Listener 4842 For Me And You By...
Crosswords2 mins ago
'Racism' Gone TOO Far
40 Answers
Not sure where to post this so I'll just put it here.
Basically, the other day at Uni, a friend and I went into the IT labs to do some important work in the quiet.
We got there and there were these two girls, sitting either side of the room and shouting across a conversation between eachother.
OK, this is blatantly rude, disrespectful and not on.
Thing is, these girls are Asian, talking in their own language and quite clearly talking about us (gestures, pointing, laughing etc).
My friend was upset as she really needed a quiet room to get some work done, so she complained to the IT Technician who said he'd have a word.
Anyway, couple of days later and she's been accused of being 'racist' and is being called up in front of the dean, with the possibility of being thrown off the course!
Opinions please! Advice! Anything!
Basically, the other day at Uni, a friend and I went into the IT labs to do some important work in the quiet.
We got there and there were these two girls, sitting either side of the room and shouting across a conversation between eachother.
OK, this is blatantly rude, disrespectful and not on.
Thing is, these girls are Asian, talking in their own language and quite clearly talking about us (gestures, pointing, laughing etc).
My friend was upset as she really needed a quiet room to get some work done, so she complained to the IT Technician who said he'd have a word.
Anyway, couple of days later and she's been accused of being 'racist' and is being called up in front of the dean, with the possibility of being thrown off the course!
Opinions please! Advice! Anything!
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by *Princess*. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Sign of the Times.
Chances are that she will be reprimanded, and the Asians paid large compensation and awarded a few free exams.
The only potential silver lining to this laughable cloud is that with each such story, the silent anger grows and grows, and one day it will overflow.
However, to the case in point, yes, she needs to counter-claim. Being accused of racism? Really? What a joke!
Chances are that she will be reprimanded, and the Asians paid large compensation and awarded a few free exams.
The only potential silver lining to this laughable cloud is that with each such story, the silent anger grows and grows, and one day it will overflow.
However, to the case in point, yes, she needs to counter-claim. Being accused of racism? Really? What a joke!
Velvetee - I should have put it in Society and Culture, I don't know why I didn't think!
I will advise her of a Counter Claim, I'm not sure how she goes about it but I'll mention it.
Gormless - how do you mean anger overflowing? Will she be booted out of Uni as a warning to others, even though she's done nowt wrong?
The laughable thing is she's doing nursing, and she really really doesn't care about race, she just wants to do the best she can for everyone, no matter their skin colour!
I will advise her of a Counter Claim, I'm not sure how she goes about it but I'll mention it.
Gormless - how do you mean anger overflowing? Will she be booted out of Uni as a warning to others, even though she's done nowt wrong?
The laughable thing is she's doing nursing, and she really really doesn't care about race, she just wants to do the best she can for everyone, no matter their skin colour!
ELVIS68 - We didn't say anything, we were worried something like this would happen. It's quite sad really, being too afraid to speak your mind and do what's right for fear of being accused of something so ridiculous. Sad Country.
She just told the IT Technician as we didn't want to cause a scene or make a fuss.
She just told the IT Technician as we didn't want to cause a scene or make a fuss.
this country and its laws make me bloody well sick to the pit of my stomach..........
well said gormless we will reach a point one day where we will say enough is enough...
i am in no way racist,i have black,thai,chinese, associates lets say..i find thai people and chinese very humble decent people,i am not saying blacks are not..most black people are the same as whites good and bad as there is in every race,same with indians.,,but muslims ? i cant take to their culture,their religion,im sorry but i cant and i want to treat these people the same as everyone else but its hard..i find they play the race card at every opportunity they get more so than anyone else..
well said gormless we will reach a point one day where we will say enough is enough...
i am in no way racist,i have black,thai,chinese, associates lets say..i find thai people and chinese very humble decent people,i am not saying blacks are not..most black people are the same as whites good and bad as there is in every race,same with indians.,,but muslims ? i cant take to their culture,their religion,im sorry but i cant and i want to treat these people the same as everyone else but its hard..i find they play the race card at every opportunity they get more so than anyone else..
The likelihood is that these girls or their circle of associates have made these allegations before. Your friend possibly needs support / representation from somebody else, scuh as her personl tutor, but she needs with this support to make a clear statement that she is not racist and was not acting in a racist manner, but at the same time that the other girls were being offensive and disrespectful as well as making it impossible to do the work you needed to do.
Be aware that the 'higher authorities' will take the easiest route out in any situation like this, so sadly you need someone else to help put your case.
Be aware that the 'higher authorities' will take the easiest route out in any situation like this, so sadly you need someone else to help put your case.
I can't add any more than others have said, but what a totally sad situation.
Yes, things have gone too far, and unfortunately, as someone mentioned on another thread, even the people that PC rules and regulations are meant to protect will ultimately suffer, because these same 'over the top' rules and regulations are actually causing more problems and hatred and the divide will widen!!
