On the subject, I can't stand when people try to bring politics into the workplace or even during a friendly conversation.  Though I tend to agree with most of my friends and coworkers on political matters, there's many nuances.  I think where it's acceptable is in a relationship.  At least with my girlfriend we are pretty aligned on our beliefs.

I'm completely guilty of humoring the guy that brings up politics in work and social situations.  Fortunately at work and in my closest circle of friends "that guy" isn't there every day. 

Freaking people that know there's a plan, and it has been discussed what order we're going to do something in, but instead they just go and do crap in the order of what they can get accomplished "now" while it's convenient for them.  Thank you for making other peoples jobs harder and handcuffing us later into the project, bravo.

I hate when people use the word gay in a demeaning way.  Like, OMG, that's soooooo gay.  There's a girl at work who does it constantly.  She knows that I'm bisexual, and it doesn't seem to phase her one bit.  I also hate when people use retarded to explain something.

^ The "gay" thing is one of the first symptoms of the 'net generation's disconnect from what's acceptable in the real world. Saying this or that is "gay" was the in thing to do on the internet for a while in places that young people congregated. Nobody told them it was wrong for some reason. If said young person hasn't been around LGBT folks in real life, they have never had the chance to realize that it hurts. This is but one of many problems that we are going to see in the future with a generation that doesn't see people's real life reactions to conversation enough. Empathy amongst the young is drying up for example.

^ The "gay" thing is one of the first symptoms of the 'net generation's disconnect from what's acceptable in the real world. Saying this or that is "gay" was the in thing to do on the internet for a while in places that young people congregated. Nobody told them it was wrong for some reason. If said young person hasn't been around LGBT folks in real life, they have never had the chance to realize that it hurts. This is but one of many problems that we are going to see in the future with a generation that doesn't see people's real life reactions to conversation enough. Empathy amongst the young is drying up for example.

 

Some of my friends use the word that way and I just give it a pass. It seems unnecessary, and potentially harmful depending on the audience, but the intention behind the words is what counts to me. For them, this usage is totally divorced from the concept of homosexuality. Insensitivity and homophobia are not the same thing.

 

On a related note: the "depending on the audience" part is why I support, e.g., the NBA fining players for using the word 'faggot' in a public context, regardless of their intended meaning. On the one hand, it could be damaging to some gay people (like closeted kids), but more importantly it helps justify homophobia in the minds of homophobes. I wouldn't get bent out of shape if there were an incident without a fine, though. Unless it were clear from the context that the statement was intended to be a slur on gays, then I would take issue.

I'm bisexual and say things are gay. I might also say a stupid policy is retarded. I know neither is politically correct but I don't always live my life by what other people's versions of what politically correct are, but I try to avoid saying these things in front of other people, just like I try to avoid saying swear words around other people because they may not like it. I'm not always successful.

 

Agree that the usage of "gay" is totally divorced from homosexuality. Words do not always have the exact literal meaning when they're used. "Gay" is a slang adjective for displeasing. It's SLANG.

I'm bisexual and say things are gay. I might also say a stupid policy is retarded. I know neither is politically correct but I don't always live my life by what other people's versions of what politically correct are, but I try to avoid saying these things in front of other people, just like I try to avoid saying swear words around other people because they may not like it. I'm not always successful.

 

Agree that the usage of "gay" is totally divorced from homosexuality. Words do not always have the exact literal meaning when they're used. "Gay" is a slang adjective for displeasing. It's SLANG.

It is slang, but it also developed from the notion that homosexuality is bad. I understand it no longer has that connection for many people. So I agree it is not a big deal, but I would feel uncomfortable saying it myself, because to me its utterance reminds me of the term's etymology.

I agree with R&R.

 

I don't use it, esp. when I found out that I said it in front of a coworker that I found out was homosexual and felt kinda ignorant for it but I really don't think it's that big of a deal. Most people don't say it because of their disdain for homosexuals. It's just an expression that went viral and stuck, unfortunately.

A few months ago, I was at a party and made the mistake of saying the word 'fags' to a friend of a friend who didn't know me (or that I am gay). I could tell it made her pretty uncomfortable. (I think she is straight, not sure.) Later that night, I think it came up that I'm into men, but I didn't blurt it out at the time.

