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Original poster

DH's had a rock thrown at him at work today!!!!

82 replies

QueenOfQuotes · 22/08/2005 23:38

Great - first full day on the job on his own (TV Licensing Officer) and the last house he visited at 8.50pn an elderly black man re-opened the door after DH had already gone back up the path and shut the gate, grabbed a rock/brick (he didn't hang around to see exactly what it was) and threw it.

Thankfully missed him, but landed in the road with quite a thud apparently - and this was in a supposedly 'average' area of town .

OP posts:
Dior · 23/08/2005 00:08

Message withdrawn

Hattie05 · 23/08/2005 00:10

What you would have asked the same question if she'd described the man as white?

Original poster
QueenOfQuotes · 23/08/2005 00:10

Hattie - just those on the system as not having one - though in many cases is simply a case of forgetting to renew/transfer - or in the case of foreginers working over here - not actually realising they needed one! Obviously there are those that don't want them to be there.......you just don't expect them to be the nice elderly couple living in the quiet area of town.

He had a full weeks worth of training, 2 days in the 'office' training, and 3 days out actually doing it. Mobile phone with emergency thing (can't remember the proper name LOL) on it so if they're in trouble and dial whatever number it is (single digit) the police are called and as they 'log in' to the system before going out 'on duty' they're more easily located even if they can't actually talk on the phone.

He didn't use that tonight - just got in the car and drove home.

OP posts:
Hattie05 · 23/08/2005 00:17

Thank you QofQ i can sleep better now knowing he has mobile phone thingymajig for safety!

It does sound much safer than i thought initially, as you say people just forgetting etc.

Out of interest the guy with the brick? Had he genuinely forgotten?

Original poster
QueenOfQuotes · 23/08/2005 00:19

lol Hattie - DH didn't get that far - they're told that if things start getting 'hostile' to walk away (or run - depending on severity) - he reckons their hostility could be a factor as to why they don't have one - ie any previous Licensing Officers that have visited probably got a similar response........

Oh well - it just means that they can look forward to a visit from the enforcement officer in the next month or so (that'll teach 'em )

OP posts:
Aero · 23/08/2005 00:19

Poor dh QoQ - must have been quite a shock for him. Hope he doesn't have any more less than happy customers! He might have to invest in a crash helmet!

Hattie05 · 23/08/2005 00:21

Yes, provided the guy hasn't stocked up on more bricks for the enforcement officers

bubble99 · 23/08/2005 00:22

I worked with a Finnish nurse who was, much to my bemusement and disapproval, often 'off' with Russian patients. I found out that Finns, of a certain generation, often have a tendancy to distrust Russians due to their oil supply being cut off. In that respect me recounting a tale of her dealings with so and so would need to report the fact that the person was Russian. Would that make me racist for naming the patient as 'Russian?'

I'm not sure if race was a factor in QOQ's husband's case. Totally inexcusable anyway, as was my ex-colleagues obvious dislike of Russians in general.

BadgerBadger · 23/08/2005 00:24

QofQ, I hope your DH is ok!

A friend of mine was attacked at work today....some man hit him around the back of the head then tried to smash his face into his van. Luckily he's one of my martial arts buddies.....I don't think the attacker quite knew what hit him once my friend reacted .

Mind you, I can imagine being a bailiff is renowned for being dangerous!

moondog · 23/08/2005 07:00

Where was this bubble? I know the Finns hate the Russians and vice versa (used to live there).Just interested!

Dior · 23/08/2005 13:43

Message withdrawn

Hattie05 · 23/08/2005 14:09

Abuse? sorry whose been abusing you?

Blu · 23/08/2005 14:38

QoQ - your poor DH - on his first day!

OK: QoQ quoted (as she would, bring the Queen) her DH's account - which presumably included the description so that it might be helpful in any further investiagtion as to who the suspect was - and also as an indication that it was likely to be and anti-license cost rather than racist attack. (tho' to my mind an attack with a brick is pretty damn bad whatever the motivation).

However, I am quite heartened that someoen (Dior) took the trouble to enquire after the relevance of a description centring on race, since she wasn't aware of all of the above, and it is fairly common in the wider world that descritions like 'black' creep in gratuitously and add to general racism. Which is generally suffered by black people, not white people.

So, a few misunderstandings, all of them based in well-meaning intentions, and no-one is a racist.

Would that be a fair summing up?

Papillon · 23/08/2005 14:43

People should think before they throw objects - an incident involving a boy throwing concrete as been in the news in NZ the last few days with tragic consequences

here

SoupDragon · 23/08/2005 14:49

Did you have to mention that he was n elderly man? That's is both agist and sexist and irrelevant to the story.

And not knowing whether it was a rock or a brick?? Are you implying that they all look the same??

tut. What is MN coming to.

Hattie05 · 23/08/2005 15:03

PMSL soupdragon. I thank you.

As much as i like to correct dear FIL on his terminology once in a while (and receive a load of gobshite about being too PC in the process).

I do feel that pointing the word 'black' out in QofQ's case (even if here husband were white) is not a case of someone being PC.

Maybe wrong Dior - but i find it hard to believe you would have questioned anyone describing a white person.

I think its dangerous ground to start pointing out to people did your really need to say that and this.....where does it all end?

Descriptive words tell a story. They allow you to get a picture in your head of what happened, it is only racist if a derogatory term is used alongside the descriptive word.

I've just got home from work and told dp about the meeting i've just had with a Somalian man. No real relevance to the fact that he was from Somalia, but i chose to tell dp he was. Do you think that was racist of me? Would you think anything of it if i told you i met a Scottish lady yesterday?

Don't mean to drag this thing out but it does really bug me. We don't all have to tipptoe around for fear of upsetting someone.
And btw Dior, please don't consider this as abuse, i am not trying to upset you just having a healthy discussion about it.

happymerryberries · 23/08/2005 15:06

So what she should have said is 'a person threw a rock at my dh today' ?

Or is that being species-ist?

Original poster
QueenOfQuotes · 23/08/2005 15:08

lol hmb - if I'd have said that everyone would have asked for more details.

You can't win can you -

Give all the details - you're being racist

Don't give any details - people want to know more

OP posts:
Blu · 23/08/2005 15:15

Racism is partly built on stereotypical myths about certain groups of people. Mostly it doesn't have any relevance that you choose to include a simple description of someone in an account, but all too often a description of a black person, in connecion with a negative story, is included with an implied 'typical' in the meaning.

Often, a description of someone's race is completely irrelevant, so people ask questions - in the same way as women have been asking why it is necessary for newspapers to say "a blonde mother of two, (33)discovered a cure for blackfly today...".

It casts people in a certain 'box'.

All Dior did was ask.

Hattie05 · 23/08/2005 15:46

And all i'm doing is discussing it with her (if she ever wants to come back and talk to me . I am not being rude or abusive or have racism explained to me. I understand her point. I just want to make my point alongside it.

chloe55 · 23/08/2005 16:09

Sorry to hear about your DH traumatic day QoQ but I have to say I am meant to be working and have just given myself away to my colleagues by LOL to dragons comments!!

Dior · 23/08/2005 19:13

Message withdrawn

Hattie05 · 23/08/2005 19:25

Can you all believe a white man just came and through a brick at me!!??

bubble99 · 23/08/2005 19:41

Moondog. In London, last year. The Finnish nurse is in her mid-fifties. She hasn't got much time for Germans either. Apparently they come and nick all the lingonberries (sp?) Stay in caravans, bring all their own food and bugger off without buying or consuming any Finnish produce at all.

Dior · 23/08/2005 19:44

Message withdrawn