[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by charanreddy

Incident 2: I was looking to buy a car and faced this subtle racism in both BMW and Mercedes car showrooms. Other white folks were attended to slightly more promptly, given test drives more promptly as well. Goes with out saying, I bought the car from the showroom closer to my house which went the extra mile to get my business.

Send a mail to MB/BMW, marking dealership management and tell them exactly what happened. This is a big issue and the dealership will be humiliated. This happened to a relative of mine - she was buying a car and they just kept talking to her white husband instead - and MB got an earful from her. The specific sales agent grovelled so hard she might need a knee replacement by now.

Also, put up negative Google reviews. Mention you ended up buying a car from (name of) dealership instead, so it's clear you're a real buying customer. Google reviews are a potent tool in the UK.

Basically, do not let this behaviour go unpunished.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by charanreddy

Incident 2: I was looking to buy a car and faced this subtle racism in both BMW and Mercedes car showrooms. Other white folks were attended to slightly more promptly, given test drives more promptly as well. Goes with out saying, I bought the car from the showroom closer to my house which went the extra mile to get my business.

Originally Posted by v1p3r

Send a mail to MB/BMW, marking dealership management and tell them exactly what happened. This is a big issue and the dealership will be humiliated. This happened to a relative of mine - she was buying a car and they just kept talking to her white husband instead - and MB got an earful from her. The specific sales agent grovelled so hard she might need a knee replacement by now.

Also, put up negative Google reviews.

I had a much worse experience at BMW Manhattan. I had booked an appointment and came with my wife and the salesman never attended us as he was busy(for some reason there were only 2-3 sales people in that day) with other clients and we eventually walked out without seeing any vehicle.To be fair there were other people waiting in the same situation. I left a bad review on Google and emailed the management. They sent an apology email but I ignored them after that. I have visited three other BMW dealerships and had good experiences.

Although my wife felt a hint of racism I did see the salesperson busy showing another Indian an X7. Honestly I felt they had booked to many appointments and had too few people. On top of that there was a slightly deranged person in the dealership pretending to buy a fully loaded M4. Due to political correctness they were attending to this person who was driving around the dealership on a electric scooter yelling on his phone

I walked to the Audi Manhattan dealership which was next door without an appointment and was given a test drive and shown multiple cars which were driven out from storage for me. For some reason the salesman was convinced I would buy the car on that day after hearing I had moved from India recently and had lived nearby and didn't have a car

[Chisels121]

Originally Posted by BraveArc

I had posted in this thread not too long ago. Like many have said, direct racism has reduced drastically but that doesn't mean it's gone. I've seen clips on social media but never thought I'd experience it.

Two days back(19 Sep 2024), my wife and I were racially attacked. This happened around 7pm as we were taking the tram back from Sydney CBD to our home about 15 minutes away. Being peak hour, the tram was packed and we were standing. After a stop, some people got off and we were "fortunate" enough to be right where two seats became vacant. She sat first and as I was removing my backpack to sit down, a VERY drunk white man pushed me and sat down there. I immediately said I was about to sit there and he responded in a crude "Well, I'm here now". I just let it go as he was too drunk and I wasn't going to argue with him. My wife told him to make some space as he was sitting too close. He did that and then pretending to be talking on the phone made some crude remarks which we chose to ignore. Then, he directly asked her "How many c***s did you s*** to get a visa?" and I told him to keep his mouth shut and not talk to her like that. He then directed his attention to me saying I should go back to my country, etc. After a few words, he said I was too scared to even look at him and then I just stared at him from that point. His voice reduced and he said somethings which were bordering on super lame that I half wanted to laugh. The tram was reaching the next stop and my wife said let's just leave and as she got up, he was about to say something more when quite a few of the other ladies around got up to tell him to shut up and realising he was outnumbered massively he ran out of the tram. Of the many ladies who stood up, the locals apologised for his antics.
My wife was shaken up by the incident at first and I was just angry but then he was heavily drunk so brushed it off and asked her to not think about it as he probably wouldn't remember it the next day morning and thinking about it is only giving him an importance that he doesn't deserve.

Going into the tram the next day morning was a bit weird but as of today we are totally over it and only laugh about some of the things he said. One thing he told me which was the funniest is "your beard looks like s**t" since it was freshly trimmed and drew compliments from colleagues.

