I just had to tell you guys what my kid did yesterday
- Thread starter GreenGreta
- Start date
I spoke to A earlier and he's upset that I did not give him my own script of "if you want me to vote liberals stop stealing my money, etc..."
I won't tell you what else he said. But I laughed, you can bet on it.
I won't tell you what else he said. But I laughed, you can bet on it.
Jersay said:
This is hilarious. How exactly do you construe any of the previous as anything racist? If someone calls me who can't even speak English (or French), and they're not comprehendible, then they're obviously not Canadian. Being a citizen of this country includes speaking CLEARLY and COMPREHENDIBLE. You shouldn't be a citizen (and hense, involved in party campaigns) if you're not integrated into Canadian society, hense speaking an official language.
Sorry to see you attacked by posters like that GreenGreta.
Andem said:
Is speaking without a strong accent is a requirement for citizenship? I had never heard that before, so I assumed the caller could be Canadian.
Tracy
Most people doing election stump work on the phone........would probably be citizens no? Even new citizens would probably be the best - eager to share in the electoral process.
Not provable of course, but why would non-citizens be recruited to encourage voters???
Most people doing election stump work on the phone........would probably be citizens no? Even new citizens would probably be the best - eager to share in the electoral process.
Not provable of course, but why would non-citizens be recruited to encourage voters???
tracy said:
Oh hardly. You're turning this around now. Her son could barely understand the man who was calling. In order to be a citizen of this country, I believe you should be integrated and speak the language. Any of this is unheard of in Europe and especially the countries most of modern-day immigrants come from (which, by the way, is racist to "whites" in its self -- Canadian immigration).
RE: I just had to tell yo
I disagree.
You can call yourself a Canadian even if you don't speak either of the official languages. Tens of thousands of immigrants came to Canada and the United States without speaking the language, never learned, and helped build the country. I see no difference today.
However, I don't think its bright to have people who have problems communicating calling people and selling them anything. But my guess is that the Liberals are having trouble getting volunteers and will be grateful for anyone doing anything for them at this point.
I disagree.
You can call yourself a Canadian even if you don't speak either of the official languages. Tens of thousands of immigrants came to Canada and the United States without speaking the language, never learned, and helped build the country. I see no difference today.
However, I don't think its bright to have people who have problems communicating calling people and selling them anything. But my guess is that the Liberals are having trouble getting volunteers and will be grateful for anyone doing anything for them at this point.
RE: I just had to tell yo
OMG...Andem..i'm a bit dissapointed in that statement. My freinds father has been here for over 50 years, he is a full citizen, he pays taxes, he votes, he does all the things a good little citizen does. But his english is fractured. He understands it perfectly, but he responds back fracturedly.
So does my other friends mom.
I cannot believe I read that to be a citizen, you have to integrate and speak the language clearly.
Integrate, sure. Speak English or French..sure. But to speak it clearly and fluently like we do? I'm just sorta stunned.
OMG...Andem..i'm a bit dissapointed in that statement. My freinds father has been here for over 50 years, he is a full citizen, he pays taxes, he votes, he does all the things a good little citizen does. But his english is fractured. He understands it perfectly, but he responds back fracturedly.
So does my other friends mom.
I cannot believe I read that to be a citizen, you have to integrate and speak the language clearly.
Integrate, sure. Speak English or French..sure. But to speak it clearly and fluently like we do? I'm just sorta stunned.
I would agree with the latter opinion; while French or English should be understood to a functional level, the perfection of the language is most certainly not a requirement for citizenship, nor, I would contend, should it ever become one.
We must keep in mind that some people come to Canada before being able to speak either English or French at all; more commonly under refugee situations. Would we turn such people away because they would be unable to immediately integrate, and to know one of the languages?
We must keep in mind that some people come to Canada before being able to speak either English or French at all; more commonly under refugee situations. Would we turn such people away because they would be unable to immediately integrate, and to know one of the languages?
Wednesday's Child said:
That's my point. The post I responded to made it sound like the caller wasn't a Canadian because he had an accent. I know several Canadians who have accents.
Andem said:
I also believe you should speak the language to become a citizen, and the caller obviously spoke English (not well maybe, but that doesn't stop someone from becoming a Canadian as far as I knew).
What's racist to whites? Canadian immigration policies? How so?
When I was in Europe I didn't see a great model for immigrant integration. France is famous for its ghettos thanks to their riots. On my trips to Germany, it didn't look like the Turks were fully integrated or even welcome despite language skills. Maybe it was just me.
It could be a racial slur. Similar to the one time I phoned the Canadian Embassy in Australia and was greeted by a pile of incomprehensible French. No English follow up. Was it a racist slur or just someone being rude? Or was it just a exuberant Quebecer trying to get a point across in English speaking Oz?
To say the remark was racist is stretching it IMO. To say it was silly or stupid of the Liberals to have pollsters call people with whom they cannot communicate is bang on.
To say the remark was racist is stretching it IMO. To say it was silly or stupid of the Liberals to have pollsters call people with whom they cannot communicate is bang on.
Look if you work for the gov't I should be able to understand you.
Here's a convo example.
bring bring
G: Thank you for calling the government of Canada, how may I help you?
GG: What?
G: I said Thank you for calling the government of Canada, how may I help you?
GG: What? I'm sorry I can't understand you.
G:I said Thank you for calling the government of Canada, how may I help you?
GG: What?
GG: Wow this is fun, glad I wasted half an hour on hold to talk to you. Can you forward me to someone I can understand? Thanks.
Here's a convo example.
bring bring
G: Thank you for calling the government of Canada, how may I help you?
GG: What?
G: I said Thank you for calling the government of Canada, how may I help you?
GG: What? I'm sorry I can't understand you.
