Santa's "Ho, Ho, Ho" offensive

[Brandon Pierce]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071115/wl_asia_afp/lifestyleaustraliachristmasoffbeat

[tb4000]

I would have expected this from the states as opposed to Austrailia. I guess it's a worldwide thing.

[Zeonic Freak]

What?:confused:

How come a American derogitory word for a woman be offensive on a country that 2000 miles away? Australia is over there, and were here. Now if they use the word as much as a common phrase as we do here, i can see that.

Maybe the kids got the meaning of the word from that Robot Chicken sketch where Santa saw them three "ho's" on the street?;) http://youtube.com/watch?v=dt2fiHlkklU ...

[Michael24]

Asinine.

That is all.

[Dr.Pepper]

What?:confused: Little kids aren't going to think about that. Bsides Santa's been saying Ho Ho Ho for the past 150 years so why change it.

[Ishtar]

Wow, I never would have thought something like this would happen. The way people are seeing things sure are changing. What's next, Rudolph's red nose is seen as offensive?

[Charles Chimag]

...No. Just no.

[Silverstar]

First, Wal-Mart greeters can't say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" because Bible bumpers think "Happy Holidays" is disrespectful to Jesus (never mind that not everybody on the planet is a Christian and some people don't celebrate Christmas, so "Happy Holidays" is actually a good way to avoid offending anyone-except hardcore Christians, apparently), now this.

This would be funny if it weren't so pathetic.

[unknown hero]

Wow. People need to stop getting upset about the little details and just let it go. Hey Australia, leave Santa alone. While your at it, do something more constructive than complain about the holidays, like feeding the homeless.

[tucsoncoyote]

What?:confused:

How come a American derogitory word for a woman be offensive on a country that 2000 miles away? Australia is over there, and were here. Now if they use the word as much as a common phrase as we do here, i can see that

Actually Zeonic Freak, Austrailia is 8000 miles away from where I live..(Considering that the earth hasn't gotten smaller while we've been discussing this "Santa" Topic.. But Still what's next? Will one of our American States have to be renamed IdaHeh or Idaha, rather then.. well you get the joke..but still I have friends who live in the Potato State and I have yet to hear about The folks of Ida--, succeeding from the Union anytime soon. And if they do, well Then we'll have Canada foot the right to rename it any way they want!

But Still The Aussies saying those three cute words, is probably going to have to figure out a new way to make Santa Laugh.. or maybe we should have him say..

"Heh heh heh" (Now that sounds more derogatory then you think!)



Many states are already banning Rudolph merchandice due to his afflication with Satan. His red nose is clearly a reference to Santa's clothing, and Santa is obviously Satan in disguise, what with his prostitution and similar name. They're making Rudolph's nose white, thankfully.

Yes Kiddies, Be bad as you want to be!!!

After all, 'Santa' is an anagram of the word 'Satan'.. (But come on If the Aussies say that Santa is Satan or that he says derrogatory slang that is really american in nature, then I have to say this)...

"Do you have 'Prince Charles in a Can'? If so, then you better let him out!"

But seriously, where do these folks get off as seeing Christmas Characters as being evil? What's Next?

'Frosty the Snowman' being a drug pusher? :p

:coyote:

[Zeonic Freak]

Actually Zeonic Freak, Austrailia is 8000 miles away from where I live..(Considering that the earth hasn't gotten smaller while we've been discussing this "Santa" Topic.. But Still what's next? Will one of our American States have to be renamed IdaHeh or Idaha, rather then.. well you get the joke..but still I have friends who live in the Potato State and I have yet to hear about The folks of Ida--, succeeding from the Union anytime soon. And if they do, well Then we'll have Canada foot the right to rename it any way they want!


:coyote:

I guess im number dyslexic. Ok, so im 6000 miles off, its not that big of a gap of space :p. Well, its 10 for me since between you and me is bout 2000 to 2500 miles apart.

But, its still a small world...

[J'onn J'onzz]

The most shocking thing about this is that it happened in Australia. HOW DARE THEY TAKE OUR SANTA? :mad: Santa is a patriot. He wears red, he wears white, all that's missing is blue. What's Australia doing taking our slang and our Santa?


