"Ladies and Gentlemen" becoming an outdated term?

[fly girl]

I don't think you have to worry about what you say as much as you think you do though. A few people offended on social media is not reflective of real life. You will likely never run into anyone that actually takes offense to the phrase 'ladies and gentleman'. You can keep saying it. No one would have called you out if you bought the previous version of the Always package. These stories are silly and not worth getting worked up over. That professor is just one guy and if you say you like Spongebob no one in your life is going to call you racist.

I've never once felt like my life was impacted because I was too scared to talk to people for fear of saying something offensive. Only time would be in another country where I don't know the customs. If you aren't someone that goes around saying legitimately racist/sexist things, which you likely aren't, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. These stories should have zero impact on your life.

First, I’m not getting worked up. I just simply responded to your question as to why it bothers so many. I gave you my answer, honestly and thoughtfully.

Now that I am no longer working as a flight attendant, I don’t worry as much because I won’t lose my job. But I do feel for my friends still in that profession — and in any job that works with the public. You definitely have to be careful! And it could potentially impact your livelihood. Someone can be all too eager to claim they were treated unfairly. And today many of us (and I have been guilty myself) can rush to judgement before hearing the whole story. Employers don’t want any negative press, so I wouldn’t be shocked if an employee was terminated to save public face. So I don’t see it as something that has zero impact on people. It does!

The Spongebob thing was just a reference to how absurd things have become. You’re correct, that (like Always) do not have any impact on my life. But I do feel they add fuel to the fire to get people up in arms over nothing. Like I said, I’m sick of hearing about people looking to create controversy. And I’m sick of the media covering this garbage. It’s doing squat to help our society. It’s tabloid junk, leave it to them. We have enough division already, quit perpetuating more!

I still don’t think you truly understand my side, and maybe I don’t get yours fully either. That’s ok. We’re respectful and can say it without going off the deep end.

That I appreciate.

 

[Libbysmom2000]

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/arti...utm_term=link&utm_content=2019-10-15T22:51:06
Air Canada is no longer going to use "Ladies and Gentlemen" to address guests, instead saying "Everyone".


I'm just thinking there's a lot of announcements at the Disney parks that start with "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls"....is that eventually going to be changed as well?

I'm not understanding why this is an issue. Using "everyone" is more inclusive. Not every man and woman is actually a gentleman or lady.

I can't believe anyone is making a big deal of this. Especially considering all the actual atrocities going on in the world.

 

[fly girl]

I'm not understanding why this is an issue. Using "everyone" is more inclusive. Not every man and woman is actually a gentleman or lady.

I can't believe anyone is making a big deal of this. Especially considering all the actual atrocities going on in the world.

I don’t think anyone on here is making a big deal about it.

The thread is just discussing it and our PC world. Have you read any of the responses? I know it’s a lot at 19 pages, but you’ll see that this thread is much more than an airline changing verbiage.

 

[LSUmiss]

Because we are impacted. We are all now collectively learning what we can or cannot say and/or do.

It isn't fear of change. Many of us grew up in a time that was not kind at all to those who were different races, religions, or sexual orientation. We have grown a lot, and we continue to grow. Some of these changes are/were very necessary, and seeing that happen is wonderful.

Like I said before, I don't think anyone on here is purposefully trying to offend, including myself.

But it does impact all of us, because now we feel we have to scrutinize every word we say to anyone outside of our home.

I personally feel in our currently climate, I cannot be authentically myself in front of strangers because who knows what trigger word I could say innocently. I don't say offensive things, but then again, I never imagined saying "ladies and gentlemen" would be offensive. I just didn't. Maybe I come from a different time than you. I am Gen X.

But basic phrases and actions I have used for almost a half of a century are all of a suddenly becoming offensive, and that is odd to me. And the rapid speed of everything single word being scrutinized is mind boggling. I truly think people are actively looking to be offended. To that end I ask, why? Looking to be offended is nonsense to me. And a huge waste of time.

Not all PC things are bad, please don't get me wrong.

But I just read an article recently that a professor claimed that Spongebob was a racist. HE IS A SPONGE! Omg, when does it end? It is this constant scrutiny over every detail that has impacted all of us.

I try to keep up because I do care enough not to offend someone, even though I may not understand it. But in that same token, I also have a right to think some things are hooey.

Either you can try to understand my side, or you won't.
However, I actively try to understand others. IMHO the best thing we can do as a society is look at both sides of the coin and work together.

So with that said, most of us to try and understand. However, we also feel inundated with the constant barrage of relearning how we are to be socially adapt in a world that is all of a sudden very different than what we used to know.

It also is the tediousness that is off-putting for many. The pronoun chart that was posted earlier can make ppl think “oh for goodness sake”. I think I’m a good example of why this gets ridiculous b/c if anyone is familiar with my post, you can see that I’m usually an advocate FOR PC. But, this is just getting absurd IMO. And, like you said, I will absolutely respect any individual’s preferences whom I come in contact with, but if this level of tediousness is how that community wants to represent themselves then I will also think it’s getting ridiculous.

