AIBU to report racist comments made by a couple the GP waiting room?

[rhomb]

At the GP practice this morning. The practice has screens around the waiting areas which come up with name of patient, medical staff and room number when called up.

I was sitting behind a couple who did a running commentary between them. They used racist terms on the foreign sounding names. Then when a name came up such as John Pearson “ooh a proper name”.

I moved seats as I got fed up with the racism. They decided to move (unsure why) next to me. Then carried on. I was in two minds whether to report them. The couple would know it was me that reported them.

I am sick of racist people.

It? What is it? My point is primarily about the hierarchy of opinion and the imposition of views on other groups. Britain 10, 15 or 29 years ago - with its white, black, brown and yellow composition was a happier, richer, cleaner, safer and economically stronger Britain than today. Yet people like you either don’t see that, or won’t see that, or don’t care so long as someone else foots the bill and has to adjust to someone else’s ‘politics’. I’ve used inverted comments deliberately. It’s not real politics. It’s race and culture baiting. The very thing you accuse everyone else of.

Japan had a brutal colonial empire.

I think the majority of Brits would be more than happy for your ilk to create a separate England and just fuck off. Might I suggest Antarctica, or any far flung piece of land 1000s of miles away from normal society.

gained far less from our colonial past than those who were colonised
Such a disgraceful thing to say

The Argentines might have something to say about that 😆

By the sounds of it, Israel would probably suffice!!

Presumably the names they objected to could have belonged to white people? There are lots of white people who have names that aren't Pearson, or whatever, and lots of my family have what some people might call "standard, normal names" who are not white.
And a lot of people who joke about modern name choices/spellings aren't white.

I'm with you as in I'm completely intolerant of racism, I just cannot abide it and have to say something.
Report to who, though?

I don't think that's relevant - as it could be the most disgusting thing ever they said, and you'd still get people minimising it, saying "that's not racism" or saying "clearly just a joke." 🙄

Oh I think she has no intention of reporting it but better to listen then post on here as if she was determined to report them.

Interesting to come back to this thread after a conversation with the window cleaner. He has been in the UK for about 20 years and works hard. As a joke, I told him that next time he comes, there would be a Palestine flag flying in our garden because our ward went Green yesterday. He didn't get the joke so I explained that while I have voted Green in previous local elections, I was really concerned about sectarian politics and we have a mosque behind our house. He replied as follows: 'I look at the English government and think everybody should be British.' Me: 'Everybody in the Cabinet was brought up in Britain and has English as their mother tongue.' Window cleaner: 'Yes but I mean proper English.' Me: 'You mean white.' Window cleaner: 'Yes. Like it used to be. Like it is in Poland. European' Me: 'That's not going to happen. You can't turn back the clock. Shabana Mahmood and David Lammy are both senior politicians rooted in Britain.'

No nasty, violent language but the window cleaner is racist. I will not be able to change his attitudes but I think it's important to have had the conversation nonetheless, especially when so many people have their views reinforced through social media. Everyone who wants to and can be ar*ed can have similar conversations. It's not always about reporting people.

Thanks for sharing. It’s a shame that as a more ‘recent’ immigrant, he still thinks he is superior to long established black and Asian British people, just because he’s from Poland.

Someone should tell him that Tony Blair admits he allowed foo much immigration from Eastern European countries.

It is a shame. He ended our chat today to go to another job. When he comes next time, I'm going to reopen the conversation. I feel cross as a British person that he has made a good living here and sees fit to pass comment on our government.

We have a synagogue behind our house, not a mosque!

And are you going to tackle the equally racist remarks made by some non-whites too? Doubt it.

For the record, I'm mixed race.

'People like you'...

'happier, richer, cleaner, safer'...

It is definitely you.

The OP didn't say the couple were white. You have assumed this. You might want to think about why you assumed this, because it somewhat weakens the point you're trying to make.

Oh for goodness sake get a grip!

Says the person dragging up a comment from almost 48 hours ago?! Why don't you get a grip yourself. Calm down.

Oh sorry I didn’t realise one had to read and respond within a certain timeframe. Also I’m really chilled having just had a fab Sunday lunch with my fave people. You, however, seem very irate. Maybe take your own advice? 🙂

I'm not irate and everyone will be able to see that you have dug through the thread to find this comment, which is actually very sad. I hope that you have genuinely had that time with real life people who love you. Perhaps they can point out to you why trying to go after people who are talking about hate crime is quite a fucking horrible thing to do.

My 85 year old father suddenly became racist when his dementia kicked in .
Not an excuse but it’s difficult ( from bitter experience!) in a quiet doctors waiting room . Redirection and distraction suddenly aren’t effective

I also talked earlier in this thread about being the victim of a hate crime - would you like to come after me as well? I wish you all the best of luck with that one, if that's the case.

maybe op was abit scared they might have turned on her and made it awkward for her. you don't really want to get into an argument in the surgery.
Deffo weird reply calling her a racist because she didn't say anything.
It's not wrong to think of your own safety.

O doubt for oneinite they would have said sorry if she'd said anything and stopped

Wow you really are in a state. I’ll leave you to your hate filled life.