Wow, I never would have thought something like this would happen. The way people are seeing things sure are changing. What's next, Rudolph's red nose is seen as offensive?
Many states are already banning Rudolph merchandice due to his afflication with Satan. His red nose is clearly a reference to Santa's clothing, and Santa is obviously Satan in disguise, what with his prostitution and similar name. They're making Rudolph's nose white, thankfully. Personally, I'm VERY offended that all the rest of the raindeers having black noses, except Rudolph, whose red nose means that he's Mexican. Why aren't the FOUNDERS of this great nation, the white men, represented? I personally am very glad that they're changing him from a Mexican to a white. Dasher and Prancer should stick with Kwanza. The holiday season is too oriented towards minorities. There NEED to be white noses, in addition to white Santa, the birth of white Jesus (who would probably be celebrating Hannukah, actually, being a Jew and all), and white snow.

Disclaimer: I originally deleted this post but since Tucson quoted it... might as well repost with a disclaimer that I mean zero of this and am mocking the racist and paraonid attitudes some have towards Christmas, not endorcing them. Thanks.

[Vyse]

And now, "Things I Thought Of When Reading The Article":

-Australia thinks Santa Claus is a pimp. Either that, or Don Imus.
-Phil Ken Sebben in a Santa suit: "HA! HA! HA! Prison Colony!"
-I wouldn't expect less from a country that banned the Manhunt series.
-Australia. American for backwards.

This has been, "Things I Thought Of When Reading The Article."

[Frank Castle]

Santa can't say Ho Ho Ho anymore? Wow it's great to see that people are taking care of the most problematic things in the world.:sad:

[Juu-kuchi]

Next thing you know Thundercats has a demeaning battlecry because Lion-o keeps saying "Ho" whenever he calls the Thundercats.

[Frank Castle]

Next thing you know Thundercats has a demeaning battlecry because Lion-o keeps saying "Ho" whenever he calls the Thundercats.
And God help the hardware stores that sell hoes.

(Customer enters store)

"I'm looking for a tool that has a blade and is used for gardening."

"You mean a hoe?"

"I'm offended sir. You are a politically incorrect piece of garbage."

(Customer leaves)

[Stuckey]

And now, "Things I Thought Of When Reading The Article":

-Australia thinks Santa Claus is a pimp. Either that, or Don Imus.
-Phil Ken Sebben in a Santa suit: "HA! HA! HA! Prison Colony!"
-I wouldn't expect less from a country that banned the Manhunt series.
-Australia. American for backwards.

This has been, "Things I Thought Of When Reading The Article."

You do realize the company that is "banning" the use of the phrase is an American country, right?

[Antiyonder]

I have to wonder if the banning of Ho Ho Ho is true offense. At this point it seems like people just look for excuses to ban stuff.

Next I suppose America will ban the use of black colored crayons/markers while Africa will ban white color crayons/markers. Any guess what's next on the ban wagon?

[Michael24]

First, Wal-Mart greeters can't say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" because Bible bumpers think "Happy Holidays" is disrespectful to Jesus (never mind that not everybody on the planet is a Christian and some people don't celebrate Christmas, so "Happy Holidays" is actually a good way to avoid offending anyone-except hardcore Christians, apparently), now this.

Never mind that something like 80-90% of the U.S. population celebrates Christmas. Why should we worry about offending a meager 10% or so? The "Happy Holidays" thing is such a load of crap.

[Conan-san]

There's a very easy way to deal with these sort of Anal Retentive bumifs,

"Hey, you! Breathing offends the dead, stop breathing!"

[tucsoncoyote]

There's a very easy way to deal with these sort of Anal Retentive bumifs,

"Hey, you! Breathing offends the dead, stop breathing!"

Actually Conan-san, I think that Austrailians rather than attack Santa for his merry laughter, should rather attack one of their own game companies for putting up something more offensive than Santa's laughter. Maybe we could get Jack Thompson involved in on this attrocity, and here it is..

[
The Late Steve Irwin is on a video game box..
(Gee give Steve a break will you? He's as Dead as a Parrot!!!)


