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
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