Political Correctness Gone too far: Mate-Gate

Published on August 22, 2005 By Champas Socialist In Politics

BALLARAT MHR Catherine King calls staff "mate" when she visits Parliament House, and is happy for them to address her in the same way.
She said a memo sent to security staff and attendants at Parliament House banning them from using the term when addressing visitors and parliamentarians was political correctness at its worst.
"I think it is absolutely ridiculous that it went as far as a memo being sent out," Ms King said.
"I call security staff 'mate' all the time, and they say the same to me."
The memo was released on Thursday

What next? We all have to say 'dude'? Can we still use 'youse'? Political correctness is a powerful and logical way to combat discrimination but it has been hijacked by people who want to absolve us of gender-neutral terms like 'mate'. Ironically, these terms could help rid us of gender discrimination. Mate-Gate goes against ideas like using 'Chair' for everyone. Ridiculous events like these undermine political correctness by giving the Right chances to make shrill claims about 'treason' and unAustralianness, and to dismiss anything they don't like as politically correct terrorism (I always thought not calling people 'fat' was just good manners, not political correctness). Let us return to a rational debate about how language has the power to help us see each other as people who aren't merely defined by our gender, race or disability.

Comments

Furry Canary

on Aug 22, 2005

Hi Champas - interesting blog. This issue has really rattled your cage, hasn't it?

Now, I wouldn't for a moment support banning use of the term 'mate'. (In fact, I don't think I'd BAN the use of any expression, no matter how offensive, so much as attempt to educate against its use - but that's an argument for elsewhere.) However, I would point out that the term 'mate' in itself is not necessarily ALL positive. Yes, it can be used as a nice, gender-neutral expression of friendship, but it can also refer to big players in the world of politics / big business giving each other bungs, backhanders, legs-up and 'get out of jail free' cards. I for one can't hear the expression 'mateship' without horrible images popping into my head of Bob Hawke and his revolting nouveau riche pals falling over themselves to line each other's pockets at the expense of the ordinary people he claimed (I am told) at one time to represent. (But maybe that's just me ...

)

Words, eh? Just when you think you've pinned them down, they go and change meaning on you. Cunning little children-born-out-of-wedlock.

PS. 'Fat'? Is that REALLY offensive? What's the good-mannered alternative? My partner refers to fat people that she likes as 'stout', and I can't help but roar with laughter, as it is such as obvious euphemism, albeit employed for the most decent of reasons.

Champas Socialist

on Aug 22, 2005

Nice thoughts Furry (though I'm sure you're not surprised to hear I also like Hawkey more than you do). Good to see you are still alive, we missed you last week. Hope we'll see you this week.

I think Kim Beazley's thoughts on the word 'mate' around the time of Howard's infamous Constituional preamble were pretty on the money. It's a great word in all its connotations (deliberately patronising, referring to the club for the boys, or affectionate). In fact I would argue that what separates our use of the word 'mate' from the British use is its newer connotations.

The issue of Mate-Gate itself doesn't really bother me one way or the other, but it worries me when people start using these issues as a way to undermine a far more important issue, like political correctness.

BTW my reference to the word 'fat' is actually in reference to a letter to the ed that said we should be allowed to say what we think and call people 'fat' or a 'dwarf' etc. The use of the word 'dwarf' is usually inaccurate (dwarfism is a very specific condition) and it's hardly very gentlemanly to say to someone 'my, you're fat'. I don't think 'fat' is necessarily a negative term, as personally I've been attracted to 'fat' women. Nonetheless, I think in most circumstances you could find a more diplomatic way of saying something like this.

ParaTed2k

on Aug 22, 2005

G'Darticle Mate!

Champas Socialist

on Aug 22, 2005

Ta mate!

Champas Socialist

on Aug 22, 2005

Ta, btw is a British/Aussie expression for thankyou. Pronounced the same way as the stuff they put on roads.

dynamaso

on Aug 23, 2005

You already know my thoughts on this but I'd just thought I'd add my two cents worth anyway. The thing is, I believe it all comes down to common sense (oooo, there's that bloody term again) e.g. if I'm talking to my grandmother or the Queen (or Elton John, for that matter) I'm hardly going to call them 'mate'. Even some older women, like my mother, don't think it should be applied to themselves.

Cheers,

Maso

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