Have you ever experienced hibernophobia?

Fratton Fred

con___manx1 wrote: »

I was in heathrow airport just talking to a friend and I could see a security guard turn around when he heard us taking probly because he heard are irish accents. he told us t follow him and he got some device and scanned our bags. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for traces of explosive material. he must have taught we were in the Ira or something just because we were irish.

It's not surprising really, it's not like you get that many Irish in Heathrow, other than the fifty or so flights a day

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Tabnabs wrote: »

I worked for a number of years in the UK and around the world with British lads. In terms of anti Irish experiences:

I had Rangers/Loyalist chants directed at me by a couple of Scottish colleagues (I have zero interest in football, so that one was odd).
A drunk Geordie colleague telling me "you Irish and your fcuking potato famine mentality"
In one Scottish pub we drank in an English colleague kindly recommended that he go to the bar as my accent wouldn't be too welcome.
Plenty of banter along the lines of "thick mick", "paddy load" (carrying too much and dropping it, i.e. too lazy and stupid to do it over several trips), not pronouncing th's correctly and lots of imitating Irish accents.

Interestingly on a number of (mainly British) specialist forums that I frequent, when there are jokes threads, the quantity of Irish jokes can be quite surprising. But no sign of Jewish, Black, Asian jokes etc. But many British do still see the Irish as fair game to stereo type. #

Abroad I have also had a couple of Norwegians equate Irish with being Catholic and this being a very negative thing and quite a few continentals will lump Irish in with British as in "you're all the same". It's never popular when you say, Ah sure Dutch/German, that's the same too...

Glasgow, check. Newcastle, very surprised. Continent, being associated with catholicism is a bit of a negative thing and does happen, but there is no way continentals say "you're all the same" when corrcted. Not a chance.

con___manx1 wrote: »

I was in heathrow airport just talking to a friend and I could see a security guard turn around when he heard us taking probly because he heard are irish accents. he told us t follow him and he got some device and scanned our bags. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for traces of explosive material. he must have taught we were in the Ira or something just because we were irish.

The accuracy of this I find highly dubious. If it is accurarte there's something you're not telling us.

con___manx1

honestly I was disgusted. I wasn't talking to my friend about anything sinister so why would he search my bag for explosives? that's the only reason I can come up was the fact we were Irish. it was my first time in heathrow too. I have been too heathrow a couple of times since then and nothing happened but I think that security guard definitely suffers from hibernophobia

ScumLord

kunst nugget wrote: »

Thank God they only do that to Muslims now…

The problem is though the computer systems can't tell the difference between a Muslim with a beard and an atheist with a beard. The new face scanners at Gatwick threw a hissy fit the last time I went through. The funny thing is after about 4 attempts the security just say ignore it and go through. By the time I got to the gate were they had one more scanner they were just ignoring it completely so there were essentially no security checks on me.

Fratton Fred

con___manx1 wrote: »

honestly I was disgusted. I wasn't talking to my friend about anything sinister so why would he search my bag for explosives? that's the only reason I can come up was the fact we were Irish. it was my first time in heathrow too. I have been too heathrow a couple of times since then and nothing happened but I think that security guard definitely suffers from hibernophobia

Where in Heathrow were you, because random explosives checks are standard. An anti Irish security guard would be kept very busy hassling the thousands of Irish people who travel through there on a daily basis.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Where in Heathrow were you, because random explosives checks are standard. An anti Irish security guard would be kept very busy hassling the thousands of Irish people who travel through there on a daily basis.

Curious also to know why I was never checked at Gatwick Airport after leaving a package unatended and have to race back for it when "Max Speed" was called the the Witherspoon's bar. And this was 2002.

tipptom

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I can see his point though.

Last game I was at we spent five minutes abusing the board of directors, five minutes abusing Southampton and the rest of the game having a good old laugh at the Irish famine.

Well believe that,bet your a Chelsea supporter,been to Stamford bridge many time as a Southampton supporter living in London.

