(Photo from Getty Images)
I couldn’t quite believe the news story the other week when I read deeper into the particulars about a honcho losing a prestigious position because of something said in public.
Or, more precisely, something this middle-aged white American male tweeted to the world in reaction to comments made by a European golfer about an older-generation golfer in regards to an international golf match … anyway.
Cutting to the crux, Ted Bishop tweeted that Ian Poulter was a “Lil Girl” for criticizing Nick Faldo. And then after some social media furor thereafter, the board of directors of the PGA of America voted to remove Bishop as president.
The tweet in question sounds silly. Click the link below if you find the need to read about the brouhaha in more detail on golf.com.
But is calling a male golfer in his 40s a “Lil Girl” shockingly sexist, a fireable offense, setting a bad cultural example? This 57-year-old male fails to see how that’s so. In other words, I think it’s no worse than if he’d called Poulter a “Lil Boy.”
It’s the maturity element that’s the disparaging part of the comment, am I right? I mean, I used to cry when I was a little kid. Hell, sometimes I still do. Am I just blissfully unaware of this guy’s evil intent upon the female side of our population …
Next grump for Grumpus …
(Photo from Getty Images)
A neighborhood chain pharmacy here in my Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood has a lone ATM hanging out in the front of the store, and it happens to be part of the network signed onto by my credit union.
Bingo.
I pull crisp twenties from this machine fee-free.
Except I must not make the mistake of pushing the reflex first-button-of-habit of the machine at my credit union drive-through. The machines look similar, but are far from identical.
If I push the usual button first, all the subsequent directions
are in Spanish. Which happened the first time I used this convenient machine. And numerous times since, even though I’ve squinted reading-glasses-less enough times since after canceling the transaction to see the initial instructions that tell me I have to push a button over-there to proceed in English.
I love the Spanish language. I studied Spanish for three years in high school and took two semesters in college instead of the math sequence. It sounds gorgeous to my ear, and I can still speak a little and understand some. Not enough to proceed to make withdrawals or transfers from or between checking or savings with 100 percent confidence that I’m not screwing up which account is which, though.
The last time (fifth? Tenth? Twentieth?) this happened, I was in a bit of a rush and I mentally grumped to the idle clerk a few feet away about why in the world would Spanish be the default language of an ATM in Syracuse, N.Y. Luckily, she did not look at me and answer, Por que? No, I got a shoulder shrug.
Walking out, though, I felt a bit sheepish and wondered if that blurted question wasn’t going more toward the racist line than I’d like to venture.
I consider myself pure of heart, what with Sandra of Square One Notes who says we are of the Bialdez family, blended Polish and Mexican, as we trade salutations of hermanita and hermano, and Mrs. B of Brickhouse Chick, whom I frequently and freely offer and receive “Ay” and “Ave” and other exclamations of her Puerto Rican heritage.
But then I have that thought and share it out loud.
Little girls and former little girls grown up: Was that tweet by Ted Bishop sexist to a fireable extent, and can you explain your reasoning so I can understand more fully? Spanish speaking and readers of Hispanic heritage, did my thought about the ATM machine and its English and Spanish language settings offend you, and can you explain your reasoning so I can become a smarter person? Do you think white men in their 50s in general go through life less aware of how offensive comments can be to others?
Here’s the link for a news story about Ted Bishop’s tweet and his impeachment from his job.
Here’s the link for the source for the picture of the Lil Girl.
Mark Bialczak 
I grew up just outside of Detroit, and just north of Dearborn, MI. As you may be aware, Dearborn has the largest number of Arabic-speaking citizens in the country. There are also several other nearby communities with non-Western European native languages. As irritating as it is to us to have to opt into English, I cannot imagine how confusing it would be if I was still trying to fully master English.
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Yes, you are correct that it would be far more difficult on the other side of the ATM button pushing and language mastering, Cat. Great point. Thank you for reinforcing it.
