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 :)

Personally I can't bring myself to get even a tiny bit worked up about this.

I hate it, and have reported it myself whenever I come across it.
Wouldn't be acceptable to use any other pejorative term nowadays, like anything once people know it's offensive they should stop using it if they are decent humans.

Wait, what does this refer to? Am I about to be shocked?

I really don't understand why some Irish people find offensive a name other Irish people use for themselves.

So many well known people called Paddy- how can that be offensive?

It's confusing when there is obvious disagreement among those who could be offended.

Ditto.
I'm 45.

To be honest, I never actually made any connection between the phrase and it being about Irish people.

I only became aware from someone complaining on a MN thread a while back.

It is offensive. People may not know, but will do when they are told. It should be removed.

You really can't see why, with the history between the two countries?
It is not comparable to an actual person's name I.e Paddy for Patrick.
It derived from the British outlook that the "Paddys" are unable to control themselves.

No, they're still going under the same name.

The name Paddy is a name. That is not offensive. The term having a... is offensive and should be removed.

It was edited at the fourth time of asking after about seven hours. The one I reported this morning is still there. I haven't had any replies to multiple questions about whether this is a change in policy.

Hence the thread, I wanted to be sure I wasn't the only to feel this way.

It's also because of the stereotype of the Irish Temper - an irrational tantrum disproportionate to whatever they're upset about. So having a paddy has connotations with a patronising 'oh you're having a wild toddler strop like those crazy irrational Irish lot'.

It's particularly striking when you compare it to the British stereotype of the 'stiff upper lip', looking down on the Irish with their so-called 'paddys' because they might have the audacity to show their upset.

I took thought it was from paddywhack meaning state of fury. As this makes much more sense

The name isn't offensive, obviously.

I don't think there is much disagreement among Irish people? I'd never come across the phrase until I joined MN.

Well I'm Gona join in and be one of those but my dad is Irish and said it when we was younger, I know these days it's offensive but clearly not to all Irish

Where in Ireland is he from? I've never heard an Irish person use it.

As far as I remember The Pale was the part of Ireland under English control in the years following the Norman invasion. I can't really get worked up about this as the modern usage is so removed from the original meaning.

Not comparable!
They are not using it in an offensive way, it's clearly aimed at the tourist market which associates the name Patrick/Paddy with Ireland.
Which imo reinforces the fact that the phrase "having a Paddy" is offensive if one thought about it for more than a minute
It is a word which is clearly linked to ireland and Irish people

And, sigh.

Reported yesterday because I couldn't be bothered to have the row again, but here we are.

I can't imagine many English people would know about beyond the pale. Cromwell is only taught in school in relation to the English civil war and regicide. No one really knows about his foray into genocide in Ireland. I couldn't say the last time I heard anyone use the phrase though, it's not common.

I’m Irish and I don’t find it offensive.

Mother was Irish and our father used the saying a lot when we were children. Neither that or "Irish twins" seemed to bother her or any of the family on that side. I didn't realise what it meant until I was an adult. I imagine many people don't give it any thought, it's just something they have grown up hearing. Similar to "stop buggering about."

Beyond the pale refers to the pale of settlement around Dublin where the vikings /Norse men had settled. Within that area was believed to be civilised. Beyond the pale was wild and uncivilized. So it's saying that the native Irish were uncivilized and is pejorative.
And, yes, the phrase having a paddy is racist. I don't use it.

I’m Irish and I can’t say I have come across it that often. I wasn’t aware of it as being derogatory to Irish people u til I read it on here. And it doesn’t really bother me to be honest. “Beyond the pale” doesn’t bother me either.

I think we’ve had our revenge over the years with the Conservatives being called Tories which I’ve read is from an old Irish word “toraí” meaning outlaws and bandits. (And if that’s not actually true please don’t tell me as I love it!)

I feel sorry for rice farmers ...