Nanny capitalism and not so ID
There's a good discussion on Air New Zealand's and Qantas' seating practices for kids over at Frogblog. Is it PC or just an old fashioned moral panic? Choice quote from Sam Buchanan:
And us? Having clawed our way over the corpses of other blogs for three months to get to Flappy Bird status, we're now a Lowly Insect! We weren't that low when we launched.
NZ Bear, aka God, asks for patience.
Update: According to Farrar, Keith Locke has referred the seating issue to the Human Rights Commission, presumably to defend every man's fundamental right to have a kid seated next to him on a plane. Maybe we can make it compulsory? Or have it included in the Bill of Rights?
This is offensive to men, but for the life of me I can't see how it's a human rights issue. That's just political correctness gone mad.
It interests me, however, that the National Party are trying to tell companies how to run their own businesses. This seems an example of how nanny capitalism demands even stricter regulation and the right to interfere more in people’s lives than the state.Meanwhile, all hell has broken loose in Truth Laid Bear's blog ecosystem, proving once and for all that intelligent design is a crock. Blogs have been evolving and devolving like crazy. Farrar is a Marsupial, Sir Humphrey's too.
And us? Having clawed our way over the corpses of other blogs for three months to get to Flappy Bird status, we're now a Lowly Insect! We weren't that low when we launched.
NZ Bear, aka God, asks for patience.
Update: According to Farrar, Keith Locke has referred the seating issue to the Human Rights Commission, presumably to defend every man's fundamental right to have a kid seated next to him on a plane. Maybe we can make it compulsory? Or have it included in the Bill of Rights?
This is offensive to men, but for the life of me I can't see how it's a human rights issue. That's just political correctness gone mad.
posted by Rob O'Neill at 6:43 PM
12 Comments:
"Is it PC or just an old fashioned moral panic?"
And the difference would be...?
Huge.
Moral panics are about protecting society from those who deviate from the norm, see the book Folk Devils and Moral Panics about the clashes between the Mods and the Rockers of the early 1960s. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0415267129/026-4444807-8644452)
PC is about changing society's norms by forcing people to adhere to [particular types of language or thought.
"Political correctness (also politically correct, P.C. or PC) is a term used in English-speaking countries to describe real or perceived attempts to impose limits on the acceptable language and terms used in public discussion. While it usually refers to a linguistic phenomenon, it is sometimes extended to cover political ideology or public behavior."
Wikipedia
Personally, I think it's far more PC to worry about this whinger's bruised dignity, than the (admittedly tiny) risk to the safety of a minor.
Boo Hoo Mr Worsley, they asked you to change your seat.
Not exactly Rosa Parks material.
Personally, I'd like to see the airlines institute a rule whereby they don't sit batty old women next to me. Which they do. Every time.
I am in agreement with Cathy Odgers on this one.
The great one says:
"Any abuse I dish out to children on a flight will not be of a sexual nature as I do not fancy little young children. It will be of a violent physical nature when they irritate me. Which is from the moment I stand in the boarding queue.
I am far more of a menace to children than Mr Worsley."
That's because you look like such a caring, upright young man, Stephen.
I like Cathy's comment too, but she's hardly their, or anyone's, typical customer.
"they don't sit batty old women next to me"
Cathy's not that old.
And I'm not a 'little young children' so I'm probably not Cathy Odgers' target.
But she's right. Again. I have two small children and I would much prefer any of the male NZBC staff to sit beside them than quite a few women I've known.
Not all women are kid-friendly. Not all men are a menace. Not all airlines can be this crazy.
They should look for a win-win: stick the kids in with the cargo!
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Rob
What do you mean I am not a typical customer! I am entirely their typical customer - the business traveller flying on full economy or business fare paid for by corporate entities and I will not put up with this sort of shit.
I am now a Qantas Gold Frequent Flyer.
When I go on their planes I have the divine right to make the little ariline hostess tarts lick the stale bread buns off the floor of the plane if I want after I have thrown them there in disgust.
And if I am now seated within ear shot of children I can tell them precisely where to stick their seating chart.
Yes. You're right. Entirely typical :-0
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