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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

410 replies

Imlookingatapicture · 24/02/2023 17:58

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?

OP posts:
Sarrho3 · 25/02/2023 22:01

You can't even make fun of your own heritage these days, without offending someone who can manage to put a negative slant on it by making a connection to themselves in some way. That's the way the country is now. What I notice is that people laugh a lot less these days and the jokes that used to circulate on emails have almost totally dried up.

thismamayogi · 26/02/2023 01:57

Sarrho3 · 25/02/2023 22:01

You can't even make fun of your own heritage these days, without offending someone who can manage to put a negative slant on it by making a connection to themselves in some way. That's the way the country is now. What I notice is that people laugh a lot less these days and the jokes that used to circulate on emails have almost totally dried up.

I was commenting on this to my own mother the other day - kids these days don’t seem to have any sense of humour.

and people generally. No sense of humour anymore. Everything is so damn literal and serious.

Redkettle · 26/02/2023 05:40

Haven't read whole thread as an English parent of 2 Welsh girls, kind of thing they'd say. Quote Nessa. It's not racism Stace, it's xenophobia haha. Stand your ground petty idiot for complaining

gawditswindy · 27/02/2023 16:47

What happened in work today, @Imlookingatapicture? (Hoping nothing!)

Lemonyfuckit · 27/02/2023 17:08

Workingwithchildcare · 24/02/2023 18:10

I’m half English and Welsh. I would have taken that comment to mean that you are both doing badly in this years six nations. They are. Ireland and Scotland are on fire this year.

Your comment was quite clearly just humorous banter in relation to sporting rivalry and whatever nonsense they may come out with following this petty little tantrum I'm of the opinion that you can't actually be racist or xenophobic against an oppressive race/nation, which let's face it, the English have been (I'm English). That's just not what racism or xenophobia is and to try and claim a mildly anti-English comment (I know it wasn't really OP and was just humour in the same vein in relation to football and rugby) is to entirely misuse the term racism. To be factually correct the worst they could claim is it's prejudiced against the English.

That being said, if they're going to be ridiculous about it I would just maintain the above, you were simply commenting on both the on English and Welsh rugby teams' performance in the six nations, nothing more.

Lemonyfuckit · 27/02/2023 17:11

monomatapea · 24/02/2023 18:15

That's an awful thing to say. As if being half English is a bad thing.

I'm sure if you offer to apologise and go on the diversity training it will help.

Oh come on...awful...really?!

Lemonyfuckit · 27/02/2023 17:13

daretodenim · 24/02/2023 18:23

You were talking about your own heritage.

If that's a problem then you should complain that he was stereotyping Welsh people by indicating he wasn't like everyone else Welsh who likes rugby.

I'd put in a complaint about him stereotyping what it means to be Welsh if you're not allowed to joke about your own heritage.

Seriously, play these idiots at their own game is the only way to get the message across that they're being ridiculous.

This too

Lemonyfuckit · 27/02/2023 17:14

electricmoccasins · 24/02/2023 18:24

Being English in England does not count as membership of a group that has experienced injustice and exclusion

This. It’s punching up. Makes a mockery of groups who experience genuine exclusion.

Exactly. You can't be racist or xenophobic against the English in England, it absolutely makes a mockery of groups who really do experience racism.

tattygrl · 27/02/2023 18:01

How did it go, OP? Hope you're ok! Fwiw, I'm English and wouldn't give a toss if someone said that to me. I'd laugh! It's supremely embarrassing to pretend we're an oppressed group Confused

TreadLight · 27/02/2023 19:11

@Lemonyfuckit
"I'm of the opinion that you can't actually be racist or xenophobic against an oppressive race/nation,"

How does this apply to all historical expansionist/colonial races and nations such as the Bantu, Ottomans (Turkish), Japanese, Chinese, Arab, Huns etc. etc

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