A guy from Nigeria works at the same place that I do.

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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:52 pm

A guy from Nigeria works at the same place that I do. I saw him in the company health club a few days ago. He was talking to another guy and the topic of nationality came up between them.

I have never met this guy and he has no idea who I am but I would just love to approach him about creating sound bites for the ultimate lad-soundboard but I am not really sure that I want to offend him either. It would seem to me that anyone from Nigeria who was not a total scum would be, at the least, highly embarrassed by the 419 thing, and at worst, be totally pissed off at me.

Now, as many of you have figured out by now, I normally don't give crap who I piss off, but this time, it's a little bit different. Afterall, we both work for the same company.

I figure that I'll only have one shot at this. Anyone have any thoughts about this before I dive in and ruin the whole thing?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:56 pm

Wouldn't he be pretty pleased that people are getting back at the scammers who do so much damage to Nigeria's name.

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:56 pm

YeaWhatever wrote:

A guy from Nigeria works ... any thoughts ...

Yeah, be open and straight forward about it.

You say he "works." That's the key word. Work. He's not sitting around waiting for people to give him money. I'm sure he hates the 419ers as much as we do. They're really doing Nigeria a bad service.

Tell him what you do and what you want.

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:09 pm

My best friend in college was Nigerian. He was very secretive about things that went on in his country and he was very ashamed at the crime that went on. Might be a touchy subject. Just my thoughts.

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:27 pm

I'd say treat it like a bait (not in the try to bait him sense); get to know him first. After you get to know him, tell him the kind of hobbies you do (making criminals lives miserable from all over the world). Then tell him you are making a soundboard and if you can borrow his voice for a few clips...

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:15 pm

I'd say don't go there. Like Jojo said, it's going to be a sensitive subject and you could badly offend him if he gets the wrong idea about what you do. I've worked with a few Nigerians and they do tend to have a big sense of national pride, for all their country's faults. Even if he has an extreme dislike of the 419 scammers, he might not see eye-to-eye with your methods and see crass generalizations where none exist.

On the other hand, do get to know the guy if you get a chance. He might well bring up the subject himself. One of my former colleagues did, at least.

Baiting Guru Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2163

kick him in the nuts as an informal greeting

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:42 pm

I had a Nigerian customer come into my work the other day - I know he was Nigerian because I asked him.

I thought about making a little joke saying, "I get a lot of emails from Nigeria, I'm good friends with the CBN director, Charles Soludo". I didn't say it though because I thought it might embarass or offend him. So I tried to make some small talk about Lagos but he wasn't exactly a conversationalist. I have met other Nigerians before and all of them seem to be very shy.

I doubt the guy will go for it. He will likely just smile and walk away.

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:19 pm

Quote:

at worst, be totally pissed off at me.

That isn't the worst! This guy may be a good one, but you'll never know who he might tell about your "hobby". Do you want them totally pissed off at you too? Don't do it!!

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:38 pm

The Nigerian guy I work with thinks what I do is cool. Smile

If you get chatting with your guy about other stuff, you may be able to work your way round to it and get a feel for his attitude. But if it looks at all hairy, I'd leave it. Smile

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:49 pm

I worked with a Nigerian woman who was mortally offended when I mentioned 419. If you went to live in Nigeria, or any other place for that matter, would you appreciate locals mentioning a crime problem from HomeVille? Bit like family, you don't choose them, you can slag them, but dare anyone else try it! Go careful.

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:28 pm

My advice would be the same advice for anyone you meet. Get to know him. Have chats, if you like him, them tell him, if you don't then he's just another work colleague.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 46

i am from portugal when are you going to question me about maddy then? Laughing

Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:25 am

Find out his phone number and call him anonymously... provoke him into saying what you want said for the soundboard... pretend to be calling from an automated government service "After the tone repeat after me: 'I have chopped your dolla'" Laughing

All jokes aside, if it was me and I didn't know the person I would be downright offended and pissed off.

If the person took the time to get to know me and then asked me to do it... different story... unless of course the sole purpose of them getting to know me was for me to make this soundboard for them.

Perhaps find out who his friends in the company are and gauge his attitude from them.

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