O/T - Having a larf, non-story, or cause for concern?

[Wild Bill]

Interesting debate. Guess its all about manners and respecting each other's sensitivities. These should really come naturally to most people, and those that it doesn't are unlikely to listen to some non-mandatory guidelines.

I agree with perhaps having a separate shelf in a communal fridge for pork products in a office with Muslim/Jewish workers but don't agree with corporate events serving halal or kosha food to everyone as many people (myself included) who don't approve of their slaughter practices might also be offended.

Think the real problem here though is some people don't like having to change their ways for a minority group; particularly Muslims. Non-news stories like these serve only to stoke bigoted anger at a perceived Muslim takeover of Britain that is about as likely as Morecambe winning the Champions League.

[shrimpnsave]

[quote="Wild Bill"

Think the real problem here though is some people don't like having to change their ways for a minority group; particularly Muslims. Non-news stories like these serve only to stoke bigoted anger at a perceived Muslim takeover of Britain that is about as likely as Morecambe winning the Champions League. [/quote]

Bradford Luton ? problem is that we are creating a country within a country?
most ethnic groups work that way and thats not saying thats their intension but how it pans out!!!

[Wild Bill]

Bradford Luton ? problem is that we are creating a country within a country?
most ethnic groups work that way and thats not saying thats their intension but how it pans out!!!

And this is kind of my point. Its not really about freedom to eat sausage rolls in communal areas, its an unfounded fear of mass immigration of Muslims stirred up by the gutter press like the Mail. The idea that every town will become like Luton and Sharia law will be implemented is laughable.

[shrimpnsave]

Bradford Luton ? problem is that we are creating a country within a country?
most ethnic groups work that way and thats not saying thats their intension but how it pans out!!!

And this is kind of my point. Its not really about freedom to eat sausage rolls in communal areas, its an unfounded fear of mass immigration of Muslims stirred up by the gutter press like the Mail. The idea that every town will become like Luton and Sharia law will be implemented is laughable.

Have you forgot to mention Bradford and many more inner city's Bill

[Wild Bill]

Have you forgot to mention Bradford and many more inner city's Bill

Sorry, Bradford and many other inner cities have proportionally higher Muslim populations; which total about 4.5% of the country overall. Unfortunately their efforts to take over Britain and implement Sharia law isn't going as great as some might think. Underrepresented in many key areas of power including Parliament, where they still only have MPs 13 out of 650 or 2%. Still, significantly more than the Lib Dems at the moment!

[Trevor]

In the end though it's about people talking to each other, seeing if their really bothered then sorting something out their all happy with. Doesn't need the Mail to stir stuff up that's not an issue and get the mob wound up.

[SolentShrimp]

In the end though it's about people talking to each other, seeing if their really bothered then sorting something out their all happy with. Doesn't need the Mail to stir stuff up that's not an issue and get the mob wound up.

Don't just lambaste the Daily Mail. The article was in other daily papers at the same time, with reader comments running along the same path.

It's people like Professor Adam Dimwit who need taking to task for coming up with such tosh. The workplace, if it's run sensibly doesn't need his divisive interference. It's an embarrassment for the majority of people who's faiths Professor Dimwit is purporting to protect!

[SolentShrimp]

I asked for a black coffee today, a black one, yes black, and the supposed PC thought police never came and kicked down the doors and took me away.

Coffee is black though. That's how it should be served unless you request otherwise.

[Phil Anderer]

I asked for a black coffee today, a black one, yes black, and the supposed PC thought police never came and kicked down the doors and took me away.

Coffee is black though. That's how it should be served unless you request otherwise.

It's actually very dark brown, otherwide it would go grey, not light brown, when you add milk.

[Trevor]

In the end though it's about people talking to each other, seeing if their really bothered then sorting something out their all happy with. Doesn't need the Mail to stir stuff up that's not an issue and get the mob wound up.

Don't just lambaste the Daily Mail. The article was in other daily papers at the same time, with reader comments running along the same path.

It's people like Professor Adam Dimwit who need taking to task for coming up with such tosh. The workplace, if it's run sensibly doesn't need his divisive interference. It's an embarrassment for the majority of people who's faiths Professor Dimwit is purporting to protect!

Yeah whatever Mail Mirror whoever, just stirring. And the professor should have just said - talk to each other like humans and come up with something everyone's happy with, while bearing in mind religious concerns.

[SolentShrimp]

Need Professor Dimwit have said anything in the first place?
There'd have been nothing to stir if he'd thought through his ridiculous divisive unworkable ideas..
The more qualifications some people get, the more dangerous they become.
Room 101.

[shrimperteer]

Need Professor Dimwit have said anything in the first place?
There'd have been nothing to stir if he'd thought through his ridiculous divisive unworkable ideas..
The more qualifications some people get, the more dangerous they become.
Room 101.

I think you could benefit from an education Solent. This has been taken apart as a non story which in reality is not going have a negative effect on anybody's place of work. The only negative aspect has come from the way it was irresponsibly reported and the cretins who've read it missing all the facts and picking out the little bits that promote their warped ideas.