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Thank you for coming back and going so deep with this, Angie McFly. It is an important topic, because our society lives with reactive reflex every day. Respect is the key, you are correct. I appreciate your hard work here. 🙂
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Well, Mark Grumpus (lol), my blink response…the line keeps moving about what is acceptable discourse. That’s not fair. I’m also very leery about large systems that are willing to throw an individual under the bus readily and publicly. Sigh.
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The line does move. It bugs me that this guy wasn’t just reprimanded severely. Sigh. I’m glad you approve of my Grumpus mood every now and then. 🙂
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I woke up thinking about this post, Mark, and want to add a personal note :D. As a woman (who has worked in domestic violence, homelessness, mothering support, etc.) my life is most empowered by having thick-skin about such matters that are often connected, and shrunk really, into so-called gender issues. Issues of respect, justice, and common courtesy rarely can be wrapped up into a tiny package of gender, race, economic status, etc. People are more complex than that. So I land on the good that can be done right in front of me with the people walking along with me rather than allow my energy to be taken from me based on emotional reactions (shock! horror!) to abstract concepts (political correctness) being implemented far, far away. Plus, I happen to love a bunch of men, many of whom are middle-aged (family/friend love of course, lol). It pains me to see them demonized because of their male-ness. But, guess what, my men don’t allow themselves to make excuses, blame others, or wallow in victimhood. They go about their work with dignity, integrity, and respect. Do they make mistakes? Of course; we all do. But do they make things right when they do? You bet. Do they show others mercy because they hope for the same? Yes, again. So for me, this is about individuals and their character, giving and receiving mercy, working damn hard every single day, and being our best selves within the loving protection of family and friends who can protect us from large systems run amuck! You grumpy about this type of yuck? Heck yes! Live there? Not you, Mark. Not you 😀
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Not sexist in the least, I say…don’t get me on my soapbox, Chum. #notafeminist
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have you seen this?
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The reaction to the Lil Girl statement seems WAY over the top. And the ATM issue also seems a little ridiculous. I honestly don’t mean to offend anyone, but when I travel to other countries, I expect to speak their primary language. I do not expect them to speak mine. While I do think we should “just be kind,” I think there’s a point where we get to be so afraid of not being “politically correct” that we lose a human touch. For example, many of my son’s friends growing up were black. (See, I’m afraid to say African American because one was originally from Jamaica…would that offend him? I also have a white friend who was born in South Africa and another white friend who was born to missionary parents in Africa…and I’ve never called them African Americans either.) And whenever I talked about my young son, I’d always call him “my boy.” But even though these kids were in and out of my house every day, I was scared to death to say “Boys, come to the table; it’s time to eat dinner” or something like that because “boy” could be offensive. Even now, when we photograph weddings, I often line up the bridal party “boy-girl-boy-girl” but when we photograph all black weddings, I’m afraid someone will take that the wrong way when I absolutely don’t mean any offense at all. And yet with all these kids that have been in and out of my house for the past 15 years, many who call me Mom, they often make comments like “This white people food is good.” But of course, I’d never be in a comfort zone to say something similar back to them for fear of them thinking I was being derogatory.
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I think with people you know well you develop a comfort zone, Rachel, of what you can and can’t say that is normal and not derogatory in the realm you are saying it. Don’t fall asleep out of that zone because there are folks waiting to pounce these days. That’s the case. Know what’s in your heart, though, my friend, and stay good to all people. 🙂
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The thing is, often I find that some people make comments, which I assume is in jest, but if I similar comments, they act shocked. I really am not a mean person and I wish we could all be color blind, as well as race, religion, etc. blind. I’d just like us all to get along in the world. 🙂 But it feels like someone always wants to find something mean where there is likely no malice, like the lil girl comment.
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Just be wary, Rachel.
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I pushed “like” button on this yesterday, I believe. I did not have time to respond.