Yes, things have gone too far, and unfortunately, as someone mentioned on another thread, even the people that PC rules and regulations are meant to protect will ultimately suffer, because these same 'over the top' rules and regulations are actually causing more problems and hatred and the divide will widen!!
If a complaint has been made then the university must investigate it otherwise they are guilty of racism. You and your friend should just quietly say what happened (try and not be emotive; objective and 'flat' tstimony is far more compelling). Say it wouldn't have mattered what race the people were it was the fact that they were making a noise that lead to your complaint.
When I was at uni doing a post grad degree there were 5 people who spoke Welsh to each other. I thought they were being rude but when I got to know them I realised that they didn't actually speak very good English and Welsh was their first language. They all failed their exams because, in those days, the exams were in English as their answers were expected to be. You shouldn't expect people to converse in English when it isn't their first language.
When I was at uni doing a post grad degree there were 5 people who spoke Welsh to each other. I thought they were being rude but when I got to know them I realised that they didn't actually speak very good English and Welsh was their first language. They all failed their exams because, in those days, the exams were in English as their answers were expected to be. You shouldn't expect people to converse in English when it isn't their first language.
-- answer removed --
The best thing for your friend to do is to write a letter addressed to the Dean, worded very respectfully, giving her side of the story, explaining that the Asian girls had been talking in their own language, gesturing and pointing towards you.
The dean will probably take it seriously if she puts it down in writing.
The dean will probably take it seriously if she puts it down in writing.
-- answer removed --
Now that alll the usual rantings done.
If you werent disrespectful when you complained to the it technician then theres no case to answer.
You have an impartial witness that you werent disrespectful or racist.
So i dont see the problem and i would use this as my sole defence and ive no doubt the accusations would be judged to be wrong and unfounded.
On the other hand , if your friend said anything like a few of the contributors on here then id say she will be found to have been racist and deservedly thrown off the course.
Racism works both ways and theres no reason you cannot accuse these girls of being racist.
But it will of course be a case of who flung the first stone .
If as you have posted here they were talking about you , and you believe it to be derogatory and racist then you shouldve reported it.
If theywere merely being noisy then you shouldve reported their noise irrespective of creed or colour.IKf their race was brought into the complaint then by admisssion you were raciust and will have to be judged on that.
Did you hear what your friend said to the technician?
I find it starnge they only complained about her and not you.
So why arent you in front of the dean?
Something about this doesnt add up and seems a bit sus to me.
But feel free to reply.
If you werent disrespectful when you complained to the it technician then theres no case to answer.
You have an impartial witness that you werent disrespectful or racist.
So i dont see the problem and i would use this as my sole defence and ive no doubt the accusations would be judged to be wrong and unfounded.
On the other hand , if your friend said anything like a few of the contributors on here then id say she will be found to have been racist and deservedly thrown off the course.
Racism works both ways and theres no reason you cannot accuse these girls of being racist.
But it will of course be a case of who flung the first stone .
If as you have posted here they were talking about you , and you believe it to be derogatory and racist then you shouldve reported it.
If theywere merely being noisy then you shouldve reported their noise irrespective of creed or colour.IKf their race was brought into the complaint then by admisssion you were raciust and will have to be judged on that.
Did you hear what your friend said to the technician?
I find it starnge they only complained about her and not you.
So why arent you in front of the dean?
Something about this doesnt add up and seems a bit sus to me.
But feel free to reply.
Just saw what jno posted .
Probably the most intelligent of the replies.
Ignore doc spocks advice as its just a rant and certainly not the way to go.He has of course avoided even asking you what your friend said.
Typical really.
Perhaps the technician was raccist and not your friend.
However you seem to be removed from anything.
what university is it?
id be interested in finding out their policy on racism , im sure they must have a website .
Probably the most intelligent of the replies.
Ignore doc spocks advice as its just a rant and certainly not the way to go.He has of course avoided even asking you what your friend said.
Typical really.
Perhaps the technician was raccist and not your friend.
However you seem to be removed from anything.
what university is it?
id be interested in finding out their policy on racism , im sure they must have a website .
i wouldn't mention them speaking in their own language, this could be deemed as being racist,
in the IT labs when i was at uni there was a code of conduct//rules to adhere to one of which was the IT lab is a quiet place to work and conversations were to be quiet and not to disturb other users,
i would imagine this is the same at your uni so i would advise your friend to ask the dean to explain how it is being racist to ask someone to stick to the rules, and question whether these rules are applied to all students!
