How do pet!
So bus drivers aren’t allowed to be friendly any more. That seems to be my impression of the news that Brighton and Hove‘s bus drivers have been banned from uttering friendly greetings. Not just told to only say such words to their regular customers or to their friends, but actually banned. It is now verboten to say words the words love, babe or darling on a bus. What hasn’t been mentioned is what the result of uttering such words is. Is it a verbal reprimand, a written warning or the sack. Seeing how other companies run by faceless bureaucrats act I wouldn’t be surprised if is the last case.
Considering that normally bus drivers are a surly lot, to have a driver greet you in a friendly manner is a nice thing to have. Not something to push down and extinguish.
But how has it come about? Have loads of people being continually complaining about the friendly attitudes of Bright and Hove’s bus drivers and how it upsets and offends them that they are treated as people rather than cattle on the bus. No. It’s a very simple reason. One person complained. Yep, one. 1. Uno. yksi. один. This one person of the female persuasion felt so offended by being treated nicely that she actually took pen to paper (or more likely email) and took the effort to write to the company to complain. She considered that being called something other than “madam” is being sexist and demeaning.
But is the person wrong for doing so. No. For anyone who has worked in a customer facing role it’s not surprising that you might get a few odd customers with strange complaints or requests. For anyone who has spent any time in a customer facing role you would normally filter out such occasions.
So who is wrong to impose this draconian rule? The customer service department at B&H bus company and the HR department for taking the suggestion from their colleagues at face value.
Way to go Brighton and Hove bus company for creating a lot of bad publicity for yourselves.
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But how about you lot. Which terms of greeting do you use? And are you offended in the slightest by them if you are on the receiving end?
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1
February 1, 2012 at 11:00 -
I am deeply offended by people who get offended by what others say.
I demand they be banned from complaining about offensive things, I have a right not to be offended by other people.
Since everything offends me, I demand that nobody else be allowed to speak.
Freedom of Speech RIP:
http://www.libertarianview.co.uk/general-principles/the-jackboot-stomping-on-the-throat-of-free-speech -
2
February 1, 2012 at 11:07 -
It was a surprise the first time I heard, “Allo moi luvver” in Cornwall, from a jolly shopkeeper.
But yet again, this is an example of a moronic, must legislate, humourless attitude, coupled with a back-of-the-mind hope of compensation.
I shall make a point of greeting all bus drivers, train staff, shopkeepers, etc. with suitably un-PC greetings in future. -
3
February 1, 2012 at 11:23 -
“Considering that normally bus drivers are a surly lot…”
Having just had to take a bus back home after dropping off my car at a garage for automotive diagnosis and – hopefully – surgery, and witnessed the class of passenger they have to deal with, I can’t say I’m surprised!
I don’t know what was worse, the parade of underclass mums with giant buggies (Did one woman really call her screaming infant ‘Simba’? Really?!) or the young, aggressive youth who demanded the bus driver let him on for free because ‘Someone just took all my money, innit bruv?’ and who then aimed a gigantic kick at the side panel when he was told to leave….
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4
February 1, 2012 at 11:28 -
Having affectionally been called a c*** by Obo, I think I can put up with just about everything. That said, my only pet hate is ‘Ms’.
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5
February 1, 2012 at 11:30 -
World’s gone mad… Then again people will find anything to complain about surely there was one sane person at this bus company, or are they all idiots that run public facing businesses these days?
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6
February 1, 2012 at 11:35 -
Here in the lovely Kingdom of Northumbria, I find it quite a challenge to get about to do my daily territorial feline rounds; the corpses of the Mortally Offended litter the place everywhere, and they impede my progress at every turn. The resulting stench is appalling. Unfortunately, the undertakers and gravediggers have suffered the same fate. The Fluffy Equality And Diversity Commissariat have done a splendid job..
