Likely outcome for being rude to a passport control man
Discussion
I'm confused. You were 'abroad' and the customs man spoke to you in 'abroad', initially?
Seems normal, I would expect the onus to be on me to speak the basics of his language but I suppose he would have seen your passport etc.
But if you couldn't understand what he said, how do you know it was rude? He may have been complimenting you, passing comment to one of the colleagues about something entirely different or neither of the above? You may have just mis-interpreted his tone due to not speaking the language (like how all Italians sound like they're arguing to Brits).
Perhaps an over-reaction?
Seems normal, I would expect the onus to be on me to speak the basics of his language but I suppose he would have seen your passport etc.
But if you couldn't understand what he said, how do you know it was rude? He may have been complimenting you, passing comment to one of the colleagues about something entirely different or neither of the above? You may have just mis-interpreted his tone due to not speaking the language (like how all Italians sound like they're arguing to Brits).
Perhaps an over-reaction?
isee said:
He responded in a language I could not understand, in a talking down tone, no doubt showing off in front of the 2 female colleagues, who funny enough laughed at whatever he has said to me.
Then he carried on talking to me in English, asking irrelevant questions and carrying on being a condescending cock basically.
Sorry to say you have to just suck these things up, and he would know that as well. Then he carried on talking to me in English, asking irrelevant questions and carrying on being a condescending cock basically.
You were quite likely the highlight of his working day, if not week. Feel pleased that you have humoured one of life's bottom feeders and brought a little sunshine into their pathetic existence.
The alternative is to get all wound up over it and let it ruin your day or say something you later regret as he makes your hole weak.
SirTainly said:
Too bad you didn't speak whatever langauge he did, you could have thanked him profusely in that and marvelled at his priceless expression.
Just because someone chooses not to speak a language, never assume they can't.
I know it's annoying... Just because someone chooses not to speak a language, never assume they can't.
My X and I were stood in a ATM queue once, and she commented in another language how s
t the guy's in front hair looked. The guy took his cash, walked about 50 yards then returned and with a sincere interest and concern looked her in the eye, then said "Is it really that bad?"I could not stop laughing at her for at least half an hour.
I also had the pleasure of attending a meeting between my company and representatives of a another, very wealthy company. Who did not realise I speak their language. After they had finished talking amongst themselves about how can they extract the info from us without promising us any busines or in fact making us cotton on to the fact that they are there for a purpose that would more appropriately be described as competition, I politely asked the interpreter to stop wasting his time and addressed the representatives directly... I cannot begin to explain how entertained i was watching their faces and the body language from that moment on...
Gylen said:
I'm confused. You were 'abroad' and the customs man spoke to you in 'abroad', initially?
Seems normal, I would expect the onus to be on me to speak the basics of his language but I suppose he would have seen your passport etc.
But if you couldn't understand what he said, how do you know it was rude? He may have been complimenting you, passing comment to one of the colleagues about something entirely different or neither of the above? You may have just mis-interpreted his tone due to not speaking the language (like how all Italians sound like they're arguing to Brits).
Perhaps an over-reaction?
I appreciate your version.Seems normal, I would expect the onus to be on me to speak the basics of his language but I suppose he would have seen your passport etc.
But if you couldn't understand what he said, how do you know it was rude? He may have been complimenting you, passing comment to one of the colleagues about something entirely different or neither of the above? You may have just mis-interpreted his tone due to not speaking the language (like how all Italians sound like they're arguing to Brits).
Perhaps an over-reaction?
I am always one to look for plausible non-sinister verion myself, but this was not the case.
I realise I was abroad, but I have begun the conversation in another language, one that he was able to understand (as was evident by our following chat).
Also when he did talk to me in his language it was a cocky question type remark, the tone of voice and facial expression were unmistakable. You know the one when someone is having a laugh at your expense, we are all familiar with it i am sure.
Something along the lines:
Do you realise you are not in England english boy?
But ahh you cannot understand what I am saying can you?
Especially if I speak uber fast just in case you have a basic knowledge of my language eh?
Then in english and with a hit of smug cotnempt having ensured I had no comeback to his gibberish: "your passport!"
SirTainly said:
Too bad you didn't speak whatever langauge he did, you could have thanked him profusely in that and marvelled at his priceless expression.
Just because someone chooses not to speak a language, never assume they can't.
Scandinavia and Germany are great for this!! Many a happy hour was spent chatting to my English-speaking friends in Sweden and earwigging on Swedish conversations when they started talking about us. It's brilliant to turn around, address them in their own language and watch them blush. Just because someone chooses not to speak a language, never assume they can't.
I was in a pub (well, Kneipe) in Germany with a gang of Swedish girls once and the only space free was at a table already occupied by four German guys. They indicated that we should sit there with them, we didn't address them at all. We were all sitting and chatting in Swedish when we overheard the German guys going on about "that blonde one there's fit, bet she goes like a ferret" and all that stuff. All of us spoke German, so we kept straight faces and just carried on our conversation. But then the waitress came over to tell us one of the wines we'd ordered had run out, and to ask us what we'd like instead - and at that point we switched our conversation to German and discussed which of the wines we'd like.
