By Renato Castello, Sue Hewitt and Andrea Burns
November 11, 2007 12:00am
Article from: Sunday Herald Sun
SANTAS working in shopping centres across Australia have been banned from bellowing "ho ho ho" because it might frighten children.
Recruitment firm Westaff, which supplies hundreds of Santas around the country, yesterday confirmed the edict.
Westaff national operations manager Glen Jansz said the company's Santas had been urged to tone down their use of the "ho, ho, ho" phrase.
"The reason behind that is we find that in some cases the little kids can get a little bit scared of the deep 'ho, ho, hos' and we ask them to be mindful of keeping their voices to a lower level," he said.
"And kids are probably more inclined to understand 'ha, ha, ha', than 'ho, ho, ho'."
Thirty trainees at a recent Santa course were instructed to replace the traditional Christmas greeting with "ha, ha, ha".
A Santa veteran of 11 years told the Sunday Herald Sun the instructions were clear: "No 'ho ho ho'."
"We were told to say 'ha ha ha Merry Christmas'," he said.
Two Santa hopefuls reportedly left the course after the edict.
Family Council of Victoria spokesman Bill Muehlenberg described the ban as "nonsensical".
"Potentially any big guy in a red suit with a white beard is scary but I don't think him saying 'ho ho ho' would damage a child's psyche.
"Let's just concentrate on the kids having a good time."
A survey of Melbourne children yesterday found universal support for Santa's "ho ho ho".
"It's silly, we love hearing Santa's laugh," said Briony, 8, of Mitcham.
"It doesn't frighten me at all. It's what Santa is supposed to say," said Byron, 9, of Melton.
Yesterday in the Bourke St Mall, Santas appeared to be ignoring orders to stop the 'ho ho hos'.
David Jones's bellowed to a delighted group of children and rival Myer's Santa also kept up the jolly tradition.
that's just stupid.... it sounds like they're making fun of christmas HA HA HA MERRY CHRISTMAS _________________ An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.
It's not about scared kids, it's about the derogatory term. It's just all gotten out of hand and most Australians know it's rubbish and don't care about it. _________________
^ They're concerned of what the kids will think of having to hear the derogatory term, "ho."
Santa ho,ho,ho gets heave-ho
Article from: Sunday Mail
RENATO CASTELLO
November 11, 2007 12:15am
THERE'LL be no ho, ho, ho this Christmas. Aspiring Santas have been told not to use the term "ho" because it could be seen as derogatory to women.
Thirty trainees at a Santa course in Adelaide last month, held by recruitment company Westaff, were urged to replace the traditional festive greeting with "ha, ha, ha".
A Santa veteran of 11 years who attended the course told the Sunday Mail the trainer was very clear in spelling out no to "ho".
Two Santa hopefuls reportedly left the course after the trainer's edict.
The term "ho" is also American slang for a prostitute. "We were told it (ho) was a derogatory term for females and can upset people," said the Santa, who did not want to be identified publicly.
"As far as I'm concerned, a hoe is something you dig the ground with.
"I don't think you'll hear too many Santas saying `ha, ha, ha'."
Critics have branded the instruction for Santas to use "Ha! ha! ha! Merry Christmas" as nonsense and madness.
University of South Australia communications senior lecturer Dr Jackie Cook said any banning of "ho, ho, ho" was "nonsense".
"Can we use a garden hoe anymore? Do we have to remove that?" she said.
"Ho, ho, ho from Santa is going to be everywhere. It's going to be in books, on Christmas cards and kids are going to come across it sooner or later.
"You could say that `ha, ha, ha' was dangerous because it was always tied to the villains in movies and horror films."
Family First MLC Dennis Hood described the "ho ho ho" ban as "plain madness".
"There is nothing wrong with `ho ho ho'," he said.
"That term has been used for many years and it hasn't seemed to have done any harm at all.
"This term would be of no offence to anyone at all, it is just the politically correct police trying to impose their views on society."
Westaff is the nation's largest supplier of Santa Clauses, providing more than 550 nationally. It has 60 on its books in South Australia. This year, it has won the lucrative contract to supply Santas at David Jones' Magic Cave in Rundle Mall.
Westaff national operations manager Glen Jansz said the company's Santas had been urged to "tone down" their use of the "ho, ho, ho" phrase – but he said it wasn't for fear of offending women.
"The reason behind that is we find that in some cases the little kids can get a little bit scared of the deep ho, ho, hos and we ask them to be mindful of keeping their voices to a lower level," he said.
"And kids are probably more inclined to understand `ha, ha, ha', than `ho, ho, ho'."
When Santa arrived at the Magic Cave after yesterday's Christmas Pageant, his only greeting to a crowd of hundreds of children was a wave and "Merry Christmas".
"I can say anything I like," he said.
The `ho, ho, ho' edict came as Santa's working conditions were also revealed. The Sunday Mail has obtained a copy of Westaff's "Santa Project" Australian Workplace Agreement.
The 15-page document stipulates, in part, that Santa will:
WORK on a casual basis and earn a base rate of $20.50 an hour.
