Raistlin
08-01-2014, 01:44 AM
Here's a sample lede for you:
[When a] social-media specialist for a private Provo-based English language learning center wrote a blog explaining homophones, he was let go for creating the perception that the school promoted a gay agenda.
My first reaction: I laughed. Because that has to be a parody.
But no, this was a Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/58236366-90/says-english-homophones-language.html.csp) article, which has been picked up (http://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-strategist-fired-after-blogging-about-homophones-2014-7) by other sources (http://www.newsweek.com/education-blogger-fired-writing-about-homophones-and-confusing-homophobes-262404). (I am still about half-sure that this was a satire piece that no one's caught onto yet)
Of course this happened in Utah. The blogger's boss denies that mindless bigotry and stupidity were behind the firing, but that was belied somewhat by this choice quote:
"People at this level of English," Woodger says, " … may see the ‘homo’ side and think it has something to do with gay sex."
That reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite blogs, Popehat:
Some behavior does not merely show bad character. It displays a level of stupidity so alarming as to render the bad character secondary. It raises a serious question as to whether emergency personnel should be rushed to the scene to equip the subject with a ventilator in case he forgets to breathe.
What examples of stupidity have you encountered that are so abjectly stupid they make you wonder how these people managed to tie their shoes in the morning?
[When a] social-media specialist for a private Provo-based English language learning center wrote a blog explaining homophones, he was let go for creating the perception that the school promoted a gay agenda.
My first reaction: I laughed. Because that has to be a parody.
But no, this was a Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/58236366-90/says-english-homophones-language.html.csp) article, which has been picked up (http://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-strategist-fired-after-blogging-about-homophones-2014-7) by other sources (http://www.newsweek.com/education-blogger-fired-writing-about-homophones-and-confusing-homophobes-262404). (I am still about half-sure that this was a satire piece that no one's caught onto yet)
Of course this happened in Utah. The blogger's boss denies that mindless bigotry and stupidity were behind the firing, but that was belied somewhat by this choice quote:
"People at this level of English," Woodger says, " … may see the ‘homo’ side and think it has something to do with gay sex."
That reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite blogs, Popehat:
Some behavior does not merely show bad character. It displays a level of stupidity so alarming as to render the bad character secondary. It raises a serious question as to whether emergency personnel should be rushed to the scene to equip the subject with a ventilator in case he forgets to breathe.
What examples of stupidity have you encountered that are so abjectly stupid they make you wonder how these people managed to tie their shoes in the morning?