G:I said Thank you for calling the government of Canada, how may I help you?
GG: What?
GG: Wow this is fun, glad I wasted half an hour on hold to talk to you. Can you forward me to someone I can understand? Thanks.
I find that if you actually expend a little effort, you can understand most people, even with thick accents. On the other hand, it is popular to be rude to people, so I guess that's okay.
In that spirit, every time I read a post here with a typo, I'm going to reply with a string of abuse. After all, if you're going to use this forum, the least you should be able to do is to write the language. What's fair is fair. I don't know why we allow people with substandard skills to come here anyway.
In that spirit, every time I read a post here with a typo, I'm going to reply with a string of abuse. After all, if you're going to use this forum, the least you should be able to do is to write the language. What's fair is fair. I don't know why we allow people with substandard skills to come here anyway.
Greta ... I'm with you and your son on this one. It's not racist to insist the people that handle the phones (for ANY reason) be understandable in at least one of the official languages. I've been where you were in your last post and it has annoyed me no end. I don't hesitate to ask for someone I can understand ... unless I've specifically called a place where I expect to get someone whose first language is not english (eg. ordering in food, etc.) I expect to be able to converse with anyone in business.
This is not disrespecting immigrants in any way. This is a matter of being able to conduct business in my own country. When it comes to our political parties, doubly so!!
I find it funny that people are so quick to slap that good ole PC "racist" label on others. Pot and kettle, anyone? Two judgement calls are better than one?
I am not an ethnic minority, but am a visible minority. I know what discrimination is. Telling someone who *should* be able to communicate clearly with you to learn to speak the language is common sense, not discrimination. To say it is discrimination is crap and diminishes the real issue. Discrimination is a lot more hurtful that than.
Sure, that caller may be have been eager to support a political party and be part of the democracy of his new country, but there are other (better) ways to do that. I've worked campaigns before ... there's a ton of work involved and there's plenty to do without doing the phoning. *shrug* Any party that puts anyone on the phone who is hard to understand isn't doing themselves any favours. Match skills to abilities. But then ... we're talking politics and that's never been a real strong suit.
Even my own beloved NDP annoyed me yesterday. I got a pre-recorded message from Mr. Layton. WTF??? A political party that is "for the people" sends our pre-recorded messages? I intend to shoot off a little email to his office letting him know how useless the effort was and that he did nothing more than annoy me. If he wants to give me a message, don't phone spam me, please. Get a real person on the end of the line (yes, one who I can understand) or don't bother at all.
Whew ... end of rant. G'morning all!
This is not disrespecting immigrants in any way. This is a matter of being able to conduct business in my own country. When it comes to our political parties, doubly so!!
I find it funny that people are so quick to slap that good ole PC "racist" label on others. Pot and kettle, anyone? Two judgement calls are better than one?
I am not an ethnic minority, but am a visible minority. I know what discrimination is. Telling someone who *should* be able to communicate clearly with you to learn to speak the language is common sense, not discrimination. To say it is discrimination is crap and diminishes the real issue. Discrimination is a lot more hurtful that than.
Sure, that caller may be have been eager to support a political party and be part of the democracy of his new country, but there are other (better) ways to do that. I've worked campaigns before ... there's a ton of work involved and there's plenty to do without doing the phoning. *shrug* Any party that puts anyone on the phone who is hard to understand isn't doing themselves any favours. Match skills to abilities. But then ... we're talking politics and that's never been a real strong suit.
Even my own beloved NDP annoyed me yesterday. I got a pre-recorded message from Mr. Layton. WTF??? A political party that is "for the people" sends our pre-recorded messages? I intend to shoot off a little email to his office letting him know how useless the effort was and that he did nothing more than annoy me. If he wants to give me a message, don't phone spam me, please. Get a real person on the end of the line (yes, one who I can understand) or don't bother at all.
Whew ... end of rant. G'morning all!
GreenGreta said:My son is 17 we'll call him A, and already hates the government, he's really smart. Anyways, last night the phone rang, it was the liberals. Apparantly the person on the phone had a very strong accent and a poor grasp of language.
The convo went like this.
Bring Bring
A: Hello?
L: This is the Liberals calling, can we count on you for your support on Monday?
A: Who?
L: The Liberals.
A: Oh, well, if you want me to vote Liberals, maybe you SHOULD LEARN THE F*CKING LANGUAGE.
Now I normally don't endorse my son's trucker language, and I certainly don't like him picking on people who have accents. But man, I almost cried I laughed so hard. Lovin that kid o mine
edited cause my apostrophes don't always land in the right place.
I have a problem with this because obviously your son understood what was being said and it seems as though he is showing an intolerence to other nationalalities. Is this the Canada we want I think not. He is 17 and if that is what we have managed to teach our young people then we might as well just close our borders to everybody who is different than ourselves. This is shameful not funny.
Hey, here's an idea...
If you dial MY number on MY phone that I pay for, speak MY language or don't call ME. It's my phone, I pay for it.
Here I speak gibberish, I'm going to call you and sit on your phone. You can't understand me, but you MUST SUCK IT UP and make an effort to be polite, because this is Canada. In Canada, you can make a mockery of the english language and since we're Canadian we will sit on the phone while you spend six hours figuring out each word on a script you can't read. Ya, that's what my free time is for. NOT.
If you dial MY number on MY phone that I pay for, speak MY language or don't call ME. It's my phone, I pay for it.
Here I speak gibberish, I'm going to call you and sit on your phone. You can't understand me, but you MUST SUCK IT UP and make an effort to be polite, because this is Canada. In Canada, you can make a mockery of the english language and since we're Canadian we will sit on the phone while you spend six hours figuring out each word on a script you can't read. Ya, that's what my free time is for. NOT.