BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 May 05 - 07:14 AM

When I was at University of Qld in the 70/80's, one of the lecturers was trying to promote use of the word 'esh' as a word inclusive of both the genders and neither.

Never heard of it had you?


Then about the same time some other genius produced the following train of 'logic'...

We cannot use the word 'woman' because it contains the word 'man'. You might think that we could substitute the item 'person' instead of 'man' to produce 'woperson', but you see, this word also contains the male word 'son'. So we shall substitute the neutral word 'one' instead, thus giving us the Politically Correct Construction


'Woperone'

!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: Jeri
Date: 20 May 05 - 07:06 AM

People tend to believe lies/urban legends if they're interesting enough or if enough intelligent seeming people believe the lies.

There's a sea shanty I sing which contains a word. Several people, some I quite respect, have told me the word is a racist perjorative, and have an explanation of why. The explanation sound somewhat plausible... if you don't mind a lot of dancing to get from point A to point B.

Now, having a dictionary from the 1960s which gives a different meaning to and origin for the word and doesn't mention the offense-inspiring one, AND growing up hearing the term used without any racial connotation, I think the 'history' is invented but is retained because it just makes a better story.

I'm all for not hurting people. I don't care much for those who are into a 'cult of offendedness'. I think people should look for facts and make their own decisions about whether it's logical to think a thing is offensive.

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: Leadfingers
Date: 20 May 05 - 06:45 AM

I was going to the shop to get some strings for my Persondolin when a tripped and fell head first down an open Personhole cover !

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: open mike
Date: 20 May 05 - 04:51 AM

trawl?

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: Amos
Date: 20 May 05 - 02:21 AM

The species is called "man", in common usage. The male gender of the species (a subset) also happens to be called "man". Since when has one word having two definitions been grounds for such a storm in a teacup? Seems to me anyone who couldn't tell the difference is a semi-literate woebegone. Someone who wouldn't know a tale from a tailing, or a software kernel from a corn kernel, or a clamshell in the sea from a clamshell computer, or a conch from a UNIX command interface (both shells), or a generic expletive from a mythic playground for demons (both hells), or embedment from a loveseat (both couches) or a fishing technique from a bridge monster from an anti-social poster (all trolls), or a belling from a highway fee (all tolls).

How ridickle-dockle.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: Peace
Date: 20 May 05 - 02:01 AM

Churchill was visiting the American south. The hostess inquired as to which part of the chicken he would prefer. Churchill replied, "The breast." He was set straight by her on the spot. He was informed that in polite company one said "White meat." Anyway, weeks later when he had returned to England, he sent her a thank you card and enclosed was a brooch. With it was the request that she pin it to her white meat. Such a language we have.

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 20 May 05 - 01:52 AM

Check out the term Seaman.. in British and Canadian Merchant Navy Discharge Books it states Seaman he/she etc....Since the term woman or man = of the family of man/mankind, it is considered inclusive, essentially gender neutral.

Winston Churhill stated that therefore Man embraces Woman, which is a wonderful way of expressing that thought by a play on words. ;-)


Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: Peace
Date: 20 May 05 - 01:01 AM

The depths of that stupidity was brought home to me when I was referred to as a chairperson. I replied that I was the chairman. When a woman took the position she would be the chairwoman. Keriste.

Subject: BS: Nautical PCness...well blow me down...
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 20 May 05 - 12:57 AM

Definately PC gone mad, what a bunch of oil tankers (seagull rhyming slang). So 'ship shape and Bristol fashion' is non PC. Dont these silly sods ever look at the rich history of nautical terms.

Next there will be no 'man the rigging' instead 'person the rigging'. No more referring to the weather as being 'Brassy' (short for freezing the balls of a brass monkey)No more 'flogging a dead horse' might upset horse owners, no helmsman, just steering person.

Thought police go overboard
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 20/05/2005)

The phrase "shipshape and Bristol fashion" should not be used because it is deemed to be politically incorrect, a group of councillors has been told.

A training firm told them that the phrase originated from the slave trade and described black people being ready for sale.

However Gerry Brooke, a Bristol historian, who edits a supplement in the city's Evening Post newspaper, said it derived from the good reputation Bristol had for constructing ships.

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable agrees: "The expression derives from the port of Bristol's reputation for efficiency in the days of sail."

Peter Abraham, the city's lord mayor, said: "I have used the term for 60 years and my family has and there is no way it can be regarded as politically incorrect."

Fifteen district councillors in Wyre Forest, which covers Kidderminster, Worcs, and about 70 council staff attended a two-day "equalities and diversity" course this month.

Stephen Clee, the council's Conservative leader, said:

"Part of the seminar concentrated on words and phrases which could be deemed offensive. A lot of the councillors thought this was political correctness gone mad. I am inclined to agree with them. No working practices will change."

Another phrase the training firm considered politically incorrect was "nitty gritty", which it claimed was used to describe slaves in the lowest reaches of ships. But the Oxford Reference Dictionary says its origin is unknown.

The training firm, based in Walsall, West Midlands, could not be contacted.