I mean you want to call the Austrailians hypocrites? Well if they can put a dead man's photo on a video game and call it "Fun", then maybe they need to rethink their ideas about Santa and his merry laughter being offensive. Or like you said,


If you offend the dead then maybe you should stop breathing.


I think that sums it up..


:coyote:

[Beefy]

Oh nos! I hath been offended. Now I must make it my mission to ruin something for everyone else.

The problem is: anyone can be offended by anything. There's no way around it.

I'm with Conan-san. Let's ban breathing, and ban speaking while we're at it. People who can talk are offending people who are unable to speak. Someone think of the poor mimes!

[Kitschensyngk]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071115/wl_asia_afp/lifestyleaustraliachristmasoffbeat

Context, people, CONTEXT!

What's next, environmentalists saying Christmas kills trees?

[Wanted]

You know, I tend to forgo the article and read the thread, hoping people know what they're talking about... bad judgment on my part. The article speaks for itself.

[Dogbert]

Never mind that something like 80-90% of the U.S. population celebrates Christmas. Why should we worry about offending a meager 10% or so? The "Happy Holidays" thing is such a load of crap.I wouldn't be opposed to the ban on "Merry Christmas" if it actually did offend 10%. I was raised in a Christian family, but I can't imagine being offended if a greeter wished me to have a good Hanukkah. The idea that someone would be offended by being wished a positive experience seems absurd to me. That said, Wal-Mart is a private organization and can tell their greeters to say whatever the corporate entity desires. If they don't want their greeters being specific, that's their prerogative.

[Funkatron]

utterly ridiculous

[Mr. Anime]

The people of Australia have dirty minds.

[Stuckey]

Actually Conan-san, I think that Austrailians rather than attack Santa for his merry laughter, should rather attack one of their own game companies for putting up something more offensive than Santa's laughter. Maybe we could get Jack Thompson involved in on this attrocity, and here it is..

[
The Late Steve Irwin is on a video game box..
(Gee give Steve a break will you? He's as Dead as a Parrot!!!)


I mean you want to call the Austrailians hypocrites? Well if they can put a dead man's photo on a video game and call it "Fun", then maybe they need to rethink their ideas about Santa and his merry laughter being offensive. Or like you said,


If you offend the dead then maybe you should stop breathing.


I think that sums it up..



:coyote:


It wouldn't even be hypocritcal if the same company that is putting Steve Irwin on a game cover was the one saying "ho ho ho" was offensive, much less in this instance (where it's two seperate companies). The offensiveness of Santa's laughter and using a dead guy's likeness on a video game cover are two seperate issues. The implication that this makes Australians hypocrites is absurd.


To wit:
1. I think hockey sucks.
2. My friend enjoys eating apples.
3. Americans are hypocrites.

According to the logic you displayed in your post the third statement is illustrated by the first two.

[Elven Moon]

Seriously? COME ON NOW. This is just ridiculous. They're banning recess at schools because it damages self esteem, now they're censoring Santa Claus because I'm supposed to be offended by his catch phrase somehow. He's saying "Ha ha ha" now because he's laughing at all these idiots :sweat:

[Antiyonder]

So should we put up a censorship/banning predictiion thread? Because it seems like everything that was harmless for decades are now considered a problem for people.

Like I said on page 1, black and white crayons will be the next to ban. Maybe brown and tan colored crayons. Heck, extremist religious folks will see fit to ban red crayons because they borderline on being Satanic. Same goes for markers and paint colors.

[Brandon Pierce]

Soon everyone will be forced to shave their heads, because having hair is offensive to the folically challenged.

[Antiyonder]

Soon everyone will be forced to shave their heads, because having hair is offensive to the folically challenged.

Not to mention that all forms of reading material (books, magazines, manuals, computer pages, signs, billboards) will be forbidden because otherwise those who hate reading will feel left out.

Actually, I imagine the uses of the words white and black will someday be banned. I'm not talking about racial terms, but just in descriptions of an object (comic strip, frosting, ink, paper, chalk).

[Conan-san]

I'm with Conan-san. Let's ban breathing, and ban speaking while we're at it. People who can talk are offending people who are unable to speak. Someone think of the poor mimes!I, of course, am inmune to such ban as I am Politicaly Indiffrent, this brillaint state of mind obvserves humanity's right to be offended.

