Irish posters - "having a paddy"

[BarbaraHoward]

Irish posters - can I canvas your opinions on the use of "having a paddy" to mean "having a tantrum"? I've been having a bit of back and forth (well, plenty of forth not much back in truth) with MNHQ over the past day or two and I want to check that I'm not going against the majority view here.

IMO, the phrase is awful, and plainly anti Irish. I know most people using it aren't doing so to slag Irish people off, but the phrase is still awful IMO.

I've been here a long time, and reported the phrase more than I can remember. Usually, it's just deleted right away. Raising it on a thread always derails it as people just go on the offensive.

I reported it yesterday and got the immediate email that it was being checked out, but the post stayed up for hours despite a follow up email, another post and a thread in Site Stuff. It was then edited rather than deleted, which I thought was the norm for offensive language. I reported another use this morning and it's still up.

What are your views? Is this a fight worth having with MNHQ or am I out of step with the majority of Irish posters on here?

Thanks :)

I think it's mostly older people that use it. My sil uses it to annoy my brother- I like to think she is being ironic.

Another irritating one is ' that's a bit Irish ' meaning something is absurd or illogical. Hang on guys - we're not the ones who just X'd ourselves out of the world's richest market....

At least we've got sovereignty now, and can concentrate full-time on doing what the Americans tell us; apparently that's not too bad if you just relax.

In work we are waiting for some items to arrive, due last week. They are in Tamworth, awaiting customs processing. There is no vat on them in UK or Ireland.
If they had arrived, the supplier would be paid in December. Now they won't be paid until January.
It's about 500 EUR worth, both small companies. 5000, 50000, 500000euro, though. I wonder if Brexit is 'a bit British ', will it cause people to 'have a Brit'?

Over 10 years at this stage 😂
But yes you're right, shouldn't surprise me at all. But I am known for being naive and over optimistic!

"Paddy" is offensive because some English people used go call every single Irish man "Paddy". They wouldn't bother to learn their names.

No one should be forced to stay in the E.U. if they don't want to. It's not a forced union. Every country has a choice.

I can see the reasons why the UK left the E.U.

What I think definitely needs to improve: is English / Irish relations.

There is still way too much hate and nastiness between the two countries and it doesn't benefit anyone.

I know a mixed irish/English family, eg an Irish mother and an English father.

They feel like they can't live in England because the irish mother gets abused in England, and they also feel like they can't live in Ireland, because the English father gets abused in Ireland. So where can they live?

If we work together to move on and move forward, it makes things better for everyone.

🇮🇲 maybe

I am Irish living in Ireland and never hear any of those phrases used irl, i don't say any of myself but tbf they are probably a little before my time, i dont personally find them offensive, but knowing that other people do, i wouldn't use them.

I don't think irish people say "throwing a paddy"

Its an English term. I've only ever heard it said in England.

My grandparents went on honeymoon there 🤗 It used to be a popular holiday destination for Irish people.

Oh gosh yes. It was a lovely place. I remember going there on holiday a few times in the 80’s with my mother and sister. The ferry still had a ‘ladies only’ compartment. Very Edwardian. We all piled in like the cats who got the cream. It was fun from beginning to end. There used to be a ‘Viking George’ tour, which went around the island.

Our family inherited some Manx cats from neighbours who moved, so felt a great (irrational) affinity.

Well I've had an update this evening - not used with deliberate mal intent, challenge on the thread, no intention to delete.

Very disappointing.

challenge on the thread
Yeah cos that'll turn out well

Yup. That was my reply.

We've seen it all before @BarbaraHoward sigh

Btw, the update only came because I reported another post, and told me the reply on my site stuff thread was the latest take, even though I was told 4 days later they were discussing it internally. 🤷

Haven't we just.

So @MNHQ are happy to stand over the use of terms/phrases the majority of Irish posters appear to deem racist?

That policy seems to me to be just a tad racist. Racism against Irish people and travellers seems to be acceptable on here in a way that racism against other nationalities/ethnic groups isn't.

Yeah it's bullshit @OchonAgusOchonOh

I would like to know if there's been a general change in moderation policy or if it's this very particular term. I've asked...

I had no idea that the term "having a paddy" was in any way related to Irish people. Looking in the Cambridge dictionary it does seem Paddy with two definitions, one being a very angry state and the second being an offensive word for an Irish person.

Possibly the first dictionary definition is why it has been allowed to stand? If it is a word with more then one meaning in the dictionary?

Dear. Sweet. Zombie. Jesus. I can't have this discussion, again.

Ahhh yes! The rudeness helps. Thanks for reminding me why I stopped using mumsnet!

Err