 

I don't like getting unnecessarily uptight about language. Again: it's all in the intention.

It seems like straight women or bisexual women are the most offended by stuff like that. I don't get it. Everyone knows about my crazy experiences in Cape C*ck. I've told some of the stories/jokes about it that I've said on here to this woman who is bisexual and she called me homophobic. I couldn't believe it. Some people can't take a little light-hearted humor and let minor annoyances roll off their back. That's a big pet peeve of mine. I think the world would be a pretty boring place without a little off-color humor.

^^Maybe she's british and doesn't like smokers.

 

Take my wife, please!

 

I don't use the word. Realizing that meanings of words change over time, the current incarnation is still too close to its original context as a negative comparison to a gay person. Maybe when I'm an old grandpa, I'll be more comfortable using it around the young people. Of course by that time, it will probably have gone back to meaning 'happy', and the young people will consider me to be un-jiggy.

Lol. That's true. I'm reading this old book I got for a buck, it's first edition too. It's called Pleasures of the Jazz Age. Written in the '40s. The word, "gay" appears in it all throughout but with a positive connotation. Crazy how words evolve.

"Gay" used to mean "people who got laid a lot by different partners" whether they were doing it with members of the same sex or the opposite sex. Wilt Chamberlain would have been totally gay.

^ The "gay" thing is one of the first symptoms of the 'net generation's disconnect from what's acceptable in the real world. Saying this or that is "gay" was the in thing to do on the internet for a while in places that young people congregated. Nobody told them it was wrong for some reason. If said young person hasn't been around LGBT folks in real life, they have never had the chance to realize that it hurts. This is but one of many problems that we are going to see in the future with a generation that doesn't see people's real life reactions to conversation enough. Empathy amongst the young is drying up for example.

 

Yeah, people didn't go around calling things "gay" till the internet. :roll:

Owned! Epic Fail! ROFL!

Well, it's not like I'm worried that much about it, being straight and all. But, I remember the time a buddy of mine who messes around with dudes here and there was over at another friend's house where that guy's new 20 year old girlfriend was calling everything gay. By the way my buddy explained her speech I could tell he was really pissed off. I had already stopped calling things gay (and goofy stuff such as calling wusses "fags", regardless of their sexuality; as in "people who listen to Nu-Metal are fags, ha") back when he and I were roommates many moons ago 'cause I knew he didn't like it.

I can't stand it when people opt to run in the street instead of on the sidewalk. I was driving last night and some idiot with black running shorts and a black t shirt is running on the side of the street alongside a perfectly clear sidewalk. This was near the top a hill around a blind curve, mind you. I swear this guy must have been suicidal.

Also, don't call anything "lame," lest it offend the physically disabled.

 

Also, don't call anything "crazy," lest it offend the mentally troubled.

 

Also, don't use the f word in a derogatory fashion, lest it offend people who enjoy intercourse.

 

:roll:

 

On topic: Political correctness is one of my pet peeves.

Obviously, you are using extreme examples which really don't apply.  Nobody is going to get mad at you or offended for calling something 'lame' or 'crazy'.  Using such examples is actually a pet peeve of mine.  Also the term 'political correctness' is more than a bit of a misnomer.  It has nothing to do with politics.  It has more to do with generally accepted social standards, which we need (from sources other than ancient books written by people who knew nothing of modern society).  There is no law against using the "N" word.  There is no law against using the "F" word.  There is no law against calling women b!tches, sluts, etc.  There is no law against calling someone retarded.  But all of those terms are hurtful and derogatory when used in most contexts.  To suggest that people should not be able to frown upon their uses and forbid their uses in places where speech CAN legally and rightfully be restricted (e.g. place of employment, schools, my house), really is a pet peeve of mine.  I agree that some people can run amuck with PC, but you are free to not associate with those people if you choose.

"Gay" used to mean "people who got laid a lot by different partners" whether they were doing it with members of the same sex or the opposite sex. Wilt Chamberlain would have been totally gay.

When was that?  It used to mean happy, like in the Flintstones when they would have a "gay ol' time" 

"Gay" used to mean "people who got laid a lot by different partners" whether they were doing it with members of the same sex or the opposite sex. Wilt Chamberlain would have been totally gay.

