Theatre Performers subjected to racist abuse in Dublin

Fandymo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567057#Comment_118567057

Could you point out one post that’s even in the same ballpark as the drivel above? No one has said ‘that’s just the lads’. Unless there are special posts that only self hating Irish people can see that I don’t have access to. Every post I’ve seen has correctly called them feral scumbags.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568218#Comment_118568218

Plenty eh?

Can you point out some examples then?

Scumbags will be scumbags is not playing down racism. In any way. People were merely pointing out that the kind of degenerates that engage in this type of behaviour, will pick on any aspect of any person for ridicule and insult in order to provoke a reaction and it is not unique or specifically targeting different ethnicities.

Scum like this have a history of targeting anyone they can and using the most offensive terms, regardless of who they might be.

According to you, this opinion makes me a racist too.

Then you have people coming on here bitching and moaning that this place is racist.

Frightening the amount of time some of you people spend on a site that you class as a hive of bigots and racists...

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568286#Comment_118568286

I totally agree with everything that you said in the opening post

Post 12 says: "Used to work in the area and there’s a high number of young scumbags who would enjoy picking on anyone they see as different, calling this a racist attack is ridiculous, they’d do the same to those they view as posh."

They say that it isn't a racist attack. They also have 7 likes to the comment.

Ha Long Bay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568310#Comment_118568310

Maybe you should challenge their post if you don't agree with it and ask them to clarify?

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568331#Comment_118568331

Calling them scumbags is wrong. Totally wrong. They may well be scumbags but in this particular case they are racist. Taking the label racist & replacing it with scumbags is watering it down. I genuinely wonder why so many won't use racist. Why water down what they are & what they have done in this particular situation

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568165#Comment_118568165

It's pretty disheartening but entirely predictable.

I was on another thread here before where someone insisted an attack on me and my other half was not homophobic despite the language used throughout....I was slashed in the face with a Stanley knife among other injuries. But they insisted it was just as likely to happen if I was ginger...

Fandymo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568335#Comment_118568335

A racist attack, to me, would be an attack on someone, or some group of people because of their race, colour or ethnicity. Would you agree with that?

I don’t think this was a racist attack because you could swap out the actors from the Lion King with blonde haired, blue eyed actors from any other musical and they would have gotten similar abuse from the scrotes in that area. Me and you could meet up now and walk through the area and no doubt they’d have abuse for us too.

No doubt racist language was used, but I don’t think it was racially motivated. That is the point people are making. Scum pick on peoples differences to get a reaction.

Scumbags who use racist language. Scumbags who use homophobic language. Scumbags who would insult the disabled. Scumbags who would insult someone on their appearance. Scumbags who would insult someone about how they talk. Scumbags who target anyone and everyone and use whatever the most offensive language they can.

Yes, they acted like racists to black people, in order to provoke a reaction. They are scumbags for doing so.

Not one person is saying that they aren't.

Billy Mays

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568364#Comment_118568364

Basically, calling them "scumbags" is grand👍🏻

Calling them "racist scumbags" is a big no-no👎🏻

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568385#Comment_118568385

This nonsense is exactly what I was talking about. You weren't there. You don't know the age of the racists. You don't know if they were business men & women out drunk. You have created a fairytale in your own mind. You don't know if they are the local gangs. The report says that a racist attack was reported to the Gardai but you know it wasn't racism. They are just scumbags.

These black people travel the world dozens & dozens if not hundreds of city's. You honestly don't think that they know a racist attack when they see it??

It is typical of boards threads that the racist aspect is whitewashed (pardon the pun). Ah sure we don't have that racism thing here in Ireland.

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568409#Comment_118568409

You hit the nail on the head in two sentences. Well done 👍

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568368#Comment_118568368

So you were unfortunate enough to be attacked by the homophobic gang, who are completely separate and would have nothing to do with the racist, gingerist, and all the others who are all out prowling the streets seeking their preferred victims?

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568409#Comment_118568409

No-one has an issue with calling them racist scumbags, it's why they have to reach the level of 'racist' before good people like yourself cry foul and demand action and say this cannot be allowed to happen.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568516#Comment_118568516

Fair enough i suppose if you've no answer to the point i was making

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568534#Comment_118568534

You weren't making a point.

Gingerism is in no way comparable to racism or homophobia.

This article imo explains it rather well.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/15/gingerism-prejudice-bullying

This paragraph sums it up well.

Maybe read it you might learn something.

"Anti-ginger prejudice and bullying is real and harmful, but the idea that it equates to these systems of oppression is fundamentally flawed. It assumes that all forms of prejudice and discrimination are equal and occurring in the same context when they really do not. It assumes that all forms of discrimination are the products of individual bigotry and irrational prejudice rather than structural and institutional divides."

Knacks are gonna be knacks. That's the area. Nothing racist about it.