I feel there is a fine line between saying something is unkind or wrong and adding a ‘label’ to it. So, in other words, Ted Bishop may respond by using words but not using the expression, “Lil’ girl…”
I remember my younger brother, age 55 now, who would sometimes get the label of ‘mo,’ which in our olden days, meant “homo” not as in homosapien but as homosexual. It was because as a runner with long, blond hair it appeared like he may be feminine. Years later, he will tell you those ‘mo’ comments hurt. Guess who gave him these words the most? One coach in our fine high school! There were shoulder length-ed hair teachers, so not sure why the coach was ‘picking’ on my very athletic brother who not only was on a team of five top Ohio runners, going on to college and winning medals.
When it came time for this coach to retire, all of my brother’s running team buddies went to his retirement dinner and induction of this coach into a ‘hall of fame.’ (Really don’t know whether this was just a regular h.s. thing or if they considered him more ‘special?’) I never liked the coach since he kind of leered at the cheerleaders and other girls. We wore short skirts and were not allowed to wear pants until seniors.
Sports officials and national celebrities need to be more careful with their words. I agree with this sanction, Mark, of Ted Bishop. He could have used words that said, “I don’t agree with you,” other more mature comments…
As far as Spanish being the default language, that is interesting, but again, I would not want you to tweet about it, since it IMPLIES a negative connotation. Just my opinion! I try not to step on any toes, but once on my blog, I lost a reader since I made a comment about an Italian I went on a date with, who asked me to come to Columbus to a specific family-owned restaurant, (never giving the name of it on my blog) but saying I felt the guy’s two ‘bodyguards’ at the next table meant that this man was part of an Ohio “Mafia.” Of course, she did not think this was funny, an Italian woman who was a regular visitor to my blog. I apologized but felt it was not necessary, since “The Sopranos” and “Godfather” series are not discriminatory and I did not feel my comment was anything but funny! I learned my lesson the hard way…
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Thank you, Judy, for adding your two pieces on this pair of tender societal issues. You are directly involved in both, so I respect your words. 🙂
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That coach was just pure evil for calling your brother that, Robin. In nobody’s world, ever, was that a word anything but derogatory, I think. I see your point about being careful on all points of Little Girl and the Spanish language. I wouldn’t tweet either thing. Thanks for your tthoughtful opinion, as always. I remember your back and forth with the Italian restaurant blog. I did not think you meant harm with what you wrote, but also saw the reader’s side. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes is a good way to look at these things, I guess, right?
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Mark … I’ve used the expression “screamed like a little girl” on myself when I saw a bug almost as huge as a VW about to cross my path. I took French in high school. Like you, I took Spanish to avoid taking math in college. I’ve enjoyed working with Spanish-speaking/native students – who speak English as a second language – as a volunteer with Operation Hope and as a teacher. But I, too, am perplexed why a business would have Spanish as its default language for its customers.
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Mi amigo, Mr. B. Tu eres un hombre muy amable e inteligente. Yo se que tu nunca quieres ofender a nadie. El comentario sobre el lenguaje en el ATM machine no fue malo. Es normal preguntar porque el lenguaje es en español. Yo se que tu no eres malo o que quieres discriminar. La realidad es que el Español va a ser el lenguaje mas popular en este país. Gracias por pensar que a lo mejor alguien se iba a ofender y por tener cuidado. Que bueno que eres un amigo! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Gracias, Maria. Entiende mas de su …. I understand more of your message than I can relate in my message back. I appreciate that you know that I care not to offend my friends and the many people who speak the beautiful and widespread Spanish language, mi amiga grande! Now if I could get upside down exclamation points. Thank you, Mrs. B. 🙂
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Prefacing my comment with the bit that I am well into my second Manhattan and feeling the bourbon 🙂 So the comment then is that who cares who said what about which golfer. I suppose being politically correct is an issue for public figures but “lil girl” isn’t that big of a deal. Huh. That is a problem with social media. Everyone knows everything and gets all wrapped up in stuff that is none of our concern and we’d be better off tending our own fires. And the Spanish ATM thing? Just push the right button next time, Mark 😉
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I love your Friday night bourbon comments, Liz. Very focused! Slary a nurred word. Just joshing on ya. I agree that people do worked way up about little things … And that I should learn to push the English button, not the Spanish button. Pass the Bourbon brittle, please and thank you. 🙂 Friday night, deserved break.
