Political Correctness vs Religous Subversion

[sperm]

Last week I had to call our IT hopedesk (helpdesk). This call gets redirected somewhere in the world, last time it was Ireland, dunno where it is lately.
Anyway, I got some bored yanky woman, who drolled through the questions, department, surname etc.

Then she asked my "christian" name, and it was then that I was surprised .... I realise I hadn't heard the term "first name" referred to as "christian" in years !
Especially with all the craziness in the world, you would have thought they would rethink their forms.

Anyway, seeing as she was a yank, she confirmed my belief that the yank sterotype believe the bibles is the one truth and the ultimately justification.
She became quite nasty when I stopped and asked "Isnt that a little wrong to ask in that manner?"

Alot of people are against politcal correctness, and other abhore religion. Personally, I would side on sensitivity and I'm glad that we dont heard the religious version anymore.

Other opinions anyone ?

P.S. I'm still waiting for my hopedesk request to advance anywhere, I think she dropped mine in the bin :grr:

[Necron]

I would never use the religious term, especially because I work for the government and they discourage it, but also because there are many other people of different race and ethnic backgrounds within the department!. Also I myself resent the fact that it is based on a Christian principle.

[thingy]

I've never really thought of it in that light. The only reason I stopped saying "christian" name when I was on helldesk is because of the L-Users who didn't understand what a "christian name" and "surname" was, so just reverted back to the more basic and easily understandable "first name" and "last name".

[Chocoholic]

Before all this PC shit when kids still used to sing Christmas carols at school. I used to work at Target. I hated that job and hated the customers more.

I admit I had a bad attitude and was rude to pretty much every one especially on the rare occasions I had to work on the registers. One Christmas on my 10th day in a row some bitch decided to cause me pain while about 10 customers queued behind her. As she walked away I said Merry Christmas just to raz her a bit as she was leaving. She turns around and started yelling and screaming about how she wasn’t Christian blah blah I am going to have you fired this afternoon blah blah.

Now I don’t work in customer service but still don’t wish strangers merry Christmas. Happy holidays works just as well, sure it makes me sound like a prat but it beats some phyco yelling at me.

[dwarfthrower]

I find the historical revisionism inherent in renaming things in a more politically correct way a little disturbing. Just because the historical etymology of a word derives from a particular religion doesn't mean that the use of that word implies any bias toward the religion to which it owes it's origin.

I'd prefer people actually put their efforts into doing something constructive towards tolerance rather than getting worked up over someone saying "christian name" or "merry christmas".

[Necron]

Point taken, I agree that I would rather see a more accepting society towards these sorts of issues. I guess I dont like it because It symbolises something that I am not..... I do not belong to any religion and am a sort of Atheist or if you might put it this way, a humanist.

[dwarfthrower]

I'm not religious either... militant atheist in fact. Doesn't mean I don't celebrate christmas or have a christian name or was not born in 1976 "Anno Domini".

My point was that it actually doesn't "symbolise" anything. Putting a cross or a star of david on your gravestone symbolises something. Calling your first name a "christian" name doesn't symbolise anything more than reading "Red Hat Linux 9 Bible" does. It's just a word that has more than one meaning.

[Necron]

Im not going to argue, I agree with most of what you are saying!, but I have some oppinion differances!. Thats all I wish to say on this topic

[pleed]

I use the term christian name whenever I am referring to mine, or someone else's first name. (or I just say 'what's yer name'). It has never occured to me that it's religious, I just thought it was a coincidence.

[scathing]

Originally posted by Necron
Point taken, I agree that I would rather see a more accepting society towards these sorts of issues. I guess I dont like it because It symbolises something that I am not..... I do not belong to any religion and am a sort of Atheist or if you might put it this way, a humanist.

Don't you find that just a little bit sexist? :rolleyes:

That you have a problem with "Christian name", but not using some derivative of the male sex when refering to homo sapiens in general, just shows that you're not any more "accepting", just that your prejudices lie in different places.

[midg3t]

I call it a first name and then probably use last name a bit more often than surname, but I don't have much preference because "surname" means nothing more than "last name" to me.

I'm strongly Atheist (or whatever label you want to stick on I-believe-in-me-and-that's-it-ism). I work in customer service and it shits me when everyone is wishing me Merry Christmas. I just stick with my usual "have a nice day" or "No worries. bye." drone during holiday times.

I think changing some words from "---man" to "---person" is a waste of time, probably because it doesn't affect me... but some changes don't work, like "fisherperson". It's far less personal than "fisherman", nevermind the connotation.

I go with political correctness when compared with religious subversion (if I knew what subversion meant :), but I also choose logic before political correctness.

Edit: When I say it shits me, I don't go off bitching to everyone about why they should be atheist too. I just fume inside for a few moments and say "you too" (meaning "Merry Christmas to you too") :)

[besieger]

well, im not going to talk about my religous preference, or about being politically correct, im just going to bitch about how people need to have a little give and take in their lives.

We all went through primary school, and all of us at somestage would have been teased about something. Now, what did your mother tell you to do? Ignore it? Walk away? im sure, something like that. It was only if it was a major problem that you should talk to a teacher. What has happened to this ethos these days?

Its almost as if, if a kid was getting teased at school, their parents would sue the teaser's for 'emotional damages' or some such thing.

Now, when we all grow up to be adults, we decide to put ourselves into groups, be they deciding to be christian, or not believing in a higher power, or a particular political belief or anything. These groups are not so much physical, but things that we believe, that we are likely to get irrate if someone attacks them (as they are a very personal thing). However, would it be reasonable to expect that by taking on these beliefs, we take on the possible clashes with commonly used words?

and, if we are offended by some such example as 'fisherman' or 'Merry Christmas' surely we should just walk away, and thing the speaker of such 'insults' as an insolent non-believer?

im not making too much sense, but i gtg,

my 2c on the topic anyway

[tikdoph]

Speaking of "isms" ...

[MC SoD]

I use "first name" at work, but you'd be surprised how many people say:
"Smith"
then you say "No, your FIRST name" and they still think the answer is Smith. Eventually I say "Okay, and how about your Christian name?"
I don't worry about offending them, if they could understand what I meant when I said "first" then it's their own fault. I have also tried asking for their "given" name, and that hasn't ever worked. (by the way, I speak very clearly, so it's not just that I am mumbling or anything).

If someone gets uptight over something like "Christian" name, then they need to get a life. Who cares? I hate political correctness when it means that you have to obsess over everything you say. If something isn't meant to be offensive, don't look for an insult that isn't there. (like people who get offended about things like policeman or fireman). Cause then you're just being a drama queen.