So, fresh off the COVID controversy when the Federal government colluded with social media companies to keep ideas and people from communicating their views we have: MS Society DEFENDS staff who sacked 90-year-old volunteer because she 'asked what pronouns meant' despite furious backlash (msn.com) Now, we do not know the "whole" story; and, I am 100% in favor of private organizations setting the rules they want - including stupid rules. And, from this article, this is very stupid. And another: Harvard professor says ‘all hell broke loose’ when his study found no racial bias in police shootings (msn.com) God forbid someone conducts an academic study that does not comport with Leftist ideology. And, he did it a second time - same results. The religion of Leftism must be revered and no information, ideas, nor communication that conflicts with the religion shall be allowed to stand. Neither example is the government. Yet, in Canada Jordan Peterson became famous (infamous?) for bucking a law that said you HAD TO use certain speech. Yes, folks, Newspeak is coming to a country near you. And, please note - I'm not saying it's 100% Leftists. I am saying that when we see a headline of "Republicans ban books" and it turns out a School Board decided explicit books were not appropriate for elementary school libraries those crying the loudest are often just as guilty of what they lament.
What they did to that old lady is terribly stupid unless there’s more to it. I don’t get the “pronoun thing” in emails either. I will respect whatever a person wants to be and respect their preferred pronoun, but I myself see no need to sign off an email with pronouns other than my position or title. Not sure transitioning from that to randomly defending Jordan Peterson is indicative of “open minded” thinking. Unlike the old lady, I’d argue both a pos and a closed mind.
Time and society moves on. The forces that want to keep things in the 1950s never win eventually. Unfortunately, breaking loose from those shackles sometimes leads to missteps.
If the story about the volunteer is accurate then it's terrible but feels like there's more to the story. I've worked in corporate america for 20 years complete with DEI training, goals, pronouns in emails, etc. I've never once seen anyone fired for anything DEI-related (yes I'm sure it's happened but I just haven't seen it). I have however seen people claim to have been fired for innocuous reasons such as the one in the article, but the reality is that it was performance-based or something much more egregious. Of course, that person doesn't ever mention those other causes. Reading between the lines of the statement from the MS Society, I suspect it wasn't the question but something she said in response to whatever answer she got that got her fired. Recently, a volunteer, Fran Itkoff, was asked to step away from her role because of statements that were viewed as not aligning with our policy of inclusion. Still, for someone who volunteered for 60 years, it better have been really, really bad to treat her that way. (Also have to point out the irony of a thread titled "The Closing of our Minds" when DEI is about opening your mind to other people's views, experiences, and feelings.)
I'll add a few more ... the 30% of America that thinks Trump won and the election and it was stolen from him, as closed minded as it gets ... the people who scream about immigration, but look the other way when republicans in congress tank the best bill negotiated in decades ... the people who say "racism doesn't exist anymore in America" ... And your claim republican book banning is all about "explicit books", I guess you missed the threads about republicans banning books on MLK, Rosa Parks, and even removed dictionaries from a school in Florida ...
I think about what I’d say to people the first time I met them in a job/business setting if I were working and not retired. Probably acknowledge everyone as person. Hello person John. Hello person Jane. Since we are all persons that would fit everyone.
And there was a chance to do the right thing and let it go. But to not only overreact but also double down is heartless, soulless, evil, and unforgiveable.
There's obviously more to it...she did an interview with Libs of TikTok, the bottom feeders of the internet.
Hard to know. If it happened the way it was described in the OP, it seems very cruel by the NMSS. On the other hand, if she wanted a fair and reasonable discussion, would she go to Libs of Tik Tok? Here's the group's official statement. A Statement from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
I read that. Could they have been any less specific in their response? I also do not find the OP to be a credible source.
Maybe MS didn't want to be specific because it had been extreme and unfair. Or maybe because it didn't want to call out a 90 year old woman who had been a longtime volunteer. Maybe she was let go because she simply asked a question, or maybe because she had steadfastly refused to follow procedures there and was insulting people. We obviously don't know. But here's a basic question. Obviously the pronoun thing is changing quickly and I don't get a lot of it myself. But where do we find the closed minds: With the people who are willing to change what they call people to match those people's preferences? Or the people who refuse to change and accommodate others?
Exactly this I try not to use pronouns when talking to someone. If I need their attention I use their name if I know it if I don’t I use something like hey you.
I think there is a spectrum re: open minds. On one end a person closes their mind to any information not endorsed by their "team" or social group. On the other end are those, as my dad used to say "have such an open mind that their brain has fallen out". Unfortunately the internet age has drawn formerly sensible people to both poles. In some ways it's a cultivated identity that is hard to cure. I also think for some it's kind of an online schtick, especially the latter group, where I don't think they actually believe half the crap they put out into the cyber ether, but just enjoy the attention. The "look at me, look at me, I have a clever alternate take!". There are even a couple of those on this forum.
Agree with Mike above. I think only retired people or people not in the workplace think it’s hard to navigate interactions these days. I have over 100 people on my team in a large company, 30% just a few years out of college, and it is a breeze to not be a dick to people which is all you have to do. Including respectfully addressing them. Had to fire a dude who thought it was ok to ask women about their sex life a few month’s ago. A total no brainer but that wouldn’t have been a problem 30 years ago. Don’t be a dick and you will have no problems in the modern workplace.
There is a poster on here who has been outspoken about anti-trans and anti-LGBT topics, including pronouns, but then said he has a trans person that works under him and calls them by their preferred pronoun ... So I don't get it. Why act that way on the internet when you are not a dick in person? I think a lot of what see here is bluster and faked outrage.
I've fired a few employees that were like "yeah I I deserve to be fired." I've also had 2 employees I deservedly fired show me guns in their waistband. It runs the gamut.
Written above and corrected: "(Also have to point out the irony of a thread titled "The Closing of our Minds" when DEI is supposedly about opening your mind to other people's views, experiences, and feelings.)" Go ahead, open your mind to other people's views, experiences and feelings. Then get blasted for cultural appropriation! See how this works? You're a closed minded buffoon if you don't do the first thing; but, if you do you're an imperialist oppressor who owes folks some serious coin for reparations. It's brilliant - the other side is F'd if they do and F'd if they don't. Some folks are so open minded their brain is leaking out.