Has this changed our opinions of the country or its people? No. As I had mentioned in my post previously. We plan on going back home when I have built up enough work experience, to get a reasonably good job there.

We know that as brown people, doesn't matter what passport we have, wherever we travel(irrespective of holiday or emigration), the first assumption any local person would have is that we're Indian. And until they interact or see a different passport, their mannerism is only going to be based on a preconceived opinion.

P.S. Please don't respond saying your sorry for our experience as that is once again giving the guy an importance he doesn't deserve.

I can relate to the experience your wife had to face. People like that guy are just plain jealous that other people from 'inferior' countries come and earn more than them in their country.A few pages back I had shared a experience my uncle and grandparents faced and I was schooled by many members that how bad apples exist in every country and it should not dissuade us from emigrating. The thing is that nobody how knows how we feel at that moment when they are openly mocking us. My grandparents were very shocked from that incident and both my father and other uncle decided that they will never emigrate unless it's a necessity which is never gonna happen. My mother could have got American Green Card back in '09 itself when her sister got her citizenship but my father was against it and I respect that decision but am sure many members here itself would have grabbed that opportunity with both hands

[dragracer567]

Originally Posted by v1p3r

Also, put up negative Google reviews. Mention you ended up buying a car from (name of) dealership instead, so it's clear you're a real buying customer. Google reviews are a potent tool in the UK.

Basically, do not let this behaviour go unpunished.

Yes but please don’t try this in the UAE

[ShankarG]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I walked to the Audi Manhattan dealership which was next door without an appointment and was given a test drive and shown multiple cars which were driven out from storage for me. For some reason the salesman was convinced I would buy the car on that day after hearing I had moved from India recently and had lived nearby and didn't have a car

Thankfully we have had a similar positive experience in England. Never heard of any negative stories or inattentiveness from any car dealership with any of my friends or myself. In fact, there are more Asians than any other locals who are buying high end cars and these companies go an extra mile to convert them.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by dragracer567

Yes but please don’t try this in the UAE

In the UAE, I just called habibi and use wasta as necessary.

[4Runner]

OP- I am sorry for your experience. Acknowledging your trauma does not in any way empower the perpetrator with any undue sense of importance. I've had my fair share of these run-ins without even leaving the country's border on my skin color, my ability to speak a certain state's local language and being called a "madrasi". And there wasn't a whole bunch I could do about it except continue minding my business. We all know how people love to taunt folks from down south as "Saar" and such. Obviously this isn't a pan India phenomenon but bad apples are a part of the world wherever we go.

One of the things that really stays with us through these experiences is our utter helplessness at being able to teach the other person a lesson but if it helps in any way, the way these people think is only a mirror reflection of their internal turmoil and mindset. I hope you find the strength to move past this incident and have a great experience in Australia.

Originally Posted by BraveArc

P.S. Please don't respond saying your sorry for our experience as that is once again giving the guy an importance he doesn't deserve.

[Samurai]

Since the UK is under discussion, what do the BHPians settled in UK think about the immigration linked riots in July or the fresh riots in Ireland last week.

Is it just a storm in the teacup as left leaning media says, or a serious issue as painted by the right leaning media?

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Since the UK is under discussion, what do the BHPians settled in UK think about the immigration linked riots in July or the fresh riots in Ireland last week.

Is it just a storm in the teacup as left leaning media says, or a serious issue as painted by the right leaning media?

Currently not living in the UK anymore, but we have and my wife was born in the UK. We still have friends and family, so we tend to follow UK politics.

Personally I think it should be a wake up call about how the sentiments against “immigrants” have been developing in parts of society.

Left orientated news outlet, but similar view here

https://www.newstatesman.com/comment...d-are-alarming

We sold our properties in the UK shortly after Brexit was announced. We noticed an immediate upturn of more openly verbal aggression towards foreigners directly after the referendum. Our daughter in law is from the West Indies, mixed parents. She never encountered any problems when she came with us to the UK. Immediately after Brexit, she noticed people taking exception to her, purely based on her skin/accent. Making comments behind her back and so on.

Any current UK residents with similar experiences?