When was that?  It used to mean happy, like in the Flintstones when they would have a "gay ol' time" 

 

No, that was the Flintstone's dirty little secret. They were swingers. But you had to be subtle about those things in the stone age.

I first heard "gay" used in reference to being queer or homosexual in 1962. I think it was part of my second such encounter. I understood the meaning by the context.

"Gay" used to mean "people who got laid a lot by different partners" whether they were doing it with members of the same sex or the opposite sex. Wilt Chamberlain would have been totally gay.

When was that?  It used to mean happy, like in the Flintstones when they would have a "gay ol' time" 

 

Pre-20th century. Go down to #6 http://www.cracked.com/article_19216_9-words-youve-used-today-with-bizarre-criminal-origins.html

Here's a big pet peeve - getting email invites for an event from CSU's Maxine Levin Goodman school and the topic is "recovering and redeveloping the real estate market". In principal, that's all fine - but when they're using a quickly thrown together silhouette of the *Dallas* skyline for their intro graphic? From left to right you have Fountain Place, Trammel-Crow, the Bank of America Tower, and the Renaissance Tower - need I go on? For god's sake, pay someone with a clue to help you get your target demographic for this event!

 

 

People who don't appreciate your helpfulness. 

 

Not that I expect a thanks for everything, I don't, but here's the story.

 

Someone contacted me on another internet board last month if I was aware of any companies hiring interns for his background.  I said not any other companies in particular, but mine MIGHT be hiring.  I warned him that it's a little late, most college students apply for internships no later than February, not in May when many of those positions have been filled...if not already having the student right there in the office!  It was followed by quite a bit of correspondence. 

 

I talked directly to our hr head, and asked.  She said all summer positions were filled back in late winter.  I then tried to negotiate saying maybe some related position or perhaps a couple weeks.  Really, I made a huge effort.  And it's not all that comfortable trying to get someone a job within your company especially when the decisions have already been made. 

 

So I replied back to this person and apologized that we were full.  I said we would be interested in interviewing anyway, and that maybe he could stop by for a day to shadow or just have a meeting to ask questions.  I gave my contact info and everything.

 

No response, no thanks, just silence.  Your welcome, don't think of asking me again.

 

I don't think this person has very good job seeking skills

 

#1  Don't ever apply late for summer internships

#2  Don't be too pushy on your contact.  It's okay to follow up or check on things, but in the professional world, things like this take time.  And it's not my decision, nor am I sitting at my desk thinking about it everyday, I'm busy, I have things to do.  I'll report back to you when I get an answer.  Don't send me pms every other day.

#3  The response was, the positions are filled.  Thank your contact.  Say you plan to keep in touch in the future.  Consider it a future option if you can get your stuff together earlier

People who don't appreciate your helpfulness. 

 

Not that I expect a thanks for everything, I don't, but here's the story.

 

Someone contacted me on another internet board last month if I was aware of any companies hiring interns for his background.  I said not any other companies in particular, but mine MIGHT be hiring.  I warned him that it's a little late, most college students apply for internships no later than February, not in May when many of those positions have been filled...if not already having the student right there in the office!  It was followed by quite a bit of correspondence. 

 

I talked directly to our hr head, and asked.  She said all summer positions were filled back in late winter.  I then tried to negotiate saying maybe some related position or perhaps a couple weeks.  Really, I made a huge effort.  And it's not all that comfortable trying to get someone a job within your company especially when the decisions have already been made. 

 

So I replied back to this person and apologized that we were full.  I said we would be interested in interviewing anyway, and that maybe he could stop by for a day to shadow or just have a meeting to ask questions.  I gave my contact info and everything.

 

No response, no thanks, just silence.  Your welcome, don't think of asking me again.

 

I don't think this person has very good job seeking skills

 

#1  Don't ever apply late for summer internships

#2  Don't be too pushy on your contact.  It's okay to follow up or check on things, but in the professional world, things like this take time.  And it's not my decision, nor am I sitting at my desk thinking about it everyday, I'm busy, I have things to do.  I'll report back to you when I get an answer.  Don't send me pms every other day.

#3  The response was, the positions are filled.  Thank your contact.  Say you plan to keep in touch in the future.  Consider it a future option if you can get your stuff together earlier

 

Wow, talk about burning bridges!

