# Aussie in England suing for racial abuse **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588 "2011-01-22T18:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/21 "2011-01-23T19:10:49Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Besides - \*who \*is he suing? “Everyone”? His employer? The UK government? Skippy the Kangaroo? Oh, you just _had_ to bring kangaroos into it, didn’t you? Racist. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/22 "2011-01-23T20:13:58Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Cool. Then all my American friends are being racist when they talk to me. > > Now, who can I sue? I didn’t say he had a case or anyone he could sue. I was just pointing out that your ‘cannot be racism because Australian isn’t a race’ thing was a load of bollocks. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/23 "2011-01-23T20:25:37Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > I didn’t say he had a case or anyone he could sue. I was just pointing out that your ‘cannot be racism because Australian isn’t a race’ thing was a load of bollocks. I guess, if you consider Race Relations Act of 1976 to be the arbiter of English language. I don’t. I prefer a dictionary definition: [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA –noun 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others. 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. So, to risk repeating myself, it’s not racism. Certainly not according to the dictionary definition of racism. YMMV, of course. You’re welcome to pick any definition of the word you like, and if you feel that the Race Relations Act of 1976 is a better arbiter of the English language than the dictionary, there’s not much I can do about that. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/24 "2011-01-23T21:47:40Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > So, to risk repeating myself, it’s not racism. Certainly not according to the dictionary definition of racism. > > YMMV, of course. You’re welcome to pick any definition of the word you like, and if you feel that the Race Relations Act of 1976 is a better arbiter of the English language than the dictionary, there’s not much I can do about that. That’s all well and good for everyday life. But seeing as how this fellow is planning a lawsuit in Britain, I daresay the courts there will hold British law – like, say, the Race Relations Act of 1976 – in somewhat higher regard than your opinion on the matter. Nothing you can do about that, either. 🙂 Really, though, did that have to be pointed out to you? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/25 "2011-01-23T21:58:21Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I guess, if you consider Race Relations Act of 1976 to be the arbiter of English language. I don’t. I prefer a dictionary definition: > > [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA –noun > > 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others. > 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. > 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. > > So, to risk repeating myself, it’s not racism. Certainly not according to the dictionary definition of racism. > > YMMV, of course. You’re welcome to pick any definition of the word you like, and if you feel that the Race Relations Act of 1976 is a better arbiter of the English language than the dictionary, there’s not much I can do about that. Well, there’s two ways to approach this. Firstly, seeing as we are talking about suing within the British legal system, I’d imagine the legal definition of what racism is would be quite important. Secondly, there’s your definition. Seeing as it is the first (of two) definitions given at [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) I am assuming you took the definition from there. The definition of racism depends on the definition of race as, unlike the Race Relations Act 1976, the definition makes no attempt to expand upon what a race actually is. You just seemed to have assumed what it is. Let’s have a look at what your source says: [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/race](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/race) > [@](#): > > race2     > [reys] Show IPA > –noun > > 1. a group of persons related by common descent or heredity. > 2. a population so related. > 3. Anthropology . > a. > any of the traditional divisions of humankind, the commonest being the Caucasian, Mongoloid, and Negro, characterized by supposedly distinctive and universal physical characteristics: no longer in technical use. > b. > an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups. > c. > a human population partially isolated reproductively from other populations, whose members share a greater degree of physical and genetic similarity with one another than with other humans. > 4. a group of tribes or peoples forming an ethnic stock: the Slavic race. > 5. any people united by common history, language, cultural traits, etc.: the Dutch race. > 6. the human race or family; humankind: Nuclear weapons pose a threat to the race. > 7. Zoology . a variety; subspecies. > 8. a natural kind of living creature: the race of fishes. > 9. any group, class, or kind, esp. of persons: Journalists are an interesting race. > 10. the characteristic taste or flavor of wine. Your mileage may indeed vary, but from where I am sitting Australians falls under part 1 (arguably if you go back far enough we all come from the same place anyway, so depending on how far your want to go back we are all the same race, which is why many Biologists don’t use the word “race” at all any more) and most definitely part 5. