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 :)

Well I quoted her post. So I was replying to her.

Anyway, unless you both want to throw more insults.

I think it would be good for the thread to move on.

Fine but what does "The two of you write the exact same things." mean? Some clarity is needed.

I haven't seen "having a paddy" myself on mumsnet.

I have seen the " irish twins" thing written, and I've always seen someone report it when it happens , and also omment on the thread that it's not right.

I don't like the " Irish twins" phrase.

In answer to your question @BarbaraHoward, yes I find it offensive.

I don't know why MN Admins are so quick to pull threads and comments where the OP claims that they have been recognised in real life or similar but they leave posts and threads up where there are comments like "throwing a paddy" left up for hours if not days.

The issue I have about threads being pulled where the OP claims they may have been recognised in real life is that they can't possibly know that, and the thread itself may have had some very useful posts in it but in a flash - poof! - it's gone!

Who do you mean by both?

Yeah that's a good point @lookitsmeagain

I'm finding it very hard to understand some of the posts on here.

The two of you write the exact same things.

Who are the two of you?

They may not get a say in where they go but they certainly get a say in whether they treat the locals with respect or with disdain. Most appeared to choose disdain.

But apparently accountability isn't on the table and we all need to just move on?

Yes OF COURSE people need to move on from things in the past.

Didn't you say on another thread that you're from the USA.

So should I be angry at you for what your ancestors did to people in the past?

"There were a lot of things done wrong in Northern Ireland of course. No ones taking away from that."

Well actually you are taking away from that by your insurance that the poor little darlings who committed the atrocities were unwilling victims of the powers that be who sent them to NI and are therefore obviously not in any way responsible for their actions.

You do realise that Ireland is not the only country that has been invaded by their neighbouring country, yes?

You do know that many, many countries in Europe have been invaded by their neighbouring country, yes?

Ireland was just one of them.

Europe has had a long and bloody history.

Sometimes your victim mentality is a bit much.

Your posts are so rude and obnoxious.

I never said they were poor little darlings.

I pointed out the reality that soldiers in any army get very little say in where they are sent to.

In any army. Not just this one.

The problem with the phrase is the implied judgement of Irish people and Catholicism.

If you don't believe a certain type of protestant of times past didn't have a negative view of people having lots of sex and therefore large families, you need to review your history. The same people took a dim view of Popery and believed that Catholics were completely obedient to the Bishop of Rome in all things, and therefore not reliably patriotic citizens, and moreover incapable of independent thought and following individual preference. Sex crazed people who were so afraid of Rome that they kept themselves in poverty... The whole "blind obedience to Rome" narrative, in other words.

The old Punch narrative of the filthy Irish who were feckless, lazy, and irresponsible was the same line as that of the British response to the famine, and it translated to looking down noses at large Irish families.

The "Irish twins" phrase is one composed of all the narratives around the Irish with the addition of all the narratives about the Pope and the Catholic Church. It's incredibly bigoted as well as racist.

I've said that England invading Ireland was bad. I don't think many people would think it was great.

It was bad. But it also wasn't unusual

What annoys me is that some Irish people seem to act like they were the only country to ever be invaded .

No , Ireland was one of many countries to be invaded.

It was how humans acted at the time. They invaded countries and took over land. That has happened all round Europe.

You are again contradicting your statement that "There were a lot of things done wrong (sic) in Northern Ireland of course. No ones taking away from that."

So just because it happened elsewhere it really doesn't matter.

And no, we are under no illusions regarding Britain and other countries invading their neighbours. However, as an Irish person, I'm not going to have personal experience of most those invasions. I do, however, have personal experience of the continued british occupation of NI and of the atrocities committed by british forces here.

You're also a fine one to talk about "victim mentality" given the attitude you have towards the atrocities committed by the british. Your claims that the poor little darlings are not in any way responsible for their actions as they are the victims of those higher up in the pecking order is a lot more than "a bit much"

Acted at what time? I think in the 1970's and the 1980's, most civilised countries were not committing atrocities like bloody sunday and the Ballymurphy massacre.

Im irish too. Why does your opinion matter and mine doesn't.

I have always been of the opinion "forgive and move on".

And I've never called anyone precious little darlings. Those words came from you and not me.

And why just think about our own countries problems?

Is that not a bit selfish?

We are from the world. Loads of people move around different countries

People living in Ireland are descended from people from other countries.

Its The same in England. And everywhere else . We are from the world. Not one country.

That's why we should think about other countries and not just ourselves.

I guess when you don't have a cogent argument, you are going to resort to insult.

You may not have used the words "poor little darlings" but you have most definitely excused the appalling behaviour of british soldiers on the grounds they did not choose where they were sent.

They may not have chosen where they were sent but they certainly chose to behave in the horrific manner posters on here have described.

Countries in Europe are being invaded now in 2024.

Yes I did say that they didn't choose where they were sent.

That fact. I'm not sure why you're angry about that?

You are obviously entitled to your opinion. I am also entitled to have an opinion in your opinion.

Given what is still happening in NI, it is not possible to move on. The british goverment is refusing to honour the GFA in many ways but in particular by refusing to recognise the right of people up there to be Irish rather than british.

I'm off to bed now. So ill let you continue the conversation with someone else. Take care.

You have repeatedly stated that they have not chosen where they were sent in response to criticism of their appalling behaviour. You are, by implication, excusing their behaviour on the grounds they did not choose to be there. Not choosing to be there is no excuse for the behaviour.