Weathering

old hippy wrote: »

Ironically, I see no difference between her sectariansim and your bigotted remark.

Go hug a tree hippy. She was being ignorant for no reason,I don't let people walk over me and she deserved it and brought it in herself. Why don't build a mountain so you can look down on people a little bit more

Weathering

old hippy wrote: »

Ironically, I see no difference between her sectariansim and your bigotted remark.

Go hug a tree hippy. She was being ignorant for no reason,I don't let people walk over me and she deserved it and brought it in herself. Why don't build a mountain so you can look down on people a little bit more

JamBur

My wife is Romanian, and I spent a few years living there. When I was first there, one of her friends warned her off the Irish in general. Seemingly we are violent!

old hippy

Weathering wrote: »

Go hug a tree hippy. She was being ignorant for no reason,I don't let people walk over me and she deserved it and brought it in herself. Why don't build a mountain so you can look down on people a little bit more

She deserved to be racially abused, did she? You stooped to her level and now you try and justify it?

I don't need to look down on you, that hole you're standing in just got a lot deeper.

Fratton Fred

tipptom wrote: »

Well believe that,bet your a Chelsea supporter,been to Stamford bridge many time as a Southampton supporter living in London.

Bet you I'm not.

kabakuyu

I never experienced any problems in the UK ( lived in London and Norwich for a while in the 80's) but have had problems with a**holes while on holidays in the Balearics(quiet family resorts) but no problems in Magaluf.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Fratton Fred wrote: »

who is making jokes about the famine?

Well, I haven't heard any for a while, so you could say at the moment, we're going through a bti of ah.... never mind....

narddog

gallag wrote: »

I really cant understand UK and irish people being racist to each other, same people really, obviously us British are smarter, better looking, make better lovers and dont have as many gingers but we are basically the same!

I am livid at this post. Absolutely furious. To accuse us of having more ginger people is below the belt.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

tipptom wrote: »

Well believe that,bet your a Chelsea supporter,been to Stamford bridge many time as a Southampton supporter living in London.

Seriously. Stop digging.

DEFTLEFTHAND

The Chelsea Headhunters had connections to the UDA. They didn't like us southern folk so much. But yet many Irish are Chelsea fans?

greenflash

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The Chelsea Headhunters had connections to the UDA. They didn't like us southern folk so much. But yet many Irish are Chelsea fans?

Not all Chelsea fans are Headhunters. Not many in fact. Also, not many Headhunters are deeply into the politics, they just use whatever insult is most likely to get a scrap in a particular situation.

Any Irish person who supports an English club is a mong so they can have no complaints.

tipptom

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Seriously. Stop digging.

13,000 posts and still dont make sense

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

tipptom wrote: »

13,000 posts and still dont make sense

It's the extra 700 or so that make the difference.

Mr_Spaceman

I'd never even heard of this term until I started reading this thread.

Having lived in mainland UK for over 20 years, not once have I been subjected to anti-Irish jibes. Well, maybe once, someone mentioned potatoes. So what about it? I love spuds.

However some people need to chill out and stop boring the arse off the rest of us for being 'offended'.

UCDVet

I wouldn't say I've seen anything that extreme. I've met some people who were misinformed about Ireland. They genuinely thought Ireland was nothing but green fields and sheep farmers.

gallag

UCDVet wrote: »

I wouldn't say I've seen anything that extreme. I've met some people who were misinformed about Ireland. They genuinely thought Ireland was nothing but green fields and sheep farmers.

There's also beef farming, so uneducated.

con___manx1

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Where in Heathrow were you, because random explosives checks are standard. An anti Irish security guard would be kept very busy hassling the thousands of Irish people who travel through there on a daily basis.

I have never been checked like that for explosives in any other airport and believe me I have been too quite a few.

TheLastMohican

dd972 wrote: »

English yobs who tailcoat Loyalism in it's Glasgow Rangers or Ulster paramilitary guises are usually inadequate saddo's attracted by it's macho allure, Chelsea have an element of these in their fan base, people from Slough or Staines with no culture, identity or accent so they go looking for one.

