Tuesday 21 August 2007

PC speak

My friend, colleague and prolific commenter David has on my website suggested that "doorman" is an obsolete comment. I presume he means it is inappropriate because of being gender biased.

I am usually very careful about such things, and was putting "s/he" in documents in the early 1980s when I was a "headmaster" (rather than a headmistress).

But I do not see a problem with doorman. In the unlikely situation of a woman taking on the role (and although I know one or two who could, I doubt that hardly any exist) David can call them "doorwomen" - but please, NOT "doorperson".

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hadn't thought about the gender-neutral aspect of this at all but thanks, Paul, for bringing it up.

I hope you're impressed that I figured out how to get from your blog to your website unaided.

Her indoors said...

What about the good old-fashioned "bouncer"? Whatever image that conjures up...male or female...surely that one's still valid? ;-)

Picklesmum said...

GO David, GO David, Go David!!

Charlotte Howard said...

David - I thought by "obsolete" that's what you meant. It was Amanda who first used the term "doormen" and I was following her lead.

21CM - fair comment, but that is a bit active and implies that they "bounce", whereas "doormen" suggests they stand around and only have to glare.

PM - yes, but where?

Anonymous said...

They are just called 'Door Staff' but 'Bouncer' is a better description of what they do. However, I don't want to lose the idea of females doing the job much better than males.

I've never been frightened of any man but women are scary people. If a male 'bouncer' said something I didn't like, I could just give him a Liverpool Kiss and walk on by. But no gentleman can hit a woman - it isn't cricket - so they win by default. Like every other man, I would do almost anything to avoid a tongue-lashing.

Charlotte Howard said...

Mrs F was very good at breaking up fights at school. There's no doubt that women have the advantage when it comes to dealing with men - who don't really like to hit them.

Anonymous said...

David, is a Liverpool kiss the same as a Glasgow kiss? I've always wondered how they do that-do you have to be of similar height? If I tried it, not that I would, I would end up head-butting the other persons chest at best, knee-caps at worst.
Paul-we now have a competition in our home-who can spot the most photos and articles in BFP by different councillors, photo gets two points, quote gets one point. I must get out more.

Anonymous said...

FM - don't encourage us to seek even more publicity than we already crave.

The correct technique is to firmly grip both lapels, lower your head and pull your opponents face quickly on to it. Blood should gush from the nose, making breathing temporarily difficult.

Personally, I haven't been involved in a fight for 35 years so I probably couldn't do this now as my reactions are too slow. Besides, we should make love, not war.

Anonymous said...

Nice chat up line that David ?

"we should make love, not war".

Has it worked for you in the past.

I might have to "sort you out" if it was intended for FM. arrest me quick some body. no need to worry I can tell it was ment generally, and FM would have delivered one of those "glasgow kisses" now she knows how to deliver them.

I thought Bouncers described the effect they had on the poor person in receipt of their charms, as they bounced off the pavement or off the wall. might be wrong.

Picklesmum said...

21CM - you won't spot my councillor in bfp, she is afraid people will say negative things about her! Very likely as I have NO idea what she does, due to her blog stopping mysteriously in February.

Anonymous said...

PM - that narrows your location down to Badwell Ash, Elmswell, Norton or Woolpit.

Picklesmum said...

oooh! getting closer!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info David.You sound quite an expert. I'm sorry you find women scary people-are you sure you are meeting the right ones? Although Bury Boy better watch out the next time I get a teeny wee bit cross. He already says that one small Scottish woman in a strop is not something he likes in the house too often, and if I can do a Glasgow kiss too he is in big trouble.

Anonymous said...

BB - I wouldn't look upon me as a role model if I were you.

FM - perhaps I'm generalising from the particular, or rather, two in particular. There's no point in naming names!