People who don't appreciate your helpfulness. 

 

Not that I expect a thanks for everything, I don't, but here's the story ... 

 

I've had similar experiences when someone, either from cyberspace or the terrestrial environment, asked a question related to one of my areas of (obsessive) interest and/or derived from one of my photos. In situations where I've had reason to believe the person had a serious interest and planned to make constructive use of the information, sometimes I've spent hours digging out all the details in places where other people might not know to look, and uploading or printing photos that I thought might be useful. I've sent the info via email or postal mail, sometimes paying a few dollars for postage, but I might as well have put the info into a bottle, walked across the street, and tossed it into the Saint Marys River for all the response I've gotten. There's no acknowledgement of receipt, let alone any thanks or description of how my work was helpful.

 

On the other side of the employment search-issue, I once spent almost an entire year searching for a good full-time job with benefits after being job eliminated when my employer went on the rocks. Several interviews went well, including some that resulted in second interviews, but none of those employers ever contacted me to let me know that I hadn't been selected for whatever reason. Even when I attempted to contact them to ask about my status, none ever returned a call. Professionalism and common courtesy should work both ways.

People who don't appreciate your helpfulness. 

 

Not that I expect a thanks for everything, I don't, but here's the story.

 

Someone contacted me on another internet board last month if I was aware of any companies hiring interns for his background.  I said not any other companies in particular, but mine MIGHT be hiring.  I warned him that it's a little late, most college students apply for internships no later than February, not in May when many of those positions have been filled...if not already having the student right there in the office!  It was followed by quite a bit of correspondence. 

 

I talked directly to our hr head, and asked.  She said all summer positions were filled back in late winter.  I then tried to negotiate saying maybe some related position or perhaps a couple weeks.  Really, I made a huge effort.  And it's not all that comfortable trying to get someone a job within your company especially when the decisions have already been made. 

 

So I replied back to this person and apologized that we were full.  I said we would be interested in interviewing anyway, and that maybe he could stop by for a day to shadow or just have a meeting to ask questions.  I gave my contact info and everything.

 

No response, no thanks, just silence.  Your welcome, don't think of asking me again.

 

I don't think this person has very good job seeking skills

 

#1  Don't ever apply late for summer internships

#2  Don't be too pushy on your contact.  It's okay to follow up or check on things, but in the professional world, things like this take time.  And it's not my decision, nor am I sitting at my desk thinking about it everyday, I'm busy, I have things to do.  I'll report back to you when I get an answer.  Don't send me pms every other day.

#3  The response was, the positions are filled.  Thank your contact.  Say you plan to keep in touch in the future.  Consider it a future option if you can get your stuff together earlier

 

Wow, talk about burning bridges!

 

 

 

 

Sounds like a whippersnapper who'll be a bad manager or office drone in the future

On the other side of the employment search-issue, I once spent almost an entire year searching for a good full-time job with benefits after being job eliminated when my employer went on the rocks. Several interviews went well, including some that resulted in second interviews, but none of those employers ever contacted me to let me know that I hadn't been selected for whatever reason. Even when I attempted to contact them to ask about my status, none ever returned a call. Professionalism and common courtesy should work both ways.

 

For the ones who actually gave you an interview, I'm somewhat surprised that they didn't follow up, even if it was just to deliver bad news.  Where I used to work, we used to get inundated with resumes even when we had no positions advertised as open (form letters, resume blasts, the usual works).  Those often didn't get response letters.  For the far, far smaller pool of people that we actually interviewed, though, we'd send them a letter or e-mail letting them know not just out of common courtesy, but because we wanted to show an interest in keeping in touch with them.  After all, someone who finishes #2 or #3 in the search for the position you have open may well still be around and interested later if times are better and you're growing and have more positions open, or if it turns out you were wrong and the person you have a given position to was not as good a fit as you'd believed.  You may also find those people working for someone else you know in the industry--a competitor, a supplier, a customer, a regulatory agency with jurisdiction over your industry, whatever.  It's good to have kept as positive a relationship as possible with them, even though that's obviously hard when you're turning someone down for a job, especially when they (probably justifiably) thought they were very close.

