To think colleagues joke was NOT acceptable?

[LaurenkI]

My team has a meeting every Monday (virtual) and there’s always chat at the start about weekends etc. One of my colleagues said he’s worrying because his holiday plans for the year include already booked trips to Cyprus and Dubai. Another colleague then said ‘any chance you can book a trip to France next’ and he got a few laughs.

I have family in France, as does another colleague I’m aware of. Is it me or is this type of ‘joke’ really inappropriate given the current climate?

I agree people should not put up with shit like that at work, colleagues looking for non-issues to be gravely hurt and offended by and complain about. If 99% of people think an interaction is perfectly fine and appropriate, why is it the 1% who decides it is not, due to their undisclosed particular needs or sensitivities? And everyone else must tiptoe around them, or else..?

from my experience and as you say a lot of other posters, this would not be taken as a serious issue.

Some people need to realise that if the vast majority think it’s ok, then it likely is.

You do realise that England and France have been at war with each other many many times.

There is still an undercurrent coming from the fact the Britain bailed France out during WW2 but because we didn't let the French dictate terms like they did at the end of WW1, which were designed to punish the Germans, the French government blocked our membership of the EEC on two occasions and when we did join imposed terms that, in part, lead to us leaving again.

The sun once published the joke about 20 years ago: Why do french roads have trees planted along them, so German soldiers can march in the shade. The French government officially complained.

So yes jokes about the French abound. It was a joke. Just because the op was offended doesn't make the joke any less funny to people who see it as just a joke.

Did the op find Ello Ello funny?...that ripped into the French, Germans and Brits quite equally.

This is what I thought? France is a safer holiday choice right now?

I'm sure your colleagues will be celebrating as well when you retire.

For God's sake....really?

Wow, you sound like the office trouble maker. It’s a bloody joke, get over yourself. Focus on something more productive and stop playing the victim

I don't even get any joke or connotation about it. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Wrong chat - sorry

Oh come on, rivalry with the French is a national pastime! We call them frogs and they call us "les roast beefs"! It's all in good fun!

The 'joke' went over my head tbh, I had to scroll down to the explanation.

I love France and have met very many wonderful French people in my life so far. I'd have rolled my eyes (if I'd understood it), but not given it much more thought unless I was French, or worked with someone who was French.

As others have said, the French and the English are basically like squabbling siblings. It was ever thus.

This is why HR departments are overwhelmed with complaints about minor transgressions from people feeling offended. You clearly enjoy complaining if you have done it before about another colleague. These complaints undermine the more serious ones (SH, discrimination etc). How exactly does this affect you other than you have a relative in France? Did someone else on the call say something to you? The manager could have a quick word and done. Why raise a grievance? Please chill OP , your colleagues will be having a field day about you behind your back and you’ll find they they will stop interacting on a more personal level for fear of being reported. I have seen it happen.

Fuck me, really? Glad you aren’t working for me OP! There has been a friendly enmity between us and France since before the 1500s!!! Comment was just a nod to that trope.

Have you ever stuck two fingers up at someone @LaurenkI ? Why don’t you google its origin?!!!!

You need to come down off your pedestal.

The French are just as bad about ze Rosbif.

Surprised 93% of people on here have voted YABU. I thought the stance on this sort of stuff today was "It's not about how the person telling the joke feels or their intentions, it's about how it makes the recipient feel."

And also - "OP's feelings are valid even if we don't understand them."

Did you really email your manager about that?

Bloody hell, poor woman ( or man). I mean the manager, not the colleague

Yes yes of course they will probably deal with it appropriately and have a word with the colleague. I can however guarantee that even the best most supportive, appropriately professional and competent manager will probably inwardly sigh and mildly roll their eyes at that email, albeit privately of course.

Please, for the love of God, please tell me this is sarcasm

Man makes terrible joke.

More news at ten as the story unfolds.

It could have been worse - He could have said Iran.

It could have been worse - He could have said Iran.

No- next question

Depends on your point of view doesn't it?

Personally I find it repellant that as soon as there is some crisis or disaster affecting somewhere in the world the news and a lot of people's main focus is on the British holiday makers.

And so many people seem to think the rest of the world just exists to provide them with a holiday destination to fulfill their God - given right to holidays.

As ever, the pythons were there before you. In colour on BBC2

Jesus, I think you need a sense of humour. It was an old joke that is always made about how the Brits and the French don’t like each other. I am Cornish, I hear inbred farmer jokes all the time and I laugh them off or groan (as they’re so obvious), I don’t take them as personal attacks on me, and likewise if a French person made a joke about attacking Britian I’d laugh it off.

Oh thanks for making me laugh!