ETA: I also blame social media b/c now everyone is an activist for some cause b/c it’s easy to do when it’s just a few clicks on a keyboard.

 

[Kennywood]

If a person goes looking to be offended, chances are that they'll find it, even where no offense was intended.

 

[skyblue17]

I guess I do not get being impacted as being a bad thing. Why shouldn't we be expected to evolve and adapt as we learn? I can admit that I don't always get the pronoun thing right, but as more people have been able to be open, it's something that I am now more aware of and try to be mindful of. It doesn't take anything from me, and the only way things are going to be get and be more inclusive for everyone is to hope that even those not affected can at least accept and try a little. So, yes, being impacted happens, but that's part of being a member of society, to me. To say "I could try and understand this and do what I can," or I can stick my head in the sand and say it's all too much.

 

[fly girl]

I guess I do not get being impacted as being a bad thing. Why shouldn't we be expected to evolve and adapt as we learn? I can admit that I don't always get the pronoun thing right, but as more people have been able to be open, it's something that I am now more aware of and try to be mindful of. It doesn't take anything from me, and the only way things are going to be get and be more inclusive for everyone is to hope that even those not affected can at least accept and try a little. So, yes, being impacted happens, but that's part of being a member of society, to me. To say "I could try and understand this and do what I can," or I can stick my head in the sand and say it's all too much.

It is not a bad thing, I don't think anyone said it was. But a PP asked why do we care if we are not impacted, when in reality we are because we care! No one is sticking their head in the sand saying it is too much. However, we do have the right to question the change. Is it because it is really needed, or is it changing because of a few people who went looking to create a fabricated controversy?

(my answer was to overall PC issues, not just a specific one)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is it because it is really needed, or is it changing because of a few people who went looking to create a fabricated controversy?

or is it because a company simply decided to be more inclusive when addressing its customers as a group?

 

[fly girl]

or is it because a company simply decided to be more inclusive when addressing its customers as a group?

As I said in my first post, I have zero issue with changing it to everyone.

And I also said in the post you just quoted and cropped, my answer was a generalization about all of it ... not any specific topic.

 

[skyblue17]

It is not a bad thing, I don't think anyone said it was. But a PP asked why do we care if we are not impacted, when in reality we are because we care! No one is sticking their head in the sand saying it is too much. However, we do have the right to question the change. Is it because it is really needed, or is it changing because of a few people who went looking to create a fabricated controversy?

(my answer was to overall PC issues, not just a specific one)

There have been people in this very thread saying it's too much, that the culture has gone too far. And if that's what they want to think, have at it. I just personally don't agree, because it's okay to ask more of ourselves. It's amazing how easy things can become once you get over the hump of "but why should I do this?"

 

[fly girl]

There have been people in this very thread saying it's too much, that the culture has gone too far. And if that's what they want to think, have at it. I just personally don't agree, because it's okay to ask more of ourselves. It's amazing how easy things can become once you get over the hump of "but why should I do this?"

I think we are at an impasse, and that is ok.

An airline changing announcements to be inclusive, fine. Using everybody is a non issue to me.

However, I believe people have a right to question and possibly feel it’s too far for their reality. Everyone’s personal world is different. The big thing I took away from this is if someone said they were offended, everyone unanimously agreed they would make the necessary changes. No one said they wouldn’t call someone “they” instead of “s/he.” But I also don’t think it’s wrong to use s/he in everyday conversation either. Most people have no problem going by a gender in our day to day interactions. But if someone did, we are more than willing to change it to make them comfortable. Just tell us!

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Would comrades be offensive?

 

[okeydokey]

Would comrades be offensive?

LOL, seems quite acceptable these days.

 

[LSUmiss]

LOL, seems quite acceptable these days.

That’s exactly what I was going to say!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Would comrades be offensive?

Very possibly, to people who lived through the Cold War.

 

[Sandeep1]

I'm not understanding why this is an issue. Using "everyone" is more inclusive. Not every man and woman is actually a gentleman or lady.

I can't believe anyone is making a big deal of this. Especially considering all the actual atrocities going on in the world.

Discussing something on a message board is hardly "making a big deal of it."

 

[Sandeep1]

Very possibly, to people who lived through the Cold War.

I've been to Russia twice, met some friends out there, called them comrades as a joke and they all thought it was hilarious.

 

[LSUmiss]

I've been to Russia twice, met some friends out there, called them comrades as a joke and they all thought it was hilarious.

I’m really hoping we are all joking at this point!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I’m really hoping we are all joking at this point!

About comrade? Yep!

 

[LSUmiss]

About comrade? Yep!

Ok whew!