0

For instance, a French person is coming from a different culture and hence may come across as being rude in a British person's eyes. Moreover, he is ignorant about the different culture in Britain and claims French superiority over Britain's present day culture based on events that took place in history.

I am not sure if, when I dislike this French person for these treats, it could be considered racism (because that's what I am being called all the time when I say what I don't like about that type of foreign people) or if there is a more accurate term for disliking these kinds of rude, ignorant and foreign people. They visit this country with a disrespectful attitude and indifference towards adapting or awknowledging Britain's own culture.

Improve this question
21
  • 2
    You are labelled racist because it appears you brand all foreigners as being rude, inconsiderate, ignorant, and arrogant. That's a pretty good description of someone who is prejudiced. Regardless of their origin, NOT all foreigners or visitors who come into the UK are like this.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 4:06
  • 2
    @user76935 - there are different norms everywhere. You might think someone is rude but they are trying to be polite. Or maybe your hostility might make them rude. If you feel off the bat that someone from another country will be unmannered, you are a bigot. In my area we call that - hillbilly. There are assholes in every country. By just assuming that the foreigners don't know better you might have a better attitude. A friend in Singapore asked me if I wanted slippers when I entered his house. I stayed in socks. He says "Why do you not wear my slippers?" I never thought about it.
    – RyeɃreḁd
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 4:31
  • 2
    A less charged term might to describe yourself as being "intolerant of rudeness" but this would include compatriots as well as foreigners. So are you against bad manners, discourtesy, rudeness and a refusal to respect other people's customs in general or only those from foreigners?
    – Mari-Lou A
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 5:16
  • 6
    This question is not about the English language. Also, it's based on a misconception.
    – Kris
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 5:25
  • 3
    Hospitality and rudeness are cross-cultural. I would say certain foreigners are rude, and I would also say that you seem inhospitable. But if it's just foreigners that bring that out in you, you're prejudiced.
    – anongoodnurse
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 6:54

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
6

xenophobe

one unduly fearful of what is foreign and especially of people of foreign origin

Some would call that person a bigot because that person usually feels their way and norms are superior.

having or revealing an obstinate belief in the superiority of one's own opinions and a prejudiced intolerance of the opinions of others.

Improve this answer
3
  • Agree that this is more common, and more specific.
    – anongoodnurse
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 6:48
  • If you don't like foreigners it doesn't mean you're a bigot. It means you don't like foreigners. Also such person is not a xenophobe, because he is not afraid of all foreigners, he has prejudice for foreigners who lack manners and ability to grasp basic cultural rules. Your characteristics are negative whilst such a person might only be described as conservative and respecting his own heritage. I would look for a neutral noun at least.
    – Aleks N.
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 10:59
  • @AlaksiejN. - The OP himself states that he is called racist all the time. If you think an answer is inadequate, then submit one yourself. Arguing in comments is rarely a good thing.
    – anongoodnurse
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 12:27
5

I think that the person you are describing can also be called a chauvinist

  • a person who believes that his country, race, etc., is better than any other
    pls. refer to Merrian-Webster for this definition.

chauvinist

  • Believing that the group one belongs to, be it of sex, creed, or color, is automatically superior to another's.

Chauvinism, in its original meaning, is an exaggerated patriotism and a belligerent belief in national superiority and glory. Its eponym is a seemingly apocryphal French soldier Nicolas Chauvin, who was badly wounded in the Napoleonic wars. He received a pension for his injuries but it was not enough to live on. After Napoleon abdicated, Chauvin was a fanatical Bonapartist despite the unpopularity of this view in Bourbon Restoration France. His single-minded blind devotion to his cause, despite neglect by his faction and harassment by its enemies, started the use of the term. Ngram

As China's economic and military might grow, the people's pride and nationalistic feelings rise. There's nothing wrong with promoting patriotism, experts say, but they warn against chauvinism. "The Chinese have to be careful about underlying chauvinism which can lead them to behave inappropriately towards foreigners in the country, and in their foreign policy," said Zweig. - CNN

Globalization, socio-economic status and welfare chauvinism: European perspectives on attitudes toward the exclusion of immigrants - Oxford Journals

Canadian unions’ chauvinist campaign against “temporary foreign worker” expansion

Improve this answer
10
  • 1
    Is it still used like that? If it is I will give you a vote. Never really heard it used for anything other than gender in my life.
    – RyeɃreḁd
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 4:38
  • It appears it is, I added Ngran to compare it with xenophobe.
    – user66974
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 4:48
  • I am not contesting it isn't used but your ngram has nothing to do with it. Chauvinist is used way more than xenophobe for sure but it almost always means a male that feels that females are inferior. By just showing the word doesn't connect it to your meaning.
    – RyeɃreḁd
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 4:52
  • It appears it is, I added Ngran to compare it with xenophobe. Please look at the definition in Merriam-Webster dictionary, which can't be linked unfortunately. You are right, NGram can be misleading from a semantic perspective but to my knowledge the word is used in the sense I have shown.
    – user66974
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 4:55
  • 1
    @RyeɃreḁd - some of them do. But the point is, they're used fairly interchangably, and Chauvanism is used. It does seem extra-American, but hardly non-native.
    – anongoodnurse
    Commented May 22, 2014 at 22:01
0

I would call the person insensitive. And uncurious. And it can go both ways. ;-)

Improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.