How are ya - MATE !

[mongo]

In line with Mongo’s usual irreverent attitude, he is going to start by insulting all of you by calling you MATE ! If it were illegal , you can arrest Mongo now !


Could not help but chuckle at the absurd decision by the health industry in recently to ban the term “MATE” , sweetie, darls etc in their workplace. The latter terms, Mongo can understand to a point but he knows they are used with great effect and comfort by staff in the children's’ sections and with elderly patience of many health institutions.


Is there something sick in the health industry ??


Now, as to the use of the term “MATE”, if that were to be take out of the Australian language and you will wipe out 30% of the vocabulary of most Australians !! OK, you correct Mongo and say the issue is whether or not it should be permitted in the work place as distinct from general conversation outside the work place. Mongo says True. However, is it really an “offensive” term in a work place context whether used between work colleagues or with customers ??


Offense is often a matter of context. Mongo has heard this term used in an aggressive offensive contest. However, there was no doubt in those cases it was intended to be. It would be extraordinary to misinterpret this term in almost all situations because the way the terms is used will virtually always tell you if it is intended to be friendly and colloquial or , in the rare cases, something more than that. If this is the case, why pick on the word “MATE” ?? - you may as well add dozens of other words that are used in much the same way.


Have we all gone politically straight to the point of stupidity ???


Mongo is going to cop it on this one............but he's got tough fur...

[Mary Anne]

Good on you Mate ... You tell them..

[ricktas]

While I personally squirm when people call me 'darls', that is my issue alone, and just cause I don't like it doesn't mean I should impose that onto others. However, even though I don' like 'darls', it is just a term of endearment and no harm is meant by the person saying it, so I just ignore it, as others can choose to.

I work in healthcare and if this was attempted to be implemented where I work, I would stand up and say that it is wrong. If this is all our healthcare hierarchy have to do, then they need to be sacked and put someone in there who knows what they are there for..providing HEALTH CARE.

[rookie]

They should ban the word GUYS my blood boils every time I hear it

[ameerat42]

Next, the sheep farmers and graziers will have to drop the common "Youse".

How would you feed the sheep then? "Hay, ewes!"

I can just imagine paddocks full of the starving blighters. (Is "blighters" OK?)
And what if your name is Mary (not you M A)? You'd be looking for a different pet.

Anyway, I just answered my own question: "Where will it end?" Let's see what happens after the 21st.
m.

[outstar79]

Well down in country WA not being able to use the word mate would probably cut more than 30% of the vocabulary of us country bumpkins, couple with darl, bloke and sheila - it would be a very quite corner of the country!

But lets not stop there why should anyone be able to say Cheers! Crikey! or Onya cobba! Or even Chur Bro! as I here a lot up at work from our neighbours!

I'm sorry but I'm proud to be Australian, still say Merry Christmas, Baa baa black sheep and Too Bloody Right until the cows come home!

[Cris]

Well down in country WA not being able to use the word mate would probably cut more than 30% of the vocabulary of us country bumpkins, couple with darl, bloke and sheila - it would be a very quite corner of the country!

But lets not stop there why should anyone be able to say Cheers! Crikey! or Onya cobba! Or even Chur Bro! as I here a lot up at work from our neighbours!

I'm sorry but I'm proud to be Australian, still say Merry Christmas, Baa baa black sheep and Too Bloody Right until the cows come home!

Good on ya mate-crack a cold one on me.

[Mary Anne]

They should ban the word GUYS my blood boils every time I hear it

Guys.. I hate that word too. I am not a piece of rope or a young fella or a nice bloke
I dont give two hoots to whoever changed the meaning to include everyone Male and Female.
Been called Ya Bloody Gallah *In a nice Way* and You Little Ripper but if anyone calls me Hun supposed to be short for honey ? They cop it

Hey Adam you are a Bonza Bloke and they talk like that over here and in Melbourne on the Building Sites its the Official Aussie Language Mate
When we go to the UK Tony's English Nephew now says to him G'Day Mate so its catchy and maybe one day the rest of the world will catch up with us.
Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[Warbler]

Latte Socialists are ruining this country. Social engineers building something nobody wants.

[Wayne]

Where I work, I don't know many of the people by name, so "mate" is the name for those. Simply insane to think this is an issue the health dept in NSW need to worry about.

[Cage]

You'd think the HC authorities would be devoting ALL their energies to cutting down on waiting times in ER's and for OT's.

[old dog]

youse can call me anything but don`t call me `late for lunch` ...ok....mayte.

[Lance B]

Political Correctness is a cancer and left unchecked will kill destroy our society. This type of decision is un-be-f***ing-lievable (shakes head in disbelief).

"Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

I rest my case.

[ameerat42]

Lance, who did you quote?

(Mind you, the quote does rather read like what it is trying to describe.)
Am.

[Andrew.S]

Be it a warm welcome to someone who you are about to meet
-G’day Mate
Be it a warning to a fellow at the bar with our getting agro
-Watch it Mate
The thing that keeps Australia free in wars gone by and thecurrent day
-Matehship
The one thing that keeps you out of tourble (or in it)
-Me best Mate
It is getting close to a time when we will have to stand upfor our rights as Australians in our own country. These do-gooders are getting a little hard todigest.

[fenderstrat1963]

It's an odd thing to give priority to for a health care provider. Thankfully they do recognise that common sense should be used. There's no guarantee they know what common sense is though...

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/...11/3652020.htm

[Mark L]

Steve's link is worth a read, mates.

[Lance B]

Lance, who did you quote?

(Mind you, the quote does rather read like what it is trying to describe.)
Am.

The quote is not attributed to anyone and is one of those quotes that has been around the internet for ages and no one seems to know the origin, as far as I can tell.

[Papou]

In line with Mongo’s usual irreverent attitude, he is going to start by insulting all of you by calling you MATE ! If it were illegal , you can arrest Mongo now !


Could not help but chuckle at the absurd decision by the health industry in recently to ban the term “MATE” , sweetie, darls etc in their workplace. The latter terms, Mongo can understand to a point but he knows they are used with great effect and comfort by staff in the children's’ sections and with elderly patience of many health institutions.


Is there something sick in the health industry ??


Now, as to the use of the term “MATE”, if that were to be take out of the Australian language and you will wipe out 30% of the vocabulary of most Australians !! OK, you correct Mongo and say the issue is whether or not it should be permitted in the work place as distinct from general conversation outside the work place. Mongo says True. However, is it really an “offensive” term in a work place context whether used between work colleagues or with customers ??


Offense is often a matter of context. Mongo has heard this term used in an aggressive offensive contest. However, there was no doubt in those cases it was intended to be. It would be extraordinary to misinterpret this term in almost all situations because the way the terms is used will virtually always tell you if it is intended to be friendly and colloquial or , in the rare cases, something more than that. If this is the case, why pick on the word “MATE” ?? - you may as well add dozens of other words that are used in much the same way.


Have we all gone politically straight to the point of stupidity ???


Mongo is going to cop it on this one............but he's got tough fur...

Too Bloody right Mate n all the way withya there too, ridgy didge ya wouldnt believe the crap some people come up with ey???..
We the Aussie have something euneque(betcha i spelt that wrong too??) and all this politically coorect stuff is going to undo something very special if left unchecked by the People...Would like to really know how the Health staff responded ey??..

[ricktas]

It's an odd thing to give priority to for a health care provider. Thankfully they do recognise that common sense should be used. There's no guarantee they know what common sense is though...

Today's problem with COMMON sense is that it isn't