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7
February 1, 2012 at 11:49 -
In my late teens, soon after starting a new job, I was advised by my manager, newly promoted, that in order to “show respect” it would be appropriate to address him as “sir”.
Young, impressionable and eager to succeed I did of course do so.
Realising this was a valuable lesson I extended the courtesy to everybody. Young or old, male or female, senior or junior, white or blue, it mattered not. They were all, loudly and clearly, called “sir”.
Unfortunately this became a habit and from time to time I slip back into it. Surprisingly few people notice.-
8
February 1, 2012 at 14:53 -
Similarly, in my first job in a large organisation, the form was that we ‘ordinary staff’ were addressed by forenames, those in the ‘senior officer’ grades were addressed as Mr (not many senior girlies then), and those in the hallowed level of Higher Management were always addressed as Sir, by all lower life-forms.
By the time I had ascended to that hallowed level, that delightful practice had ended, so I never got to enjoy that regular public confirmation of my super-human status. Change isn’t always for the better ! -
9
February 1, 2012 at 15:28 -
Sir and young sir are the usual terms I use for males of the species, whatever their age or status. Females require a quick judgement call on my part. Certainly love and darlin’ feature from time to time when I feel safe about it, otherwise I find something non-gender specific (rather like some alleged females) to utter. A local (Herts?) greeting is “Cheers Me Dear” aimed at both main genders by people of apparently all genders.
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10
February 1, 2012 at 12:54 -
Good grief are these people mad? and they don’t have to deal with one of my brothers who greets me lovingly, when he phones, with,
‘Hi there scrotum-features!’
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11
February 1, 2012 at 14:55 -
Ever thought that it may not be a fraternal term of endearment but merely a statement of fact ? Mirror-check advised.
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13
February 1, 2012 at 14:52 -
In the West Country, I can tell you with some confidence that if you address the checkout lady at the Supermarket without calling her (all 25 stone of her) ‘My Lover’, she will bridle with matronly indignation.
As well she should, bless her…
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14
February 1, 2012 at 15:10 -
What happens when a ‘bruvva gets a job as a bus driver and sues for discrimination on the grounds that his vernacular requires him to address all ladies boarding with “Yo bitch, cross me wid da fare, no?”
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15
February 1, 2012 at 17:06
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16
February 1, 2012 at 16:22 -
Oh, to be in England……..not
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17
February 1, 2012 at 16:37 -
Where I come from, we call everybody, man, woman, boy, girl, dog, cat, hamster et al ‘me duck’. If you don’t like it, you don’t move here!
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18
February 1, 2012 at 17:03 -
The famous four duck fish and chip transaction:
“Woss want duck?”
“Giz thray sixes an’ a fish duck.”
“Sowt an’ vinegar duck’?”
“No duck… Macks um goo cowd.”
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21
February 1, 2012 at 17:09 -
I remember going to school on a bus in 1971 and a young woman getting on and slapping the driver when he called her “love”. I think it must be a home counties/SE England thing.
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22
February 1, 2012 at 18:31 -
This sort of regulation is simply insidious, its effect is to undermine people’s personalities, ultimately to prevent any form of friendly or amusing interaction between strangers and make people more isolated from society.
Personally the only offensive greetings to me are those made in a deliberately unpleasant offensive manner, the actual words are only a secondary part of meaning in many passing interactions amd ‘mister’ or ‘sir’ can be spoken equally offensively as any other local greeting. -
23
February 1, 2012 at 19:28 -
I suppose the vernacular greeting “Wotcha cock” would be deemed inappropriate, particularly in Brighton.
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24
February 1, 2012 at 19:39 -
One of the checkout ladies at my local Sainsbury’s often calls me “Pet”. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest, but I’ve joked with her more than once that she’s skating on thin ice in these PC times.
As Woodsy42 notes, it’s not what is said, rather than how it is said which is more important…
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25
February 1, 2012 at 20:08 -
I can remember being startled, on first moving to Leeds, when a bus driver (male) called me (male) “love”. Of course, that’s what people say there, and if you’re offended by it, well – grow up or move away.