Right YOU! Am going to ring up Ali G. That'll sort you

con___manx1

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Where in Heathrow were you, because random explosives checks are standard. An anti Irish security guard would be kept very busy hassling the thousands of Irish people who travel through there on a daily basis.

I have never been checked like that for explosives in any other airport and believe me I have been too quite a few.I wasn't searched the last 2 times I was in heathrow so maybe it was just random. I cant remember where exactly it was. this incident happened about 4 years ago. at the time actually I had longish hair and a beard. I also have a slight northern accent.

fryup

Fratton Fred wrote: »

who is making jokes about the famine?

well, tommy tiernan for one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWVYePkfSdU

Tabnabs

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Glasgow, check. Newcastle, very surprised. Continent, being associated with catholicism is a bit of a negative thing and does happen, but there is no way continentals say "you're all the same" when corrcted. Not a chance.

Neither of the Rangers fans were from Glasgow and the keep your Irish accent quite pub was in Peterhead.

I've worked a lot with Geordies and Macams and found them incredibly racist. Like many English, they are very tribal and like to pigeon-hole other groups. I learned all sorts of offensive words for just about every race they came across.

I have experienced the "English/Irish, you're all the same" attitude all over Europe and amongst well educated people in less well off parts of the world (Nigeria, Iraq, Indonesia to name a few).

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Tabnabs wrote: »

Neither of the Rangers fans were from Glasgow and the keep your Irish accent quite pub was in Peterhead.

I've worked a lot with Geordies and Macams and found them incredibly racist. Like many English, they are very tribal and like to pigeon-hole other groups. I learned all sorts of offensive words for just about every race they came across.

I have experienced the "English/Irish, you're all the same" attitude all over Europe and amongst well educated people in less well off parts of the world (Nigeria, Iraq, Indonesia to name a few).

Nerwcastle are the most chilled out easygoing people on the British Island!

Have never, in seven years of living in Paris, Denmark and Berlin, ever experienced anyone ever try to shrug off Irish and Briutish as being the same. Makign the mistake, yes, but never once trying to cover it up. Unless you're talkign about British or non-European people you met there.

Never been to Peterhead, take your word for it!

The Road Runner

Can't say I really have. A bit of slagging on a few sites in London back in the day but I gave as good as I got. You knew at the end of the day if it came to the crunch they would have your back, ie 'I wouldn't use that circ saw on the third floor paddy, it'll fry that spud brain of yours, there's another one out in the lockup'

Only time I felt bad was as a nipper on holidays in Italy, most the other kids on the campsite were english and gave me a hell of a time, really confused me at the time as it was my first time over seas. Looking back now I see it was kids being kids.

old hippy

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

I'd never even heard of this term until I started reading this thread.

Having lived in mainland UK for over 20 years, not once have I been subjected to anti-Irish jibes. Well, maybe once, someone mentioned potatoes. So what about it? I love spuds.

However some people need to chill out and stop boring the arse off the rest of us for being 'offended'.

If it bores you so, why are you reading and replying to the comments here?

You're lucky not to have experienced racism or sectarianism. It's rather unpleasant and being told to "chill out" is not helpful. In fact, your dismissive comments are part of the problem, not the answer.

And what is this "mainland" you speak of?

Mr_Spaceman

old hippy wrote: »

If it bores you so, why are you reading and replying to the comments here?

You're lucky not to have experienced racism or sectarianism. It's rather unpleasant and being told to "chill out" is not helpful. In fact, your dismissive comments are part of the problem, not the answer.

And what is this "mainland" you speak of?

I was interested to find out what Hibernophobia was actually.

The 'mainland' is mainland UK as I am from Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. It's fairly simple.

old hippy

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

I was interested to find out what Hibernophobia was actually.

The 'mainland' is mainland UK as I am from Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. It's fairly simple.

