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Original poster

To think Nihal Arthanayake is being ridiculous

206 replies

Sausagenbacon · 29/11/2023 21:32

He lives in a country where the majority of the population is white, but says it has mental health problems from a workplace which is mainly, yes, white. However does he deal with everyday life?
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-diveristy-nihal-arthanayake-radio-5-journalism-diversity-fund-b1123658.html

BBC workplace 'overwhelmingly white', presenter Nihal Arthanayake says

'It's really affecting me that I walk in and all I see is white people,' the Radio 5 presenter told a diversity conference

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-diveristy-nihal-arthanayake-radio-5-journalism-diversity-fund-b1123658.html

OP posts:
AdamRyan · 01/12/2023 07:19

Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2023 22:36

OK, fine.
Just love to know how you'd feel about a white person, brought up in Sri Lanka, and who had a prestigious, well-paying job there, if they complained that there weren't enough white people in their office.

If the Sri Lankan company had decided they wanted more white people to reflect the ethnic make up of their customers, and set up an event to increase white representation, then no it would not be racist for the invited speaker to talk about how it felt to be the only white person in the room.

If randomly apropos of nothing they started complaining that there weren't enough white people in their office, then yes it would be.

You must see those scenarios aren't comparable though?

Aliceinnorthernland · 01/12/2023 07:31

I don't see why people are so offended. I took it as meaning he doesn't feel there is enough representation of people in the place he works , which in turns effects his mental health. Sounds reasonable to me.

BethDuttonsTwin · 01/12/2023 07:40

DojaPhat · 30/11/2023 23:54

I find this train of thought bemusing. The notion of 'imagine if a white person said it'. It's like a cartoon sketch where you see the character's thought bubble emerging slowly yet with certainty then it just vanishes like a puff of smoke followed by a blank stare.

Thing is many white people do say these things, indeed entire political landscapes have shifted based on white people saying these things, and increasingly other demographics hoping to get a crumb. It's the cognitive dissonance of the white people who do think these things but hesitate to air them openly. Therein lies the issue.

Show quote history

That’s a big answer. No idea what the first paragraph means though…

Skirt around and “what about” and “white people think bad things you know” all you like but the fact remains that due to current social attitudes around discussing race if a white presenter said what this man said he’d be pilloried and shamed and would lose absolutely everything. There’d be no claims of “it’s nuanced” no excuses, no quarter given. You may be fine with that given that historically there was racial inequality but it wasn’t right then and it isn’t right now. Is it that whites need to take a good long turn at the bottom of the pile? Is that it? Revenge Because that stinks of utter hypocrisy and every single person of all colour needs to reject that because it cannot end well, most of all for POC certainly in western countries where they are the minority.

Goatymum · 01/12/2023 07:44

derxa · 30/11/2023 16:03

He finally lost my trust when he said that you have to see the October 7th Hamas attack 'in context'. He clearly doesn't care about the rape and murder of Jewish people.

Did he actually say that? He can fuck right off then.
wonder if he saw 9/11 or 7/7 ‘in context’ - wtf!

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 07:56

@HomiesAlone "@RosaGallica and @CurlewKate I have reported your Islamophobic comment and additional slur to MN."

Excuse me? You reported me for challenging another poster's Islamophobia? Well, that's a new one. 🤔

AdamRyan · 01/12/2023 07:58

BethDuttonsTwin · 01/12/2023 07:40

That’s a big answer. No idea what the first paragraph means though…

Skirt around and “what about” and “white people think bad things you know” all you like but the fact remains that due to current social attitudes around discussing race if a white presenter said what this man said he’d be pilloried and shamed and would lose absolutely everything. There’d be no claims of “it’s nuanced” no excuses, no quarter given. You may be fine with that given that historically there was racial inequality but it wasn’t right then and it isn’t right now. Is it that whites need to take a good long turn at the bottom of the pile? Is that it? Revenge Because that stinks of utter hypocrisy and every single person of all colour needs to reject that because it cannot end well, most of all for POC certainly in western countries where they are the minority.

Show quote history

"IS it that whites need to take a good long turn at the bottom of the pile?" Really? You sound ridiculous. There is absolutely no chance of "whites" getting anywhere near "the bottom of the pile" in the UK.