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Boy howdy. Husband is off hunting, oldest daughter at church camp, youngest has sleepover friend. What better thing for me to do Than make multiple Manhattans and comment online? With slary a nulled word as you say.
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Never in the history of mankind or (wo)mankind have there been as easily offended folks alive. I am not offended by the l’il girl comment. It truly makes me mad at times. ❤
I recently read this post and found it spot on…hope it doesn't offend you Mark. 🙂
http://themattwalshblog.com/2014/09/16/sorry-but-its-your-fault-if-your-offended-all-the-time/
Diana xo
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Thank you, Diana! Matt nailed it. I am not offended. ❤
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I didn’t bother to read any of the links because I appreciate and trust your summary of what happened re the golf stuff. Fired? I think it’s over the top. I’m a girl and it didn’t offend me. And when kids in martial arts, for that matter when the adults in martial arts refer to me as “SIR” I don’t get offended. I smile or laugh. I don’t fire them. Well, I can’t. Sadly, we are catering to over reactions on almost every level. I believe in awareness, kindness and consideration. But we are losing our ability to forgive, and take note of our snafu’s to make change.
English language in an English speaking country makes sense to me. WHY do we have to apologize for that? Yes, give other options, that is perfectly wonderful and acceptable. But we ARE English speakers. IF I were to go to a place that does not speak English I would not expect the country to change their national language just because I showed up. I do, absolutely, appreciate it when I travel and things are given options to be translated to English. That’s just darn nice.
Great post Mark.
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Colleen, calling you sir is respectful, I think. Calling him a Lil Girl, probably not. But I don’t think it’s a fireable thing because Lil boys cry too. Thank you for your support, ma’am. 🙂
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Well I find it respectful. But what if I cried every time someone called me “Sir”? 🙂
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Then I think people should stop calling you sir. I think people shouldn’t be called names that make them cry, on general principal, I guess, in personal situations like that. 🙂
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I agree. 🙂 Fortunately it doesn’t make me cry, I laugh. 🙂
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Little girls are fierce and smart and wily and brazen and tough just as often as little boys are…as long as the little girls aren’t being forced into some meek and sweet stereotype, that is. For little girls to be the standard used to represent weakness and whining and general immaturity is very offensive to me. Why not just call someone weak or a whiner or immature rather than assign a gender stereotype? Even so, being fired seems a bit extreme. Goodness knows, we all say things we don’t mean from time to time…and we all occasionally say things that are offensive because we don’t even realize they’re offensive. What could have been an educational, horizon-broadening moment for him (and a lot of other people) didn’t need to turn into a career-ending nightmare because of flash rage and kneejerk reactions. *sigh*
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I am glad you came in with the side of using a little girl as a symbol of strength instead of weakness, Nerd. That is an excellent point there, and I appreciate it like a figurative and playful two-finger flick to my forehead. A good one. An enlightening one. A teaching one. Like the one you say could have been made instead of the firing one to the PGA guy. Thank you.
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I know this has nothing to do, but I love your blog design! While I was waiting for this post to load completely my eyes were delighted with this winter forest you have as a background, and I felt so full of peace…
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Thanks, Lily. The picture is a lakeside in May, late spring. I’m glad it gives you peace.
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I’m reminded of the old bumper sticker “Mean People Suck.” I think intent has a lot to do with judging how bad a statement/tweet/utterance is. Also, comments made in private take on a different character when you publicize them via something like twitter or other social media. companies, associations etc. have every right to fire people who are supposed to represent them, yet cast the organization in a bad light.
so–yes, the golf guy can be canned and you’re relatively in the clear! De nada
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I appreciate your take, Phil. I still felt bad with my blurt. You know me. But somehow I also felt bad about golf guy getting canned for defending Watson and Faldo with a big of bounced-back bile. Ah, well. Gracias.
