love the avatar!
Jan x

I know this is meant as a "bit of fun" but I can really see how someone could find it offensive and offputting.

Hi
my parents are Irish too
my mum remembered the sign NO COLOUREDS NO IRISH
I feel offended by the way the irish are treated
they are not stupid people
Mary L

Of course you do, Amanda! It's booze!!

Hi, how sad that there is more upset on here. I have wonderful friends who are Irish, and my own grandparents were too. My friend Maggie is one of the most kind and intelligtent people I have ever met, she comes from a family of 6 girls, and her mother is amazing. Sorry, just having my three pennorth!!!

Well said Guv! If everyone took DNA tests, we'd find the vast majority of us are mixed race anyway.

Hi
why dont we all stop this thread and start again
I am so cheesed off with all the rows
I know I did say about my parents being Irish so I am now going to say
I AM SORRY MRS B IF YOU FELT AWFUL
I did not intend that
please lets us all forget it now
take care
Mary L

Look, there is no excuse for racism and taking the p.ss out of the Irish is exactly that! I will not shift my position or apologise to anyone who has felt offended by my previous comments on the subject. This is not me throwing my rattle out of the pram, if you are an indigenous white Brit you will not have experienced or know what it is feels like to be on the receiving end of a racist joke or comment. YOU HAVE NOT WALKED IN MY SHOES, OR EXPERIENCED WHAT MT PARENT'S WENT THROUGH!

As I have said before, language is a powerful medium and when loaded with stereotypes in the form of jokes about certain ethnic groups it has the potential to permeate into our subconsciousness and can lead to people believing that they are more intelligent, powerful or superiour. I am not being over sensitive, believe me I am VERY thick skinned and I have said what I have to say on this matter, and if people don't get it then so be it.

This forum is about supporting one another, but it has to be done with dignity and respect to other users on the site, and to be mindful about the language that we use. I belong to no "clique" and would have said exactly the same to anyone if they had posted a joke of a similar nature. Suffice it to say, I have accepted an apology from Mrs B, and if she can move on, may I suggest that others do so too? However, if anyone would like to enter into a debate about the impact of racism on heath and mental well-being please feel free do do so, I'd welcome a healthy and informed debate

With respect to you all, and as always,

love,

Barbara
XXXXXX

Stewart, I don't agree and have sent you a PM.

Love,

Barbara
XXXXXX

I saw this post last night but was to knackered to write anything.

First of all a forum is made up of people for all backgrounds, races and creeds. What is offensive to one might not be to anohter. Saying that people will have opinions that might be similar to one and not another. I dont think this is a forum of cliques as people put out their own opinions and are strong to make a stand on their point of view. However we all should take others point of view into consideration.

I am and all my DNA is Irish, all my family parents, grandparents and great grandparents are all IRISH!. I understand saying that we are all a mix of eveything but that doesnt really cut the mustard. I have experienced racisim along with my pakastani, musilim, caribean and african friends and I tell you that some people might consider it ok to tell a paddy joke but not one would dare tell a joke about someone from pakastan or africa. Its the same when people start putting on an awful Irish accent and ask me do I want more potatoes, I am conflicted, fine they dont mean any harm, but I do find it insulting. These type of jokes are a bit outdated too, the should have been buried along with Bernard Manning!

Its not the first time that I have seen an Irish joke on here and I dont like them. I went into one post with the joke a couple of months back and have since avoided any post that subject line leads me to believe that it might upset me. So I havent seen this Irish password post. I believe that these type of jokes are not suitable for any forum. However I know that some people may not realise how offended people can be and it was right of Barbara to point this out. Its not saying that the person who made the post is terrible, but hopefully is now a bit wiser as we all are as to the type of stuff we can post. its like knowing writing things in caps in internet ettiqute is shouting.

Can we just agree that we are all in the same boat, we are here to support each other and but we cant just post anything, some restraint is required and adhere to the guidelines that NRAS have set out for us to use this forum. I sincerely hope the persons who have posted this type of stuff dont take it personally but its just the content thats a bit questionable. So I hope they continue to post and we give each other teh same support.

The PM issue I believe was not a racist one but one where someone was who not knowing better or was insensitive to the recipent by the content of the pm. So can we please agree on the posting principles/guidelines of the forum and give us all a big hug and move on.

This is the last word that I will say on this and I would appreciate if people can take what I have said, close this thread and move on.

Many thanks