We decided to take off our serious hat today and poke a bit of fun at today’s politically correct language.
Too many times people – and especially politicians – use words or phrases to mask what they really mean, usually in an attempt to be politically correct or polite.
Instead of saying that the editor of this company is short, it sounds kinder to say she’s vertically challenged.
People don’t die anymore. They pass on, pass away, depart, sleep with the angels, go to a better place.
Poor people are no longer poor. They’re economically challenged individuals.
Ever been drunk and admitted it? Heck no! You would instead say you were in your cups, worse for wear, high-spirited, having the whirligigs.
The word handicap has become taboo. Instead we use phrases like physically challenged and deaf people are described as hard of hearing.
Euphemisms also abound in the working world.
People don’t get fired from their jobs anymore. No, they’re given the opportunity to pursue other ventures (and if you’re a nice boss you’ll wish them every success in their pursuit of gainful employment.) You don’t get fired. You’re given a career change opportunity, you get a negotiated departure, you’re a victim of restructuring or workforce imbalance correction.
While we didn’t see much evidence of it in the classified section of the Caymanian Compass, we are aware of job title enhancements in other newspapers around the world.
In the 1990s a Safeway supermarket in the UK placed a help wanted ad for an ambient replenishment assistant. What they were looking for was a shelf stacker.
A hairdresser’s job sounds much more appealing if it’s given the title of appearance engineer.
There are also euphemistic traps in euphemistically phrased job adverts.
A company that says that a pleasant working manner is essential in the successful candidate probably means that worker must be subservient.
An advert seeking a worker required to have tact, diplomacy as well as tenacity probably is looking for someone who won’t argue with the boss and can forget any idea of time off or vacations.
Salary negotiable? Probably only downward.
Perfect opportunity for school leavers translates to pathetically low pay.
All the advantages of a large company possibly means that no one knows anyone else’s name.
Must have a sense of humour probably means don’t be a complainer.
We are surrounded by euphemisms. Sometimes it’s refreshing for people to just call a spade, a spade.
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