Whats your "personal name"

RobertoMoir

shandypants5 wrote: »

They are trying to be SEEN to be doing something "PC".

I would prefer it if they just got on with BEING "PC" and caught some propper crooks.

If they want to be "politically correct" in a way that actually makes me happy they could try nicking crims, regardless of said crims' race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. (To be fair that's the senior officers and politicos rather than the front line police who are at fault there) and get out and get on with protecting all of us and making the crime rates drop for everyone, regardless of race, religion, etc...

rl290

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Don't get me wrong - I couldn't really give a stuff whether someone asks me for my Christian name, first name, given name or otherwise. What I object to is "banning" an expression which is clearly not intended to be offensive to anyone.

I cannot see where the logical conclusion to this sort of PC'ness takes us.

I too, am totally against "banning" this kind of phrase - if people want to use it, then it's their prerogative. Although you may disagree with my opinion (that in governmental secular groups, such as the police, secular terms are more appropriate), the truth is that I see the phrase "Christian name" being antiquated before too long anyway. Almost every form I see now asks for a "first name" (especially online).

As for the questions regarding who would be offended, maybe this is just because I'm a youngster in London. Of, say, my Jewish friends, many would be bemused if I asked for their "Christian names", some would reply "my FIRST/GIVEN name is..." and a handful would probably point at their skullcaps and ask if I was stupid. Perhaps none would be outright offended - it's just that the question is a very awkward social antiquity that doesn't really fit in with modern society. Certainly, some would find it a little insensitive to use a religiously charged phrase.

Like I said earlier, it's not really a big deal. Some people use it, but its dying out.

As for the police flying rainbow banners.... why?! Surely they support all people regardless of sexual orientation, background, etc.... Perhaps it's just about arguable if there have been lots of homophobic crimes in the area, and the police are trying to form a united front against it, but otherwise...

Widelats

Apollonia wrote: »

No, no, no, no! This is a myth! The term was 'Winterval' and it was used to describe ALL the entertainment events in Birmingham during the 3 months of winter. The original campaign included Diwali (festival of Lights), Christmas lights switch on, BBC Children in Need, Aston Hall by Candlelight, Chinese New year, New Years eve etc. The Winterval season also included theatre shows and open air ice rink, Frankfurt open air Christmas market and the Christmas seasonal retail offer. Christmas (still called Christmas) was in the middle of Winterval.

Unfortunately the national press made wildly inaccurate and biased reports and the myth has become very well known.

Winterval would be the equivalent of the summer's entertainment plans being called 'Summerfun Season' or something.


In the words of Stephen Fry; "Any anecdote that begins with the word 'apparently', is unlikely to be true!"

Thanbks for clearing that up!

Equaliser123

rl290 wrote: »

As for the police flying rainbow banners.... why?! Surely they support all people regardless of sexual orientation, background, etc.... Perhaps it's just about arguable if there have been lots of homophobic crimes in the area, and the police are trying to form a united front against it, but otherwise...

Agree with you. Even if there was homophobic crimes in the area, the Police should be seen to be the epitome of impartiality.

To be frank, I would have thought that flying such a flag is more likely to wind people up than resolve any issue. I couldn't care less about people's preferences, but I thought it was wholly inappropriate.

solodanceparty

I got asked for my christian name once, I didn't know what it was so I told them I didn't have one. :rotfl::rotfl:

jamespir

shocking who makes up this rubbishh

ihave two things to say to politically correctnesss

humpty dumpty sat on a wall

and baa baa black sheep have you any wool

NattyVee

Why is it political correctness gone mad to just say 'first name'?

I'm an atheist and it would sound very odd to me if someone asked for my 'Christian name'.

I also find it a little patronising as I feel it suggests that I am a Christian, when in fact I'm not. Imagine asking for the 'Christian name' of someone wearing a skull cap or hijab. I can see how it could offend some as there is glaring evidence to suggest they are not Christian.

Sometimes it's NOT political correctness gone mad, quite the opposite, in fact.

ariarnia

NattyVee wrote: »

I'm an atheist and it would sound very odd to me if someone asked for my 'Christian name'.

I also find it a little patronising as I feel it suggests that I am a Christian, when in fact I'm not.

I find it a little ludicrous that unless you tick a different box on the census you're automatically classed as CoE - now that's an outdated way of doing things.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I object to anyone assuming I have a religion. My family history has far too many tales of fleeing persecution on the grounds of ethnicity/religion for any beliefs I have or do not have to be anyone else's business other than mine.

I have no problem with being asked for my personal name and my family name.

I feel mildly irritated that someone can assume my DD1 must be Catholic because she has red hair (sometimes I feel the urge to explain to people the concept of autosomal codominance and recessivity of the relevant alleles resulting in there being genetic coding for not brown or blonde on both sides, but that usually subsides until under extreme provocation.) If they see my youngest, they'll usually assume CofE or, at a pinch (considering her surname) they might hazard a guess at Jewish.

I feel annoyed that on an official form, if I'm white, I must be English, Welsh or Irish. What about Scots/Swedish, Belgian/Ashkenazi Jew, English/Romany or French Hugenot?

I feel very annoyed when people discuss other beliefs and races in the terms of 'you'll never guess what they have gone and done..'

Someone taking the time to think of the possibilities and come up with an attempt to overcome them shows that at least they are trying.

Equaliser123

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I feel annoyed that on an official form, if I'm white, I must be English, Welsh or Irish. What about Scots/Swedish, Belgian/Ashkenazi Jew, English/Romany or French Hugenot?
.

You seem to get annoyed quite easily.

The official forms you refer to would have to be extremely lengthy in order to accomodate your wishes.