionlydomassiveones · 07/01/2022 13:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

eveningbubble · 07/01/2022 13:55

Ridiculous as Shane McGowan himself explained: "The word was used by the character because it fitted with the way she would speak and with her character,” he said.

"She is not supposed to be a nice person or even a wholesome person. She is a woman of a certain generation at a certain time in history and she is down on her luck and desperate".

MacGowan added: "Her dialogue is as accurate as I could make it but she is not intended to offend! She is just supposed to be an authentic character.

"Not all characters in songs and stories are angels or even decent and respectable, sometimes characters in songs and stories have to be evil or nasty in order to tell the story effectively."

Should we destroy or redact every book where a character is too real?