Was this an offensive joke?

[anotheoldgit]

A Director of Barclaycard was force to resign from his job for making the following statement, it was deemed as offensive to Muslims.

Mr Howells said: "The results were like Muslims - some were good, some were Shi'ite".

Was this racist, or just another example of pandering to Muslim sensibilities?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=505320&in_page_i d=1770

[Drisgirl]

OMG -Shi'ite is just begging to be made a joke of.

FFS -I am soooo anti any thing which offends peeps-or would hurt them deeply but come on -what were people thinking they descended on an English speaking country -so basically as with everything in life -take the bloody rough with the smooth.

Now if he had put a red hot poker in somones eye.....................

[jake-the-peg]

Were you one of those people at school who bullied and made fun of other children who were different.?

And then said that they should "take the rough with the smooth" and that they had "no sense of humour" ?

[Drisgirl]

Aww Jake -no I was never like that and what made you think I was?

I have 2 kids of my own and would have fought hell and high water to protect them -and still do but c'mon no need for personal insults here -is there?

Just let me know if I am not entitled to have an opinion -then i shall duly ignore it -and i suggest you just ignore my posts instead of being 'personal' *shakes head in bewilderment* xxx

[Drisgirl]

O BTW -just an addendum Jake -I have NEVER raised my hand in anger or otherwise and only give back what i receive -I just have an opinion that things have gone way too far -simple -comprendez?

Those ^^^ are my words -not taken from anyones posts -just in case (rolls eyes in anticipation)

[jake-the-peg]

The point is that this is the sort of attitude that makes it OK to tell offensive racist jokes. Kids pick up on this and before you know it they're yellig "***** face " or something in the playground.

I was deliberately being provocative because you have to try to put yourself in other peoples shoes.

If your children came home after being bullied for being different just after someone had made jokes like this - I'm sure you wouldn't think it was PC gone mad

[Drisgirl]

PC didnt exist when I was bringing my kids up -just plain common sense Jake.

Fact.

[Supernick]

Just a thought, but if I was in a senior position of responsibility, and in my place of work representing the company, I would keep those kind of jokes to myself.
If I claimed that the figures had been up and down like a woman's knickers, I would expect to be diciplined. Don't make jokes about race, sex, or anything else likely to cause offence at a serious business meeting.
He deserved a disciplinary and jumped before he could receive punishment, probably out of embarrassment.

[Supernick]

....This is only in the news due to the Muslim element, and only in 1 newspaper I might add. A google search throws up nothing other than blogs and the DM kicking up fuss.

[Lorcan]

It was in The Sun yesterday.

I don't think its a racist jokes - its not about Shi'ites, just the name. It reminds me of in South Park when Jimmy believes that the Cripd are a 'cripples' group and tries to enroll with Timmy.

[Drisgirl]

Thank gawd -common sense prevails -and all the others who posted in the same vein.
People are being maimed and killed and all some bother about if a few are offended by Sh'ites -well hell mend them for having such a bloody stupid name in this country -it - as i said before is beging for a slagging.

BTW -doubt if they give a flying **** TBH-thats the biggest joke -lol

[fagidill]

oneeyedvic, LOL That Is My Kinda Joke.
What I Would Like 2 Know Is, How Come The PC BRIGADE
Have NEVER! Defended The IRISH, OVER POLITICAL JOKES. Or Otherwise. The Irish Themselves Do Not Do Any Spouting About It.

[Oneeyedvic]

erm fagidill - like these ones:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/846042.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ir eland/6993591.stm

[ludwig]

I agree with andy-hughes. It appears to be a moment of Ratneresque stupidity. Someone in his position should know not to go anywhere near any remotely dodgy material - or anything that anyone else might consider remotely dodgy. He was right to go.

[tara20]

The Scots and the Irish have been the butt of jokes ( along with the Jews) for as long as I can remember. The difference is they were taken as intended - a bit of fun. Let's face it you need a sense of humour, something obviously lacking in certain circles.

It's a sorry existence without the ability to laugh at yourself. Life's too short to take it that seriously.

[fagidill]

oneeyedvic : How On Earth Did I Miss Those !
I Must Have Been On Holiday. Thankyou For The Link.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU
AND EVERY ONE ELSE ON
ANSWERBANK

[Big Stu]

the story is from the daily mail so probably not true as with all our tabloids stories or only the very bare bones of what really happened. they probably missed the bit out where they caught him photocopying his arse

[jno]

a director of Barclaycard? Which would presumably like to get some business among Muslims? And his way of doing it is to tell them 'Hey, your name sounds like s.h.i.t!'? That is so unprofessional it's just ludicrous. I'd have sacked him on the spot too.

[kempie]

No presumption necessary re. Barclaycard's 'push' for Islamic business, such as in the UAE...

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?optio n=com_content&view=article&id=14193

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html ?in_article_id=428746&in_page_id=2

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-234 30224-details/Barclaycard+director+forced+to+q uit+after+making+Shi'ite+joke/article.do

Just another 2 links that reported this affair for the benefit of Big Stu's one thought brain cell.

Have another look at that photo-copy of yours Stu, and see if yours shows a mouth.