So you see yourself predominantly as British? Maybe that's why you haven't noticed any anti-Irish sentiment?

Just trying to work out where you're coming from...

gallag

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

I was interested to find out what Hibernophobia was actually.

The 'mainland' is mainland UK as I am from Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. It's fairly simple.

Dont worry about explaining, he knew what you ment, just a touch of bitterness left in the old hippy, same as when you ask someone "did you watch the football last night" and knowing full well you are talking about soccer still reply "there was no gaa on last night".

old hippy

gallag wrote: »

Dont worry about explaining, he knew what you ment, just a touch of bitterness left in the old hippy, same as when you ask someone "did you watch the football last night" and knowing full well you are talking about soccer still reply "there was no gaa on last night".

I am not a GAA supporter

Mr_Spaceman

old hippy wrote: »

So you see yourself predominantly as British? Maybe that's why you haven't noticed any anti-Irish sentiment?

Just trying to work out where you're coming from...

Yes. But I have dual nationality.

However as people have previously alluded to, most English folk just label everyone as Irish regardless of origin most of the time. It doesn't bother me really.

I could say that during the Troubles I was regularly stopped and questioned returning home on the ferry. I fitted a certain lazy stereotype I suppose - man travelling alone with long hair etc.

Rather than getting wound up and imagining all kinds I realised the security forces were just doing their job at the time. There was nothing untoward about it and I never felt uncomfortable.

old hippy

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

Yes. But I have dual nationality.

However as people have previously alluded to, most English folk just label everyone as Irish regardless of origin most of the time. It doesn't bother me really.

I could say that during the Troubles I was regularly stopped and questioned returning home on the ferry. I fitted a certain lazy stereotype I suppose - man travelling alone with long hair etc.

Rather than getting wound up and imagining all kinds I realised the security forces were just doing their job at the time. There was nothing untoward about it and I never felt uncomfortable.

That's very magnanimous of you. However, there are plenty of people who are not comfortable with jibes, discrimination, sectarianism and so forth.

Which is why being told to relax the head about it doesn't really help. Sometimes shrugging off offensive behaviour or comments isn't always that easy.

Mr_Spaceman

old hippy wrote: »

That's very magnanimous of you. However, there are plenty of people who are not comfortable with jibes, discrimination, sectarianism and so forth.

Which is why being told to relax the head about it doesn't really help. Sometimes shrugging off offensive behaviour or comments isn't always that easy.

Well I've explained my own experiences - I'm sorry if you feel uptight that not everyone feels as offended as you do.

I have plenty of Irish friends living in London and they have never experienced resentment. I'm not saying it doesn't exist but it's probably exaggerated out of all proportion.

If you feel otherwise then that's fine.

gallag

old hippy wrote: »

I am not a GAA supporter

Or big into reading, but like being pedantic?

old hippy

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

Well I've explained my own experiences - I'm sorry if you feel uptight that not everyone feels as offended as you do.

I have plenty of Irish friends living in London and they have never experienced resentment. I'm not saying it doesn't exist but it's probably exaggerated out of all proportion.

If you feel otherwise then that's fine.

I don't feel uptight about it. There will always be people who wish to sweep it under the carpet and downplay it. That's their perrogative to do so.

You remind me of the type of person who says that racism doesn't exist - simply because they've never experienced it. Which again, is your perrogative.

Mr_Spaceman

old hippy wrote: »

I don't feel uptight about it. There will always be people who wish to sweep it under the carpet and downplay it. That's their perrogative to do so.

You remind me of the type of person who says that racism doesn't exist - simply because they've never experienced it. Which again, is your perrogative.

Thanks for making stupid judgements about me by the way. You know nothing about me and my attitude to racism.

old hippy

gallag wrote: »

Or big into reading, but like being pedantic?

When I try and read in between the lines as regards your posts, I see nothing. Emptiness born out of a desperation to post, get involved and stir up a feeble controversy.

Speak your mind, man or talk to someone who deals in obscurities and half heartedness.

old hippy

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

Thanks for making stupid judgements about me by the way. You know nothing about me and my attitude to racism.