But honestly, I don't give a damn.

[James]

You know, I tend to forgo the article and read the thread, hoping people know what they're talking about... bad judgment on my part. The article speaks for itself.

It does seem a little excessive compared to the report. The report states that a man working for a US recruitment firm in Sydney (notice how this man is the ONLY source for this article, despite the opening paragraph's suggestive notion that its citywide), has said he's been told he can't use it as Santa. After a soundbyte from a woman in an organisation against children being treated like adults (with no indication what she was told was anything more than the vague notion the article is suggesting), the recruitment firm in question - again, ONE firm which doesn't even have a native ownership (for those having a jab at the Australians) - says it merely suggested the point.

So what do we have? An article which has had one employee go to the press with an unsubstantiated comment which the paper has blown up to make a news item from.

People. Please. Read the report before commencing conjecture that this as some sort of first step to a beyond PC world. It's a trumped up story with no secondary sourcing bar the denial from the single company in question. You just fall into the trap this story has created to draw attention to itself. And we don't want to give lazy journalism more attention than it truly deserves. :)

[Lonestarr]

Their toilets don't even flush the right way. Why are we taking them seriously about this?

[DarthGonzo]

Their toilets don't even flush the right way. Why are we taking them seriously about this?

Toilets also flush the wrong way in Rand McNally for what it's worth.

And in Rand McNally people wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people.

[Chris Wood]

In other news Australian customs officers have orders to shoot Billy Bob Thornton on sight.

[Harvey Two Face]

Look, I don't want to hear any crap coming from you guys about Australia, I live there, and I am just as outraged as anyone here about this whole thing about Santa, as well as many other people I know, we think it's completely stupid, so don't blame the Australian people, blame the business that runs the shopping centres or multi million dollar companies who run them, but don't blame the people.

PS. Australia is awesome.

[RockmanDash]

So if I say Ho, Ho, Ho in Austrailia I am being offensive? Wow..:sweat: I dont think kids would think of that in that kind of way.. unless their parents tell them to much.

[Hanshotfirst113]

I suppose that it was only a matter of time.


P.S. Australia is awesome.

Any country that brought us Mad Max, The Road Warrior, Peter Weir, Russel Crowe, Nick Cave, and The Proposition must be.

[DeadJohNNyAngel]

What a shame trying to change santa like that, however if they must having him do an evil 'Muahaha' laugh for a change might prove amusing.
:p

[Antiyonder]

An essay which I found on ron stoppable.net:


Here's an interesting essay I came across recently. Authored by N. C. Greggs.

----------------------------------------

Who ARE You People?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for accommodating religious and cultural differences, acknowledging that not everyone has exactly the same perspective on every issue, even making life a bit clearer for the common-sense-impaired.

But when it comes down to coddling the abjectly stupid, or those who seem to spend every waking hour looking for something to be offended about, I have to stand back and yell, “What the *****!”

Who are you people who think shopping mall Santas should refrain from saying “ho, ho, ho” because it might be construed by female passers-by as an insult to their sexual activities? Shouldn’t such people be kept out of the malls because stupidity might be contagious, and we’ve already got enough of that going around?

Who are you people who report to parents of pre-schoolers that their children’s tendency to nuzzle against your chest is a blatant sexual advance? Shouldn’t such alleged ‘adults’ be kept as far away from innocent children as possible? Just how repressed/sexually confused do you have to be before someone decides that maybe the ‘problem’ lies not with the kids, but with you?

Who are you people who think they’re being persecuted as Christians if the local department store wishes you a Happy Holiday instead of a Merry Christmas? Maybe I’m just out of the loop, but I haven’t seen any TV commercials advertising Christians v Lions events, nor read any reports about anyone being hauled off to prison in the dead of night after being rounded-up outside the local church.

Let’s get real, people. The fact that your local stores are wishing all and sundry, regardless of religion, a joyous holiday is a matter or embracing everyone, and not a personal affront to you or your beliefs.

And by the way, encouraging you to spend money you don’t have under a banner of Merry Christmas flying over a manger scene in the parking lot is not meant to keep Christ in Christmas – it’s meant to keep you shopping in their store. And as long as your credit card transaction goes through, they don’t really care if those are Christian dollars or pagan dollars making the cash register go ca-ching, ca-ching.

