Sunday, November 08, 2015
Outrage after man posts ad looking for flatmates but says 'no Indians or Asians' because he does not want to live with curry smells
My wife and I once had an Indian friend living with us who used to cook his own meals. He had difficulty hanging on to his dinners as they smelt so good that were always demanding a taste of them. But "De gustibus non disputandum est", as the Romans used to say. Tastes differ and people are entitled to their preferences
A man who posted a 'flatmates wanted' advertisement online saying 'no Indians or Asians' is unapologetic despite causing outrage - although he has removed the ad.
The Christchurch, New Zealand man identified only as Alistair created an ad on the online trading website Trademe.co.nz that that said he did not want to live with anyone who cooked curry or could not speak English.
Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, he denied being racist but admitted to having a problem with some Indian people.
His ad, published on the TradeMe website about a week ago and now removed, attracted 'hundreds' of views and widespread criticism, the newspaper reported.
It was condemned by New Zealand Central Indian Association president Harshadbhai Patel, who called the ad 'shocking' and potentially harmful to race relations.
SOURCE
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8 comments:
The man was very foolish to mention Indians or Asians (if that is what he did), when it was enough to specify not wanting his prospective flatmate to cook curries or such strong-smelling food, etc., which is not in itself racist as curries and asian food is popular with "Whites" too.
Whatever happened to "freedom of association"? Who you choose to share living arrangements with is a quite intimate association, and it's ridiculous to assert that someone cannot make their own judgements about such who you share your living space with.
I was once in a group housing with a lot of people of different nationalities, and we all got on famously. But after about a week the Australians and the Asians were taking their meals separately. The reason was that there was only one stove, and the two races had completely different ideas of what constituted a good meal. It is perfectly reasonable to want to share your space with people who share your tastes. But even if the man was a racist, what is the alternative? To advertise the position widely, then turn back every Indian who applied - thereby wasting his time and theirs? It would be better off displaying his prejudices up front.
Why is it unethical to mention that you do not wish to your private space with people who do not share your culinary preferences or language? Next it will become illegals to mention the sex of preferred flatmates, let alone religion. Where does it end? By having to accept the first applicant regardless of their social compatibility? Should that come to pass then there will be major accommodation issues arising.
If it's his own house he should be free to state his preferences.
People can "huff & puff" all they want about racism, but when it concerns inviting somebody to share his own home the advertiser is legally entitled to be as specific as he likes re race, nationality, religion or cooking habits - so long as the medium carrying the ad will accept it.
Whining liberals need to keep their fat noses out of other peoples lives
Theres plenty of racsists in Jessie Jackson,Al Sharpton and Calypso Louies camps as well as the NBPP,RAINBOW/PUSH(run by Jessie Jackson)and the NAACP as well
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