I think I've just been accused of racism at work

[Imlookingatapicture]

Panicking somewhat..

For context I'm the only Welsh person in our London office. Lots of banter around the football World Cup.

Chat started on teams (chat not video) re the 6 nations game tomorrow. Collegue (huge football fan, most vocal in the world cup) said 'I don't care about rugby. I'm half Welsh anyway'

I replied

'Oh I'm half English too. We all have our crosses to bear ;)'

Manager has just emailed me to say collegue above has complained, and it's not acceptable, especially given recent discussions around inclusion and diversity.

It was honestly just a joke, in the same vein as the world cup 'banter'

I know I shouldn't have put it on teams. Maybe context didn't come across.

How much shit am I in?

Not under the law. The definition you have given there is a redefinition of racism to suit a particular political theory of race.

My apologies, always happy to admit when I'm wrong.

That you have a psychology degree is itself symptomatic of the same collective insanity. I'm sure you won't object to me sharing this , perhaps minority, viewpoint.

Do you work in Human Remains yourself , perchance? Because you seem to be good at opening up new zones of conflict.

You should see if OPs place have any jobs going. Sounds like you'd fit in a treat.

Here you are justifying hating an entire group of people for historical things some of that group of people did.

If you can’t see the explicit racism in this, then god help you.

It's no problem, I understand why you said it. I think I should have made myself clearer and structured my response better to the OP! 😁

Did anyone actually accuse you of racism though? You didn't say the email used that word.

From what i understand, you are half welsh and half english, and the man you were talking to is also half welsh and half english. you disparaged your own blood therefore you also technically disparaged his, and i suppose he was hurt by that.

I would apologise and move on, and keep your interactions with that colleague strictly professional and definitely dont put anything like that in writing.

Ha! Yes. Agree

You've not done anything wrong. The world has, in fact, gone bananas. As an English person who has lived in Scotland a LONG time, I've had a fair amount of jokes made at my expense because of it. And I, in return, take the piss out of how everyone in Scotland says Peugeot. As long as something isn't said with malice, or aggression, it's in good humour, why is it a problem?

Agree wholeheartedly.

If I had a job, I would have been sacked years ago.

Your colleague is a massive wanker.

What a stupid half English cunt he is!

When my asian friend comes into the office with a bag of food, my boss asks who's ordered Deliveroo. He doesn't mind because it's banter. Fuck working in a stuck up office like that!!

Oh dear god, what a crock of shite!

🤣🤣🤣

What's disparaging about it?

It's OP's nationality. too.

I wouldn't apologise

I didn't structure my response in the best way but I was responding to the OPs original question - 'How much shit am I in' and I was trying to guess their response and reassure her. I don't think she did anything wrong.

I would, but along the lines of "I'm sorry you are unhappy at being half English"

(I'm English, before you anyone kicks off)

YANBU being English is a cross to bear and I'm 100% English going back many generations.

@TheChoiceIsYours it's a two way street though. If you think jokes about the English are tedious and unfunny maybe try being Welsh. If I had a pound for every time I've heard a variation of the sheep shagging joke, I'd be a millionaire. The Welsh seem to be the last nation that's acceptable to mock - there was a lot of it at the World Cup eg Ben Davies trolled for speaking Welsh.
That said, if I were the OP I think I'd tell them to shove their job but unfortunately everywhere is now riddled with the cancerous PC culture.

@monomatapea

You wouldn't believe the level of "banter" in the ambulance service. Ripping the piss out of each other and being borderline abusive to each other comes with the territory. Do you think we care? No. Me and my crew mate have had many a screaming match in the hospital car park only to then trott off and resuscitate someone then have a bacon butty and a hug later that shift. We are constantly telling each other to F£&k off. But we have each others back and if we had a serious issue we would have it out with each other there and then. No running off to manager! For instance my crew mate once said to me "I think you acted like a bit of a twat on that job" and I said "yeah you're right, but I was feeling a bit stressed, and you're always a twat anyway so why do you care?" Then we just laugh and shrug it off and go about our day. High stress jobs like mine would never ever survive unless we were able to have a lot of banter / dark sense of humour and be able to speak openly and directly to each other about what our issues were.

I find it incredible that this could be claimed as racism. I believe it was a humorous comment an it is obviously that. The six nations are always a source of discussion!

Oh don't be daft. I'm English and I'd have laughed. We aren't an oppressed minority fgs

BTW, I'm welsh and my crew mate is Irish and we are constantly ripping into each other about our accents, food, clothing, attitudes, rugby blah blah. People need to get a grip