Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 The BBC has dismissed a local radio presenter in Bristol after she made "completely unacceptable comments" about Asian cab drivers. Sam Mason, who hosted an afternoon show on BBC Radio Bristol, called a taxi for her 14-year-old daughter - while off-air - asking them not to send an Asian driver because "a guy with a turban might freak her out". "I know this sounds really racist, but I'm not being - please, don't send anyone like, you know what I mean," said asked the operator. "An English person would be great, a female would be better." The operator for the unnamed taxi firm, which later sent a recording of the call to the Sun, told Mason it could not penalise Asian drivers and that her request was racist. "I work at the BBC. I'm far from racist and that uneducated woman has no right to call me one," said Mason when her call was transferred to a supervisor. "I don't want her to turn up with a guy with a turban on, it's going to freak her out. She's not used to Asians. She's not racist - her godparents are black." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31237 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 She should've just asked for a female driver and the whole incident could have been avoided. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 She's not racist - her godparents are black. Classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 43224 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Racist? Not sure, borderline at least. Dumb? Most definately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 She's not racist - her godparents are black. Classic. Laughed at that bit too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4411 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 My concern is the thought of a 14 year old who would be "freaked out" - how introverted could she be? Probably a case of "stupid" racism rather than "malicious" racism - I'd tend to have mercy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Ok, so this caught me eye cause it is an issue I have trouble with. Firstly asking for a certain race or gender of taxi driver like that is insensitive, but as NJS says not necessarily racist with a big R. As someone else mentioned women sometimes ask for women taxi drivers apparently and that would have been an easy way out here. I use taxi's a lot and have tended to have a preference for African drivers here (Hamburg) and I'm aware of this. I like the Ghanaians and Nigerians cause they are friendly and chatty and what they hell I want to enjoy my ride. I tend to avoid if possible Turkish or German drivers, cause I find them aggressive and nosey (rather than chatty). Also the Turkish drivers more often than not have no idea how to get where we are going and I stress myself out making sure I get there on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31237 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 My concern is the thought of a 14 year old who would be "freaked out" - how introverted could she be? Probably a case of "stupid" racism rather than "malicious" racism - I'd tend to have mercy. Christ I didn't realise that she was 14 FFS, there really is a problem if she'd be freaked out by an Asian at that age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawD 99 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Why would a kid be freaked out? Isnt just a hat to the kid? Wonder if she "freaks out" at jews as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Why would a kid be freaked out? Isnt just a hat to the kid? Wonder if she "freaks out" at jews as well? The hat is clearly a red herring. Don't believe it has anything to do with the turban imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Take dentists for example. I go out of my way to track down women dentists as I feel safer and more cosseted by them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 She should've just asked for a female driver and the whole incident could have been avoided. That's sexist though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 (edited) While not racist, dismissing someone for their personal beliefs is a bit discriminatory like. It's not like she was racialistic on air. Edited November 12, 2008 by Happy Face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31237 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 She should've just asked for a female driver and the whole incident could have been avoided. That's sexist though. Not when you're discriminating against men it's not. Apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 She should've just asked for a female driver and the whole incident could have been avoided. That's sexist though. Not when you're discriminating against men it's not. Apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 She should've just asked for a female driver and the whole incident could have been avoided. That's sexist though. Not when you're discriminating against men it's not. Apparently. Misandrist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Where do I stand in avoiding fat check out girls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 43224 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Where do I stand in avoiding fat check out girls? Not the fat Lass's queue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 Where do I stand in avoiding fat check out girls? Not the fat Lass's queue. But should I feel bad about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Where do I stand in avoiding fat check out girls? Not the fat Lass's queue. But should I feel bad about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 43224 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 If you're hurling packets of lard at her,screaming" Away foul gutbucket!" then probably yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manc-mag 1 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Could just as easily be Gemmill ordering a taxi to the match this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15742 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Where do I stand in avoiding fat check out girls? You stop shopping at Penny, for a start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14020 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 It's certainly a tough one. Under close scrutiny you could call it sexist and racist. I would personally say she in her rights to ask for a woman taxi driver - and chances are she would get a Caucasian as it is. When asking to be excused from driving with a specific race it gets questionable, I mean even a 14 year old lad would be fine as they would recognise Monty Panesar wears a turban - and he's ace. The question has to be raised whether the girl would be feeling uncomfortable at the race of the driver - or if she would be feeling uncomfortable at the unfamiliarity of the situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted November 12, 2008 Author Share Posted November 12, 2008 It's certainly a tough one. Under close scrutiny you could call it sexist and racist. I would personally say she in her rights to ask for a woman taxi driver - and chances are she would get a Caucasian as it is. When asking to be excused from driving with a specific race it gets questionable, I mean even a 14 year old lad would be fine as they would recognise Monty Panesar wears a turban - and he's ace. The question has to be raised whether the girl would be feeling uncomfortable at the race of the driver - or if she would be feeling uncomfortable at the unfamiliarity of the situation. For me the turban is a red herring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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