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?

And MI5 and Interpol and my Mum (she’s very no nonsense and scary AF when she wants to be).

Ok, so you're offended. And...?

😂😂😂😂

So he is saying he wants to see France attacked next? I mean somewhere so close to home? Really? I would just assume he is a muppet and not let him live rent free inside your head

Nothing wrong with the joke. For your offence to have any value, it has to mean for to happen and be a threat your family. And if they meant it, it wasnt then a joke. Leaving you with a logical hole in your own offence.

But at work? You have to be more careful, people like you might be about and they should know better than to take the risk ever so it's better to never do that.

I think it's been a "trend" to take the piss out of France for centuries. And for them to respond in the same vein. I believe they used to refer to us as Roast Beef, because we historically were associated with eating a lot of roast beef and in turn we called them Frogs because they ate Frogs legs.

It's historic.

Doesn't mean it's right in this day and age, but I doubt very much that person who said it actually has any beef (roast or otherwise) with the country or it's inhabitants.

You have too much time on your hands at work.

If you report it he’ll just deny it. He will say he was offering helpful advice in safer holiday destinations and you’ll look like an idiot. And yes, I do think managers have more important things to deal with this than this level of drivel.

It is a poor joke on the topic nobody likes France except French. Frenemies countries and so own. Is bad taste but is a classic.
It wasn't personal OP.

I feel sorry for anyone having to work with you. It must be insufferable.

Trying to find offence in everything is a tiresome trait. You will be now be marked down as someone to get rid of when the opportunity arises as you are a destructive influence in the workplace.

Oh dear. I’m a manager, I’d think you were about 12yo if I got such an email. Way to make an impression l

Lighten up, OP. Life is too short for this level of pettiness.

I'm sure your manager has got more important things to deal with than a vexatious complaint from a self-absorbed member of staff.

You are being very unreasonable.

No.

I do think this is just a wind up.

Good lord. Sorry, but I think this is a you problem.

I would hate to work with someone like you, and fortunately in almost 50 years of working never did so.

Why are people so lacking in humour and offended about everything these days? (actually, it's mainly on MN I find)

Performative outrage

I do think some have lost sight of what a professional workplace looks like in this day and age.

I am glad retirement is on the horizon.

The responses here evidence exactly why it was an inappropriate remark - heck, I hadn’t even considered the possible link to boats given the rise of the likes of Farage and the far right in this country.

As you say this colleague was worried and so are many other people.
Its pretty normal to try and make fun/light of the situation to ease people’s concerns.

I can’t believe you’ve tried making it about yourself.

We were joking today about how we’re still going to be expected to work and meet certain targets, even if we’re having to fight in a war or if the building is barely standing.

I think some people have lost sight of humour

Unclench OP, unclench!

It was a joke...cannot see any offense.

Honestly you seem to be bending yourself in two to be offended. Perhaps chill out a little

Not to mention doing unspeakable things with sheep.
I’m Welsh and the times I’ve heard these being said.

I spent five years living in London and one funny guy I worked with used to tell me his blood was bluer than mine.