Monday
(0)One of the downmarket rags that sullies the newsstand on Sunday mornings here in Britain, The People, reports on a story that is so absurd that I would think it an urban legend if I had not read the official reaction to it. A man who works for Southern Railways and scrawls a daily joke on a whiteboard at Hove Station in order to cheer up miserable commuters has been suspended from his job, pending an official investigation. Why? Because one of his jokes was about a dyslexic who went to a toga party dressed as a goat. According to a Southern Railways official:
We had three complaints in two hours. Certain people do find things offensive and you have to be very careful these days. Some people might have found it amusing but we have to cater for all our customers.
Yes, "certain people" definitely make it their business to be offended by things. Howsabout ignoring them and catering for the customers who find it offensive that Southern Railways could be so incredibly silly? Another rail official tried to justify the suspension and investigation thusly:
It is something that could contravene our equal opportunities policy.
This is not "political correctness gone mad". It is madness masquerading as corporate responsibility.
Wyh od dyslxesic gte os mda adn bnet otu of shaep orve a hamrlses jkoe? I mena i'st nto lkie thye weer relaly upt dwon ro atynhig. Ti wsa srot fo ctue. I dbout teher si giong a progom aigastn thme ro smeohting.
Posted by toleikon at September 13, 2004 05:11 PM
I struggle to imagine anyone actually complaining - didn't they just make it up about the complaints so they could further some anti-humour political cause? Anyway, if it is dyslexic people behind this cause at least they won't be getting far with any terrorist training manuals! :-)
Posted by mike at September 13, 2004 05:38 PM
What amazes me is that there is anyone left that hasnt been so beat down by PC culture that he would make this joke.
Obviously his condition was faulty and he needs to be taken to a re-education camp.
Posted by Hallex at September 13, 2004 05:40 PM
How many dyslexics does it take to change a liggeblub?
Posted by David Carr at September 13, 2004 06:32 PM
It is something that could contravene our equal opportunities policy.
So they may be hiring goats in the near future... I assume they will be Nanny Goats !
Posted by ernest young at September 13, 2004 07:39 PM
Ah. For a moment I was wondering what a 'perpetually offended strike' was.
Posted by Tim at September 13, 2004 07:48 PM
(Insert obligatory bad pun about the dyslexic agnostic insomniac who stays up all night wondering if there is a dog) ;-)
Posted by Dave J at September 13, 2004 08:08 PM
Well it can't have been a dyslexic who complained because they couldn't have seen the joke.
Posted by Peter at September 13, 2004 11:38 PM
They did eventually ask a dyslexic if he was offended by the joke. He said, "On."
Posted by Just John at September 14, 2004 12:49 AM
The above commenters are all sick, evil people who are all going to hell. Quite fittingly, they have found a home here at Samizdata.
Posted by Jackie D at September 14, 2004 12:57 AM
True story - my local phone directory used to have an entry saying:
Dislexic Association - see Dyslexic Association.
Posted by Ian Bennett at September 14, 2004 07:52 AM
I don't get it. Sheep offended by a goat story ?
Britain can be such a mad place.
Posted by Sylvain Galineau at September 14, 2004 12:47 PM
Ian Bennet - Yours was the first comment I read on tuning in this morning, and it's hilarious. Thanks.
Posted by Verity at September 14, 2004 01:45 PM
How many dyslexics does it take to change a liggeblub?
Eon
Posted by James at September 14, 2004 02:08 PM