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I have no problem with what he said – so many more important things to worry about. But it did remind me of a little girl I used to teach.(To give you the context most of the class spoke english as an additional language and most were having to learn English in the classroom rather than from home). She was a lovely five year old; a little overweight but beautiful. She was outraged one day and said to me ‘He called me a fat boy!’ I waited to see what was coming next. ‘ I’m not a boy!’ The ‘fat’ remark had been insignificant in comparison. I had to work hard not to smile and soothed her hurt pride by explaining that her classmate had just got their words muddled.
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That is a great tale to add to this particular mix of language and gender, Rachel. Both are issues that cut close to our core. Thank you, for the London teacher’s view. 🙂
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I’m an old hippie, feminist, egalitarian, environmentalist blah blah blah. And I think this political correctness thing has become asinine. I also thought it was nuts to fire Paula Deen for something she said 40 years ago… At the same time, since all these weird Tweets obviously go viral in no time, I think public figures should just not tweet if they can’t be bothered to monitor themselves. As far as the ATM, I agree, if the area doesn’t have a big Hispanic population, making Spanish the default is taking political correctness to a silly level.
Just an aside re one of the comments: lots of American companies sell heavily in Canada where the French/English thing is required, so I suspect that’s why so many labels have both.
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Thanks, Leigh, for weighing in with your views. It is good to be vigilante in knowing that you will be observed. And I do think the PGA guy wanted to criticize. He just didn’t think his wah-wah definition and tone would get him in that much hot water.
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I think that this is the Achilles Heel of social media and hyper-journalism; everyone has a bully pulpit with a world-wide audience, including people with extreme views looking for axes to grind, pots to stir, (insert your metaphor). They should have a voice and be allowed to express their opinion! Awesome! However, it’s the responsibility of society to avoid amplifying their voice.
OKAY – if we are going to police people’s language– the “Little Girl” comment being the benchmark for insensitive language, what should be the consequence for talking heads like Ann Coulter? Should they serve a prison term for their outrageous comments? They often say harmful, offensive things. I know, extreme, but we are talking about extremists, right?
Heaven knows, there are REAL acts of discrimination, racism, and abuse that need our attention. There has been an awful lot of campaign rhetoric in the past several elections about Big Government taking away the rights of the Common Man. Looks like We the People are pretty good at doing that to ourselves, without their help.
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I appreciate you sizzle, Thorton. Thank you for joining the game, stirring the coals …
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🙂 Great topic. Glad you posted it!
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Lil Girl is in no way offensive. This is maddening. Kids at my son’s middle school call each other little beeyotches (that’s my nice way of writing it) when they get bumped into. Oh, well. I call people much worse than that for not memorizing their lyrics at church. Geez Louise, this society is screwed up. And I feel you on the Spanish. And understand that not only did I take Spanish in middle school, high school, and college, but my entire dad’s side speaks Spanish. That being said, this is the USA, where you are welcome to speak whatever you want, but our language is English. So everything should be printed FIRST and FOREMOST in English. I get pissed off when I buy things at the grocery store, and they are all in Spanish. I get pissed when my shampoo is in French, for the seven French-speaking people in Texas. It’s pretentious and unnecessary. We shouldn’t have to apologize for not writing everything in another language. It’s expensive and tedious and raises the prices for all of us. My father’s family came here as exiles and you bet your butt they learned to speak English and speak it well.
And how arrogant would I have to be to visit another country and presume they would put everything in my language just to cow-tow to a minority? Please change the rules of your country for me because I haven’t the time nor energy to learn your language.
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You touched on another of my worries, Kerbey. I have not traveled to Europe because I know of how utterly and completely helpless I would feel not speaking their language. Even though it’s a pretty good wager that you can find somebody everybody in the world who can speak some English and help you out. In any case, as your passion demonstrates, language is a barrier here, there and everywhere. Sensitive, too. And hence I did not want my little tirade to offend just because I cannot assume people are trying to learn English like I tried to learn Spanish to the best of my ability.
