A Weighty Issue
An appeal...
Contest season is coming and it seems a good time to get this off my chest. OK, here goes...
It is the opinion of this less-than-svelte Toastmaster that frequent references to body size during contests, conventions, workshops and other events are wholly inappropriate.
We've had a couple of high profile guys in the last year or so subjected time and again to an MC's indiscretion. We've heard intros such as:
"He's a heavyweight Toastmaster" or "... a huge - ly competent Toastmaster".
To me, such references are not only totally cringeworthy, they are potentially - even probably - offensive. Even in the absence of direct complaints, we, as Toastmasters, should be more sensitive and be models of politically-correct communications. Hong Kong may be lagging behind in this concept generally, but we - Hong Kong Toastmasters - should be demonstrating best practice, not succumbing to the level of playground banter.
Let's leave the 'Fat jokes' behind, please!
Right, I'm off for a pizza...
Contest season is coming and it seems a good time to get this off my chest. OK, here goes...
It is the opinion of this less-than-svelte Toastmaster that frequent references to body size during contests, conventions, workshops and other events are wholly inappropriate.
We've had a couple of high profile guys in the last year or so subjected time and again to an MC's indiscretion. We've heard intros such as:
"He's a heavyweight Toastmaster" or "... a huge - ly competent Toastmaster".
To me, such references are not only totally cringeworthy, they are potentially - even probably - offensive. Even in the absence of direct complaints, we, as Toastmasters, should be more sensitive and be models of politically-correct communications. Hong Kong may be lagging behind in this concept generally, but we - Hong Kong Toastmasters - should be demonstrating best practice, not succumbing to the level of playground banter.
Let's leave the 'Fat jokes' behind, please!
Right, I'm off for a pizza...
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