I've never seen four blokes exit a pub so fast in my life.
He has a rubber glove, and isn’t afraid to use it.
Get what you want i.e. onto the connecting flight.
Note any details, his name badge. Record the comments on your phone if you can. The chances are that he was making comments in his own language that was amusing his colleagues. I wonder if he would find them so amusing if you had them translated and played them to his superiors.
Then make a formal complaint later.
Get what you want i.e. onto the connecting flight.
Note any details, his name badge. Record the comments on your phone if you can. The chances are that he was making comments in his own language that was amusing his colleagues. I wonder if he would find them so amusing if you had them translated and played them to his superiors.
Then make a formal complaint later.
many years ago a mate of mine had just flown to aus, at customs he was asked 'do you have a criminal record'
he answered 'i didnt know you still needed one to get into aus...'
they where less than impressed with that answer, he got a full strip search for his troubles and very nearly got deported over it!!!!
he answered 'i didnt know you still needed one to get into aus...'
they where less than impressed with that answer, he got a full strip search for his troubles and very nearly got deported over it!!!!
isee said:
I was on a connecting flight back to London this weekend and at the interim airport I approached the passport control desk. I began talking to the gentleman manning the desk in English (having said hello beforehand and smiled). He responded in a language I could not understand, in a talking down tone, no doubt showing off in front of the 2 female colleagues, who funny enough laughed at whatever he has said to me.
Then he carried on talking to me in English, asking irrelevant questions and carrying on being a condescending cock basically.
Anyway, that actually ruined my day cause I wanted to smash his fat face in right in front of his colleagues but couldn't.
I did think of something I wanted to tell him right there and then but didn't want to risk my already st connecting flight becoming even more st.
What I wanted to ask is "Do you get a bonus for being a rude pig to the passengers in your job?"
I refrained from saying it, becuase in all likelyhood, he would just up the ante and make my day worse and no matter what i did he had the upper hand in our brief "passport control man vs passenger" relationship.
Does anyone know what their powers actually are and what they can do to a passenger who is just being unhelpful/cheeky/rude?
Get over it, that's nothing, a mere walk in the park.Then he carried on talking to me in English, asking irrelevant questions and carrying on being a condescending cock basically.
Anyway, that actually ruined my day cause I wanted to smash his fat face in right in front of his colleagues but couldn't.
I did think of something I wanted to tell him right there and then but didn't want to risk my already s
t connecting flight becoming even more st.What I wanted to ask is "Do you get a bonus for being a rude pig to the passengers in your job?"
I refrained from saying it, becuase in all likelyhood, he would just up the ante and make my day worse and no matter what i did he had the upper hand in our brief "passport control man vs passenger" relationship.
Does anyone know what their powers actually are and what they can do to a passenger who is just being unhelpful/cheeky/rude?
Worst one I had at passport control was a declaration of currency card mistake, I had too many roubles and the limit to take through had changed (the declaration cards hadn't been re-printed). In his best sneering Russian he walky-talkied to someone and this big, fat, tall Russian came over looking very f
ked-off. I was sweating at this point; he made me count out every single note which took a good few minutes (that felt like hours). All the time, telling jokes no doubt to the other Russians in the line probably about me as the stupid Westerner.Then he looked me up and down, asked some very stupid questions in utterly immaculate English and told to keep the lot and spend it before leaving the airport; it was near Chrimbo so I was going to do that anyway. I spent it all down to the last kopek. As I got towards the gate, I was singled out and then searched by Russian security to make sure I hadn't got any roubles at all.
I was never so relieved to see the inside of a plane in my life.
As for Heathrow, I've had the mispleasure to be badly treated twice, once by Group 4 at the gate departure lounge and once coming into the UK.
The Group 4 thing, we were asked to empty our hand luggage and had our passport taken in front of a whole gate full of passengers as a 'routine' spot search. This was after the proper airport bag search and shakedown and passport control. They were rude and abrupt, I was really cross and very calmly and loudly asked to be treated with civility and wanted to know where our passports were going. I got told they didn't have to reveal that information on security grounds.
Nothing to hide, nothing to fear. Big sweaty b
ks. After being condescended to for about 10 minutes and getting our passports back, I asked for the man's name and ID number, I got the reply "I'm only doing my job." you can imagine my reply, nothing rude, no threat of physical violence but I made my displeasure quite plain and hopefully dished out a little humiliation to him. My wife was really shaken and that's totally out of order. I think I remember saying saying something about Nazi Germany.I sent a real snottogram to Group 4, politeness costs nothing.
As for the other time coming into Heathrow at passport control, usually they are quite sound ladies and gents and scan my passport and see a couple of things out of the ordinary (anyone who understands that, will understand that).
