Posted on 06/06/2016 12:48:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Term is commonly used in Australia to refer to a group including men and women
The word “guys” should be avoided in the office, a new Australian campaign has said, arguing that such terms exclude minority groups.
The Diversity Council of Australia campaign launched on Wednesday asks people to be open to changing phrases they have always thought “normal”.
One such word is “guys”, which is commonly used in Australia to refer to a group including men and women.
A campaign video shows a group of women cringing at being referred to as “girls”, and a worker in a wheelchair questioning the use of the expression “walk the talk”.
Former chief of the Australian Army, David Morrison, who is spearheading the #WordsAtWork campaign, said the use of inclusive language should be promoted.
“For some time I have been advocating that everyone in our society, from all genders, races, creeds, ages, disabilities, religions or sexual orientations, be given a chance to achieve their potential,” he said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, in many workplaces, this isn’t always the case. People use language to denigrate others and to take away their self-respect. Sometimes it happens unconsciously, but the effect is the same.”
The new campaign was not about creating a “language police” but simply about encouraging people to use terms at work that were respectful, accurate, and relevant to everyone, he said.
“All the campaign is doing is saying, ‘Look, it’s a proven fact that more inclusive, more diverse workforces create real diversity of thinking and are more productive,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“And one of the ways ... that you can engender that type of environment is [by] being careful about how you speak to other people, talking to them with respect and listening to their views with respect.”
Morrison admitted that “guys” was a word he had previously used.
“I have now removed that from my lexicon as best I can, I think it’s important,” he said.
But the idea of dropping the word “guys” provoked a storm on Twitter, with some questioning whether it would also lead to the loss of the traditional favourite “mate”.
But others praised the idea of removing gender-specific language, coming up with alternatives to “guys”, including “folks”, “riff raff” and “mortals”.
If all people are dogs, then all women are bitches.
So they are gals, and the wheelchair person can roll the talk. That’s what a more reasonable society might do.
I’ve been told it’s even worse in French, but not speaking it myself, I don’t know for sure.
And as an Australian, this particular edict is being treated as nothing but a joke. Australians are not generally PC when it comes to language in the workplace - this is a country where ‘Bastard’ is a common term of endearment.
Had somebody tell me not to ask the question “is everyone straight on this?” when asking about whether people are comprehending a concept. Apparently, that’s offensive...
When I was there we always talked about the dirty, rotten, whinging Pommy bastards. You mean we can’t do that now?
That’s crooked
This is why Southerners say, Ya’ll. They know how to respect the ladies. “You Guys” is sexist doncha know. (BTW the real problem is the confusing plural “you”)
Yeah, I switched to asking “Is everyone clear on this?” but I always wonder if that doesn’t discriminate against the mentally fuzzy. Goodness knows we’ve got plenty of those!
ok, dogs is out
and ‘you little monkeys’ is probably out too
worms, that might work, and, they have gender identity issues, too! what liberal could resent being called a worm?
I’m going to see Guys and Dolls.
I mean, People and Other People.
In Spanish, the term to use for a mixed group is the male gender plural.
Yet no one is complaining that is sexist.
All this from people who had a “ban bossy campaign” and other micro-censorships.
As if policing the language will actually magically transform attitudes OR change social norms, instead of making people hate the nanny staters even more.
Harvard scientist Robert Putnam found that diversity hurts civic life, reduces social trust, pushes tribalism / grouping when the minorities are large enough to form their own enclaves.
“ok, dogs is out and ‘you little monkeys’ is probably out too
worms, that might work, and, they have gender identity issues, too! what liberal could resent being called a worm?”
__________________
Guess that means “every swinging’ dick of ya” is gonna get the ax, too.
“I suggest we now call everyone ‘dogs’ since a non-human term seems the only safe term left”
No, we have to call them “Canine Americans,” even if they are in Australia.
Worked in Singapore, doing training. A great and joyful experience. But me and a co-worker were privately called aside and were asked not to ever use the term “guys” when training. These were all men, no women involved. That was 15 years ago. Didn’t understand it then, even less now. Then this news item shows up. Interesting.
And yet, even into their eighties, mom and her friends each referred to their extruding pairs as “The Girls!”
You can talk about that. But definitely don't say this:
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