This whole thread perfectly exemplifies what he's talking about. He isn't allowed to hold an opinion on his own experience of work, you are treating it like an utter outrage that he's dared to talk about being in the minority. It's blatant racism.

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 08:20

This is to the "imagine if a white person said it' posters.

If a white person said it in this country it would be racist and ridiculous. Because the population of the UK is majority white. In a hypothetical country where white people were in a minority and faced barriers to employment, then it wouldn't be racist and ridiculous. HTH

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 08:42

@derxa "He finally lost my trust when he said that you have to see the October 7th Hamas attack 'in context'"

No he didn't. He recommended a Netflix documentary called The Human Factor which explores the history of the Middle East and said, when challenged "Context is not justification. Don't fall into that trap of smearing those who wish to understand, not justify."

derxa · 01/12/2023 08:47

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 08:42

@derxa "He finally lost my trust when he said that you have to see the October 7th Hamas attack 'in context'"

No he didn't. He recommended a Netflix documentary called The Human Factor which explores the history of the Middle East and said, when challenged "Context is not justification. Don't fall into that trap of smearing those who wish to understand, not justify."

Weasel words from him. There was no justification for those brutal rapes. None

Catusrusty · 01/12/2023 08:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 08:56

@Catusrusty "You can dress it up all you like as a diversity quota but if someone cannot get a job because of their colour even if they are the best qualified candidate they are being discriminated against."

Nobody disagrees with this statement. Nobody.

AdamRyan · 01/12/2023 08:59

He expects them to not have their jobs because of their skin colour.
How on earth did you get that from what he said?
I work in a very male dominated industry. My team has only 6% women. If I say it isn't representative and would be good to have more women, am I saying people shouldn't have their jobs because of their penises? Of course I'm not.

AdamRyan · 01/12/2023 09:01

Also when I've raised this with my leadership they get defensive that they aren't sexist. I'm not saying they are but something is making the workplace unattractive to women and I don't want to deal with mens hurt feelings as well as being the only woman in the room.

AdamRyan · 01/12/2023 09:03

Actually catus I've reported that post for islamophobia. This whole thread needs to go imo. It's horrible

Original poster
Sausagenbacon · 01/12/2023 09:21

Ooh yes, horrible threads that disagree with your world view.

OP posts:
AdamRyan · 01/12/2023 09:31

They don't "disagree with my world view" I just don't like reading blatant racism/white supremacy and don't think it should be acceptable to post really.

Faux naive "just being honest"/"imagine if a white person said this" doesn't disguise what's happening here

Original poster
Sausagenbacon · 01/12/2023 09:43

OK point me to the 'blatant racism/white supremacy '.

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 09:46

@AdamRyan "Actually catus I've reported that post for islamophobia. This whole thread needs to go imo. It's horrible"

I really don't think it should go-it's very informative in many ways.

HomiesAlone · 01/12/2023 10:03

@Catusrusty You are creating a false narrative based on your perception that brown men and Muslims can do what they want. Your view is based on racism. You may disagree with me but its true. Its at the root of your belief.

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 10:03

@derxa "Weasel words from him. There was no justification for those brutal rapes. None"

Nobody is saying there was.

HomiesAlone · 01/12/2023 10:04

Also @CurlewKate I apologise if I misreported your post. Either I misunderstood or it wasn't in the spirit of MN. I hope MN can reinstate if the former is true.

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 10:05

@HomiesAlone good to see you. Can you let me know why you reported my post?

HomiesAlone · 01/12/2023 10:06

@CurlewKate I honestly cannot remember the post wording. I assumed you were agreeing with the islamophobic post, and there was a random "halal" or similar thrown in which also made confused.

CurlewKate · 01/12/2023 10:07

@HomiesAlone ah, snap! Can you tell me what you thought I said? Because being deleted for Islamophobia is a big deal for me. Particularly on a thread like this......

HomiesAlone · 01/12/2023 10:09

@CurlewKate - I 100% accept I could have misunderstood and apologise if so. Feel free to remake your own point if you remember it! Sorry!