Saturday 15 September 2007

Political Correctness

A brief post as I’m working on the Van Gogh again today. A party of elderly U3A passengers have chartered the ship to go whale watching apparently. Did I hear that right?

Last night we met a friend who is shop sitting for a friend’s antique shop in Falmouth.

‘I don’t want to be rude,’ he said. ‘But seeing the people that come in reminds me exactly why I gave up my shop. They are so dense!’

Some time in the afternoon a large girl carrying clipboard and briefcase came into the shop and looked round, demanding to see the No Smoking sign.

Julian doesn’t smoke but stared at her. ‘Who are you?’ he said.

‘I’m from Carrick Council,’ she said. ‘It’s against the law not to have a No Smoking sign.’

‘Who would smoke in an antique shop?’ said Julian. ‘And anyway, it’s not my shop. The owner’s away.’

‘That doesn’t matter,’ said Ms Carrick. ‘You have to display one of these signs by law. I shall come back next week to make sure the owner’s put one up.’

While Julian fumed, she made notes, handed him a few signs and a card.

The card read Smokeenforcement Officer.
Yes, all one word.

Not only has political correctness gone bonkers, but they don't know any grammar or spelling. So she's enforcing smoking? I’m not sure which incensed Julian more.

22 comments:

laurie said...

oh, man, rules. we love rules.

here, since we passed the it's-ok-to-carry-a-gun law a few years ago, businesses are madly posting signs. because if your business doesn't say specifically that you can't carry a gun in there, then it's ok to carry a gun in there.

so everywhere you go now, you see severe signs that say GUNS ARE PROHIBITED.

it's a little unnerving.

the rotten correspondent said...

In California any place serving food has to have a report card from the Health Dept. prominently displayed. They grade you from A to (I think) C. The shops with A proudly display them. The others...not so much.

Would you willingly eat in a third rate restaurant? If they don't post them they get fined big time.

We only think we have any control lately. It's all being taken away.

Flowerpot said...

laurie - my god that sounds terrifying. What the hell is the world coming to?

Flowerpot said...

correspondent - California sounds even worse than here. Big Brother rules, OK. Terrifying.

debio said...

We MUST STOP this.

How long must we wait for there to be a backlash?

Heaven help us all.

Anonymous said...

I just find it all very tiresome. Paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. And then you might be able to get down to some real work.

Crystal xx

laurie said...

yes, i really, really, really hate the gun law.

one of the legacies of our former governor, who was also a former pro wrestler.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

'Smokeenforcement Officer'. So THIS is what happens when students advance through school without actually learning anything.

Elaine Denning said...

That's just completely ludicrous. This world has gone potty.

Lane Mathias said...

It would be so tempting to stick her ridiculous card where the sun don't shine but we are all so polite.
I can't believe that -
1) There are jobs like these
2) Those doing the jobs don't realise how ludicrous they are
3) We allow them to have jobs like these.

Aaaaaaarrrghhhhhhh.........

xx

Flowerpot said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Flowerpot said...

debio - I quite agree but how the hell do we stop it? Education system seems to have gone to pot and the government are sanctioning such rubbish. I despair. Anyone any ideas?

Flowerpot said...

crystal - yes if paperwork could be halved (at least) it would save so much time. I thought that was teh idea behind emails....

laurie - so he was a wrestler? That makes sense.

julia - it's frightening isn't it? Do they learn anything nowadays?

MissU - yes but what do we do?

lane - I quite agree. The money could be spent on so much better things - education for one. And medicine.

Chris Stovell said...

I have to agree with Julia and Lane. Look forwards to hear how the whale watching went!

Cathy said...

Has Carrick council got too much money then? Perhaps I should move back to Cornwall...

Jez Bell said...

sadly speaking from experience local councils do tend to have too much bureaucracy, josbworths and poor spelling (and email has just made things worse)!

Flowerpot said...

chrish - yes I agree also. In fact the whale watching wasn't. They were going to Le Havre and back via Scilly but have never met a more miserable bunch of ex teachers (largely) in my life!!!!

Flowerpot said...

jezbell - yes local councils seem to be a disaster waiting to happen. No correct that - Carrick has happened!

Akelamalu said...

I wonder how much the smokingenforcement officer job pays? Too much whatever it is!

Livvy U. said...

Hello, a late-night journey has serendipitously landed me here, I am delighted to say.
How very much I've enjoyed reading your posts. I shall come again.

Flowerpot said...

ak - my thoughts exactly. I'm sure she's paid far too much!

Flowerpot said...

livvy - I don't know how you came by here but very pleased to meet you and please call by this way again. I shall go over and say hello to you and yours now..