Answering the question, I would say:
I would be glad to hear any term of endearment if genuinely meant, whether it be ‘moi luverr’. ‘pet’, ‘hen’, ‘chap’, ‘guv’, whatever. Of course, even neutral terms like ‘dear’ can be highly insulting if said with the wrong tone, but are we going to legislate against tone of voice?
Two that irritate me are ‘babe/babes’, which are just naff, and ‘guys’, said to a mixed table in a restaurant by a young waiter. “What can I get you guys?” Grrr.
Oh, and ‘boss’ and ‘chief’, only ever used by poachers caught in the act, or by gentlemen with an excess of cheap tarmac that they just have to get rid of.
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26
February 1, 2012 at 20:10 -
Oh, and I absolutely hate being called ‘Sir’ by anyone.
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28
February 1, 2012 at 20:27 -
And I call everyone I don’t know either ‘Sir’, ‘Miss’, or Ma’am…
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29
February 1, 2012 at 21:39 -
I have a friend who invariably, instead of saying, “See you later”, comes out with, “Cop you later”.
It’s the way you tell ‘em! -
31
February 1, 2012 at 22:17 -
I addressed people older than me as Mister X, Missus X or Miss X and younger people by their first names. I reserved Sir and Madam for the most awkward and obnoxious people, to whom I would smile and say “See you next Tuesday” when the interview ended. If they pointed out their next interview was on another day, I could reply “Oh yes, that’s right, my mistake.” They left none the wiser.
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32
February 1, 2012 at 22:24 -
I would suggest the greeting (bad West country accent helps):
“How do? bloke/lady what thinks bureaucrats are c**ts?”
then when people object to the use of the word c**t as opposed to the rest of the sentence, it can be argued that insults about bureaucrats are acceptable.
With sufficient thought other alternatives will emerge but the two bottles of wine I’ve just had the pleasure of sampling preclude more lucid thoughts – sorry!
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33
February 1, 2012 at 22:55 -
Is this not part of ritualised hypocracy – such as “have a nice day” or “nice talking to you” or even “disappointed”.
Doubletalk fits in with modern political views and it often shows what ideology you are supposed to support.
The wide use of “mate” in Australia is part of this. -
34
February 1, 2012 at 23:06 -
XX This one person of the female persuasion felt so offended by being treated nicely that she actually…..XX
Tore her dungarees with her teeth, kicked her pit bull, tripped over her welder, and got her 25 hole para boot laces all knotted up, whilst trying to polish her crew cut?
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35
February 2, 2012 at 02:50 -
We are talking of Brighton where they elect Green MP’s and obstruct legitimate national political parties from hiring public halls- do you expect anything serious to emanate from that locality.
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37
February 2, 2012 at 03:56 -
As a white-bearded oldie, I enjoy being called “young man” or” luv” as much as I did when I was a stripling.
An early boss had the habit of summoning anyone on his staff with a cheery “chum” when something was not quite right. The implied message was that the fault was with your work and not with you.
A large, hairy builder, divisional director of a large, hairy building company, told me that when his notoriously tough chairman had a request he had the habit of calling him “petal”. Since he relayed the story with evident pleasure, I don’t think he was offended either. -
38
February 2, 2012 at 11:07 -
From time to time I refer to the larger female council staff as “Peppa”* They seem confused and I wouldn’t do this to real people obviously.
(*When our paths infequently cross and only when I am be threatened with non-owed council tax demands)
And in case anyone doesn’t get it….
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39
February 5, 2012 at 23:56 -
I rather like this attitude towards free speech, Free Speech; The right to be offended, the right to offend. shamelessly knocked from http://www.youve-been-cromwelled.org/?p=3140.
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40
February 5, 2012 at 23:57 -
Oh dear, too much alcohol, it should read ‘Shamelessly knicked’
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