First anti-immigrant encounter
#16
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 15
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
God how awful, I'm sorry that happened. I've had loads said to me in the pub here (american in the UK), but at least then I can respond freely. when you're 'on the job' it's a difficult situation to handle.
I had a boss once who didn't see me in the room when she launched into something, then spotted me. I just shook my head and told her I was disappointed in her.
I never know exactly how to respond to the 'what gives you the right...' comment. I usually say something about if I'm good enought to pay taxes, etc.
I had a boss once who didn't see me in the room when she launched into something, then spotted me. I just shook my head and told her I was disappointed in her.
I never know exactly how to respond to the 'what gives you the right...' comment. I usually say something about if I'm good enought to pay taxes, etc.
#18
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
I had a customer (who was not getting her own way) tell me to 'go back to my own country and learn to speak English', silly cow!
#19
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
In the almost 10 years I've been here, the only anti-Brit comments I've come across have been wind-ups, by either family, friends or colleagues.
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
The only time we had a tirade was from a crazed neighbour whom I asked to drive slower (she speeds around madly in a Porsche and there are no sidewalks). She started screaming at the 4 of us to "Get back to London - or Pakistan - it's the same thing" and then threatened to run us over.
#24
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Purgatory (PU, USA)
Posts: 860
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
I think I just was at the wrong end of my first anti-immigrant encounter.
There was I being all nice giving a presentation, when one guys decides to completely misinterpret what I was saying, as in, no word of what I said bore any relation to what he was going on about.
"What are you a Russian or a Jap?" (this had me a little confused, I have been assumed to be Russian before, but never Japanese)
"I am from England"
"So you come over from England, and insult America"
blah blah blah, he stands up and I thought he was going to have a go, he was an old geezer, it was a seniors center, but that was not going to look good to my boss, I go promoting our services and start a fight.
Anyway he leaves, and the others apologise for him. It was an interesting experience.
There was I being all nice giving a presentation, when one guys decides to completely misinterpret what I was saying, as in, no word of what I said bore any relation to what he was going on about.
"What are you a Russian or a Jap?" (this had me a little confused, I have been assumed to be Russian before, but never Japanese)
"I am from England"
"So you come over from England, and insult America"
blah blah blah, he stands up and I thought he was going to have a go, he was an old geezer, it was a seniors center, but that was not going to look good to my boss, I go promoting our services and start a fight.
Anyway he leaves, and the others apologise for him. It was an interesting experience.
I've had a few bad experiences, mostly the insults and ignorance about socialism, cameras and "you guys have no guns". It's bullshit and I try to ignore it, but I am one of the few patriotic Brits and my patriotism is so strong that I do not let that nonsense slide.
#27
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
I've found I cannot let myself get into conversations with anyone here in the US about politics or religion, and it's amazing how many conversations want to veer towards one or another . . . or both, now that the election is looming. This includes extended family members too--in fact it's worse with the relatives! It's too bad because I'm a dual & can intellectually understand where both sides are coming from. But when Americans start their knee-jerk clueless ranting against socialism & the NHS I have to walk away. Just walk away. (They should be so lucky as to *ever* experience anything even remotely similarly civilized in this country.)
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Washington state
Posts: 120
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
I've found I cannot let myself get into conversations with anyone here in the US about politics or religion, and it's amazing how many conversations want to veer towards one or another . . . or both, now that the election is looming. This includes extended family members too--in fact it's worse with the relatives! It's too bad because I'm a dual & can intellectually understand where both sides are coming from. But when Americans start their knee-jerk clueless ranting against socialism & the NHS I have to walk away. Just walk away. (They should be so lucky as to *ever* experience anything even remotely similarly civilized in this country.)
#29
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
It's easy to find ignorance wherever you live: I just ignore it; nothing you can say or do will change their minds so why waste the effort?
#30
Banned
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Purgatory (PU, USA)
Posts: 860
Re: First anti-immigrant encounter
I've found I cannot let myself get into conversations with anyone here in the US about politics or religion, and it's amazing how many conversations want to veer towards one or another . . . or both, now that the election is looming. This includes extended family members too--in fact it's worse with the relatives! It's too bad because I'm a dual & can intellectually understand where both sides are coming from. But when Americans start their knee-jerk clueless ranting against socialism & the NHS I have to walk away. Just walk away. (They should be so lucky as to *ever* experience anything even remotely similarly civilized in this country.)
I avoid most conversations here period as I get very easily angered and offended by such blatant and intentional ignorance.
I do understand the mistrust of government here and the fact that guns are sort of political statement rather than being anything to brag about, but I wish that many Americans would give me and the UK the same respect, i.e. that we do a lot of things differently and it's not about right or wrong or black or white; a lot of Americans never want to be seen as wrong, unlike a British person who will back down from an argument and walk away.