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Standing ovation, Kerbey. Best.Rant.Ever. 😀
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Whew!
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Hey Mark! Ithink that the golf organization reacted properly, not because of the remark – which is generally understood as derogatory by implying a weakness – but rather because his position is one requiring awareness of politically correct representation of the organization. As such, he made it clear that he did not understand the reaction that would occur as a result of his very public comment. He should have known better. So, I agree with termnating him – but because he showed clearly that he was not aware of what the reaction would be to his comments, he was the wrong man for a job that required a great deal of political sensitivity. That is what he got paid for, and that is what he failed at. Fait accomli.
As far as the languages on ATM’s are concerned – Ha! I once ended up with the screen in Chinese – literally. I checked our ATM’s here and my bank has theirs programmed for English, French, Chinese, Italian and Portuguese. But no Spanish. They do start in English though and will continue unless you choose otherwise. It’s just the price we pay for living in multicultural societies. I imagine that many a non- English speaker ends up with English screens/agents as well. The upside of multiculturlism is a stronger society that is more understanding and accepting of others unlike themseves, a better opportiunity for intenational trade (and hence jobs) and loads more, right down to foods we now take for granted like tacos and Chinese food and Italian food, etc. We may end up occassioanlly with a screen full of a language we don’t understand,but the trade offs are well worth it, in my mind.
As for you growing up to be an old fart – Ha! – if you can ask that question Mark, there is no chance. We are all human and get galled when things don’t go our way. I actually watched an interview with the Dali Lama once and he was asked how he remained so calm all the time and he just laughed and said that inside he got angry when things didn’t go his way, and then he stopped himself and regained his composure before acting or speaking. So, i think you’ll be fime Mark. no worries.
Fun post Sir – Thank you.
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Actually, Paul, I think it was in this genteman’s position to defend two of the grander master’s of the game of golf against uncomplimentary remarks from a younger player who had achieved none of their stature. But he went about it the wrong way, indeed.
I am wonderfully the recipient of the cultural mix we have here every day, yes, so a different language on a screen is a small price to pay if it is indeed my error that brought it there. That is a good way to look at it, my Canadian friend. Who is my age. Not old, just growing up, right? !!
Thank you, as always, Paul, for adding a strong focus to the proceedings.
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That is curious for the ATM to have Spanish as the primary language. Our native language is English after all.
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I think somebody programming it glitched. That’s the only way. My neighborhood is blended some, not primarily Spanish speaking by any means, Kim.
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See, that guy got Dooced, just like I was worrying about yesterday. I don’t know what to think about this particular case. Should he have gotten fired for that? Eh, probably. But who cares if he did? One should know that you shouldn’t OPENLY be an asshole at your job, cause if you are an asshole at your job, there will be consequences. The rest of us know that, why shouldn’t have this guy thought of that before saying something offensive online where people can see and keep a record of it? The world’s-a-changing, and in one big way – our online lives are now being surveilled and scrutinized as much as our IRL lives are.
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Yeah, I guess he should have known better, Cheney, big boy that he is. I just don’t think what he said was so darn offensvie.
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Neither do I, really, lol!
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🙂
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Now a days it’s dangerous to speak what’s on your mind because some are ready to challenge you and before you know it, it’s on the front page. No, I’m not offended by your thoughts, we are in America and the language of our country is English, but we are very accommodating to all other languages spoken here in our country.
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Thank you, my friend Dora, of the heritage of which I alluded to above. I am glad I did not offend with my episode at the ATM. And yes, I like to be accomodating to all languages. Good point.
