Dan Gowar on a Friday
Published 3 Feb 2012 09:00
0 Comments
Political correctness reared its head once again this week.
It came to light a bus company in the south of England has told drivers not to use the word 'babe' when welcoming female passengers on-board.
As I understand things, other prohibited words include 'darling' and 'love'.
The company is trying to avoid being accused of sexism, and guarding against the financial consequences of losing a court battle if a complaint of this nature was upheld.
As much as I disagree with political correctness, I support the bus company for outlawing the use of the word 'babe'.
It creates an image, occasionally seen in the popular press, of scantily-dressed young ladies frolicking at the seaside, under a headline likely to include the words 'beach babes'.
Ladies of a more mature age might have cause to think being referred to as 'babe' was someone taking the mickey out of them.
I also understand the word 'babe' may be used by a male trying to gain the affections of the opposite sex.
Once again, that possibly would not go down well with your great aunt Effie, who has enough of a struggle trying to get on a bus with four bags of shopping without the driver trying to chat her up.
While accepting the company mentioned at the start of today's ramblings does not want passengers to feel insulted, I am sad that terms of welcome innocently used by bus drivers and other workers trying to be friendly continue to be attacked by the politically-correct brigade.
I don't mind female shop assistants calling me 'love', 'pet' or 'darling'.
However, I might feel ill at ease if these words came from a male bus driver unless he was obviously making a joke.
In many cases, it's not the words that are used, but the way in which they are said that causes upset.
Without wishing First Minister Alex Salmond to read this as an indication of my support for independence, I earnestly believe many people north of the border dismiss the politically-correct brigade as sandal-wearing beardy weirdies who should have better things to do with their time.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 03 Feb 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Opinion archives.
