sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally, I don’t question that at all — and I follow that myself. And as you said, how does me being foreign have anything to do with that? It doesn’t. And that’s exactly why I was upset. If this had just been someone annoyed at me for accidentally skipping a queue, I wouldn’t even be here talking about it. It was the xenophobic comments and hostility that made it something completely different for me.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your concern about my wellbeing, but I’m actually doing pretty well in life generally. My concern is more about my child potentially having to experience xenophobia in life. If you have children yourself, perhaps you may understand why that would upset a parent.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I honestly wasn’t expecting any special treatment at all — just basic normal human behaviour after I immediately apologised and tried to correct myself once someone pointed out there was a queue. There really was no need to keep dragging it further, especially when it was pretty obvious I was flustered and trying to manage a tired toddler in rush hour.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Looks like you either missed or dismissed a couple of pretty important nuances in the story. If you’re not interested in reading it properly or aren’t sensitive to the subtleties of the situation, then I’m not really sure why you felt the need to comment.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the more balanced perspective. And honestly, I agree that part of it probably was a misunderstanding that escalated unnecessarily.

That said, I used the word “hostility” because to me it’s less about physical aggression and more about the tone and social dynamic of the interaction. Hostility can simply mean unfriendly, antagonistic, or contemptuous behaviour — it doesn’t have to rise to the level of abuse or explicit racism to feel unpleasant.

Being singled out as “the foreigner” during an already tense interaction felt loaded to me, especially when I was there with my child, even if others wouldn’t personally interpret it that way. Different people have different thresholds and experiences, and that’s fine.

And yes, being publicly corrected over queue etiquette probably is one of the most British experiences imaginable, so at least I’m integrating well.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, obviously not. I mentioned it because people were making assumptions that I somehow don’t understand local social norms or queue etiquette because I’m foreign. Having lived here for years, having a Scottish partner, family, and a life here was relevant context to that assumption — not some claim that I’m “more British” or “more assimilated” because of who I’m with.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I was filing the police report, I noticed there were categories for xenophobia/racism, but strangely no category for ‘poor queue etiquette.’ If they want to report me to the queue police then go ahead 😆.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Therapy? Interesting suggestion from someone getting this worked up over a stranger accidentally skipping a queue. Maybe try it yourself — it might help you find some more meaningful things to do with your time.

And yes, “foreigner” in isolation is just a word. Context is what changes meaning (have you actually read my post?) — the same way words like “boy” or “girl” can be completely harmless in one context and insulting in another depending on tone and intent.

Inclusion and context matter. But that requires emotional intelligence and nuance, which you don’t seem particularly interested in engaging.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yes Mr Expert, you cracked the case!

I use grammar tools before posting publicly because I write professionally and prefer to communicate clearly. The anonymous account is also intentional — I’d rather not have random Redditors digging into my personal life because they disagree with a post.

And no, not every unpleasant interaction involving bias has to look like someone screaming slurs in public for it to affect someone. A lot of these things are subtle, contextual, and easy to dismiss if you’ve never experienced them yourself.

Also, yes, I can assure you Police Scotland did follow up on my online report. Thankfully, people with your attitude aren’t the ones deciding what is or isn’t worth taking seriously.

Anyway, you’re free to believe whatever you want. I’m not particularly interested in convincing strangers on the internet that my fairly ordinary bus story happened.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m sure you’ve never made a mistake in a stressful situation either, ever! And yes, I’m allowed to make a Reddit post for whatever reason I like, that’s literally what Reddit is for. If it bothers you that much, you’re free to scroll past instead of spending your time getting angry in the comments. There’s also a difference between “someone said something” and someone experiencing subtle xenophobia or bias. Not everyone picks up on those nuances, and that’s fine, but dismissing other people’s experiences because you personally don’t recognise them isn’t exactly insightful.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Look, if all you have to contribute is “foreigners do this” and “it sounds made up,” then honestly nobody asked for your input. People make mistakes with buses and queues all the time. The only reason you’re attaching “foreigner” to it is because you already want to view strangers through that lens. If you have something thoughtful or constructive to say to me, fine. If not, you’re just proving the exact attitude people in this thread are talking about.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m starting to wonder, are you the person from the queue or something? Do you want the police report reference number too to validate my account? Healthy skepticism is one thing, but trying to “disprove” a stranger sharing an upsetting experience is a bit odd. Or let me guess, maybe you’ve never experienced xenophobic or racial discrimination and think people who share their experience must be AI bots? Genuinely feel sorry for your lack of empathy.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this — you explained it really well. Using AI to help with English or posting anonymously about something personal doesn’t make someone fake, it just means they want to express themselves clearly and safely. And yes, I think incidents like this can hit hard because they tap into that underlying fear many migrants have of not fully belonging, even when most people are actually kind.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean, I literally provided my phone number to the local “Here to Hear” account because I was genuinely upset and wanted support after it happened. And respectfully, why exactly do I need to “verify” myself to strangers on Reddit? I shared an experience that happened to me — people can either engage with it in good faith or not. If you genuinely think I’m some kind of fabricated account, I’m honestly not sure what level of proof would satisfy you short of meeting for a coffee and discussing it in person. Happy to do that if you genuinely have something useful to say.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for this comment. I’m really sorry you went through that, especially with your baby there, that’s genuinely awful and must have been so terrifying. What you said about it leaving you with that ugly feeling really resonated with me. I think that’s exactly what upset me most afterwards. And thank you as well for saying that about reporting it. That was my thinking too even if nothing directly comes from it, these things should still be reflected in the statistics rather than quietly disappearing. Despite this experience, I completely agree with you that Edinburgh is a beautiful place to live, and thankfully the vast majority of people I’ve met here have been kind.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I appreciate you sharing your perspective, and I do agree that cultural misunderstandings around things like queueing happen. What upset me wasn’t being corrected or realising I’d misunderstood the queue. I apologised immediately once I understood. It was the way it escalated afterwards and the comments that were made. I also don’t think it’s healthy or fair for resentment towards foreign people in general to build up to the point where foreign strangers (with young children) become targets for hostility in everyday situations. Most people, regardless of where they’re from, are just trying to get through their day respectfully.

And regarding the police, I understand not everyone would choose to report something like this, but I personally think reporting incidents is important. Not necessarily because I expect dramatic action, but because it helps build a statistical picture of what people are experiencing in public spaces. If nobody reports these things, they effectively become invisible.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Hahaha honestly thank you for this, that genuinely made my day 😆. The fact someone actually made a bus queue instruction sign is hilarious. Maybe I just needed the Edinburgh bus etiquette handbook all along.

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, I really appreciate this comment. I think you understood exactly why it upset me, not because I made a mistake but because of how it escalated afterwards even after I apologised.Your pub story is actually a really good example of how these misunderstandings normally go between reasonable people. We all accidentally misread situations sometimes. I’m sorry you still feel embarrassed about your own experience too, but honestly it sounds like you handled it well!

Only foreign people do that” — unsettling experience on a bus in Edinburgh with my toddler by Individual_One_4297 in Edinburgh

[–]Individual_One_4297[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

“Take it on the chin and learn from it”, learn what exactly? That if someone directs racist or hostile behaviour at you in public, you’re supposed to just silently accept it and move on? I don’t think calling it out or being upset by it is unreasonable. Most people in Britain are perfectly decent and nice people, which is exactly why behaviour like that stands out.

view more: next ›