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Honestly, really? What next? Hey, Kissin’ Kuzin, have a great weekend!!! (((HUGS))) Amy
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Will do, Amy. You, too. Don’t offend anybody out there to my west. Thank you for pitching in here. 🙂
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Hehehehehehe I don’t INTENTIONALLY offend anyone, Mark, yet at times, the um Truth comes flying out of my mouth before I can catch it. Tee Hee ….. Some folk are just not too happy about Truth. (((HUGS))) Amy
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Re: Ted Bishop
Sexist/offensive? Eh. Unprofessional? Yes. Now, I don’t know how his twitter account normally works, if he offers witticisms and op/ed on everyone or if this was the first time, but if that is his personal AND professional account then it makes sense he would be terminated. Overreaction by PGA? Possibly, but if that is the account he represents them under then yeah.
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I do understand your differentiation between personal and professional social media accounts, Jeanette, as well as the tone that is usually offered on each. The PGA of America is button-down, so if that was indeed on an account under its umbrella, I would be surprised if any message such as that had ever seen the day previously without some sort of repercussion. Moral of that story. If you are given the responsibility of commenting under somebody else’s banner, you better know the standard. Did I get what you meant, my friend? 🙂 Thanks for adding to the discussion with a lot of knowledge.
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You got it!
It can also happen to a degree on personal accounts. I went to a training course where we were given different examples of doctors, nurses, cops, firefighters, teachers, etc. and things they said on Twitter or Facebook, personal or work accounts.
Especially with the jobs in public safety, they were all fired for what they said, even in private because of the “upheld to a higher standard”. Theoretically, cops are never truly “off duty” if they see something happening.
Writing remarks about a certain population of people on a page where you post pictures of yourself in uniform or identify who you work for may give the impression that you would not work to uphold the rights of “those” people. Even if there was an accident and someone was hurt, not the officer’s fault, it could still raise doubts and compromise the integrity of the deparment.
(That is what we were told in the class; all examples shared led to termination. I feel some should have been dealt with using suspension to send a message, but there you go.)
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Even more reason to be careful what you say in 140 characters or more on FB, tumblr, Pinterest with pictures, if you’re embarked in a career in which you’re entrusted with the public’s interest and trust. Thanks, Jeanette.
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I’ve run out of ways to respond to political correctness gone amok. Of course, I’ve also never considered the polite sport of golf to be the a bastion of trash talking…
As for the ATM, there is nothing inherently racist about wondering why an ATM in an English speaking country would be in any language other than English. Anyone who thinks otherwise can besame culo…
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Thanks for adding your dos centavos, Bill. I for one still like our melting pot theory and that is why I do not want to offend on the ethnic side of our collectiveness.
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First, I think it’s great that you are open to understand if and/or why these things would be offensive. After all, how can we ever learn from a different perspective if we never ask.
The ‘lil girl’ statement, in my opinion was simply that, a statement. If that bothers people, then they better throw away their tvs, turn off the radio and wear ear plugs all day. There are much worse things said about people, than ‘lil girl’. (Coming from a female)
For the other question, I can’t accurately give an answer as I’m about as white as they come, but this is America and our main language is English. So, I don’t see how or why that would be offensive. Wouldn’t they wonder the same thing if ATMs in Mexico did this with English?
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Thank you for pitching in here, mewhoami. It’s good for us all to talk about these things. Our societal measuring sticks change so quickly sometimes my head spins a little bit. Sometimes it spins a lot. But I’m always curious about it and how my principles fit it.
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i think we do have to be thoughtful, and try not to hurt each other, but i don’t think he should have been let go for that, men seem to tease each other all the time about things like that, just like lil boys and lil girls do on the playground. but then, i’m not easily offended.
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Yes, I see your point about being careful and trying not to hurt each other, Beth. Thank you.
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and you have first-hand playground experience, Beth 🙂 Definitely insight into the ‘lil ones.
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The PGA Board of Directors sounds like a bunch of li’l girls to me. Ridiculous.
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Thank you, Barbara. So sensitive, some people. 🙂
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I certainly would wonder the same things.
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Thank you for wondering with me, PJ.
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