Billy Mays

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568507#Comment_118568507

No-one has an issue with calling them racist scumbags

You should read the thread again

Thelonious Monk

The views on here are gas. It's not racist abuse because they're idiot scumbags. Are most racists well educated open minded people from good backgrounds?

I suppose all those Trump supporting yokel gun toting Confederate flag waving racists aren't racist either because they hate anything that's different and are idiots too?

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568543#Comment_118568543

So if the language etc was used in an attack in a "posh" area that would be racist....yeah that makes sense...

Sarn

No one should be subject to any kind of verbal or physical abuse. The male youths involved in this appalling incident are the type that tailor their abuse to their targets. In this case they were racist. From experience, the next incident could be homophobic, sexist or just general abuse.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568563#Comment_118568563

Yeah no sh*t, racists tend to hate gay people too or anyone different

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568559#Comment_118568559

Go hang out in that square and see if anyone hassles you.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568542#Comment_118568542

Well clearly i was referencing your reference to gingers in your post for satire, but sure trundle down that rabbit hole for deflection.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568556#Comment_118568556

Of course they're idiots, just dangerous ones. Every racist is an idiot.

gmisk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568612#Comment_118568612

Clearly my point sailed over your head never mind.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568627#Comment_118568627

I don't see that it did, but anyway. Have a good one.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568603#Comment_118568603

Eureka, people who are 'racist' don't care who they pick on

SamStonesArm

Pity there isnt a season on the little scumbags. I know thumping the head off em would also be illegal but who cares ? They're only gonna be drains on society for the rest of their shite lives anyways.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568556#Comment_118568556

I think you are misunderstanding what people are saying.

While it's not acceptable and shouldn't ever be acceptable, it is possible to say racist insults to get a reaction and not be a racist.

Same as saying something homophobic and not actually be a homophobe.

It's unpalatable to think that, but it is true.

Granted, this may not be the case here as we don't know the full details, but an educated guess and Occam's razor would lead a rational person to believe it would be the idiot, abusive fuckers that hang around the area who were the main perpetrators.

I can't claim to know 100% for sure their motivation, but I have seen them abuse every colour, sex and age and use disgusting language each time and don't believe they believe or understand what they are saying, but instead are using words that will get the biggest reaction.

I believe these little fuckers were using racist language to abuse people, and yes, I agree that's racist abuse but to call them racist, rather than little **** bastards using horrible offensive language is diluting the word racist from people who genuinely deserve the moniker.

There is a world of difference between an actual racist (who genuinely feels superior and feels others are inferior because of their ethnicity/race) and a scumbag who will say the most offensive words in order to insult and provoke anybody and everybody who comes across them.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118568542#Comment_118568542

The old bait and switch. No one is talking about systems of oppression, it’s bullying, people shouting racist abuse. If someone shouts ginger abuse the criminals should be treated the same, but both should be dealt with.

“Bullying of ginger-haired people is harmful, but cannot be said to be as serious a problem as oppression of other groups” did anyone say that? I think the point is that the horrible racist people who shouted the abuse were just as likely to abuse anyone else.

It only becomes a problem in some people’s eyes when it’s done to a ‘minority’, which is odd. Equity is an odd thing altogether.

SEPT 23 1989

It was always the roughest area in the city no amount of shiny new buildings will change that

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118567057#Comment_118567057

The difference with immigrants performing abuse is that this is a preventable problem with a permanent solution - where we can deport the perpetrators.

We can't deport Irish thug youth, though how I'd love to.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569133#Comment_118569133

Actually on second reading it says it was reported the the Guards. Which is good enough for me. In this case it must have been serious and I was wrong to have doubts. Hopefully the knackers involved get a visit from the boys in blue and receive some form of justice.

growleaves

'You don't know if they were business men & women out drunk.'

There's no chance of that. You're seen too many movies which you're confusing with real life.

It was a street confrontation with racist and homophobic abuse and threats of violence.

anewme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569133#Comment_118569133

Classic victim blaming.

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569133#Comment_118569133

Are you a visitor to Ireland?

People get racial abuse on a daily basis in Dublin. They always have. All my life. Its so common place that it rarely gets reported. This only hit the headlines because its performers from a Disney show.

Single black person at a bus stop. Bus might not stop. Single black person with white people & bus stops every time. In many pubs the black customer will be the last one to be served at the bar. Happens everyday of the week somewhere in Dublin

Ireland is a racist country. It always has been. Look at the comments. They aren't racist. They are scumbags. If a scumbag rapes someone they are a rapist. Someone caught messing with kids is a paedophile. But racial abuse is swept under the mat. We won't call them racists for their racial abuse. Ah sure it probably wasn't racial at all.

Scumbag is a wide ranging term. It could be middle class guy or women who beats their spouse and children. It is a cheating spouse. It can be an out of control teenager. It can be high up bank staff who lied to the government and central bank and almost bankrupted this country. All scumbags. Not all of them are racist though

Pawwed Rig

If we can use hate laws to bring some accountability into the lives of this feral scum then I am all for it. There are no consequences for their behaviour otherwise. If this wasn't the Lion King cast there would be no consequences in this instance either.

