European Groups Ban 'Sexist' Everyday Phrases

Submitted by anthony on Sun, 2009-08-23 23:06

Article here. Excerpt:

'It could be construed as a black day for the English language — but not if you work in the public sector.

Dozens of quangos [link added] and taxpayer-funded organisations have ordered a purge of common words and phrases so as not to cause offence.

Among the everyday sayings that have been quietly dropped in a bid to stamp out racism and sexism are “whiter than white”, “gentleman’s agreement”, “black mark” and “right-hand man”.
...
Many institutions have urged their workforce to be mindful of “gender bias” in language. The Learning and Skills Council wants staff to “perfect” their brief rather than “master” it, while the Newcastle University has singled out the phrase “master bedroom” as being problematic.'

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Comments

Actually, this new 'law' is more connected with a totalitarian ideology. Sometimes I imagine what society will look like in a 100 years. At this point, I'm glad I won't be around to see it. I do know one thing, eventually they'll be a revolt of epic proportions. Future generations of children will read about PC in text books and learn it was a period of oppression. A dark period in history. Unless of coarse feminists continue to get their grubby hands on school curriculum, at which point, I weep when thinking what they'll learn.

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Submitted by anthony on Mon, 2009-08-24 16:30

Problem is, it will probably get worse before it starts to get better. This is one area where Baby Boomers (such as myself) need to really take the bull by the horns and turn things around. Especially since we're the ones who handed down sh-- to our children's generation (disclaimer: I myself am not a parent:)
-ax

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Submitted by axolotl on Mon, 2009-08-24 23:34

This is ridiculous. Has anyone actually complained about being offended by these words or phrases? I doubt it. So if no one is actually offended then are the words really offensive? (Kind of like a joke that has to be explained - is it really then a joke)

Who cares if their original meaning was possibly offensive, these word have a new meaning and if the new meaning is understood by the person delivering the message and the person receiving the message, then all is good. (the key point is that neither party is offended)

I know that from having biracial children that white people are sometimes surprised that I use the term 'black' . As in 'their father is black' or my kids are 'half black'. I very rarely use the term "African-American" because I see no reason to, I don't know any black person that is offended by being referred to as black. I would stop if some one spoke up.

I use the phrase 'master bedroom' in my house all the time. The meaning is understood by me (a white person) and to my kids (who are black) as the bedroom that mom and dad sleep in. As long as we all agree on the definition, then there is no reason to be offended by the phrase.

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Submitted by Kris on Tue, 2009-08-25 01:13

.........Has a Manual transmission. Maybe I shouldn't use that term out of fear I might offend a feminist.

I forgot to check my mail box today. Sorry, that word is probably also inappropriate. Some might think the word 'mail' discriminates against females.

By the way, I think my girlfriend might be menstruating. :)

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Submitted by anthony on Tue, 2009-08-25 01:31

The physical ailment angina (ann-JI-nuh) is apparently now pronounced (ANN-jeh-nuh). I was in the hospital recently and all three of my doctors pronounced it the new way. I guess cause the old way rhymes with the 'v' word. (Oh-oh, I guess I myself am p.c.)

-ax

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Submitted by axolotl on Tue, 2009-08-25 06:36

manonthestreet

I think this was supposed to apply to some government agencies. That in itself is quite a large group. But if you add in the quasi official media like the BBC, the schools, police and local government all of whom will quickly fall into line, then what we have here is a massive force which will quickly remodel the language.

Mark my words in a few years from now you yourself will be correcting your language when you inadvertently use a forbidden word.

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Submitted by trotter on Tue, 2009-08-25 15:45