Colleague said something was a bit Irish

[0scon]

Something that hadn't been planned properly, she said it was a bit Irish and laughed.
Is that not quite racist? Or am I being too woke?

I think calling someone stupid is a lot worse, because people with low iq and/or learning disabilities are human too.

Then they need to think. There is no excuse for being ignorant.

How is it worse?

Having a paddy
A bit Irish
Paddy wagon

All racist and largely only used in Britain, hopefully very rarely now.

Gawd, this takes me back to being a kid in the 70s when kids used to say things like 'Stop being Irish' all the time... but no, it's not OK and never was.

So I knew about the paddy reference but I have never made a connection to that other saying at all.

Now you've explained it in that context, that makes sense.

Really? You do realise the origins of the phrase?

It's negative stereotyping but I couldn't get worked up about it tbh. No one actually believes that Irish people are less intelligent than any other nationality. I'd just write this off as an old saying that people repeat, without thinking about what it is implying. Lots of people don't know or think about the roots of the expressions they use.

Calling someone stupid is offensive to people with either low iq or learning disabilities.

Yep. But I can go one better. Years ago, with a baby in my arms, we were moving to the UK and I was being shown a house by an estate agent that I hadn't asked to see but that he thought might suit. It was lovely and ticked a lot of boxes but was just a bit small. I explained that I would like to have more children so would prefer to buy a place with an extra bedroom so we didn't have to move again. "Ah, I forgot that you Irish breed like rats." He went red and immediatly apologised, saying, "it's just an expression" and clearly, some posters think that in this scenario, I would be the one in the wrong for taking a offense but something offensive, is just plain offensive. I don't care if it is an expression you just hear being used all the time or how much you love going over to Dublin for the rugby and what a great time you have there drinking with Irish people you never met before in pubs who think you are just lovely, as he claimed.

Unfortunately sometimes people are a bit ignorant, hence me earlier saying I had no idea having a paddy meant anything than a child tantruming.

Being ignorant isn't always malicious. Education is always better in my eyes than belittling someone for a genuine mistake.

Now if someone continues after you have educated them, then that isn't on.

I worked with an Irish woman many years ago and we became friends. She had a big group of Irish friends and we often socialised together. They would often say (of someone’s behaviour) “oh how very bloody English”. I never really knew what characteristics they were referring to, but it was definitely negative. I remember not liking it.

I don't really understand what she meant by that, it's not a phrase I have come across before. What was she talking about? Yanbu as it clearly had a negative context but its a weird one for sure!

I never heard the phrase "having a paddy" before Mumsnet and I absolutely hate it, as an Irish person I would pull someone up on using it. It is derogatory and plays on the most negative of stereotypes.

That's awful @krustykittens !!

Of course it isn't 🙄

It's about Context.

If they said a bit Irish because they meant a bit thick or a bit stupid then yes, it was racist.

It has negative connonations. People only say it about things they find stupid or illogical. It's not a huge leap to realising it is offensive.

I am Irish and find it offensive.

Years ago it was quite common to say something was 'a bit Irish' if it didn't make sense. It didn't particularly stand out to me over criticising other nations tbh.

Not something I've heard in a long while now.

Had no clue that 'throwing a paddy' and 'paddy wagon' were connected to being derogatory about the Irish so thank you to pp for that.

OP it's not appropriate for your colleague to say that in a professional environment YANBU

I had to speak to a client facing colleague in my last job and suggest she didn't use that phrase again.

I’m Irish and would think it was fine if someone Irish said it… but, it’s like slagging your kids, it’s fine for you to do it but you don’t want to hear it from anyone else; so no I wouldn’t like it.
also I’ve never heard the phrase used in that context before & don’t even think it makes sense.
also never heard having a paddy; don’t want to know what that one means…

And no I don't agree with racism I agree with equality and when I see it, I'll play by it.