Council bans toy pigs from desks - Page 4

**Russ B** · 18-07-2006, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

If I put up a poster of a topless woman (cut out from a national daily newspaper) on the wall next to my desk at work, and someone complains, I will be asked to remove it.

Religion is a secondary issue here. The point is that a co-worker took offence to an item on a desk, so it was removed. I agree it was a tough call, but really is it such a big deal for the sake of office harmony?

If you had a Buddha statue on your desk and as a Christian I took offence at it, would you really take it away just to appease me?

Using a topless pic doesn't really compare well - it wasn't a pig and the woman in question didn't have to touch it.

Mr Angry · 18-07-2006, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

If you had a Buddha statue on your desk and as a Christian I took offence at it, would you really take it away just to appease me?

I know it's a hypothetical situation but lets say you asked him to remove it and he didn't, would you make a formal complaint?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

Using a topless pic doesn't really compare well - it wasn't a pig and the woman in question didn't have to touch it.

It's interesting though that workers can sit and ogle page three type photos in their dailies yet looking at the same material on the web constitutes a sackable offence under many company internet / no porn policies.

**Russ B** · 18-07-2006, 10:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

I know it's a hypothetical situation but lets say you asked him to remove it and he didn't, would you make a formal complaint?

No - I'd just ignore it I guess

Mr Angry · 18-07-2006, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ D

No - I'd just ignore it I guess

Which goes to show it's very much up to the individual. Anyone can find something offensive in their workplace if they look hard enough.

**Russ B** · 18-07-2006, 10:41

Nothing wrong in finding offence in something - for example I find plenty of thing on CF to be offensive. I say it's what the individual does about it is what counts. Do you kick up a stink to get things changed or do you tolerate other peoples' ways?

TheNorm · 18-07-2006, 10:44

Ultimately its a management decision. Plastic pigs and girlie pictures are hardly necessary, are they?

Unless you work for Flying Pig Porn Productions, plc.

Damien · 18-07-2006, 11:24

Stories like this hurt muslims more than anyone else. It causes ill-feeling and distrust of the muslim community. Ironically if they were more intergrated into the general population and, more importantly, trusted and accepted by the general population then decisions like this would become a thing of the past.

TheNorm · 18-07-2006, 11:54

It must be difficult to integrate if your colleagues don't even know the basics, and then make jokes about your beliefs.

Imagine being a non-smoking non-drinker trying to fit in with workmates who have lunchtime "team meetings" down at the local.

Damien · 18-07-2006, 12:04

I mean more society.

My point is that issues like the one above are made because of a lack of understanding (most muslims properly could not care less about a fake pig). As well as fear.

If muslims were easily accepted and fitted in then it wouldnt be so much of a problem

orangebird · 18-07-2006, 12:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

I mean more society.

My point is that issues like the one above are made because of a lack of understanding (most muslims properly could not care less about a fake pig). As well as fear.

If muslims were easily accepted and fitted in then it wouldnt be so much of a problem

But the stories you read are about muslims that don't want to fit in, or worse, expect other people to fit round their lifestyle.. That's why they don't get accepted.

Nugget · 18-07-2006, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

Stories like this hurt muslims more than anyone else. It causes ill-feeling and distrust of the muslim community. Ironically if they were more intergrated into the general population and, more importantly, trusted and accepted by the general population then decisions like this would become a thing of the past.

Not if you approach them realistically, they don't. This is purely down to an individual taking her understanding of her religion too far - as before, I'm fairly sure that there's nothing in the Koran about looking at pigs, but she's stated that it offends her that her colleagues have them on her desk. Frankly, that's about the same as me being offended by someone in the office eating sprouts in the office that I work in, cos I can't stand them.

Whilst I understand that this may colour some peoples opinions of Muslims in general, this 'ill-feeling and distrust' stems purely from the individual who has these feelings - as I said earlier in this thread, I can almost guarantee that there will be other Muslims working in the office in question that couldn't give two hoots about this, but that's not newsworthy

---------- Post added at 13:24 ---------- Previous post was at 13:21 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangebird

But the stories you read are about muslims that don't want to fit in, or worse, expect other people to fit round their lifestyle.. That's why they don't get accepted.

And herein lies the problem - following on from my post of about 30 seconds ago, Muslims who do attempt to integrate aren't newsworthy, so very rarely get heard of. This is basically yet another case of an individual causing problems for the rest of 'their' society, when there isn't realistically a problem in the first place...

Escapee · 18-07-2006, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

I mean more society.

My point is that issues like the one above are made because of a lack of understanding (most muslims properly could not care less about a fake pig). As well as fear.

If muslims were easily accepted and fitted in then it wouldnt be so much of a problem

Even I would say, it's not fair to target all muslims with the same brush. However muslims from certain countries/areas tend to be a lot worse than others.

Did they give any indication of the womans origins?

I know where I would put my pound!

Damien · 18-07-2006, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangebird

But the stories you read are about muslims that don't want to fit in, or worse, expect other people to fit round their lifestyle.. That's why they don't get accepted.

Exactly. Thats why these stories are more damaging to muslims in the long run than they are for everyone else.

pop80_uk · 18-07-2006, 13:52

All I can assume is the toy pig had a slightly menacing look on its face, hence the reason for removing it.

Does this mean babe is offensive?

Very tricky one to call though.

slowcoach · 18-07-2006, 15:32

These religious laws usually had a good reason, for instance, not being allowed to eat pork.
Human flesh and pork are indistinguishable so the law was probably created to try to prevent people eating their relatives when they died or to prevent butchers filling up their larder with part time helpers.

When you think about it, the demise of the local butcher's shop coincides with the increase in the local Muslim population.