Silly humour or red flag?

[Samibgton]

Chatting to new friend, seems normal, progressive and educated. We were talking about holiday destinations and mentioned mutual interest in some far flung places. Friend said Central America was dangerous and they had little interest in travelling to Argentina for example, just didn’t massively appeal. Then said “full of argies too!” With a joking emoji. Is this just silliness or a bit, well, racist?

I’d think it was funny though fairly silly. I wouldn’t think he was xenophobic particularly. Why does it matter to you so much?

Are you seriously asking why xenophobia matters, or have I missed something here @Itisbetter ?

I’m asking why this friends potential xenophobia matters so much (especially given the discussion of potential countries you’d like to visit is only ever going to invite sweeping generations)?

If he's a big football fanit's probably that. Maradona, hand of God, cheating, all that.
or he had family fought in the Falklands war?

I would ask him if he knew that ‘argie’ is derogatory and see what he says and then be a bit wary.

Nope. Still not making any sense @Itisbetter.

Why would OP's choice of countries she might like to visit ONLY invite sweeping generalisations?

How is it you are struggling with the concept of her not wishing to be friends with xenophobes?
Not that he necessarily is one, but as she doesn't want one in her life, what's so startling about her being wary of comments that might be construed as xenophobic?

It's a joke.

@KettrickenSmiled I’m sure you have a point but it’s missing me a bit. Since you’re not OP I doubt you can shed much light on why she finds this joke particularly difficult. I’m fairly sure I’m not outrageously xenophobic if that’s your concern.

I didn't even make the Maradona connection, shows how little I know about sports! I would assume in a football mad 20-something that this rivalry would be the thinking behind it.

I'm just not sure why someone that age would have an ongoing contempt for the Argentinian people, even if he'd had family involved in the Falklands.

By all means probe further, maybe make a joke about him holding a grudge for the hand of god for 30- odd years or similar, but I wouldn't necessarily think the worst here based on that one comment. If he then says it's anything else then you know his attitude is a bit more unsavoury.

Just a lazy silly joke, I'd say guys of a certain age/ of a certain background would make that type of joke regularly, even about other cities in the UK, eg Manchester v Liverpool, Scotland/Wales/England.

Depends on how sensitive you choose to be but especially guys that follow a sports team are defaulting to this kind of rhetoric without meaning any harm. Just a bit silly and lazy.