City Council Would Make Frowning Off-Limits (Sensitivity Nazis Alert!)

San Jose Mercury-News ^ | 4/7/03 | Nicole Wong

[MikalM]

Palo Alto may need to call in the Demeanor Police.

The city council is wrestling with a code of conduct that urges elected officials not to roll their eyes. Or shake their heads. Or frown.

Experts say the council's plan to discourage non-verbal forms of ``disagreement or disgust'' is odd, unenforceable and almost an infringement on free speech.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Experts say the council's plan to discourage non-verbal forms of ``disagreement or disgust'' is odd, unenforceable and almost an infringement on free speech.

There's no almost about it.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

This is what happens when we allow liberalism to destroy social norms and mores.

Suddenly we find ourselves having to write detailed "rules of conduct" to teach adults how to behave like civilized human beings.

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[fml]

``disagree without being so disagreeable,''
____________________________________________

Hahahahaha... it's got to be a liberal town.

[Maedhros]

In my experience, city governments are much more likely to be composed of idiotic clowns than county ones.

[gaijin]

This is just such fertile "Rush" material, it's just crazy....

I think there's about a 100% change he'll talk about this tomorrow.

[freeeee]

"Winston turned round abruptly. He had set his features into the expression of quiet optimism which it was advisable to wear when facing the telescreen...A sudden hot sweat had broken out all over Winston's body. His face remained completely inscrutable. Never show dismay! Never show resentment! A single flicker of the eyes could give you away."
- "1984"

[Temple Drake]

does this mean no women can run for city council anymore? Because(speaking as a female) I have never met a woman who could control her eyerolling, frowning, scowling, etc....flame away, gals, but it's true

[widgysoft]

They'll be wanting V-Chips next, which control their speech. So when they speak in public they won't accidentally offend or sadden people.

[Husker24]

I already hear him mention it today on the way home from work.

[Savage Beast]

"Almost an infringement on free speech"???

They could make everyone wear a burqa. It wouldn't be the only similarity between the Left and the Taliban.

[muir_redwoods]

How do you suppose these weenies would like the finger I'm holding up?

[Luna]

Council member Judy Kleinberg, who led the committee that drafted the guidelines

Judy, Judy, Judy...I have a few words for your guidelines:

Stupid
Asinine to the Nth degree
Ridiculous
Infrignment of eye-rolling and tsking rights
Silly
Harebrained
Mad as a hatter
Idiotic
Ludicrous
Absurd
Contemptible
Foolish
Unreasonable
Irrational

Judy, you're dumber than a bag of hammers.

[GSWarrior]

Reminds me of when I went to a Green party meeting (Gulp!!)back in the 90s. They had someone serving as a "vibes monitor" to ensure that no one would say anything that could be construed as mean-spirited.

[Jamten]

and he did :)

[Jamten]

Sounds like my workplace here in the liberal land.

[Luna]

Infrignment = infringement

[exit82]

"He's looking at me --make him stop!"-- two 5 year old siblings in the back seat.

"He's looking at me--make him stop!"--two 50 year old Palo Alto councilcritters.

Palo Alto official motto " Can't we all just get along?"

Palo Alto official song: "Kumbaya"

[GSWarrior]

This from the same city that has banned outdoor smoking within 20 yards of the entrance to a business.