"WORDS AT WORK CAMPAIGN"

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"WORDS AT WORK CAMPAIGN"

7 yrs ago

A few days ago I was present at a meeting and we had an invited speaker. Very interesting talk and was well received. At the end he said "thank you guys for your wonderful welcome."

Now it was a mixed crowd and later a couple of the ladies mentioned how irritated they felt to be addressed as "guy." It didn't bother me at all and I have been guilty on occasion of addressing mixed company as same.

The reason for this thread is... this morning I read that Australian of the Year David Morrison says the term "guys" should no longer be used in workplaces...and...is today launching a new Diversity Council Australia video which aims to crack down on language which excludes minority groups.

David Morrison says: "Exclusive language, gender-based language or inappropriate language, has as much a deleterious or disadvantaged effect as something where you're saying something blatantly inappropriate to another human being." He said he was not trying to become the "language police" by supporting the new campaign, and expected to be criticised for the idea.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-01/david-morrison-wants-australians-to-stop-saying-'guys'/7465824

Well...I am criticising him...I don't see the big deal and would be interested to hear what others think.....

12 comments

Gerry

7 yrs ago

I posted similar in the "Lets chat - no set topic" thread about an hour previous to your post. But still a fair topic.

Sophie

7 yrs ago

Sorry Gerry...didn't know..haven't been in that thread today....

Sophie

7 yrs ago

The word “guy,” as used today can mean a man…person…individual or creature....so I'm told. Many may know the history of the word and why it's kept alive.

Four hundred years ago.. a plot to blow up the British Houses of Lords and with it the King of England failed completely. The plot was instigated by Guido Fawkes. Later the name was changed to "Guy"...and still has some historical and cultural impact...with November 5th being known as "Bonfire Night" in the UK.

In my gym, when I'm speaking to everyone I say "guys" and no one minds, no one told me they minded. I may not usually call a group of elderly ladies "guys" though out of courtesy.

HOLA

7 yrs ago

My Mother was totally amazed when I took her into a restaurant and the waiter asked, "What would you guys like?" She said" now were're guys?", I said' Mum don't worry about it, this is how the young ones talk today". It is another American slang word that has crept into our culture. The crude language of Hip Hop is really disgusting and I don't know how this was allowed to happen. All you ever hear is "Mother- effer". Shocking.

I do like the name Guy and called my second son Guy as his middle name. I always liked Sir Guy in Robin Hood.

No one's ever complained to me about using the word "guys" and I have done to all sorts of nationalities and both male and female.

Think people are getting too picky these days and that includes our
Aussie of the year.

For some reason it grated on me when about 4 years ago this was how hubby and I were addressed in a restaurant by a young waiter.

Now it appears to be commonplace but I would prefer to be referred to in another way but I am not going to make a scene about it.

Would prefer to be addressed as "folk" instead....but seniors are on the way out so our views probably count for little these days with the younger people.

catsahoy

7 yrs ago

have never really thought about it, and it doesnt worry me. but FOLKS sounds ok, would save anyone being offended, but some would still complain,

Some people are even called Guy, for example Guy Sebastian.Think David Morrison is making a mountain out of a molehill.

PlanB

7 yrs ago

I dislike the word GUYS -- I guess because it is SO American -- I always say BLOKES.

I am sick of why we have to try and copy America --and even have the likes of the GOLD COAST where every suburb is copied like Miami, etc WHY can we not have out OWN unique names and use Indigenous names for places, also instead of names after some pommies -- although a bit too late I guess to change them too.

Banjo

7 yrs ago

Poor Americans get blamed for everything. The word "guy" originated in England, not America.

I haven't got a problem with using the word to certain groups , for instance my students. I think they prefer it to being called folks. I save folks for the older crowd, but I find even they don't seem to mind these days. Wouldn't address a group of ladies as guys however.

It may have begun in the UK, but it came to Australia from America.

Gerry

7 yrs ago

Lucky they don't have the same person as Aussie of the year twice. David Morrison was lucky to get one go at it. Surely we can do better than him !

PlanB

7 yrs ago

I am darn sure we can get someone better than Morrison, Gerry what the hell has he done? Seeing him get it if you had got one yourself it would make you feel like handing it back.

Sophie

7 yrs ago

Nonsense...this is the only time I have heard some people disagree with him (including myself)...otherwise to that...he has a lot of support.

Do better than him? We can always do better...what do you mean by better? I believe they have a pretty definite criteria when choosing an Australian of the Year.

PlanB

7 yrs ago

It was not popular with many at all about Morrison getting Aussie of the year -- he has done NOTHING to deserve it

Monika

7 yrs ago

If this topic is Mr Morrisons reason for a claim to fame then I agree that we should have a better person as AOTY. I don't remember seeing any reports of him being useful.

Give him the boot, huh :)

The big problem with Morrison's complaint is that, while he has a big list of words he doesn't want us to say, he doesn't have an equivalent list of words he would like us to use.

It's all very negative.

Here's the actual promo video Words That Work (from the Diversity Council of Australia with David Morrison) ... personally I thought it a rather light-hearted take on the wonderful world of 'corporate speak' (CS aka BS), which I might add, is a very pet hate of mine at times.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jTt3Vb4FTI&feature=youtu.be

I was also somewhat amused by the following:

“We want to get people thinking about the language they use in the workplace and whether it’s inclusive or excludes people,” Diversity Council of Australia’s CEO Lisa Annese told news.com.au.
“We’re not telling people what to say, we’re encouraging people to think about the words they use at work so everyone feels respected, valued and included. We know from research that when more inclusive language is used at work, people are greater engaged and more proactive.”

Ms Annese suggests using phrases like “Hi everyone” or “Hi team”.

I have a bank of work-related CS words/phrases that really fire me up ... she used three of them ... 'engaged', 'proactive' and 'Hi team'.

I've even invented Lingo Bingo for those poor souls bombarded by work speak at meetings. Give copies to your mates and tick 'em off sneakily as the CS/BS is sprouted out the front. Makes the time go quicker I find.

Hands up all those who like being addressed with "Hi team"?

I detest it.

Daisy

7 yrs ago

Ha ha, love your 'Lingo Bingo' RnR.

Must say I have never had "Hi team" directed at me. Lots of "We are a team", "We work as a team", "Teamwork" etc etc but always "Hi everyone". Would definitely have hated "Hi team".

Abbott tried the "team" thing on the Oz public and we all know that did not go down well.

"WORDS AT WORK CAMPAIGN"

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