Joke at my expense at networking event

[Reubensway]

I am self employed and attend various business/network events, this morning I went to one I hadn’t attended before but had heard positive things about.

There was about 25/30 people there, and it is essentially ‘chaired’ by one man. After I have my presentation about my business, he made a comment about where I am from (Liverpool). He said that anyone with their purses or wallets in front of them on the table should hide them immediately, to some muffled laughter from a few others.

Am I being unreasonable to expect professional standards as opposed to stereotypical jokes? I won’t return to this particular meeting.

I couldn't get out my pram about it.

A little thought experiment for you - are any of the following sentences ok?

There’s a Liverpudlian in the room - watch your purses!

There’s a black person in the room - watch your purses!

There’s a Jew in the room - watch your purses!

There’s an Irishman in the room - watch your purses!

I feel for you, it’s twattish behaviour by him. I’m from the NE and work extensively with people who aren’t, I have a sense of humour and at first used to go with the jokes but it’s so bloody draining, especially in a setting where you want to be respected.

I don't think you can compare racism with stereotyping cities. I don't think it is right to extrapolate that theory here. I see what you are saying but it not the same.

Very witty on so many levels. 👏

It definitely reflects badly on him and I’m sure lots of people there would have thought what an idiot he is

This says far more about him than you. He’s an arse and I’d have no problem telling him.

Ooh I'm cross on your behalf OP.

As a fellow Scouser (although I've lived away for many years and virtually lost my accent) my response to this, and anything about whether all of the wheels are still on the cars in the car park, is always:

I have heard this particular joke far too many times and it wasn't funny in the first place

Followed by a big glare.

At this point there is then typically an awkward silence . . .

There is no room for this kind of jokes in a professional setting. This is not a piss up in a pub

I think it’s the same as a racist comment (and I’m from an ethnic minority). That ‘joke’ was made based on where @Reubensway is from and nothing else. The comment made her feel humiliated and belittled in front of a room of strangers who laughed at her. It was bullying disguised as banter in what is supposed to be a professional business setting.

I would complain to the head of the organisation. It sounds like this business group urgently needs training sessions on diversity in 2026!

The context is getting completely missed in a lot of these responses. Joke being funny/offensive etc etc is one thing. But OP had just finished delivering a presentation at a corporate event and the Chair of event then said something that belittled her, in front of the audience. He immediately undermined her with that comment and the comment could have been any number of things (patronizing remark, saying something about her looks etc).

It's completely inappropriate behaviour and I think you should complain. What he should have said is "thanks very much, that was great"

Context is everything and everyone always ignores it in these discussions and instead give examples of why it's fine - but it's in a completely different situation.

I'm fuming on your behalf!

Attitudes like this are part of the problem.
why should Liverpudlians or anyone have to find it funny that certain people (bigots) think it’s acceptable to infer they are thieves/pickpockets/shoplifters etc.

Should Black people, Asian people, blonde women, Irish people, Travellers etc have to find racist jokes and stereotypes funny? No, they shouldn’t. Anyone who does or thinks others should needs a good long think about their prejudices and to do something about it.

I don't go home in tears when people ask me where I parked my tractor. I think you are putting an overdramatic spin on something that was an (poor) attempt at humour.

That is awful, he should be ashamed of himself for saying that. Very unprofessional - and unkind.

There are some huge over reactions here.

You’re quite wrong. Liverpudlians don’t get murdered for the colour of their skin or the god they worship.

I couldn't disagree with you more. Every time I have visited Liverpool I have found the people warm and friendly and welcoming. I have never felt the slightest bit 'foreign' there.

Hugely inappropriate. Definitely feed back. No business development is worth that.

On the bright side suspect many thought he looked like a condescending twat.

I am Irish once and someone told me after a networking event in front of several clients that they couldn’t get over how good my presentation was considering “how loud and Irish” I am. I complained to her boss a few days later and that person isn’t allowed at any major events with the agency anymore.

Really unprofessional of him OP. My DH is scouse but we live a long way from Liverpool and he has had this happen before in business settings - but usually “jokes” about him nicking car tyres rather than purses. It’s not funny and it’s not professional.

It's unprofessional and not funny.... but that's all.

This.

I'm Welsh and have heard exactly the same from English people (including being humiliated in front of a group in the workplace), and other comments they wouldn't dare say to any other nationality.

Often, it's a nasty, passive aggressive to establish some kind of dominance by putting you down, and that's usually done if you are different to the group in some way....but not so racially / religiously different as to land them in trouble or be reported for a hate crime. That's why he did it to you because you're from Liverpool.

Some men do that because they're badly socialised with women and they think it's acceptable to jab at you in the same way they would do with the lads down the pub.

Where are those people from? It's just cringe, very David Brent behaviour.

Welsh person here! We're always accused of not having a sense of humour too. Normally by people who trot out the lazy old stereotypes like we haven't heard them before.

Now, I'm able to take a joke, it just has to be funny. I don't really get offended though.

Would he have made a similar joke about a black person or if the OP was a hulking six foot bloke. Let's take a guess shall we. Of course it didn't need to be straight laced and sterile but I personally can lighten the mood without suggesting someone's a thief or low life. Apart from anything else the "joke" is about a million years old, and so was he by the sounds of it.