This just amazes...and annoys...me

[MaryAnnDVC]

I know there are bigger, badder things in life, but...

DD has her course offerings booklet for next year (she'll be a HS Junior), and there's a class called Entrepreneurship. The first line in the description is:

As most of you know, an entrepreneur is a small businessman.

Man????

Heck, I want to scream when anyone...especially supposedly enlightened, modern people, like news reporters...say "fireman" and "policeman". Why doesn't "firefighter" and "police officer" roll off their lips more easily??? It seems SO natural for me to use those names at this point. It's not like I'm expecting people to call the hole in the middle of the street a "peoplehole"! You'd think a school would be more conscious of the fact that they ARE teaching both genders.

I rarely, if ever, complain to the school about anything (I just grind me teeth at night ), but I'm going to write the school a note. Right now I'm thinking along the lines of "Welcome to the 21st century..." I want to come off more "informative" than complaining...well, maybe a touch of complaining.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Also, grammatically...should it be "small business man"? My older DD LOL'd because she just pictured some little short guy in a suit.

 

[HayGan]

I know there are bigger, badder things in life, but...

DD has her course offerings booklet for next year (she'll be a HS Junior), and there's a class called Entrepreneurship. The first line in the description is: Man????

Heck, I want to scream when anyone...especially supposedly enlightened, modern people, like news reporters...say "fireman" and "policeman". Why doesn't "firefighter" and "police officer" roll off their lips more easily??? It seems SO natural for me to use those names at this point. It's not like I'm expecting people to call the hole in the middle of the street a "peoplehole"! You'd think a school would be more conscious of the fact that they ARE teaching both genders.

I rarely, if ever, complain to the school about anything (I just grind me teeth at night ), but I'm going to write the school a note. Right now I'm thinking along the lines of "Welcome to the 21st century..." I want to come off more "informative" than complaining...well, maybe a touch of complaining.

Doesn't bother me but they are incorrect in that an entreprenuer doesn't have to own a small business. Some are very, very large such as ummmm Bill Gates.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

they are incorrect in that an entreprenuer doesn't have to own a small business. Some are very, very large such as ummmm Bill Gates.

Good point. The next "sentence" in the description is "Someone who takes the risk of starting and running a business for profit." So perhaps they mean "small" in the sense that each venture is just starting out.

 

[bsnyder]

Doesn't bother me but they are incorrect in that an entreprenuer doesn't have to own a small business. Some are very, very large such as ummmm Bill Gates.

It may be big now, but Bill Gates started out with a very small business.

 

[NMAmy]

Also, grammatically...should it be "small business man"? My older DD LOL'd because she just pictured some little short guy in a suit.

That was my very same thought. All around, it's just written poorly. I'd expect more from a school, for heaven's sake.

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

You wanna know what annoys me???? when certain people, who shall remain nameless MARE, always have a FULL PM BOX. I just loooooove those annoying "mailbox is full" messages.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Mare slinks slowly under her computer desk, embarrassed and shamed.

I'm a PM hoarder! It's a terrible thing, really. Perhaps you and Dan can start a "Mare's PM box is full" support group.

ppsssttt...I cleaned out...just a couple. But I'll put it on my Spring Cleaning list.

 

[Skywalker]

Sorry but things like that don't bother me in the least.

 

[disykat]

I don't get the problem. I am chairman of a board of directors, a human being, a woman, a part of mankind. I have a female friend who is a policeman. Seriously, the word man can be a whole word or part of one. I don't think using it excludes half the population unless you're talking specifics - like the men's room.

 

[ElizK]

Nope, doesn't bother me a bit.

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....It's not like I'm expecting people to call the hole in the middle of the street a "peoplehole"!.....

Hmmmmmm, selective PC?

Christine, I was privileged some days ago to get off a PM to Mare, though I have not heard back yet.

 

[Doctor P]

It's such a poor definition of an entrepreneur, that I think women should be glad that they aren't associated with it!!! Seriously, there are a lot of great entrepreneurs who happen to be women. Gender has no business in a discussion of what an entrepreneur is, or what makes a good entrepreneur.

 

[Beth76]

Doesn't bother me a bit.

 

[Hannathy]

doesn't bother me at all. Man is considered generic for all humans as in all men are created equal.

 

[jenks0718]

Doesnt bother me at all.

 

[disneymom3]

It bugs me too--a lot--and in addition to that, I think their overall definition is very weak and lame.

 

[minkydog]

So what word would you use? Businessperson seems rather clumsy to me.

 

[georgina]

It would have bothered me too. Small business owner would work.

As for the woman who is a policeman - that strikes me as just plain wrong!

And when they said "all men are created equal" they only meant white men who owned property anyway.

 

[Mickey's sunshine]

Mare slinks slowly under her computer desk, embarrassed and shamed.

I'm a PM hoarder! It's a terrible thing, really. Perhaps you and Dan can start a "Mare's PM box is full" support group.

ppsssttt...I cleaned out...just a couple. But I'll put it on my Spring Cleaning list.

I still love ya anyways Mare. Oh and that support group sounds like an excellent idea!!! I will try to get a PM to you later.