From ‘Manholes’ to ‘Maintenance holes’

[rlvaughn]

When I first noticed the link to this on Facebook, I thought it was a Babylon Bee satire. But, no...
‘Manholes’ to ‘Maintenance holes’: California city bans gender-specific words in code

Berkeley, California, has adopted an ordinance to replace some terms with gender-neutral words in the city code.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports Wednesday that “she” and “he” will be replaced by “they.” The words “manpower” and “manhole” will become “workforce” and “maintenance hole.”

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed the measure to replace more than two dozen commonly used terms. There will be no more “craftsmen” in city code, only “craftspeople” or “artisans.”

 

[Reformed]

I can think of a few things to call California but I feel like remaining a member of this board.

 

[church mouse guy]

California is the poorest state in the union in many respects.

 

[GoodTidings]

California is becoming our national dumpster fire....

 

[Salty]

The dumbest one is: Pregnant woman = Pregnant person !!!

 

[Jerome]

I can think of a few things to call California but I feel like remaining a member of this board.

Actually, Berkeley held off for more than forty years. It was Florida and other 'non-California' towns that started all this, but that doesn't fit the narrative of the OP's Fox New story.

1974 - Satellite Beach, Florida mayor signs requisition for 'personhole covers'

1976 - Woonsocket, Rhode Island city council deems manhole cover term sexist

 

[Alcott]

Why don't they call them womanholes?

 

[Salty]

Actually, Berkeley held off for more than forty years. It was Florida and other 'non-California' towns that started all this, but that doesn't fit the narrative of the OP's Fox New story.

1974 - Satellite Beach, Florida mayor signs requisition for 'personhole covers'

1976 - Woonsocket, Rhode Island city council deems manhole cover term sexist

But did they consider many terms or just manhole

 

[rlvaughn]

Actually, Berkeley held off for more than forty years. It was Florida and other 'non-California' towns that started all this, but that doesn't fit the narrative of the OP's Fox New story.

1974 - Satellite Beach, Florida mayor signs requisition for 'personhole covers'

1976 - Woonsocket, Rhode Island city council deems manhole cover term sexist

I don't know how progressive Berkeley is compared to some other towns that might have already made the step they have, but the two linked incidents from over 40 years ago only relate to one word, and in the Florida report it is not even an official change. In that case a female clerk for the city requisitioned a personhole cover and the mayor approved the requisition.

As far as the narrative of Fox's story, the San Francisco Chronicle article linked shows a page of the words that are being changed. Some not too progressive -- fireman to firefighter, which is probably already pretty commonly used -- but on the other hand all gender pronouns are being rooted out. The significance seems to be more in the thoroughgoing nature of the changes than about "manhole" specifically. Other cities may have beat them to the punch in that regard, but the two examples from the 70s fall far short.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Actually, Berkeley held off for more than forty years. It was Florida and other 'non-California' towns that started all this, but that doesn't fit the narrative of the OP's Fox New story.

1974 - Satellite Beach, Florida mayor signs requisition for 'personhole covers'

1976 - Woonsocket, Rhode Island city council deems manhole cover term sexist

This may be taking it to the next level. They are omitting a host of pronoun occurrences as well, instead requiring some noun descriptors be repeatedly exclusively used. They give a two-page list, including ‘felon,’ ‘individual,’ ‘person,’ ‘prisoner,’ ‘trespasser,’ ‘The Public Records Officer,’ and even ‘The Secondhand Dealer,’ all requiring their pronounless approach.

Berkeley gender neutral language ordinance

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

When I first noticed the link to this on Facebook, I thought it was a Babylon Bee satire. But, no...
‘Manholes’ to ‘Maintenance holes’: California city bans gender-specific words in code

By the way, I liked the apropos sewer cover pic. But there are other, more worrisome points in the original article.

Banned words: Berkeley drops gendered language from city codes​

The measure follows a move in February that allowed city employees to opt for preferred pronouns on their name badges.​

And then there's this:

Critics have suggested the council should spend time on other things, Robinson said, but he pointed to the other items he considered important on Tuesday’s agenda, which included an ordinance to make Berkeley the first city in the country to prohibit natural gas infrastructure in new buildings.​

Makes one wonder how they expect sane people to handle what they put out.

 

[Wingman68]

I’m pretty offended by the word hole being uttered with any of these prefixes, or being uttered at all!

 

[rlvaughn]

Get in line. You're on the lower end of the totem pole of who gets to be perpetually offended.

 

[Wingman68]

Get in line. You're on the lower end of the totem pole of who gets to be perpetually offended.

I thought you knew me better than that.

 

[Wingman68]

 

[HankD]

There is absolutely no reason for gender elimination.

Except that Progressive globalist, marxists and socialists have so little else other than the platform of death (Abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, eugenics) they have to manufacture issues (oh ya - climate change - duh, sunny today, rainy tomorrow).

 

[HankD]

View attachment 3029

oops, watch where you step in those nice shoes.

 

[church mouse guy]

Biden has been complaining that the printers printed all of his signs upside down.