So, if you're manager asked you to use a nickname...
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I'll try not to foul myself. I've managed to avoid that for nigh on 50 years ;)
This space for rent
Damned, that's what I get for blind typing before coffee. In my defense: English isn't my native language, but still no excuse ... Fixed it in original post :)
Tom
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Most HR departments would fire that manager on the spot. I'd double down and have everyone else use the nickname Mohammad. (And just say they are honoring Mohammad Ali.) Or Mustafa - you like Lion King. Omar - you like Omar Bradley. Another option: ask the manager to change his name so customers don't associate the rest of you with "shit head."
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
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Actually it comes down to "depends", for most of us it would be highly offensive however if you are in sales then you take every advantage you can get. And as much as most here may be outraged there is plenty of prejudice and bigotry out there. If a name makes a prospective client uncomfortable then a nom de plume may well be in the sales mans best interest. In which case the sales manager is actually doing a good job.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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Rather than go straight for the lawyers, I would ask for a private meeting with the boss. Politely explain that what has been suggested could be viewed as discriminatory and not unacceptable in this day and age. Say that you are proud of your name and heritage and will not use a nickname, and leave it with him. See what happens - he will likely either quietly back down or will double down on the insult, in which case at that point consider bringing out the lawyers. I would consider having HR (or some other person) present at the meeting, though that would raise the temperature a bit. I appreciate this may be a quintessentially more English way of dealing with such issues...
Actually, I consider your perspective to be a very LOGICAL way of dealing with the issue, but most of the responses show why lawyers are very wealthy in the USA. Americans are easily offended, and someone should pay for that offense even though the Constitution DOES NOT give anyone the right to not be offended (though it does give the offender the right of free speech).
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
I would SUGGEST the manager have to choose between 2 even MORE Islamic sounding names. Or add a few new names TO THE name as a nick name. But that's just me. Now, if the name is hard to understand (like some of those in India, apparently), I actually appreciate when they lie to me: Hello, my name is JOHN, and I will be giving you excellent customer service today! Where you located John? (I ask)... Chee Cah Go! What's the weather like? (click click click)... Oh it is being beautiful outside. With lots of wind. == No offense intended here. I just love the attempt.
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
Congratulate your fellow employee (the one with the "Islamic" sounding name) on winning the lawyer lottery, and ask him/her what they are going to buy first with the proceeds of their lawsuit. :laugh:
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
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Actually, I consider your perspective to be a very LOGICAL way of dealing with the issue, but most of the responses show why lawyers are very wealthy in the USA. Americans are easily offended, and someone should pay for that offense even though the Constitution DOES NOT give anyone the right to not be offended (though it does give the offender the right of free speech).
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
In all the righteous indignation here maybe we've forgotten something; that many Americans are clearly prejudiced. There's a gap between how they should behave and how they do behave. Depending on the locale and the product, I can see a sales or marketing manager trying to deal with customers as they are, not as they ought to be. That said, it would have to be a very careful and respectfully offered request, and there would have to be no consequence for declining to be nicknamed. If the manager was known to be a jerk, I'd probably freak out in ways that eventually involved lawyers.
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
Did you mean to say, "asked you to use a nickname because YOUR NAME sounded 'Islamic'"? If so, yes, that would be discriminatory. If you meant what you said and the manager asked you to use a nickname because [it] sounded "Islamic" (it being the nickname according to English grammar rules), that would be much more interesting. It would sound like the manager didn't want anyone to think they didn't hire Muslims, or that they hired any non-Muslims. Still discriminatory, though.
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
I would tell the manager to rephrase the request to: "We're making a new policy which restricts the use of nicknames." that way the whole world is happier with the mess they created. because, believe me, if you want more rules just keep suing people over stuff like this and there will come a day when you'll be reading 1984 as a policy guide.
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How the hell did you arrive at that conclusion?
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Rather than go straight for the lawyers, I would ask for a private meeting with the boss. Politely explain that what has been suggested could be viewed as discriminatory and not unacceptable in this day and age. Say that you are proud of your name and heritage and will not use a nickname, and leave it with him. See what happens - he will likely either quietly back down or will double down on the insult, in which case at that point consider bringing out the lawyers. I would consider having HR (or some other person) present at the meeting, though that would raise the temperature a bit. I appreciate this may be a quintessentially more English way of dealing with such issues...
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You may not be aware of it, but "chimp" (used derogatorily) is commonly considered a racial slur. ("Chump", by contrast, has no such connotations as far as I know.)
Never heard of it used as racial slur, I meant 'chimp' as in lower on the evolutionary scale, knuckle-dragger.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment "Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst "I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Slacker007 wrote:
Isn't that against the law? If not, it should be.
I would think so, but I don't know of any laws that address that issue, though of course that is not my area of expertise! Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
Being illegal has never stopped those in power. Getting away with illegal acts, nearly always makes those in power worse.
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
'Your' manager NOT 'you're' manager
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...because it sounded "Islamic" and he doesn't want customers to "make associations", what would you do? (Yes, this is actually happening to someone where I work.) Marc
Imperative to Functional Programming Succinctly Contributors Wanted for Higher Order Programming Project! Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
I would have already changed my name