Nice People Thread Number 10 -the official residence of Nice People

LydiaJ

PasturesNew wrote: »

The trouble is not that these things can be aired and laughed at/with, but that there are twisted individuals who will take that into real life and use it against somebody.

Having said that, [STRIKE]if we were all the same race/colour, then[/STRIKE] those same people [STRIKE]would[/STRIKE] already do pick on fat people, people with glasses, gingers, people who supported a different football team..... it's just the "hook" for the hate and some people will always find one.

Absolutely - and I've amplified what you put.

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

Me too... though I'm told that Indian subcontinent is offensive to Pakistanis so I'm not sure I get that right.

I think at the heart of this I'm a curious person. People don't like to ask people where they are from, even if they've worked with them for a while. I want to know lots about their language, culture, food, traditions... because I find it really interesting. I think we've become so politically correct that we miss out by being scared to ask, which is sad.

Agree, agree, agree.......

I love learning from people. Getting their recipes, rather than things from books or websites. Knowing family rather than cultural traditions. How PERSONS are is different to how people are.

I love cultural difference, and hate that difference is automatically seen as bad these days.

Generali

vivatifosi wrote: »

Me too... though I'm told that Indian subcontinent is offensive to Pakistanis so I'm not sure I get that right.

I think at the heart of this I'm a curious person. People don't like to ask people where they are from, even if they've worked with them for a while. I want to know lots about their language, culture, food, traditions... because I find it really interesting. I think we've become so politically correct that we miss out by being scared to ask, which is sad.

In Aus it's fine to ask. I've certainly never had anyone affronted.

It's pretty normal to ask someone of Asian appearance if they were born here. It's the start of an interesting conversation sometimes. Or a dull one of course, depending on who you ask.

vivatifosi

Aussies are different to us though... As I was told pretty quickly when I moved back here...."why are you talking to random strangers?"... "no you don't just go sit next to a person on a bus, you look for an empty seat".

I like Australians. A lot.

Nikkster

vivatifosi wrote: »

Now that is a very good, sensible idea. Thanks!

Our you post it on here so you can search next year/ one of us can remind you :rofl:

Nikkster

lostinrates wrote: »

Agree, agree, agree.......

I love learning from people. Getting their recipes, rather than things from books or websites. Knowing family rather than cultural traditions. How PERSONS are is different to how people are.

I love cultural difference, and hate that difference is automatically seen as bad these days.

I agree, I like to find out about people too (doesn't just stop at ethnic background). Hopefully I've never offended anyone.

Quite regularly, after people have got to know me a little, I'm usually asked what my background is and/ or if I'm Italian (dark hair, people can't place my surname). I wonder whether it's because by that time people have figured out I'm a fairly open person so am unlikely to be offended, or whether it's because it's 'ok' to ask someone if they are Italian.

LydiaJ

At work, there are a few students who are British Asian and black British etc, but most of the non-white kids are foreign nationals, so I can easily look up on the database where it is that they come from, and refer to them as Thai or Pakistani or whatever they are.

lostinrates

Last day of dh's holiday. Lir confined to bed. . Its not grevious. Had a good run on my feet. Think body is probably reminding me not to get over confident.

silvercar

PasturesNew wrote: »

Having said that, if we were all the same race/colour, then those same people would pick on fat people, people with glasses, gingers, people who supported a different football team..... it's just the "hook" for the hate and some people will always find one.

If you're super good looking and awesome and stand on my foot in public, I'll call you a c***.... if you're fat/ginger/with glasses etc etc and you stand on my foot in public I'll call you a fat c***, ginger c***, 4-eyed c*** etc etc.

Always a hook....... to belittle another.

It's more about being different than anything else... and a dollop of severe annoyance at something.

I never realised until about 10 years ago that people ever made fun of someone for being ginger. Just never heard it at all.

silvercar

lostinrates wrote: »

Last day of dh's holiday. Lir confined to bed. . Its not grevious. Had a good run on my feet. Think body is probably reminding me not to get over confident.

From the first two sentences I though the rest of the paragraph was heading in a completely different direction;):o