On the other side of the employment search-issue, I once spent almost an entire year searching for a good full-time job with benefits after being job eliminated when my employer went on the rocks. Several interviews went well, including some that resulted in second interviews, but none of those employers ever contacted me to let me know that I hadn't been selected for whatever reason. Even when I attempted to contact them to ask about my status, none ever returned a call. Professionalism and common courtesy should work both ways.

 

For the ones who actually gave you an interview, I'm somewhat surprised that they didn't follow up, even if it was just to deliver bad news.  Where I used to work, we used to get inundated with resumes even when we had no positions advertised as open (form letters, resume blasts, the usual works).  Those often didn't get response letters.  For the far, far smaller pool of people that we actually interviewed, though, we'd send them a letter or e-mail letting them know not just out of common courtesy, but because we wanted to show an interest in keeping in touch with them.  After all, someone who finishes #2 or #3 in the search for the position you have open may well still be around and interested later if times are better and you're growing and have more positions open, or if it turns out you were wrong and the person you have a given position to was not as good a fit as you'd believed.  You may also find those people working for someone else you know in the industry--a competitor, a supplier, a customer, a regulatory agency with jurisdiction over your industry, whatever.  It's good to have kept as positive a relationship as possible with them, even though that's obviously hard when you're turning someone down for a job, especially when they (probably justifiably) thought they were very close.

I agree with Bob, it's good business etiquette.  If a company isn't doing that, look to the Head of HR.  They should set the precedent.

I meant to post this earlier.

 

 

It really grinds my gears that a 50 year old man can marry a 16 year old girl and the majority of society is OK with this.

 

 

However, I can't legally marry a consenting adult.

 

 

Aint that some shit?!

Holy sh!t, that's just creepy.  I don't think a sensible person with a good conscience could do something like that when you damn well know she's not really grown up yet.  I'm in my late 20s and spending time with 18 year olds is weird, how the hell do you relate to someone like that unless you're emotionally stunted?

^She's cute, but you raise valid points. It's tough to relate to someone that young unless they grew up really fast (it does happen, but not too often). Age is nothing but a number, but generally speaking, someone who hasn't been in the real world is quite a bit different from someone who has been in the real world. It's not about age as much as it's about life experience.

 

I give this marriage a year.

I meant to post this earlier.

 

 

It really grinds my gears that a 50 year old man can marry a 16 year old girl and the majority of society is OK with this.

 

 

However, I can't legally marry a consenting adult.

 

 

Aint that some sh!t?!

 

I'm actually amazed that gay marriage is still illegal. I assumed most of the nation would be beyond that issue by now.

I meant to post this earlier.

 

 

It really grinds my gears that a 50 year old man can marry a 16 year old girl and the majority of society is OK with this.

 

 

However, I can't legally marry a consenting adult.

 

 

Aint that some sh!t?!

 

I'm actually amazed that gay marriage is still illegal. I assumed most of the nation would be beyond that issue by now.

Are you serious?  Cities have no idea how much money they are throwing away.  The engagement parties, wedding receptions, the jewelry selections, are just the top of the cake!  Nobody knows how to throw a party like us gays.

Are you serious?  Cities have no idea how much money they are throwing away.  The engagement parties, wedding receptions, the jewelry selections, are just the top of the cake!  Nobody knows how to throw a party like us gays.

 

And the divorce lawyers!

 

But seriously, unfortunately Ohio is going to be dragged kicking and screaming into gay marriage due to our older population...

Are you serious?  Cities have no idea how much money they are throwing away.  The engagement parties, wedding receptions, the jewelry selections, are just the top of the cake!  Nobody knows how to throw a party like us gays.

 

And the divorce lawyers!

 

But seriously, unfortunately Ohio is going to be dragged kicking and screaming into gay marriage due to our older population...

 

Yes.  As my cousin (a lawyer jokingly said) "when the gays start divorcing, it's going to be ugly, messy with a lot of billable hours!  I imagine it will be a lot like the movies First Wives Club meets Diary of a Mad Black woman, but with dudes! Bring on gay marriage...and divorce!"

 

That was said in the midst of a longer conversation, so don't take it offensively. 

Dividing the wardrobe could be interesting.

