Thursday, February 02, 2012

British bus drivers must not call passengers 'babe'

We read:
"A bus company is a warning drivers to not call passengers 'babe' in a bid to avoid lawsuits from offended women. Brighton & Hove Buses posted warnings to drivers in its head offices after a complaint from a woman who said she felt insulted by being called 'babe' when she boarded a bus.

The company also warned drivers they could face the sack if they call passengers 'love' or 'darling'.

One employee, who did not want to be named, said: 'It's just the height of political correctness. The drivers know how to best speak to customers. 'People don't want their drivers to be robots. What is the world coming to when you can't have a bit of friendly banter with passengers?'

Managing director Roger French said: 'A lady complained to us that she thought the language used by a driver was demeaning to her.

Source

"Babe" is always complimentary as far as I know so the woman who was offended must have had "issues".

Outside the Home Counties in England it is quite common for people to address one-another with terms of endearment -- with "Love" being the most common of such terms -- as it is in Australia. It is rather like the Southern U.S. "Honey" or "Hon". My favourite is one area where women commonly address one another as "M'dook" (My duck)!

9 comments:

Stan B said...

"Babe" reduces a woman to her basic physical attractiveness as a mate, possibly modified by her social demeanor and or wardrobe, without regard to personal achievement or psychological makeup.

At least, that's what an offended woman will tell you. Probably a woman who was taught to be offended by outward manifestations of the male psyche, which reduces most women to their physical attractiveness as a mate, possibly modified by her demeanor and or wardrobe....

Sig said...

"... in a bid to avoid lawsuits from offended women."

These "offended women" really need to lighten the f*ck up and worry about things that really matter.

Anonymous said...

There are other terms that anti-social woman could/should have been called!!

Bird of Paradise said...

PC just another word for STUPIDITY and socialists radicalism

Anonymous said...

Today, terms of endearment, once seen as simply good manners or politeness, are now yet another excuse for women to be "offended". Of course, if "Mr. Right" says the same thing, or sticks his hand up their skirt, no problem.

Women are basically irrelevant and should be ignored at all costs.

Anonymous said...

On the other hand, there's no reason for a civil servant to be that familiar. Sir and Maam would do just fine.

Go Away Bird said...

That sould they hear in england is the sounds of RICHARD the LIONHEART,ADMIRAL HORATIO NELSON and WINSTON CHURCHILL spinning in the graves and QUEEB VICTORIA as well

Anonymous said...

Calling ANY of my evil minions "babe" will most usually get you an ass chewing from the young lady in question. We are in the South however, so honey, sugar, sweetheart, and darlin' are safe alternatives.

example...
(stupid late teen male in Hot Topic) "Yo babe."

(13-yr old Evil Minion)"Is this a cavalry formation?"

(stupid teen male)"What?"

(EM)-"I'll take that as a no. For starters, speak English. Second, I am not nor am I ever likely to be your baby, so drop the gangster familiarity. You don't know me and are not going to. Mainly because, number three, I'm thirteen. So stop drooling and go stare at someone else's tits you hormonal, dimwitted, cor magnon cretin."

(Stupid teen male)**backs away slowly**

P.S.-I love my minions...

Flu-Bird said...

Babe was PAUL BUNYANS big blue OX