Dignity at Work

zzzLazyDaisy

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

When the yoof of today are in power and writing the laws, acting as barristers/solicitors, they'll wonder what the hell all the fuss is about.

Solicitors and barristers don't make the law, they apply the law. Some of our laws date back to the 1800's and are still in force and applicable today. Unless and until Parliament repeals those laws, they are there to be complied with and upheld. I don't know a single solicitor or barrister - including those in their early 20's, who presumably would qualify as 'yoof of today' who would argue that the current anti-discrimination laws are unnecessary or over-the-top.

I guess you and I just mix in different circles.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

No problem with the word f*ggot. My ex boss was a gay as a row of pink tents. He used to describe himself as one occasionally. Depends on the social setting at the time.
N*gger I still think is a bit of a taboo word, even though they use it to address each other. Weird one.

You think the N word is a bit of a taboo. You think that?

Do you think at all?

gb12345

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

No problem with the word f*ggot. My ex boss was as gay as a row of pink tents. He used to describe himself as one occasionally. Depends on the social setting at the time.
N*gger I still think is a bit of a taboo word, even though they use it to address each other. Weird one.

But the fact remains that legally the use of all those words is deemed discriminatory.

Had you called your boss a faggot in the workplace he (or anyone else who felt affected by it) could have reported it regardless of the fact that he might have used the same phrase himself, and the company would have been bound to act on it.

blckbrd

UsernameAlreadyExists wrote: »

eeeeeeexaclty. And many, many people, myself included, don't care about the word f-tard. It a "young" word currently legislated against because of it origins and for all the wrong reasons. When the yoof of today are in power and writing the laws, acting as barristers/solicitors, they'll wonder what the hell all the fuss is about.

Can you imagine the old cornish guy being punished for using his word? (Darkies) It's a word of his generation, a judge would laugh it off on the ground that he doesn't know what offence it can cause, and what does the innapropriate words of an old "fool" matter anyway? (irony). f-tard is a word for the younger generation, I'd not even heard of it 5 years ago.. Only the generation in power now are "right" in the eye of the law simply because they have the control.

To grow up in a world where language is unmoderated is one thing. To grow up in the last thirty-odd years and 'not get it' is lazy-minded and bigotted in my view.

Calling anyone an effing anything is going to cause offence unless it's used pureley as an emphatic e.g. you're an effing genius.

There is no acceptable moderation of the term 'f-tard' that I can imagine. It is offensive full-stop.

UsernameAlreadyExists

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Solicitors and barristers don't make the law

I know ... that's why I said making the law ... and then acting as solicitors and barristers.

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Some of our laws date back to the 1800's and are still in force and applicable today.

As indeed many are not, and merely overlooked by the police & other enforcers.

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Unless and until Parliament repeals those laws, they are there to be complied with and upheld. I don't know a single solicitor or barrister - including those in their early 20's, who presumably would qualify as 'yoof of today' who would argue that the current anti-discrimination laws are unnecessary or over-the-top.

Try voting for one in your local election then and give them a taste of power? How about putting a Top Gear watching Clarkson worshipper in as roads minister. Bye bye 70mph.

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

I guess you and I just mix in different circles.

Seems so.

UsernameAlreadyExists

blckbrd wrote: »

Calling anyone an effing anything is going to cause offence unless it's used pureley as an emphatic e.g. you're an effing genius.

Since when was offending someone always against the law and needs punishing?

Where's "Fatism"? "Glassesism"? "Gingerism?" "Tallism"? "Blondeism"? etc etc?

blckbrd wrote: »

There is no acceptable moderation of the term 'f-tard' that I can imagine. It is offensive full-stop.

That's your opinion!

UsernameAlreadyExists

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

You think the N word is a bit of a taboo.

Why don't you ask some black people? Is it taboo? They'd say no - unless it was a white person calling them it. Inverse racism hypocrisy perhaps?

z1a

Can't believe how many soft 4rses there are.
And if somebody IS a retard, how can it be discriminating against them to call them a retard?
I'm bald And fat, I get called appropriate names at work, does it bother me?
Glad there are still some people with a sense of humour around.

gb12345

z1a wrote: »

Can't believe how many soft 4rses there are.
And if somebody IS a retard, how can it be discriminating against them to call them a retard?
I'm bald And fat, I get called appropriate names at work, does it bother me?
Glad there are still some people with a sense of humour around.

Another one who doesn't get it - it has nothing to do with having a sense of humour or not.

There are no laws against discriminating against people for being bald or fat (unless you were so fat that it made you disabled).

But there are laws against discriminating on the grounds of disability.

If someone was disabled (not a retard as you like to call them) and you called them a retard (or even used the word and they indirectly overheard it) and they complained then you would be finding yourself on the end of a gross misconduct just like the OP.

UsernameAlreadyExists

And that makes it right. The fact that there IS a law against it, means it's right. I refer you to one of my previous posts. Some laws will change, new ones will be added. The application of "language" is going to be a changing one.

Why are there no word filters on this forum for Darkies , Coons , Wogs , but there is for N!gger? Are those words NOT offensive in the eyes of the forum mods? Or are they merely less commonly used in abusive situations that need to be policed?