Are Oxfam Making Good Use Of Donated Money?

[Deskdiary]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11869961/Oxfams-new-92-page-inclusivity-guide-calls-English-language-colonising-nation.html

"We recognise that this guide has its origin in English, the language of a colonising nation."

Avoid male/female, and instead use ASAB/AFAM (assigned female/male at birth).

Avoid Mankind as it has an inherent association with maleness.

Avoid Black Market to avoid negative connotations.

Avoid Ethnic Minority and instead use Minority Ethnic.

And so on....

I'll point out, before anybody else inevitably does, that Oxfam states it's not prescriptive...but that's not really the point.

BTW, as it's fashionable to be offended now, can I be offended if anybody refers to me as Cis-male rather than just male?

[New Judge]

//How can it possibly run to 92 pages?//

Very easily, dd. It starts by suggesting that the use of English must be challenged in order to "decolonise" our ways of working:

"We further recognize that this guide has its origin in English, the language of a colonizing to work and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial legacy. However, we recognize
that the dominance of English is one of the key issues that must be addressed in order to decolonise our ways of working and shift power."

It then goes on to list literally hundreds of words and phrases which must not be used to avoid causing offence. For example:

"Acting ‘in solidarity with’ is an alternative to ‘standing with’, which avoids potentially alienating people who are unable to stand. It is a more inclusive phrase to demonstrate a common cause or interest."

You have to wonder whether the people that write this dross are real, and if they are, where they find them.

[Peter Pedant]

the hospice runners tend to have a side line in decent 2 nd hand clothes shops ( geddit)
such corruption in the world.

and remember Gift Aid folks - the only way to give
and the financial year ends in three weeks.

[Deskdiary]

“Acting in solidarity with…” instead of standing with (no, me neither), wouldn’t that trigger people who didn’t like Lech Walensa? (apologies if the spelling is wrong).

These people are dribbling idiots.

[Deskdiary]

Would somebody who
can’t stand really, really be upset with “standing with” as a sign of unity?

I bet if 99% were asked they wouldn’t give a monkeys (can I say monkey?).

[douglas9401]

I've been mulling today.

When will they drop the 'Ox' for fear of offending vegans?

[Prudie]

I don't really understand the full impact of the history and colonisation part behind all of this - except it's a dirty word and hence so is English. Why is not an issue that large parts of the world were also invaded and colonised by the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch? Are they not therefore also distasteful languages? What language would ideally Oxfam like to publish in?

[jourdain2]

Well said, Prudie.

[Deskdiary]

“What language would ideally Oxfam like to publish in”

I suspect any language other than evil English due to our disgusting and immoral colonisation of various sihthole toilets around the world.

For colonisation read civilising. I know that will trigger some people, but it’s an undeniable fact our colonisation did bring great benefits to many backward countries.

Perhaps Oxfam would prefer Urdu, any number of African languages, Jamaican patois…or Esperanto - basically anything other than English because of our evil imperialism.

These people are a joke, they’re clowns, and imbecilic.

I really can’t stand the type of people who authored this piece of excrement.

[douglas9401]

I agree with Deskdiary, except for the 'clowns' part.

Clowns can at least have entertainment value.