Posted on 11/12/2017 11:21:56 AM PST by lowbridge
It’s why, at Powderhorn’s May Day Cafe, a small sign taped to the counter bears a polite request: “The May Day Cafe asks that you use gender-neutral language when addressing its employees. Thank you.” A similar note, modeled after May Day’s, went up next to the cash register at Taco Cat’s Midtown Global Market stall in September: “Please use gender-neutral language when addressing our staff. Thanks for being a pal.”
“I think gendered language is pretty integrated in restaurant culture,” says Taco Cat co-owner Tristan Jimerson. “I’ve been working in restaurants for a long time, and sir-ing and ma’am-ing people, that’s just how you’re taught.”
For Jimerson, who in interviews asks potential hires their preferred pronouns right after asking their name, it just made sense to extend that same courtesy to customer interactions. Following May Day’s lead, the bike delivery taco joint became one of the newest practitioners of this emerging language movement in the service industry.
That movement got its start in the Twin Cities at Cafe SouthSide. More a community gathering hub than just somewhere to hunker down and suck up the free WiFi, the Powderhorn cafe was a place of radical hospitality, one that actively welcomed LGBTQ+ customers and served as a safe space for trans and non-binary folks. Co-owners Roxanne Anderson and Anna Mayer intentionally created that trans-friendly environment—it was always as connected to their mission as brewing coffee or selling sandwiches.
(Excerpt) Read more at citypages.com ...
Can you tell “it” I’ll have another cup of coffee?
Are the staff going to wear labels to help customers out?
I would use “sweetie-pie” for the dames and I would use “buddy-boy” for the guys. I’ve never done that before, but I may make it a habit.
How else would I call for my waitress or waiter?
I stopped going to a business for less.
That is the wonderful thing about capitalism. There is always another choice where to spend your money.
“Come here, thing”
“We want more hush puppies, thing”
How about, “Adios!”
Remember the day you put a blue outfit on your baby girl and everyone said....How old is he?
No.
Refer to them as THE STAFF.
>>Thanks for being a pal.
Terrance and Phillip already got this one:
Pal? I’m not your pal, buddy.
I’m not your buddy, guy.
I’m not your guy, friend!
I’m not your friend, pal!
I’m sure business will be booming now. sarc/
How about I call them all “infidel”? i imagine they would be okay with that.
Goes both ways. Don’t call me “hun”. I’m an American, not a German.
“Hey You!” would seem to be ok, too.
Interesting cafe name:
“Powderhorn” —> rugged pioneers eking out a living on the cold, lonesome prairie fighting off bloodthirsty savages.
“May Day” —> Communist collective singing The Internationale with raised fists.
Which is it?
Here’s a suggestion to replace them;
“What did I tell you f***in people”
- Lieutenant Jim Dangle, “Reno 911!” ( On a kid’s show )
>>Refer to them as THE STAFF.
Refer to them as you would a working animal.
“Coffee. Now. Wait. Good person. Good person.”
“I said ‘no onions”. Bad. BAD. Now, go FETCH.”
RESPONSE: I’m here for food, not indoctrination. If I wanted indoctrination, I’d go to a lecture.
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