It's strange to say that Professor Dimwit, as you've called him, shouldn't have said anything in case idiots take it the wrong way.
Out of interest, what would your grand plan for a harmonious future for the UK be?

[SolentShrimp]

Why is it a non-story? People like Professor Dimwit are dangerous, and the public should be aware of what his ilk are up to!

A person’s religious beliefs may prohibit them from eating pork or drinking alcohol, even though a lot still do! But it doesn't prohibit, nor should employers interpret it as prohibiting everyone else.

Why should everyone else have to adopt other people’s religions so as not to offend them?

Who commissioned Professor Dimwit's advice? Inter-faith group CoExist House. So, it’s utterly self-serving. Any employer who accepts these guidelines will be embarrassing his workforce unless he finds out what all the people affected think.

Religion has no place in the workplace – just as work has no place in church/mosque/synagogue etc!

My grand plan for an harmonious future for the UK would start by sacking people like Professor Dimwit!
What is he a professor of? A 'Professor of Faith and Public Policy' – there is such a thing? I thought the government was trying to practice 'austerity' by cutting wasteful public spending. They could start by axing idiots like him

[Trevor]

"Why should everyone else have to adopt other people’s religions so as not to offend them?"

What does this even mean?

[George Dawes]

what a load of pish on here.

just take a packed lunch in a plastic box to school.

[marky No.1]

Who commissioned Professor Dimwit's advice?

Adam Dinham is director of the Faiths and Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he is Professor of Faith & Public Policy. He holds degrees in Theology and Religious Studies (BA & MA, Cambridge), Social Studies (MA, Brunel) and Politics and Community Development (PhD, Goldsmiths, University of London). He is qualified as a social worker and has practiced in Social Work and Community Development in city contexts, with an interest in working with faith communities in areas of urban disadvantage. He is policy advisor to a number of faith-based agencies and policy bodies, including the Faith Based Regeneration Network and the CoExistence Trust in the House of Lords, and has advised central government on issues of public faith. He has been Peace Studies Fellow at the University of Calgary (2009-10), Director of the Faiths and Civil Society Network of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and has published widely on faith in the public realm. He is currently Programme Director for the HEFCE 'Religious Literacy Leadership in Higher Education' programme.

Professional activities

Programme Director for the Religious Literacy Leadership in Higher Education programme (http://www.religiousliteracyhe.org).
Special Advisor to FBRN, the UK’s leading faith based agency on research and policy-into-practice (www fbrn.org.uk).
Director of the Commonwealth Commission (Association of Commonwealth Universities) network on faith and civil society which includes policy makers and researchers from commonwealth countries around the world.
Research advisor to the East of England Faiths Council and founding co-director of its community development arm, FaithNetEast (http://www.faitnneteast.org.uk)
Senior ‘Higher Education and Faith’ advisor to an international Jewish-Muslim foundation for parliamentarians around the world, the Coexistence Trust, which is based in the UK House of Lords ( http://www.coexistencetrust.org )
Associate Research Fellow of the TAG institute for Jewish-Muslim Relations
Director, the Faiths & Civil Society Unit at Goldsmiths, chaired by Lord Tyler.


Yawn

[SolentShrimp]

Thanks for that Mark, I've just had 40 winks.

There's a 20 minute video on the internet of Professor Dogooder interviewing someone from Lancaster University. Now I normally watch a repeat of a Downton Abbey episode to help me sleep, but watching 2 minutes of Professor Dogwatch's has an almost immediate effect, and reading his CV the effect is even quicker.

[SolentShrimp]

"Why should everyone else have to adopt other people’s religions so as not to offend them?"

What does this even mean?

Sorry, I was busy commissioning a bacon buttie when I was typing.

I meant to write "...have to adapt to..."

[Wild Bill]

(Professor) Dogooder? Love that term. Its usually used as an insult when someone's thoughts or behaviors make our own feel inferior. Why is ever doing good such a bad thing?

Professor Dimwitt, Professor Dogwatch? More random insults. Hate to quote the Iron Lady but didn't she say if they attack you personally, it means they have not a single argument left?

[Keith]

...just as work has no place in church/mosque/synagogue etc!

What if you are employed as a priest?

[SolentShrimp]

Wild Bill. Don't you regularly insult people who read a different daily rag than you do?

I'm not as clever as Mrs T, and judging you on the same playing field, neither are you.

[SolentShrimp]

...just as work has no place in church/mosque/synagogue etc!

What if you are employed as a priest?

Enlighten us.

[shrimpnsave]

Why did priests come int this debate

but since it was
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vatican-rev ... ince-2004/

[SolentShrimp]

Phew! I'm glad I avoided that one.

[Wild Bill]

Wild Bill. Don't you regularly insult people who read a different daily rag than you do?

No, but I may have a go at challenging the ignorance from the crap they quote from it Get the feeling I am pissing in the wind here though.