This chap was clearly not a happy camper, I just asked if there was a problem. I got "I'll decide that." which was a bit off. So in a friendly way I asked him if he was having a bad day, I got a scowl from him. So I followed up with, "Well, if you are, maybe you shouldn't be dealing with the public today, is your supervisor around?"
Believe me, that worked a charm. Their supervisor's are usually always in earshot.
Manners cost nothing, however, losing it and if they feel 'threatened with the prospect of verbal or physical abuse' you are on very thin ice.
isee said:
I was on a connecting flight back to London this weekend and at the interim airport I approached the passport control desk. I began talking to the gentleman manning the desk in English (having said hello beforehand and smiled). He responded in a language I could not understand, in a talking down tone, no doubt showing off in front of the 2 female colleagues, who funny enough laughed at whatever he has said to me.
Then he carried on talking to me in English, asking irrelevant questions and carrying on being a condescending cock basically.
Anyway, that actually ruined my day cause I wanted to smash his fat face in right in front of his colleagues but couldn't.
I did think of something I wanted to tell him right there and then but didn't want to risk my already st connecting flight becoming even more st.
What I wanted to ask is "Do you get a bonus for being a rude pig to the passengers in your job?"
I refrained from saying it, becuase in all likelyhood, he would just up the ante and make my day worse and no matter what i did he had the upper hand in our brief "passport control man vs passenger" relationship.
Does anyone know what their powers actually are and what they can do to a passenger who is just being unhelpful/cheeky/rude?
I don't think your comment was the right idea - I would have asked to speak to his supervisor immediately. Then he carried on talking to me in English, asking irrelevant questions and carrying on being a condescending cock basically.
Anyway, that actually ruined my day cause I wanted to smash his fat face in right in front of his colleagues but couldn't.
I did think of something I wanted to tell him right there and then but didn't want to risk my already s
t connecting flight becoming even more st.What I wanted to ask is "Do you get a bonus for being a rude pig to the passengers in your job?"
I refrained from saying it, becuase in all likelyhood, he would just up the ante and make my day worse and no matter what i did he had the upper hand in our brief "passport control man vs passenger" relationship.
Does anyone know what their powers actually are and what they can do to a passenger who is just being unhelpful/cheeky/rude?
ETA - Nope, ignore that, didn;t notice it was a foreign airport. I'd put up and shut up (well, I say that, I got quite stroppy in an Eastern Nation where the lady with the AK47 and her friends broke one of the gifts I was taking home when rifling though the luggage.. IN hindsight, I would not have acted the way I did.. But they apologised for breaking the damn thing....)
Edited by Jasandjules on Tuesday 3rd March 13:47
TOENHEEL said:
He was probably saying how ignorant the english are for not learning anyone elses language when we are in their country. I fall into the same category although do ask if they speak english first to avoid hassle.
Then that is an assumption and stereotyping on his part. I speak 3 other languages in addition to English, his insignificant mediocre contry just doesn't happen to be one of them...I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
isee said:
Then that is an assumption and stereotyping on his part. I speak 3 other languages in addition to English, his insignificant mediocre contry just doesn't happen to be one of them...
I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
I tell you what , the way you have written about this gives me a pretty good idea of your attitude I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
my guess is you are a little bit too important for your own good
HTH
Lost soul said:
isee said:
Then that is an assumption and stereotyping on his part. I speak 3 other languages in addition to English, his insignificant mediocre contry just doesn't happen to be one of them...
I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
I tell you what , the way you have written about this gives me a pretty good idea of your attitude I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
my guess is you are a little bit too important for your own good
HTH
I came back from Dublin once to B'Ham and got stopped at the West Midlands Police desk. Mr Plod asked me where I lived which was about 30miles away so he would have know it then asked me if I was "here" on business or pleasure! Several replies went through my head but I decided to go with it and just say business as that was the reason I had gone anyway!
Lost soul said:
isee said:
Then that is an assumption and stereotyping on his part. I speak 3 other languages in addition to English, his insignificant mediocre contry just doesn't happen to be one of them...
I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
I tell you what , the way you have written about this gives me a pretty good idea of your attitude I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
my guess is you are a little bit too important for your own good
HTH
And that is you are not much of a reader are you?
I have stressed a few times that my opening was a sincere smile and a hello.
the insignificant country bit is me lashing out and venting off some frustration now, not then. And in all fairness does not reflect my view of thei country...
isee said:
Lost soul said:
isee said:
Then that is an assumption and stereotyping on his part. I speak 3 other languages in addition to English, his insignificant mediocre contry just doesn't happen to be one of them...
I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
I tell you what , the way you have written about this gives me a pretty good idea of your attitude I merely chose to address him in a language I deemed the most suitable out of those I knew.
my guess is you are a little bit too important for your own good
HTH
And that is you are not much of a reader are you?
I have stressed a few times that my opening was a sincere smile and a hello.
the insignificant country bit is me lashing out and venting off some frustration now, not then. And in all fairness does not reflect my view of thei country...
thole 
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