Ok I have complained to the BBC. It is the first time I have ever complained and I am ready for lots of you to tell me that I am over reacting.

[CarmenerryChristmas]

I complained about a comedy sketch on R4 that made fun of drunken Irish people. I find it offensive that a racial slur like that is perpetuated on a state station. I couldn't believe how long and drawn out the sketch was and I was actually really upset.
If you knew the side of Ireland that I know, inhabited with smart, erudite people, if you came from there and were tarred with a stereotyped brush of drunkenness you might be offended too.

Actually my experience of casual racism on mumsnet is what spurred me on to make the complaint and I'm quite sure any minute now some one will be along to tell me that their neighbour/friend/workmate, who is Irish, doesn't mind being referred to as a drunken idiot

Ok, I'm deaf and I watched 'My Name is Earl' the other night and the main character was going out with a deaf lawyer....cue lots of sterotypes about deaf people - him taking idiot boards out to dinner because she wouldn't be able to lipread him with his mouth full etc.....

Did I take offence? No, I nearly wet myself laughing!

Sterotypes exist all over the shop...its not always great or what you want to hear (hear!!! no pun intended there!!), but easier to see the funny side of it than get worked up imo!

stereotype rather

think it is important that it actually be funny

It was 4 stands up.
I will be honest and admit that I was just a bit peeved that it was on R4 which I expect better from.

OK, have 'listened again' and...sorry, but I didn't perceive that as being an offensive joke. The joke hinges on people being drunk and confused, but I don't think that the comedian implies that Irish people are any more likely to be more drunk and confused than any other nationality.

I am not Irish, so perhaps I am missing something. I do think that the stand up should have dropped the corny accent and stopped laughing so much at his own cleverness that he could barely speak.

I also know what you mean about expecting high R4 standards. I complained a while ago to them about a political joke. I realised at the time that had I heard it in a club I would just have groaned and let it go, but I really found it shocking that it went out on air. The BBC persuaded me that I was wrong BTW!

So do branches of Bank of Scotland in Eire have (Ireland) after their name? Because if so, that's inherently quite funny.

Grr @Edam..You know I think Patsy may have a point, the accent annoys me almost as much as the 'joke' tbh.

I agree with Carmenere.

(Plus I maintain that 'chinky' is a racist and offensive term.)

stereotyping does happen though. we get it from "all men are lazy arses who do nothing" (amongst other assumptions about men) to "the scottish are tight fisted *'s" to "the irish are drunks." and tbh, most of the irish (and scottish) people I've met drink. a lot. nothing wrong with taking the piss out of that imo - it's the drunken element they were taking the piss out of?

It is a bit silly of the Bank of Scotland to put 'Ireland' after the name. If indeed they do. Because people presumably know which country they are in!

That's what I mean by inherently funny.

FWIW I used to share a house with a bunch of people from Swords and blimey, they really put the effort into living up to the national stereotype. Also used to live a few doors down from an Irish pub - a real one, run by and frequented by Irish people. The rate of really, really serious drinking was very impressive.

I'm sure there are teetotallers and moderate drinkers in Ireland, but liking a drink is a bit of a national characteristic. Just as liking a cup of tea is an English one.

As it happens, historically the English have always been sots, too - look at Hogarth and Gin Lane. Think the difference emerged in Victorian times when social reformers got very agitated about drinking, Salvation Army was set up, people started taking the pledge etc. etc. etc. We are kind of returning to 18th century standards of public drunken-ness in the UK now.

It is a bit silly of the Bank of Scotland to put 'Ireland' after the name. If indeed they do. Because people presumably know which country they are in!

That's what I mean by inherently funny.

FWIW I used to share a house with a bunch of people from Swords and blimey, they really put the effort into living up to the national stereotype. Also used to live a few doors down from an Irish pub - a real one, run by and frequented by Irish people. The rate of really, really serious drinking was very impressive.

I'm sure there are teetotallers and moderate drinkers in Ireland, but liking a drink is a bit of a national characteristic. Just as liking a cup of tea is an English one.

As it happens, historically the English have always been sots, too - look at Hogarth and Gin Lane. Think the difference emerged in Victorian times when social reformers got very agitated about drinking, Salvation Army was set up, people started taking the pledge etc. etc. etc. We are kind of returning to 18th century standards of public drunken-ness in the UK now.

oops MN v. slow, apols for double post!

Edam you are right of course, and those of you who have net me will know that I am not adverse to a glass of wine or three But really and truly not all Irish are drunken idiots. Plenty are, but most aren't so it is uncomfortable to hear this stereotype being perpetrated in this day and age. Don't worry I'm over it already

Phew...was worried there for a few minutes at the thought that even the Irish had lost their sense of humour.

I'm half Scottish/half English so tight and pompus together.

My dh is Irish and has been over here for 10 years or so. He usually laughs at the piss take of the Irish - I really think the 'thick' element has gone and is usually just the drink side. They do like a drink, you gotta admit....personally I enjoy that side of their culture. They truly know how to relax. Not like the up tight Brits sometimes.......

Your right to complain if it offends you. I guess it wouldn't offend ALL Irish pple tho.

I agree with niceglasses. My dh is also Irish & we're living in England. Yes the Irish do like a drink but I also think it's a lot to do with having a much more sociable and friendly society than we have here. Us English can be very uptight and certainly very anti-social.

I haven't listened to the archers for a few days cos the other night I got very annoyed at the sterotyping of atheists(selfish old git) and CofE vicars (patronising twerp)

Not read the whole thread but I heard that joke and thought it was quite funny and sweet almost. Like helping people understand that although it said Bank of Scotland they hadn't taken a wrong turn and were still in Ireland. I didn't particularly think it went on about Irish drunks...it was more a gentle concept about Irish people having a drink and getting lost and sweetly confused.

I'm not Irish so maybe I'm not perceiving what you are but if anything, I thought it was playing with the Irish reputation for having a different logic. You know, like that joke about "how do you get to such and such?" "well you don't want to start from here..." Hope you know what I mean because I am so not a joke teller. I never thought that was a drunken or even stupid Irish joke. Just an other-worldly Irish joke.

Was that for me? Not sure why but I will respond with