Also it is important to find out what the technician said to the girls, maybe it was him being racist!
my experiences of foreign students at uni were similarly not very good, middle eastern men standing in groups staring at people, certain IT labs being no-go areas unless you were chinese, im sure the problems would be far less if some of these people tried to integrate a bit more
in the IT labs when i was at uni there was a code of conduct//rules to adhere to one of which was the IT lab is a quiet place to work and conversations were to be quiet and not to disturb other users,
i would imagine this is the same at your uni so i would advise your friend to ask the dean to explain how it is being racist to ask someone to stick to the rules, and question whether these rules are applied to all students!
Also it is important to find out what the technician said to the girls, maybe it was him being racist!
my experiences of foreign students at uni were similarly not very good, middle eastern men standing in groups staring at people, certain IT labs being no-go areas unless you were chinese, im sure the problems would be far less if some of these people tried to integrate a bit more
Lol more i read this the more ridiculous some of the comments are.
Firstly theyre asian..
Doc calls them muslim??
Tatu also can takeblacks and indians , but muslims?
Arent asians indians?
Thugulike and ja seem to have posted the most sensible answers.
Id still love to know why princess has immunity when she was there ?
surely thats racism?
As i siad id be interested in the outcome amnd also knowing what university it is.Possibly other users hre may be able to testify to it being overly pc or not?
we obviously cant judge the university on one users word.
exactly the same as the dean cannot just assume or accept princess friend was racist .
that would be double standards and im sure noone here would think that was right?
Firstly theyre asian..
Doc calls them muslim??
Tatu also can takeblacks and indians , but muslims?
Arent asians indians?
Thugulike and ja seem to have posted the most sensible answers.
Id still love to know why princess has immunity when she was there ?
surely thats racism?
As i siad id be interested in the outcome amnd also knowing what university it is.Possibly other users hre may be able to testify to it being overly pc or not?
we obviously cant judge the university on one users word.
exactly the same as the dean cannot just assume or accept princess friend was racist .
that would be double standards and im sure noone here would think that was right?
Hi thanks for all the replies!
Just to clarify some points, the technician was in the room fiddling about with some computer (like they do!) and I was trying to help my friend with the pc, she's not very good on computers bless her. Anyway, we were finding it really difficult to concentrate, so my friend got up and walked over to the technician to ask him if he could ask the girl to keep it down a bit. No mention of race/language/anything. He had a word with one of the girls and basically just said this is a quiet study area and could they either be quiet or if they want to talk to eachother, do it outside. A couple of minutes later, they packed up their stuff and went. We didn't think anything of it and just got on with our work.
To be honest we'd completely forgotten about it, it seemed so little, so when she got an email about it, it was a shock!
We've informed the guidance tutor who is going to be with her to see the dean. She's had to write a statement about what happened, I have to too, as does the technician. We saw the technician just before and he is as confused as us - I mean he says he tells people to keep the noise down all the time, he can barely even remember the incident.
I know my friend didn't say anything racist, the technician didn't either, as, it's something you'd remember isn't it. Like if a lecturer said to someone 'be quiet you fat ginger scotsman' you'd not forget it!
It just seems a really big fuss over nothing. The only reason I can think that the complaint is not against me is because it was my friend who physically stood up, walked over to the technician and talked to him. I think she's more upset because, even though it was obvious they were talking about us, she wasn't even bothered about their rudeness, she just wanted to get work done! Looking back we should have made a complaint about that, but, we didn't exactly expect them to go and make some '
Just to clarify some points, the technician was in the room fiddling about with some computer (like they do!) and I was trying to help my friend with the pc, she's not very good on computers bless her. Anyway, we were finding it really difficult to concentrate, so my friend got up and walked over to the technician to ask him if he could ask the girl to keep it down a bit. No mention of race/language/anything. He had a word with one of the girls and basically just said this is a quiet study area and could they either be quiet or if they want to talk to eachother, do it outside. A couple of minutes later, they packed up their stuff and went. We didn't think anything of it and just got on with our work.
To be honest we'd completely forgotten about it, it seemed so little, so when she got an email about it, it was a shock!
We've informed the guidance tutor who is going to be with her to see the dean. She's had to write a statement about what happened, I have to too, as does the technician. We saw the technician just before and he is as confused as us - I mean he says he tells people to keep the noise down all the time, he can barely even remember the incident.
I know my friend didn't say anything racist, the technician didn't either, as, it's something you'd remember isn't it. Like if a lecturer said to someone 'be quiet you fat ginger scotsman' you'd not forget it!
It just seems a really big fuss over nothing. The only reason I can think that the complaint is not against me is because it was my friend who physically stood up, walked over to the technician and talked to him. I think she's more upset because, even though it was obvious they were talking about us, she wasn't even bothered about their rudeness, she just wanted to get work done! Looking back we should have made a complaint about that, but, we didn't exactly expect them to go and make some '
Latest Posts
Mail On Sunday Prize Crossword
Crosswords3 mins ago
Today I Heard My First . . . . .
ChatterBank3 mins ago
News12 mins ago
