IP: Ministry of Silly Talks

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

>Reply-To: <kgb@kgb.com>
>From: "Kevin G. Barkes" <kgb@kgb.com>
>To: <farber@cis.upenn.edu>
>
>
>Too bad Monty Python isn't around anymore.
>
>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000118613908976&rtmo=a23a28pL&atmo=KKKKKBuM
>&pg=/et/00/6/11/npc11.html
>
>
>College guide bans 'lady' and 'history' as offensive words
>
>By Martin Bentham, Education Correspondent
>
>A COLLEGE has banned the use of more than 40 "offensive" words and phrases,
>including "normal couple" and "slaving over a hot stove", under equal
>opportunities rules that staff and students must follow.
>
>Stockport College, Greater Manchester, has also outlawed "taking the
>mickey", "history" and "lady", claiming that they are no longer appropriate
>in a new century. Among the groups that college officials claim could be
>offended by words on the proscribed list are women, homosexuals and ethnic
>minorities.
>
>A policy document entitled Equal Opportunities - Policy into Practice also
>says students should not risk upsetting mentally ill people through the use
>of words such as "mad", "manic" and "crazy". The expression "slaving over a
>hot stove" is ruled to be inappropriate because it "minimises the horror and
>oppression of the slave trade".
>
>To ensure that its rules on language are followed, the college, which has
>15,000 students aged from 16, says that it "will make it a condition of
>service and admission that employees and students adhere to this policy". It
>insists that it is important for staff and students to be aware of the
>offence that seemingly innocent expressions might cause.
>
>However, Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, condemned
>the guidelines. "It is amazing that academics are still indulging in this
>sort of nonsense. It is political correctness of the worst kind," he said.
>"They should be concentrating on teaching their students, instead of trying
>to ban words which any ordinary person would regard as an everyday part of
>the English language."
>
>The row comes days after a Job Centre in Walsall refused to accept an advert
>in which an employer said he was seeking a "hard-working" recruit. Jonathan
>Stevenson, the centre's manager, claimed that the phrase could offend the
>disabled, but was forced to accept the advert after David Blunkett, the
>Education and Employment Secretary, intervened to halt what his aides
>described as "insulting nonsense".
>
>The Stockport guidelines concede that concern over language can go "too
>far". However, they give a warning that it is easy to create offence and
>list "unacceptable language" that staff and students should avoid. This
>includes remarks which "insult or put down the other sex" and "comments
>which discriminate against or are insulting to lesbian, gay and bisexual
>people".
>
>Also prohibited is "language which could offend black people", "words which
>imply that older people are not valued", and "remarks which disabled people
>may find offensive". The expression "taking the mickey" is described as
>"anti-Irish", while the use of "normal couple" is questioned, with the
>guidelines asking: "How do you define normal?"
>
>"Lady" and "gentleman" are said to have "class implications". "History",
>"postman" and "chairman" are all deemed to be sexist. The list also bans the
>words "queer" and "cripple", except where gay and disabled people have
>"reclaimed" them.
>
>References to "the blind" or "the deaf" are banned, with "visually-impaired"
>or "hearing-impaired" recommended as alternatives. The guidelines state:
>"The language we use gives other messages about our attitudes to people as
>groups and individuals."
>
>Richard Tuson, a spokesman for the college, which offers about 15 degree
>courses in addition to vocational qualifications, insisted that the use of
>appropriate language was important. "We vigorously pursue an equal
>opportunities policy and we try to be as politically correct as possible,
>without being tedious."
>
>Regards,
>
>KGB
>
>-----
>Kevin G. Barkes
>Email: kgb@kgb.com | Web: www.kgb.com
>1512 Annette Avenue | South Park, Pennsylvania | 15129-9735
>Voice: 412-854-2550 | Fax: 412-854-4707
>DCL Dialogue on line: http://www.kgb.com/dcl.html
>KGB Report http://www.kgb.com/kgbrep.shtml
>Random Quotations Generator: http://www.kgb.com/cgi/kgbquote.cgi