Posted on 11/19/2008 11:26:34 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
Your friend's new fuchsia fedora might be hideous. But don't call it gay, or you might get a language lesson from the conversation cops.
Students at Queen's University who sprinkle their dialogue with an assortment of "homo" or "retarded" could find out the hard way that not everyone finds their remarks acceptable.
The Kingston university has hired student facilitators to step in when they overhear homophobic slurs, remarks bashing women or racially tinged insults, along with an array of other language that could be deemed offensive.
That means tête-à-têtes in the residence hallways may no longer be just between friends.
"If people are having a conversation with offensive content and they're doing it loud enough for a third person to hear it ... it's not private," said Jason Laker, dean of student affairs at Queen's.
"If you're doing anything that's interfering with what other people need to be doing, that's not cool."
The initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, is part of a broader program begun at the school this fall to foster diversity and encourage students to think about their beliefs.
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
the should go re-educate AQ on their mean Obammy remarks.
What a queer-assed thing to do!
Did Canada’s futile battle with Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn teach it anything?
No, apparently not.
Those PC fascists deserve a beat down. Seriously.
Organized snitches. My guess is that the number of violent encounters in the dorms will now suddenly increase.
They’re just trying to pick up the clean end of a turd.
This is tied in to that "Constitutional Right Against Being Offended" that so many seem to know about, but which I cannot find anywhere in the actual document, isn't it?
this is so ray
“The Kingston university has hired student facilitators to step in when they overhear homophobic slurs, remarks bashing women or racially tinged insults, along with an array of other language that could be deemed offensive.”
The surveillance state makes its grand appearance. You can bet it’s coming to high schools and grade schools before long.
will they still be able to call it Queen’s College?
As with the USSR and Nazi Germany free speech is gone. The left is in command again.
I don’t know... that sounds kind of homo-phobic, don’t you think?
;^)
There was a kid in my dorm who would fit the "Conversation Cop" stereotype to a T. Couple of football players got tired of his BS and hung him over the side of the roof by his ankles until he completed a couple of stanzas of the school fight song. End of problem.
These "people" have some real issues.
Why is it called “Homo Phobic” anyhow? It always seems like it’s the Homo’s that are the “Phobic” ones.
I know what you mean.
I’m not AFRAID of homosexuals, I simply do not approve of their choice in sexual practices.
The obvious question is why anybody would send their kids to these places.
" And if I resent the term “privileged” to describe me? Privileged in this sense is code for white male. No need to determine my economic history or how many of my ancestors died in concentration camps, or what jobs I have been passed over for in favor of some “disadvantaged” peer. By definition I would say this place is a hostile environment for me and I should avoid it. Which of course at my age I will but rest assured I am very careful where I send my kids to college and you can bet I take into account where job applicants went to school. In fact a college diploma rapidly is losing its status in hiring decisions. engineering degrees excepted. A liberal arts degree is a negative in my book. But these academic institutions like Queens University (can I say Queens?)are not interested in preparing students for work as much as changing society.
I doubt they would actually want to work. They want to
engage, or create, or some other activity that won’t
get hands dirty or work up sweat, or actually produce
something of value.
Future Capos.
The spy branch of Obama’s Gestap . . . Civilian Security Force.
Spies for the thought gestapo.
There are certain words I find offensive, and I don’t use them. My children don’t use them. But, private conversations should remain private.
That said, once I overheard people using offensive terms against me and my husband and children, and I confronted them personally. Then I just stopped associating with them.
But, appointed spies to monitor private conversations at a university? No thanks.
Just think, as the U.S. continues its slide, we’ll have nowhere to escape for freedom. Certainly not Canada.
Just FYI, since it doesn’t affect the decision to homeschool.
I do see it in the cards for high schools before long.
“If you’re doing anything that’s interfering with what other people need to be doing, that’s not cool.”
—
Does that include ease dropping on other peoples conversations in order to censor them?
The globe and mail grossly misrepresented the program at hand here. It’s unfortunate that a well-researched and innovative program is being immediately rejected by the Queen’s community. I can understand that the idea of a stranger jumping into a conversation to lecture students on inclusionary practices sounds incredibly unrealistic, not to mention inappropriate, however I believe that it is inappropriate in a way for individuals who are not harshly affected by issues of discrimination to dismiss attempts to reduce it on campus. One of the most important components to modern racial theory is that you cannot fully understand the power of discrimination until you experience it first-hand.
The program is actually far less intrusive than as implied by the article, and is based on a University of Michigan initiative that was very effective when implemented. The program is less concerned with intruding on people’s conversations, and much more interested in sparking productive conversation and discussion regarding issues of discrimination. It also offers a focus on inter-group dynamics and encouraging people to question their beliefs, which inevitably brings about change.
“I can understand that the idea of a stranger jumping into a conversation to lecture students on inclusionary practices sounds incredibly unrealistic, not to mention inappropriate, however I believe that it is inappropriate in a way for individuals who are not harshly affected by issues of discrimination to dismiss attempts to reduce it on campus.”
Right so straight people should not be involved in this program then, after all if you are straight you are not harshly affected by these ‘issues of discrimination’. When people freedom to express themselves is stepped on everyone, everywhere should object, expression is the second most fundamental freedom.
“One of the most important components to modern racial theory is that you cannot fully understand the power of discrimination until you experience it first-hand.”
The problem is this attempt to end ‘discrimination’ is in fact discriminating against others. I should be able to utter a racial or sexual slur in the college environment without some administrative appointed crony swooping down into rescuce the human race. I find such language offensive and counter productive but I find the right to use it key to any true exchange of ideas.
“The program is less concerned with intruding on people’s conversations, and much more interested in sparking productive conversation and discussion regarding issues of discrimination.”
It accomplishes this *BY INTRUDING ON PEOPLES CONVERSATIONS* how you can think this is not intimidation is beyond me. These are as close to thought police as you can get. If you want to have the beginning of the year dorm meeting to discuss these issues that is one thing but for the language gestapo to be trolling the halls looking for an opportunity to put bigots in their place you are just making some speech more equal than other speech (something very Orwellian about that).
“It also offers a focus on inter-group dynamics and encouraging people to question their beliefs, which inevitably brings about change.”
So you admit the goal is not to teach tolerance but to change peoples beliefs. I’m sorry that’s not the college administrations job. If a group of students who have no official standing want to run around and do that I’m all for it but when these brown shirts run around they are doing so with the authority of the university.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.