 

My pet peeve of the day - LOL, LMAO, ROFLMAO and all of those 'laughing' anagrams.  I don't use them.  In fact, that might have been my first time typing them.  But, what really irks me is how they are used so freely.  Sometimes I really just want to reply "are you honestly 'rolling on the floor' right now?.... it wasn't THAT funny"

^I occasonally use LOL, but only if I actually made an audible noise.

 

I once used ROFL because I fell out of my chair, though I suppose I was inaccurate and should have just said OFL (On Floor Laughing). No rolling was involved.

Dividing the wardrobe could be interesting.

 

My pet peeve of the day - LOL, LMAO, ROFLMAO and all of those 'laughing' anagrams.  I don't use them.  In fact, that might have been my first time typing them.  But, what really irks me is how they are used so freely.  Sometimes I really just want to reply "are you honestly 'rolling on the floor' right now?.... it wasn't THAT funny"

 

 

 

 

LOL

I think X had the best ideas as it relates to online humor.

 

 

May I suggest CQTS, Chuckling Quietly To Self?  It is my most common response to internet humor.  Occasionally I think SIDA would also work. That is Snorts In Derisive Amusement.

People who don't appreciate your helpfulness. 

 

Not that I expect a thanks for everything, I don't, but here's the story ... 

 

I've had similar experiences when someone, either from cyberspace or the terrestrial environment, asked a question related to one of my areas of (obsessive) interest and/or derived from one of my photos. In situations where I've had reason to believe the person had a serious interest and planned to make constructive use of the information, sometimes I've spent hours digging out all the details in places where other people might not know to look, and uploading or printing photos that I thought might be useful. I've sent the info via email or postal mail, sometimes paying a few dollars for postage, but I might as well have put the info into a bottle, walked across the street, and tossed it into the Saint Marys River for all the response I've gotten. There's no acknowledgement of receipt, let alone any thanks or description of how my work was helpful.

 

On the other side of the employment search-issue, I once spent almost an entire year searching for a good full-time job with benefits after being job eliminated when my employer went on the rocks. Several interviews went well, including some that resulted in second interviews, but none of those employers ever contacted me to let me know that I hadn't been selected for whatever reason. Even when I attempted to contact them to ask about my status, none ever returned a call. Professionalism and common courtesy should work both ways.

 

 

I absolutely agree. I applied for this job one time and although I didn't get it, they sent me a letter in the mail, apologizing for not selecting me. Inside the letter was a gift card to a nice restaurant! I thought that was so nice of them.

Dividing the wardrobe could be interesting.

 

My pet peeve of the day - LOL, LMAO, ROFLMAO and all of those 'laughing' anagrams.  I don't use them.  In fact, that might have been my first time typing them.  But, what really irks me is how they are used so freely.  Sometimes I really just want to reply "are you honestly 'rolling on the floor' right now?.... it wasn't THAT funny"

 

I like to say, "Ha!", which is my real-life smartass laugh. I noticed it has caught on around here; a lot of people have been using it since I have.

People who ride their bikes through Findlay Market getting into everyone's way! Its like they are saying, "Look at me, I'm better than you because I ride a bike"!

 

Park it.

Are you better than them because you drive a car? Cyclists have as much right to the street as you do.

Are you better than them because you drive a car? Cyclists have as much right to the street as you do.

 

Who said anything about the street?  I said Findlay Market.  That would be like you riding your bike through the Westside Market.

Are you better than them because you drive a car? Cyclists have as much right to the street as you do.

 

Who said anything about the street?  I said Findlay Market.  That would be like you riding your bike through the Westside Market.

 

I agree on that issue. People who try to ride their bikes through busy, congested pedestrian areas are morons. They should at least dismount and walk their bikes, or better, lock them at the entrance and walk. Same applies at many festivals.

Or like in the mid-2000s when kids were running around with those shoes that had deployable wheels. You'd see a kid walking, then all of a sudden he'd be two inches taller and still moving even though his legs weren't. The kids ended up looking like Transformers or something.

While we're on inappropriate modes of transportation in cramped quarters... STROLLERS!

 

Egads when I was a wee lad strollers were four wheels and a fabric mesh seat. Strollers now seem to be as large as shopping carts. Especially in places like the Westside Market, it takes one stupid mother to park her stroller at an intersection to bring the whole place to a standstill. Extra negative karma points when the kids are 3,4, or 5 years old.