Jobcentre ad banned as it could be "offensive" to unreliable people.

[schmunk]

We stopped evolving 'naturally' the moment we stopped being hunter-gatherers and started farming to survive.

How so? Why is that step not 'natural'?

[Saracen]

There seems to be a culture of telling people they can't do XYZ in case it offends someone. And it seems that just as often, the people that it might offend would rather some jumped up idiot wasn't trying to defend them.

For instance, the old classic of "don't mention Christmas in case you offend Muslims". Anyone know a Muslim that would be offended by that? I don't. And moreover, if they were, then tough. I'm sure not offended by the mention of Eid, or Ramadan. People are entitled to their faith, and I can't see why mentioning Eid should offend Christians (or Jews, Sikhs, Hindus or whatever) and, if it does, then also .... tough.

Another classic is "can't do that, Health and Safety laws you know". Yet, when someone actually consults H&S, it turns out it's nothing to do with H&S.

My personal favourite is "can't do that, it's against the Data Protection Act". Usually, it turns out the individual concerned wouldn't know the provisions of the Data Protection Act if they bit them on the ....erm .... a tender spot. It's just a convenient excuse.

This seems to be one more example, and it is, it seems to me, and as has been said, an overly officious muppet being especially stupid.

But just to be sure, why don't the government conduct extensive research into the opinions of unreliable people, wasters and the lazy. All they have to do is find some that will admit to being that.


However ..... while objecting to it may be pretty peurile, I also would have thought that insisting on those words was pretty pointless. How many people are looking for employees that aren't hard-working, or that aren't reliable? How many of those that aren't hard working or reliable would admit it, perhaps even to themselves. I would have thought that every employer would expect certain core aspects to every employee and prospective employee, and that hard-working and reliable would be among them. Oh, and honest too.

The whole story has the ring of a Daily Mail or Sun hyped headline.

[Salazaar]

How so? Why is that step not 'natural'?

It was the point at which we stopped being reliant upon an external system to provide for us, we took seeds which grew naturally wherever they could survive and created an artificial environment in which they would thrive, for our benefit.

It was no longer a true survival of the fittest after that.

I'm not arguing that evolution doesn't affect us in a lot of ways any more but that it is no longer a case of 'natural' selection, the weak will survive along with the strong.

[Flash477]

[ajones]

Company seeks unreliable toss-pot. No qualifications are desirable. Job duties include seat warming and meandering vaguely through the office. Drinking alcoholic beverages during office hours is a must. Scruffy appearance and lack of personal hygene would be beneficial for the post, as would a complete disregard for the welfare of those around you. The ideal candidate will be reknown for their ability (or lack thereof) to invoke useless statistics, wrap lies in cotton wool and deceive their colleagues whenever possible.

Please apply to;
10 Downing Street,
London

References not required

Would they accept this? Or am I discriminating against too many majorities?

[KidChameleon]

The whole story has the ring of a Daily Mail or Sun hyped headline.

That's exactly it. Example situation: Soemone in a supermarket can't reach something so they ask a shop assistant. The assistant jokingly says they can't find a ladder because it's against health and safety. Both people realise at the time it's because someone has just moved the ladder somewhere else. They eventually get the product down and continue on their merry ways.

The story gets passed on, it reaches the Daily Mail, and suddenly "OMG Government PC Gone Mad! The entire world of 6.8bn people has absolutely no common sense any more, apart from Daily Mail readers!"




"Reliable and hard working" are meaningless buzz words, anyway. It's just like everyone at a job interview saying they're "keen" and "eager" or "perfectionists". It's just BS they think the interviewer wants to hear.

[scaryjim]

There seems to be a culture of telling people they can't do XYZ in case it offends someone. And it seems that just as often, the people that it might offend would rather some jumped up idiot wasn't trying to defend them.

Of course in this instance that's probably not the case, because the unreliable people wouldn't bother defending themselves...

For instance, the old classic of "don't mention Christmas in case you offend Muslims". Anyone know a Muslim that would be offended by that? I don't.

I should hope you don't. As Jesus is a major prophet of Islam, Christmas is a celebration for them as well. In fact, Easter celebrations are far more likely to offend Muslims, as that's where the theology of Jesus differs most between the two religions...

My personal favourite is "can't do that, it's against the Data Protection Act".

It seems to crop up a lot, doesn't it? I reckon this excuse has been added to the Call Centre Training Manual under "Easy ways to try to wriggle out of a difficult conversation"...

But just to be sure, why don't the government conduct extensive research into the opinions of unreliable people, wasters and the lazy.

The problem with that is that the results would be... well, unreliable

[Saracen]

.....

The problem with that is that the results would be... well, unreliable

Because other government stats, like crime figures and unemployment figures are, of course, 100% reliable, and fairly and faithfully portray a true and fair view of the situation???

And if you believe that .... wanna buy a cheap Rolex? It's genuine. Honest. I have stats to prove it.

[scaryjim]

Because other government stats, like crime figures and unemployment figures are, of course, 100% reliable, and fairly and faithfully portray a true and fair view of the situation???

Since I work in an independent research unit that produces National Statistics accredited government statistics....






... I have absolutely no comment

[TooNice]

Another classic is "can't do that, Health and Safety laws you know". Yet, when someone actually consults H&S, it turns out it's nothing to do with H&S.

We got that more than once from our landlord. I'd rather the guy be honest than making excuses to get his way (e.g. to enable him to make decorative changes to the flat).

I should hope you don't. As Jesus is a major prophet of Islam, Christmas is a celebration for them as well. In fact, Easter celebrations are far more likely to offend Muslims, as that's where the theology of Jesus differs most between the two religions...

Incidentally, in some countries, Allah is also used to refer to the Christian God. This is one instance where something has offended (some) people from another group (Muslims) with dire consequences (bombing in Malaysia).

[aeonf242]

I saw an article that found most of this kind of story was baseless, like winterville etc..
Probably just some bint with a need for publicity

[Saracen]

... I have absolutely no comment

Ah hah!

"Lies, damned lies and .... " but I guess you know how that goes.

[scaryjim]

... but I guess you know how that goes.

More than you could possibly imagine

[Saracen]

More than you could possibly imagine

Oh, I don't know .... I look at unemployment figures over 20 years or so, and incapacity benefit/ DLA over 20 years or so and .... well, I've got a pretty healthy sceptici ..... erm, imagination.

And I am an economist by background, so I'm pretty good at picking stats to suit my argument. I'm also a firm believer in putting a dozen economists in a locked room and getting at least 15 opinions emerging .... all of them backed by stats.

As it happens, I'm also a firm believer in never unlocking the door again .... . except to throw the politicians in.

[Brucelles]

It is a shame that they can't do a reverse filtering system, e.g.

"We want all types of people, but the lazy halfwits who couldn't even spell 'diligent' go through the door to the left, marked 'Exit', and the others through the door into the personnel department."

[Salazaar]

As it happens, I'm also a firm believer in never unlocking the door again .... . except to throw the politicians in.

Sounds a bit like my plans for the Big Brother house...