I judge you on this thread by your rejection of other people's experiences. I fully believe that you and your Irish mates have never had a bad experience. I'm truly happy for you - but you can't just claim anti-Irish sentiment is exaggerated simply because you haven't experienced it.

gallag

old hippy wrote: »

When I try and read in between the lines as regards your posts, I see nothing. Emptiness born out of a desperation to post, get involved and stir up a feeble controversy.

Speak your mind, man or talk to someone who deals in obscurities and half heartedness.

Ah, ok then, could you explane why you felt the need to tell me you did not like gaa when I never accused you of such insted of addressing your obvious pedantic attitude over someone using the term "mainland", that was not just you stirring up feeble controversy was it?

Mr_Spaceman

old hippy wrote: »

I judge you on this thread by your rejection of other people's experiences. I fully believe that you and your Irish mates have never had a bad experience. I'm truly happy for you - but you can't just claim anti-Irish sentiment is exaggerated simply because you haven't experienced it.

I'm glad you're happy for me. I don't know how I'd cope with all this widespread anti-Irish sentiment I face without your solidarity.

old hippy

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

I'm glad you're happy for me. I don't know how I'd cope with all this widespread anti-Irish sentiment I face without your solidarity.

And there we go. End of dialogue.

old hippy

gallag wrote: »

Ah, ok then, could you explane why you felt the need to tell me you did not like gaa when I never accused you of such insted of addressing your obvious pedantic attitude over someone using the term "mainland", that was not just you stirring up feeble controversy was it?

And the desperation continues.

gallag

old hippy wrote: »

And the desperation continues.

Ill just assume your pedantic challenge against the term "mainland" which shows a slight bit of resentment to the UK goes against your super liberal over the top pc online persona and instead of addressing it you would rather throw out one liners to avoid the conversation. Thats fine, I will mention it no more.

old hippy

gallag wrote: »

Ill just assume your pedantic challenge against the term "mainland" which shows a slight bit of resentment to the UK goes against your super liberal over the top pc online persona and instead of addressing it you would rather throw out one liners to avoid the conversation. Thats fine, I will mention it no more.

There’s an unusual common parlance amongst some of those who would dismiss the discrimination of Irish people. The UK, a separate entity, is referred to as the “mainland”. As if, somehow, it is a superior entity to Ireland. This appellation and use of, in itself, I would place in the broad basket of latent sectarianism. At the very least, it’s an attempt to belittle the existence and independence of Ireland. I say this as someone who is neither unionist nor nationalist. But does have family from both protestant and catholic backgrounds.

The experience of anti-Irish sentiment in the UK is very well documented over the years. There’s a wealth of information on it, aside from mere anecdotes, out there, if you care to look. I’m guessing, however, you don’t care to look and would rather play it down. It’s not fashionable to complain about it, after all, right?

gallag

old hippy wrote: »

There’s an unusual common parlance amongst some of those who would dismiss the discrimination of Irish people. The UK, a separate entity, is referred to as the “mainland”. As if, somehow, it is a superior entity to Ireland. This appellation and use of, in itself, I would place in the broad basket of latent sectarianism. At the very least, it’s an attempt to belittle the existence and independence of Ireland. I say this as someone who is neither unionist nor nationalist. But does have family from both protestant and catholic backgrounds.

The experience of anti-Irish sentiment in the UK is very well documented over the years. There’s a wealth of information on it, aside from mere anecdotes, out there, if you care to look. I’m guessing, however, you don’t care to look and would rather play it down. It’s not fashionable to complain about it, after all, right?

Thank you, I can see your point but feel you are really stretching for outrage, I call it the mainland without any malice for ireland or the irish but it is something I cannot say does not happen. In my experience the resentment and hate between the irish and British is one sided, obviously in ni you have a lot of hate between the unionists/nationalists but I have never heard a english man speek badly of the irish but have herd many irish rants about the English.