The American accent is really annoying.

[hercules]

Is this racist? My mum would like to know!

My kids have American accents, and I prefer this to the local sarf Lundun one.

but do you think it's racist to say it's annoying?

I suppose it depends on why you think it is annoying.

Well, I'm American and I think the Chicago accent is annoying, so I don't think I would say it's rascist.

Whether it's racist depends on whether you let you dislike of a particular accent affect the way you behave towards someone. eg if you didn't give someone a job because of an accent when that person is otherwise the most suitable candidate then it is racist (or accentist?).

Like anywhere else, some American accents are harsh and grating and some are musical and soothing. Anyway the more that you talk to someone the more you hear what they are saying rather than how they are saying it IME.

I don't.
My mum wants to know whether the comment can be classed as racist.

I wouldn't say it was racist - it's the accent you don't like, not the race. It wouldn't be racist to say that you didn't like the South London or the Brummie accent, would it?

That's what I thought wwb.

I think the comment in itself is not racist, but it is the sort of thing a racist would say. Because they try in all sorts of sneaky ways to criticise the people they don't approve of.

I don't think it's racist so long as it's just the accent you don't like. So it's fine to say you don't like an accent but not fine to say that anyone who speaks that way isn't worth listening to. I think it would be racist to say that you don't like Americans because you don't like the accent, but ok to say you don't like a particular accent (actually not 'ok' because it'a rude, but not racist).

I agree with bran - not racist, but it is rude!

You can still like (and behave nicely to) the person even if you don't like their accent, so I wouldn't call it racist, or 'accentist' (as it's nothing to do with race).

But...

Saying that the "American accent" is annoying does sound a bit racist because there is not one single American accent and what you could imagine is annoying about some of these local accents wouldn't apply to the others. So if you are making a blanket statement, then it would probably indicate some underlying prejudice.

No I think it is so subjective, some people find some accents annoying. I for eg can't bear that poofy yorkshire Alan Twatmarsh type accent. That certainly doesn't mean I wouldn't like someone with that accent, I just don't like the accent

I don't think so but people might take offence .. I don't know does your mother have tendencies to be ultra-pc?

No, not at all twiglet but she is american and a woman at work keeps saying it. They are good friends but my mum wants to be able to say something to her about it and have reasons to justify her feelings.

would fuck off work?

reasons to justify her feelings

I am american
I have an american accent
saying you find it annoying is rude
so fuck off

??

Racist against what race? America has many races within. I would say it's Anti- American and the person should be pulled up on it.

I like Twiglet's suggestion.

I find it annoying. And I am American. I like the Southern one. But all the other ones I find nasal-y and irritating. I don't see how saying so makes me a racist. I'm a person of colour as well as an American.

As a Southerner, may I say you have extremely good taste, expat!

I'm a native Texan myself .

It's not racist, it is rude, and it's entirely understandable of your mom to be annoyed by the statement.

I'd be inclined to say "am I meant to take that personally?", to point out how I felt, if someone was saying this to me (well, after I said, "no, I'm Canadian" and watched them get embarassed) ...

I agree it is rude. There are some British accents I find just as irritating as some American ones, but I'd never dream of making such a remark to someone who possessed such an accent.