I cannot agree that they are not racist. These guys hate everything that is even slightly different to them so are about as racist as you can be. Just because they have low intelligence and are fairly ignorant of the world around them doesn't make it any better.

In general I would have said racism is largely based on ignorance however by your rationale there are no racists, just ignorant people who do not know any better

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569192#Comment_118569192

I'll say it one last time, the people who frequent that area would gladly shout the most derogatory/insulting remark about anyone (black, white, gay, disabled, tall, short, ginger, oddly dressed) in order to provoke the reaction that they want.

In this instance, it was racial abuse as it would be the thing that would most offend the actors. It shouldn't be excused, it shouldn't be accepted and it should be condemned

In my experience though, people like this do not genuinely believe the insults they are shouting so I would be loathe to call them racists, as that should be, in my opinion, reserved for the bastards who genuinely dislike people because of their skin colour/ethnicity.

I admit, there is a chance that these people are just a marauding gang of actual racist people who specifically want to target black people based purely on their beliefs, but as I said, the most likely scenario is that these are the usual fuckwits that are just opportunistic thugs looking for a fight and to intimidate people using disgusting language.

Ireland is not a racist country. It's ridiculous to even suggest that

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569210#Comment_118569210

I absolutely get where you are coming from.

But what I am trying to say is that although there was undoubtedly racist abuse thrown at the performers, the main motivation for these incidents usually isn't racial. It's to provoke and intimidate anyone and everyone through the lowest means possible.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569192#Comment_118569192

I'm not a visitor to Ireland. I grew up in Dublin with one of my best mates who's parents came from Ghana. I have been in the city centre in Dublin with this guy many many times, day and night and I never witnessed a single incident of racism. On the contrary it seemed like people went out of their way to be polite to him and I was often barely acknowledged. Sadly he was a much bigger hit with the ladies than me also, but that's another story.

What you are describing is a fantasy. Does racism happen? Yes. Does it happen on the scale you are describing? Absolutely not. My question to you when you casually throw out that "Ireland is a racist country. It always has been", is this: Compared to what country? If Ireland is racist, then which country are you comparing to that isn't racist?

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569260#Comment_118569260

The plenty of people you talk about are wrong.

Ireland isn't a racist country? I have an adopted brother & sister. Both around 60 years of age & both black. I also have 10 black nephews & nieces. Several are adopted too. I have watched how racist Ireland is all my life. My brother who does a tenth of the mileage I do gets stopped by Gardai ten times more often then me. My sister who does a lot of driving is off the charts in traffic stops. As a teenager myself & my friends noticed that we were allowed into a local pub without issue but every time my sister was with us we all got refused. My father made a complaint to management. He was told that his daughter was always welcome into the pub but anyone with her would always be refused.

I can fill pages & pages with personal examples if you want. It's easy for A white Irish person to say that Ireland isn't a racist country. What they mean is no one has been racist to them & their experience in life. How many black people do you spend time with to gather this knowledge that Irish aren't racist?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569192#Comment_118569192

One more question if you don't mind. If Ireland is a racist country, then why do so many people come here from Africa to claim asylum? If their motives are economic, surely the daily racist abuse they receive here must be more painful than any economic benefits they receive?

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569285#Comment_118569285

And I would accept that point however in my experience these guys hate everything that is different to them so would ascribe racism, homophobia et al. to them. Each incident is related to their hate of one demographic or the other. They don't walk down Gardiner Street shouting abuse at the locals for example.

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569319#Comment_118569319

You have never been to Africa then my friend? Visit & you will see why so many want a better life even if it involves racism

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569311#Comment_118569311

I have a mixed race daughter so I am well aware of incidents of racism.

I still wouldn't class the country as racist.

Sleeper12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569306#Comment_118569306

I'll leave you with this:

When people refuse to call a racist act, a racist act, then yes it would appear that Ireland isn't all that racist. If we call all rapists scumbags then we can claim that we have no sex crimes.

A lot of posters need to have a long look at themselves & try find out why they refuse to call a racist act what it is?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569306#Comment_118569306

You have your own personal experiences and I have mine. I trust my black friends opinions above your made up stories any day of the week.

RobbieTheRobber

They are not racist they just racially attack people and insult them using racist terminology.

There is no racism here. 🤣🤣

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569344#Comment_118569344

I can definitely agree that this was a racist act. My initial incorrect assumption was that this was just some attention-seeking social media post. The fact it was reported to the Gardai means it should be taken seriously and recognised as an act of racism. This does not make Ireland a racist country though, anymore than somebody drawing a swastika on a wall makes Ireland a nazi country.

RobbieTheRobber

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118569348#Comment_118569348

Replying to yourself Wojtek?