Is this being racist?

[problemfarang]

So the other day i was sitting at the office and doing my work, I witnessed a conversation between two of my co-workers.

 

We have this new german guy joined us probably 3-4 weeks ago. He is expert about plane engines. In his mid 50s And the other guy (not important where he is from) also expert about engines for drones. And he is with us for probably 5 years now. I must say the german guy already got everyone's attention because of his attitude and behaving to other people both Thai and foreigners. Obviously in a negative way. No need to give examples.

 

So get back to the conversation i heard. I will not give the full details but at some point german guy said 'yes, you are obviously from ... because your nose is very big.' And the other guy (who is well known about his really nice personality, etc.) asked like 'what do you mean?' And the german said 'thats how we understand where you are from (mentioning his country) in my country. There are lot of from your country'. At that point something came up and we had to go to the workshop to check few things. 

 

So i was thinking about this conversation. Was it racist or he was just describing what he looks like? I know in Nazi times, germans said Jews has big nose (he is not from Israel or a jew). I checked with the other guy and he said he doesnt care about the conversation but he thinks (me too) the german guy will not stay here long (obvious reasons). But the thing is i must decide if that was racist or not, because im the head of the section in here. What makes me think is the german guy is not good in english. But he said that very clearly and even made a comment about it.

 

what you guys think... thanks

 

 

 

[ozimoron]

It could be considered racist but the context indicates stereotyping which is plain ignorance and one crime level below racism, in my opinion. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes in a western country if the other guy complained to HR.

[1FinickyOne]

of course it is racist... anti-semitic and just plain moronic...

 

and you can tell him I said so...

[Woof999]

10 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

It could be considered racist but the context indicates stereotyping which is plain ignorance and one crime level below racism, in my opinion. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes in a western country if the other guy complained to HR.

Spot on. I would think you'd be trying to be a victim by labeling that racist. Arrogant stereotyping is spot on. We've all done it at some stage in our lives, which doesn't make it any more acceptable.

[Bert got kinky]

1 minute ago, 1FinickyOne said:

of course it is racist... anti-semitic and just plain moronic...

 

and you can tell him I said so...

How could it be anti-semitic  if the guy is not he is not from Israel or a jew?

 

[DrPhibes]

Hmm... racist.  Reminds me of a movie I once watched:

 

"The Sheriff is a nig(church bell rings)... ...no gald darn it, the Sheriff is a nig(church bell rings).  I think he is just making a German Spectacle of himself.

[Bert got kinky]

 

In all fairness, the German sound like an ass but I don't think it was meant as racist.

The guy was probably brought up in an era when stereo-types were used more and believed.

I'm presuming that we have all used and believed in stereo-types in the past.

 

[Bert got kinky]

1 minute ago, DrPhibes said:

Hmm... racist.  Reminds me of a movie I once watched:

 

"The Sheriff is a nig(church bell rings)... ...no gald darn it, the Sheriff is a nig(church bell rings).  I think he is just making a German Spectacle of himself.

Blazing Saddles.

 

[ballpoint]

I'm proud of my big nose.  You know what they say...

Big nose, big handkerchief.

[CharlieH]

Moved to the Pub given some lattitude but lets not get into Nation bashing or it will be closed.

[Bert got kinky]

 

Were Monty Python racists or serial stereo-typers?

 

 

[Berkshire]

I don't think the "big nose" comment in itself is racist.  It's not as bad as, for example, saying someone is "ugly and smelly, so you must be from xxxx country."  I don't see any attempt to denigrate another.

 

But if it's a pattern of questionable behavior, i.e., the guy regularly using racist language and treating non-whites with disrespect, then it could be used as additional evidence to demonstrate that the dude is unfit for continued employment.  

[huangnon]

Maybe everyone is overlooking the fact that Germans are noted for having a legendary sense of humour, and he's just utilizing his devastating wit and repartee.?

[problemfarang]

Hi guys, thanks for the great comments. 

 

I also kind of agree that it was not that high level racism but questionable behavior. I think i will give him a verbal warning with this and his other few things regarding in our work place.

 

At this point the other guy told me no need to complain. 

[Gottfrid]

No, it´s just stupid words from an idiotic mind

[heybuz]

I wouldn't worry about the big nose comment ,i get a lot of similar comments at the urinal i just shake it off.

[ThailandRyan]

The guy needs management to tell him to do his job and stop having personal conversations unless it is during break times.  Then the affected party can tell him to go pound sand and only discuss work items with him from now on.  Comments such as he made are out of line in any work place nowadays.  Now I will await the PC crowd to jump all over .....

