Why is it racist to mock someone's accent?

[Anonymous]

I am Northern Irish and I live in Greece and people mock my accent all the time. Why do people have to bring race into everything? If you mocked an Asian person's accent then it would be seen as racist. Why? Making fun of someone's accent has nothing to do with race as plenty of white people (who apparently can't receive racial abuse) have strange accents that people make fun of.

[JackSmy]

I grew up in a time when people could "TAKE A JOKE" and sometimes, "mocking" became the basis for becoming GOOD friends!!
I dated an Irish girl for about 8 months, and she picked up some of my words, and I learned some of hers! Now, I watch BBC American, and understand them PERFECTLY!!
At first, though, IN AMERICA, she told me "I was saying things wrong!" I could have been offended, but laughed, and we made it kind of a joke, as she taught me the words she knew for the things that I knew!
Now, EVERYONE wets their pants at the slightest little thing, and calls it "RACISM"!!
So much of it is just simple banter, and the social and racial contrasts, and we can laugh about some of these, and through that, find companionship, and friendship.
Don't go there. . .
Don't reply any "Slavery" stuff and make me out to be some racist!

[jshm2]

You're from Northern Ireland? It's OK to insult them as they're barely people.

[Asker]

How so?

[Anonymous]

1. Irish isn’t a race, it’s a nationality.
2. Accent isn’t a race, it’s just how one talks.
3. Greeks are Mediterranean and white. You’re not going to be mocked for anything racial there.

[Asker]

Number 2 proves my point. All the person is doing is mocking an accent that has nothing to do with race.

[Dargil]

Greek an Irish are not races. But that kind of ridicule is bigoted.

[Asker]

Completely irrelevant as an accent has nothing to do with race.

[Dargil]

It can when they come from Africa.

[Asker]

Again mocking an African accent isn't racist becuase an accent has nothing to do with race. If a white person grew up in Africa then they would have an African accent as well.

[Dargil]

not the same as Bantu or Luo.

[888theGreat]

Northerners here try to sound Southern and yes it is an insult because none of us talk that way.

[shydude1991]

Not racist just mean, if a german guy makes fun of swiss guy's accent is not racist

[Asker]

What if a Greek guy makes fun of an Asian guys accent?

[shydude1991]

Then could be racist, COULD be
Depends on the context

[The-Wise-Phoenix]

That's not racist. That's called being rude.

[joeldalton]

No, lol. Grow some thicker skin.

[Asker]

What do you mean "no"

[joeldalton]

no, it's not racist.

[Asker]

I know it isn't. So why tell me to grow thicker skin.

[joeldalton]

Because if you're butthurt over someone making fun of your accent, lighten up.

[Asker]

I'm not. Read the question again. I am pointing out the double standard.