WTF Stories of the Week

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

So... let's say that bus had a "Yes on 8" ad... how would you feel driving that around all day?

And I'm not saying that to be snarky, I'm actually curious as to how you'd respond to being asked to do that.

I'd do the job I was paid to do and work a bit harder on the No on 8 campaign on my time off.

I worked for the City of Irvine for 10 years. During that time, we had 3 very different mayors that had their own political agendas. As a COI employee, I had to follow their direction and that of the City Manager because it was my job. That included censoring artwork - a practice I am incredibly opposed to on a personal level. But, that was the nature of my job as an employee.

Now, what I did OFF the clock, was my own choice (however, I DID have to be careful about what sort of public political activities I was involved in.)

[Betty]

How about if she refused to drive because of an ad about Muslims? Or about Jerry Springer?

She agreed to drive a bus. She's refusing to drive the bus because she's offended that there are atheists that might want to hang out together?

Last time I checked, I do my job and deal with everyone. I don't care what religion they are. If I fail to do my job, I don't get paid and don't have a job. My personal beliefs don't really come into it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Betty

How about if she refused to drive because of an ad about Muslims? Or about Jerry Springer?

Like I said, I agree that she would be rightfully disciplined/fired for it, but I don't blame her for not wanting to do it. But again, that's why I wouldn't take a job that requires me to operate a moving advertisement.

Last time I checked, I do my job and deal with everyone. I don't care what religion they are. If I fail to do my job, I don't get paid and don't have a job. My personal beliefs don't really come into it.

There's a difference between working with people with differing beliefs and operating a moving advertisement for something you don't believe in. I don't think she has any shred of a case for not being fired if she's refusing to do the job. All I'm saying is I understand why she would refuse. I too would refuse if the bus carried a message that I found hateful. I disagree with her that the message is hateful, but then she'd disagree with me about what I find hateful.

[Tom]

All the bus ad said was that there are atheists. It said nothing regarding the relative merits of any religions (or lack of religion).

[Ghoulish Delight]

Heh, I missed the question mark until just now. That does change the message slightly.

Again, I'm not saying it's an intelligent principled stance or one that I agree with, but I understand the desire to take a principled stance.

[Alex]

This has brought to mind a case from a few years back that had a muddier line, in my opinion.

In that case, it wasn't that the bus had an objectionable advertisement on it but rather than as each passenger boarded the bus the driver was expected to hand them an advertisement. If I recall correctly it was a fast food advertisement and she objected to them being given to children.

I was more torn on that one since she was made into a more active participant in presenting the advertisement, and such is not a traditional part of being a bus driver. That said, she remains a government employee and so shouldn't be refusing to disseminate messages based on content (so I'd have been more sympathetic if she'd refused to distribute any advertising).

[Gemini Cricket]

South African runner Caster Semenya is being asked to prove that she is indeed a woman after clocking the fastest time this year twice, most recently in the 800m Final at the World Championships in Berlin.
Semenya, 18, has been asked to take a gender verification test to prove that she is a woman, according to the Daily Guardian. Nick Davies, a spokesman for the International Association of Athletics Federations, said that the test was requested after a race last month when she ran the fastest 800m time (before the games in Berlin) at the African junior championships.

Source

[Disneyphile]

This could come in handy for celebrity roasts...

[SzczerbiakManiac]

What do cross-dressers put on their toast?

Spoiler:

Tranny Honey

[Betty]

Not a news story but I'm amused by this craig's list employment ad. Someone is using words they don't quite understand.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/ofc/1342761091.html

Corporal Administrator Associate (inland empire )


Front office and reception experience necessary. Remarkable customer service skills a an advantage


Location: inland empire
Compensation: $13.25 each hour 9-4
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.