[worgeordie]

You say anything in today's World ,and there are going to be people

that are offended* ,don't know what the Worlds coming to ,but there

are a lot of sensitive people out there , * even if it's not offensive ......????

regards Worgeordie 

[RJRS1301]

I would not consider it racist, however it is pure arrogance and displaying a sense of superiority, to a person he obviously considers to be a lesser being. 

Poor command of English is not an excuse for rudeness, I would counsel him about "attitude" towards others 

[worgeordie]

44 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

Were Monty Python racists or serial stereo-typers?

 

 

I suppose this will be banned .....too many complaints from people with noses ......????

regards Worgeordie

[4MyEgo]

He appears to be a clown and every nose it.

 

Bring him in line real quick, but do remember to duck if he turns your way when calling out to him.

[spidermike007]

It is just a moron, being idiotic. That is what morons do. So, the question is, do you want to work with morons? The world is full of thin skinned people these days. There is so much offense being taken by this, and that. Thicker skin is needed. Why is everything so personal all of a sudden? 

[Pawpcorn]

I'd go for a WRITTEN reprimand, to be included in his personnel file, verbal reprimands mean nothing, besides being possibly problematic, later on (his word against your word, accusations, etc.)

[Gottfrid]

33 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I suppose this will be banned .....too many complaints from people with noses ......????

regards Worgeordie

This is supposed to be funny, in a comedy movie. I am pretty sure that the company in question, would have hired a comedian if they needed one. It´s very good to understand differences before posting a comment. 

[mikeymike100]

Really you would have to have heard how he said it. Did he say it in a sarcastic, joking way, or was he serious?

Problem is now people get offended at the smallest criticism or comment.

As he is German and was speaking English did he understand exactly the meaning of his words?

 

[problemfarang]

58 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Really you would have to have heard how he said it. Did he say it in a sarcastic, joking way, or was he serious?

Problem is now people get offended at the smallest criticism or comment.

As he is German and was speaking English did he understand exactly the meaning of his words?

 

hi. thats also another reason why i started this. And yours is one of them. Actually they were talking about how people take seriously their jobs when doing something and then somehow he took the topic to nationality. Such as this country people do work like this, that country like this, blah blah.. And then it came to his nose and where he is from. Btw his nose is fine, nothing special. So, the topic was serious. And im pretty sure he knew what he was talking about. 

another problem with him is, he is all over the thai female personnel. He is flirting with everything he thinks is female. im serious. And we are working for the Royal Thai Airforce, everyone here is ranked people. 

I will give him a verbal warning tomorrow. If this still goes on written. And then i have to think about his employment. 

 

thanks

[Crossy]

28 minutes ago, problemfarang said:

... everything he thinks is female ...

 

My bold.

Herein lies a much more fun thread ...

 

[VocalNeal]

19 minutes ago, problemfarang said:

And then it came to his nose and where he is from. Btw his nose is fine, nothing special. So, the topic was serious. And im pretty sure he knew what he was talking about. 

Guys in the workplace use all kinds of banter to establish dominance. Like calling everyone - "son" or "young man" 

 

Did the guy with the nose complain? Or are you being offended on his behalf.

[Crossy]

Slightly on-topic anecdote.

 

Some years ago (last century) we were working in KL. The senior management were staying at the Hyatt, we minions were in the Hilton (this was in the days when projects actually had a budget!).

 

One of the regulars at the Hyatt bar was a very passable ladyboy, of course we all knew her, chatted, bought her drinks etc. etc.

 

Then there was the "new guy", so of course she came on to him (with theatrical winks to the rest of us). There was of course some, er, "encouragement", from them as knew (it would have been rude not to).

 

He thought he'd scored!!

 

Later in the evening, after a lot of lady drinks they both vanished at a "discrete" interval in opposite directions.

 

Shortly afterwards the boss's mobile rang "<insert surname of boss>!! There's a man in my room and it's not me! Click, brrrr.....".

 

[problemfarang]

14 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Guys in the workplace use all kinds of banter to establish dominance. Like calling everyone - "son" or "young man" 

 

Did the guy with the nose complain? Or are you being offended on his behalf.

well tbh there were not much time for him to complain because we had to go o the workshop in the middle of this conversation. So it was like not ended conversation. After the workshop i was thinking about this and asked him if hes ok, he said its not a big issue for now. but he will be under observation, thats for sure.