Who are you people who think that a group of Muslims praying in an airport terminal before take-off are obviously terrorists about to take down the flight? Did it ever occur to you that if a group of people had such plans, they wouldn’t be drawing any undue attention to themselves before boarding?

Honest to God, to Allah, to Buddha, to all that is holy, should people as dumb as you be allowed to fly without a psychiatric professional accompanying you from the terminal of departure to your final destination – and shouldn’t a straight-jacket be part of your carry-on luggage?

Who are you people who believe there’s such a thing as a Gay Agenda? Do you honestly believe that every homosexual belongs to a secret society, one that meets regularly in order to contrive ways to force you, a heterosexual, into their lifestyle?

Have you looked in the mirror lately? And if and when you did, did you actually surmise that the gay agenda will never be fully realized until a gay man or a lesbian can openly brag that they got you into bed? Think it through; you’re probably less attractive to them than the last heterosexual man/woman you took home when the bar lights flickered, someone yelled “last call”, and you didn’t want to go home alone.

Who are you people who think that Harry Potter is the gateway book to adopting witchcraft as a religious belief, or The Golden Compass should be banned from school libraries because it was written by an atheist?

No, don’t tell me – you’re probably the same people who think that the earth (despite all scientific knowledge to the contrary) is 6,000 year old, that evolution is a myth, and the concept of global warming is being promoted by corporations that own weather networks.

I rest my case – and yet, I feel compelled to ask: Have you actually read these books before deciding to condemn them? More to the point, have you ever read any book?

This is only speculation on my part, but I’m figuring you people are the same ones who actually need that warning label on the electric hairdryer that specifically states – lest there be any confusion – that it shouldn’t be operated while showering.

You’re also probably the same people who think that Support the Troops is a bumper sticker and not something that should be backed up with actual support, that freedom of religion means your religion and not anyone else’s, that flag-burning is the most pressing problem our nation currently faces, that “hot coffee” doesn’t actually mean “hot coffee”, so feel free to balance it on your lap while driving … oh, and that ”Not to be used as a step” warning at the top of a ladder is merely a suggestion, not meant to be heeded by the brain-dead who can later sue the ladder manufacturer on the basis that said warning did not contain their name specifically – therefore, how were you supposed to know they were talking to YOU!?!

I consider myself to be a reasonable person. But when I am expected to accept the asinine, incoherent ramblings of people who belong in long-term mental health care programs as part of the fabric of society who need attention, protection and validation, count me out.

In those circumstances, I can be as intolerant as the next person – who, like me, is probably sane.

[Harvey Two Face]

I basically agree with all of that, and I think it is so rediculous people would get offended from it, and what confuses me most is why would it happen in my country!?

[Dee]

First, Wal-Mart greeters can't say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" because Bible bumpers think "Happy Holidays" is disrespectful to Jesus (never mind that not everybody on the planet is a Christian and some people don't celebrate Christmas, so "Happy Holidays" is actually a good way to avoid offending anyone-except hardcore Christians, apparently), now this.

This would be funny if it weren't so pathetic.

I got a boat load of sass one holiday season-- I worked at a movie theater at the time, and I always said Happy Holidays because 1. I like the sound of it better and 2. it's all inclusive for all holidays.

I told one customer "Happy Holidays" and he glared at me and said "You SHOULD say Merry Christmas."

Apparantally, to him-- there are no other holidays. It's like-- what the heck. I don't care--- I still say Happy Holidays, hehe

[AhmedtheHead]

First "Freedom Fries", now this?!

It's just...stupid.

[Ickis]

I eat a food called Ho-Ho's be little Debbies and nobody that I can think of has complained about its name! And hey this is actually kinda old and ain't the first time another countries made an odd complaint, Donald Duck was banned in some European country because he wore no pants!

[.bg]

How come a American derogitory word for a woman be offensive on a country that 2000 miles away?
That's extremely xenophobic right there.

Some words are offensive no matter where you go.

I don't agree with an outright ban of Santa's slogan, however. That's a timeless classic that shouldn't be messed with.