http://gawker.com/language-school-blogger-fired-for-writing-about-homopho-1613916147
Language School Blogger Fired for Writing About Homophones
A social media specialist for a Utah language school that teaches English to non-native speakers says he was fired for writing a blog post about homophones—words that sound the same, but carry different meanings—because his boss was afraid readers would think it was about "gay sex."
Tim Torkildson told the Salt Lake Tribune that shortly after his lesson went up, Nomen Global Language Center owner Clarke Woodger fired him, complaining "now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality."
"I had to look up the word" Woodger said, according to the account Torkildson published on his personal blog, "because I didn't know what the hell you were talking about. We don't teach this kind of advanced stuff to our students, and it's extremely inappropriate. Can you have your desk cleaned out by eleven this morning? I'll have your check ready."
It seems too ridiculous to believe, but Torkildson's former employer confirmed the incident of homophonia actually happened.
"People at this level of English," Woodger told the Tribune, "may see the 'homo' side and think it has something to do with gay sex."
Torkildson disagrees. He wrote that homophones are "one of the first subjects tackled when teaching ESL," and said his piece about them was very straightforward. The Tribune points out the Nomen blog published another post on the topic in 2011, apparently without incident.
Originally posted by vivifyIs being this stupid really uniquely American?
http://gawker.com/language-school-blogger-fired-for-writing-about-homopho-1613916147
[b]Language School Blogger Fired for Writing About Homophones
A social media specialist for a Utah language school that teaches English to non-native speakers says he was fired for writing a blog post about homophones—words that sound the same, but carry different m ...[text shortened]... nts out the Nomen blog published another post on the topic in 2011, apparently without incident.[/b]
Originally posted by vivifyDude, America is a big place.
http://gawker.com/language-school-blogger-fired-for-writing-about-homopho-1613916147
[b]Language School Blogger Fired for Writing About Homophones
A social media specialist for a Utah language school that teaches English to non-native speakers says he was fired for writing a blog post about homophones—words that sound the same, but carry different m ...[text shortened]... nts out the Nomen blog published another post on the topic in 2011, apparently without incident.[/b]
Originally posted by wolfgang59What I find shocking is that the manager apparently knew there was a misunderstanding, but chose to fire him anyway.
It isn't just the ignorance of not knowing what a the homo prefix means, it's
the fear of "being associated with homosexuality" that makes this story shocking.
Originally posted by vivify
http://gawker.com/language-school-blogger-fired-for-writing-about-homopho-1613916147
[b]Language School Blogger Fired for Writing About Homophones
A social media specialist for a Utah language school that teaches English to non-native speakers says he was fired for writing a blog post about homophones—words that sound the same, but carry different m ...[text shortened]... nts out the Nomen blog published another post on the topic in 2011, apparently without incident.[/b]
I'll have your check ready."Cheque - another homophone of course. Fun really.
"Have your desk cleared" in an email is presumably an American approach to human resource management. I wonder why I favour having unions?
Originally posted by wolfgang59Interesting debate a while back on the Spirituality forum about whether hell even exists or, if it does, if it is eternal. I came from that quietly hopeful. I may be okay.
Because you are Euro-Socialist-Liberal-Trash and will roast in hell for it.
.... or maybe just a guy with common sense.
Originally posted by finneganHow can you debate something that is totally unknown and must be believed simply by faith?
Interesting debate a while back on the Spirituality forum about whether hell even exists or, if it does, if it is eternal. I came from that quietly hopeful. I may be okay.