Similar sentiments are developing across a number of other European countries too. No doubt we are likely to see similar incidents in other countries. The extreme right, historically, spreads like a cancer. Slowly and surely, unless you take action against it.

Illegal immigration is probably the number one topic in many European elections and politics. In reality, illegal immigration, in most countries is a relative small issue. But all (western) European countries have large numbers of (legal) immigrants. Exception probably being Denmark as they are the only EU country which has this opt-out clause, which allows them to have a hugely restrictive immigrant and asylum seeking policy.

Jeroen

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Samurai

Is it just a storm in the teacup as left leaning media says, or a serious issue as painted by the right leaning media?

Does it say that? It was an outbreak of seriously nasty violence by right-wing demonstrators. As an ex-UK resident I was and am shocked by it. And ashamed of it.

Nothing like this is ever just a storm in a teacup, because those people are still those people and will have the same ideas, and be prepared to do the same again.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Nothing like this is ever just a storm in a teacup, because those people are still those people and will have the same ideas, and be prepared to do the same again.

I was alluding to the mass migration issue (legal & refugee), more than the violent protest itself. Left doesn't see it as an issue, right thinks it is. Sorry if I was unclear.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I was alluding to the mass migration issue (legal & refugee), more than the violent protest itself. Left doesn't see it as an issue, right thinks it is. Sorry if I was unclear.

Left sees it as a humanitarian issue, right sees it as an invasion.

Originally Posted by Jeroen

Similar sentiments are developing across a number of other European countries too. No doubt we are likely to see similar incidents in other countries. The extreme right, historically, spreads like a cancer. Slowly and surely, unless you take action against it.

Add USA from across the pond as well to that list.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Samurai

I was alluding to the mass migration issue (legal & refugee), more than the violent protest itself.

you asked about the riots: that was the word at the end of your question (albeit not the end of the sentence). So it was unclear.

Moving on...

Left doesn't see it as an issue, right thinks it is.

I don't think that is true.

Originally Posted by amitoj

Left sees it as a humanitarian issue, right sees it as an invasion.

That's a much more nuanced answer. I'd add that it is an issue for the left in power (if they still call themselves left) because of the practicalities of handling the people and the situation.

On the other (right) hand, it is an issue because it can be used to stir up the masses. Make the public see and look at an external enemy, and all those techniques.

But it may also be that the right exaggerates the numbers, the costs, the consequences, to suit it's own prejudices. The left a little less so.

[hema4saran]

It happened organically for me. My initial plan was to come back by end of 6 year term of H1B. But things happened year by year due to H1B visa rejections for Indian IT companies during 2016-2020 and I moved out of it to a US based consulting company where H1B approval rates were 99%. Then COVID happened and lot of things changed in personal life. I lost a close family member during peak COVID and I completely lost the interest to come back to India as I don't have much to do. Now I am happy where I am in life and I like the US work culture as well. I rejected a consulting position two years back which requires 70% of travel and settled for a full time position in another org where growth is very organic and it keeps me busy 8 to 4. I am free after 4PM on most days except during some prod issues. And our vacation days, Work from office days are not calculated as long as we are not abusing it. Since this works well for me and family, we are happy and content.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

That's a much more nuanced answer. I'd add that it is an issue for the left in power (if they still call themselves left) because of the practicalities of handling the people and the situation.

On the other (right) hand, it is an issue because it can be used to stir up the masses. Make the public see and look at an external enemy, and all those techniques.

But it may also be that the right exaggerates the numbers, the costs, the consequences, to suit it's own prejudices. The left a little less so.

Sorry, I am not looking for the politics of it. Since I watch both sides of the debate regularly, I know all the arguments from both sides.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

you asked about the riots: that was the word at the end of your question (albeit not the end of the sentence). So it was unclear.

Why would I ask if riots are good or bad? In case it is unclear, riots are terrible, they should never happen. When I asked about immigration linked riots, I was asking if the underlying factor has become a big issue at the ground level. When the natives get angry about immigration, it can change their attitude towards obviously foreign looking people. That is why I asked UK settled members what they feel, if they sense the sentiments turning against people of color.

Fortunately, the first person to answer the question understood it perfectly and gave a great answer.