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/26 "2011-01-23T23:28:43Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I daresay the courts there will hold British law – like, say, the Race Relations Act of 1976 – in somewhat higher regard than your opinion on the matter. Nothing you can do about that, either. I’m sorry. I did not mean to give the impression that there was something I could do about it, or that I had power over the court system. I’m not sure where I gave that impression, but please accept my apologies for doing so nonetheless. What I thought I was doing was expressing disdain for this guy’s frivolous lawsuit. But hey, as I said, mileage and all. If you think he’s a victim of racism, so be it. I’m not trying to change your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/27 "2011-01-23T23:31:53Z")
I agree in principle that prejudice based on national origin can be classified as racism under English law. However, the more important issue here is that the guy’s a tosser, as **Lust4Life** aptly puts it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/28 "2011-01-23T23:34:13Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > That’s all well and good for everyday life. But seeing as how this fellow is planning a lawsuit in Britain, I daresay the courts there will hold British law – like, say, the Race Relations Act of 1976 – in somewhat higher regard than your opinion on the matter. Nitpick: English and Welsh law, not British. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own courts enforcing their own laws. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/29 "2011-01-23T23:35:51Z")
I reckon we send Sir Les over to sort this pretend aussie out! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/30 "2011-01-24T00:02:42Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Nitpick: English and Welsh law, not British. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own courts enforcing their own laws. No, in this case it is British law. While England and Wales, and Scotland, have separate legal systems, the United Kingdom Parliament can, and often does, pass legislation covering both systems. The Race Relations Act of 1976 does cover England, Wales and Scotland. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/31 "2011-01-24T00:07:08Z")
I hope the matter shant be resolved before a kangaroo court. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/32 "2011-01-24T00:57:04Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > However, the more important issue here is that the guy’s a tosser, as **Lust4Life** aptly puts it. Indeed. I grew up with ginger hair and the abuse that entails constantly. When I got to university at the age of 18 I started to lose my hair, the first in my peer group and hence the rest of my peer group projecting their fears on to me constantly through abuse. I can’t think who I’d sue thought as it is fucking mental. I would literally have to sue just about everyone I have ever met as they all laid in at some point. A thicker skin is required. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/33 "2011-01-24T03:22:38Z")
Wow, what a nutcase. I agree it can be annoying. With some people it seems like your nationality (and the one or two things they can remember about your country) is all that’s relevant about your existence. If you’re Australian you’re going to be hearing about Skippy and Fosters. British? Bad teeth, bad weather. New Zealander? Hobbits. It doesn’t mean you need to sue. It means you need to hang out with smarter people. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/34 "2011-01-24T03:25:14Z")
I lived in the UK for a few years and never got teased at all about being Australian. Well, I actually I guess I \*must \*have copped the odd comment but it was so inconsequential I don’t even remember it. I suspect he either has other problems and is trying to blame them on teasing which didn’t occur, or the teasing did occur but he is one of those unfortunates that just emits the “victim” pheromones that bullies can smell a mile away, and his Australian background just happened to have been the focus. ---
**Author:** ![Incref](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@Incref](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incref)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/35 "2011-01-24T10:12:34Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I’m a New Zealander in Australia. > > He needs to grow a thicker skin. I’m with the sheep shagger. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/36 "2011-01-24T10:21:46Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > I reckon we send Sir Les over to sort this pretend aussie out! What this **sisu** sheila said. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/37 "2011-01-24T12:37:53Z")
The whole story’s bullshit. Geoff Stephens is not Australian. At the first sign of this sickeningly racist attack, a true Aussie response would have been, “Look, let me out of here. I mean, there’d be no Mother England if it wasn’t for Australia. Our fighting men came over here when you Poms were ready to throw in the towel. Musso and them slimy yellow nips would’ve flattened this dump if it hadn’t been for me uncles and their superlative fighting spirit. I mean the game was nearly up for youse Poms, no risk. And if it hadn’t been for Australia, Musso and them slant-eyed pricks would’ve strung every white kiddie up by the pills and gone chocka-block with all the nurses and bus conductresses. Oh look, let me outta here you ungrateful Pommy bastard!” _With thanks to Barry McKenzie who was holding his own in 1974._ ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/38 "2011-01-24T12:45:53Z")
If it’s twice a day on average, that’s one thing. If it’s practically everyone he meets every time he deals with them, that’s another. At some point you gotta stop making stupid cracks like, “Is your girlfriend named Sheila?” ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/39 "2011-01-24T13:27:07Z")
At some point, **foolsguinea** , you gotta stop letting such stupid and inane cracks get to you. I mean, what is he? 5? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588/40 "2011-01-24T14:43:05Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > …Every nationality has jokes and stereotypes made about it by every other nationality. There are no exceptions. > … Not true. There’s no stereotypical jokes about Canadians. ETA: 😉 (In case it wasn’t obvious) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-in-england-suing-for-racial-abuse/568588.md?page=3)