GET a 10-minute paid toilet break during a four-hour shift and a 30 minute unpaid meal break if working 5.5 hours or longer.
BE AVAILABLE to work at any time on any day for the six weeks leading up to Christmas.
He must also maintain character at all times so as "not to raise any questions or complaints" from customers. His uniform and accessories must always be presentable. _________________ Blame it on a simple twist of fate ~ Bob Dylan Team Cucumber, FTW!
See? Australians agree it's rubbish. It has nothing to do with being PC, 'ho' is an interjection. Just like bitch means female dog, you can't ban the word just because it's used as slang in a different context. _________________
Some Australians think it's rubbish, but obviously not all of them. Afterall, the rule got passed somehow. _________________ Blame it on a simple twist of fate ~ Bob Dylan Team Cucumber, FTW!
^ They're concerned of what the kids will think of having to hear the derogatory term, "ho."
Santa ho,ho,ho gets heave-ho
Article from: Sunday Mail
RENATO CASTELLO
November 11, 2007 12:15am
THERE'LL be no ho, ho, ho this Christmas. Aspiring Santas have been told not to use the term "ho" because it could be seen as derogatory to women.
Thirty trainees at a Santa course in Adelaide last month, held by recruitment company Westaff, were urged to replace the traditional festive greeting with "ha, ha, ha".
A Santa veteran of 11 years who attended the course told the Sunday Mail the trainer was very clear in spelling out no to "ho".
Two Santa hopefuls reportedly left the course after the trainer's edict.
The term "ho" is also American slang for a prostitute. "We were told it (ho) was a derogatory term for females and can upset people," said the Santa, who did not want to be identified publicly.
"As far as I'm concerned, a hoe is something you dig the ground with.
"I don't think you'll hear too many Santas saying `ha, ha, ha'."
Critics have branded the instruction for Santas to use "Ha! ha! ha! Merry Christmas" as nonsense and madness.
University of South Australia communications senior lecturer Dr Jackie Cook said any banning of "ho, ho, ho" was "nonsense".
"Can we use a garden hoe anymore? Do we have to remove that?" she said.
"Ho, ho, ho from Santa is going to be everywhere. It's going to be in books, on Christmas cards and kids are going to come across it sooner or later.
"You could say that `ha, ha, ha' was dangerous because it was always tied to the villains in movies and horror films."
Family First MLC Dennis Hood described the "ho ho ho" ban as "plain madness".
"There is nothing wrong with `ho ho ho'," he said.
"That term has been used for many years and it hasn't seemed to have done any harm at all.
"This term would be of no offence to anyone at all, it is just the politically correct police trying to impose their views on society."
Westaff is the nation's largest supplier of Santa Clauses, providing more than 550 nationally. It has 60 on its books in South Australia. This year, it has won the lucrative contract to supply Santas at David Jones' Magic Cave in Rundle Mall.
Westaff national operations manager Glen Jansz said the company's Santas had been urged to "tone down" their use of the "ho, ho, ho" phrase – but he said it wasn't for fear of offending women.
"The reason behind that is we find that in some cases the little kids can get a little bit scared of the deep ho, ho, hos and we ask them to be mindful of keeping their voices to a lower level," he said.
"And kids are probably more inclined to understand `ha, ha, ha', than `ho, ho, ho'."
When Santa arrived at the Magic Cave after yesterday's Christmas Pageant, his only greeting to a crowd of hundreds of children was a wave and "Merry Christmas".
"I can say anything I like," he said.
The `ho, ho, ho' edict came as Santa's working conditions were also revealed. The Sunday Mail has obtained a copy of Westaff's "Santa Project" Australian Workplace Agreement.
The 15-page document stipulates, in part, that Santa will:
WORK on a casual basis and earn a base rate of $20.50 an hour.
GET a 10-minute paid toilet break during a four-hour shift and a 30 minute unpaid meal break if working 5.5 hours or longer.
BE AVAILABLE to work at any time on any day for the six weeks leading up to Christmas.
He must also maintain character at all times so as "not to raise any questions or complaints" from customers. His uniform and accessories must always be presentable.
this is like so effing stupid. because of the word "ho"? well kids shouldnt be aware of the word "ho" and what it means. and if they are aware of it already, it means that they should also be aware that santa is not a brutal man saying "ho ho ho". the ha ha ha sounds so stupid. this is such a ridiculous rule. remove the ho ho ho because of the word ho? stop putting malice in santa's words, ok. santa is just a big mn laughing the way a big man should and he's not cursing or calling out for ho's. _________________
Ya know, I was thinking, if I were walking along, and I see some dude in his Santa suit, ringing a bell or whatever, and saying "ha ha ha", I would think that he was laughing at me. Like, I had a booger hangin out my nose or something..
i mean it's not like a store santa's going to be sitting there saying "ho ho ho" and a woman's going to walk passed and take it personally or something...
plus don't you reckon "ha ha ha" sounds a tiny bit manical?? _________________
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