The Post Office has a death wish

I agree that it was unwise of them to proactively use the word; but I think there is always going to be an issue where some people proudly insist that that word is their key identifier - and treat it as an act of aggression where people 'deny' it.

What started off as LGB then became LGBT, then other letters started to be added - including Q for 'queer'. There are people out there who would feel affronted and offended if they believed that their identity as 'queer' was being belittled, ignored or treated as inferior.

I don't know anybody who insists that the B-word or the N-word IS their primary formal identity and should be represented on forms and such.

The most astonishing thing about that tweet is that it was published this week of all weeks. I would have thought any social media interaction in an organisation in such deep trouble would have to be referred up to the top. Amazing they would do that in the week when the nation has seen just how much blood they have on their hands.

Mail had an article yesterday from one postmaster who was reported as smelling of drink and leaving the safe open over night. He said it was all lies and when the person doing the report was asked at the enquiry why she'd put those things in she 'couldn't remember.'

PO was desperate for the system to be right. So it had to be the postmasters - despite the fact that logic and common sense dictates that 700 odd wouldn't all go rogue at the same time.

She could, but it would still be inappropriate usage from a company, so long as some (not insignificant number) of people consider the word unacceptable. Companies should use neutral language. Similarly, the fact that some women use bitch towards others and as a self-descriptor doesn't mean it would be acceptable for a company to call its customers bitches. Same with black people using nigga.

Thanks for your informative reply, Donquixote

If I had twitter I would reply. I find it childishly funny that someone called Jess has replied, all I can think of is Postman Pat’s cat 😂

This Jess could very easily have commented that some people choose to use that word as part of their identity, rather than trying to compartmentalise everybody and 'informing' them as to how they are expected to identify too.

Where have we heard this before - where we are told what loaded words we have to accept to describe us, and that we are 'wrong' to object?

Ah true. Never really use the post office or send anything with a stamp!

Return your CBE, minister urges ex-Post Office boss

I never understand why people are 'appealed to' in situations like this, to do the right thing. Same as when people are 'invited to resign'.

If you've shown yourself to be an utter disgrace, why are you still allowed some 'honour' in returning your gong?

Notice how ordinary non-elite people who are found guilty of a crime or gross misconduct are never 'urged' to make amends; they are simply told how it's going to be and strong-armed straight out of there.

I'm the same @Tallisker I find it a very insulting word and on a par with racist slurs and I'm a straight, white (50 ish) woman. But I still get a visceral reaction when I hear it due to reading newspapers describing yet more violence against a person being "different ". Hate it.

The word 'queer' invokes the same reaction in me as the 'n' word. I flinch at work when it is used, but of course it's fine to be flung around because the young people have 'reclaimed' it.

#SayLessJess!
#BeLessJess!

@IamRoyFuckingKent

It's not like they make it easy to want to use them either.

"Thinking of sending a letter? Send an email instead as it'll save you £1.25 #moneysaver #anditwillarrive"

Royal Mail does that. The Post Office sells stamps.

Ha ha, totally agree. Jess needs to STFU and FTFO

"Allow us to educate" - Jesus H Christ on a cracker. Who does this utter fanny think they are? Lecturing gay and lesbian people on how they ought to receive the Post Office - the FUCKING POST OFFICE - calling them a homophobic slur.

Fucksake, 2024. I had high hopes.

I'll 'allow' them to deliver letters and parcels. That's really about it.

The post office should have social media that says "Need to post a letter? try us. We're not the worst option"

And that's about it.

There's no reason for them to drift into anything outside of their business remit.

Vennels left the post office with a hefty pay out and a CBE to go on to other lucrative jobs and to be a part time vicar.

You couldn’t make it up, could you?

You would have thought that this week of all weeks, as they must have been aware of the itv drama (you have to watch it if you haven't, so rage inducing!) coming out that they would have placed senior staff in charge of any social media customer queries, comments etc via all channels. But no they leave the YTS kids in charge.

'allow us to educate'?

Ffs, this 'Jess' person needs to educate themself. Appalling arrogance and lack of basic human decency there. Probably a big chunk of ageism too as well as the obvious basic homophobia.

Like the comment about who is normalising queering. I'd like to think it should disappear in a puff of logic but unfortunately it's a logic and evidence-free zone.

When I was at school 20 years ago - a deeply homophobic environment - "queer" only ever had negative connotations. (Whereas "gay" and "homosexual" could be used as neutral descriptors.) How has it magically become OK?

Because it allows Stonewall to expand their reach to straight people. Literally anyone can be queer merely by saying they are.

In other words 'we will say the word queer and if you find it insulting, you can fuck off'.

It's more evidence of the culture of arrogance and self importance in the Post Office that results in pompous yet ignorant employees believing they can "educate" the public.
This clueless woman knows nothing of "queer bashing" that older people in the gay community are all too familiar with - it happened to a number of my gay men friends back in the day. The fact that she sees herself / the PO as the arbiter of language and the fact that the PO has neither the insight or management skills to remove that offensive tweet, demonstrates that the mindset that dictated their abysmal behaviour to the postmasters is embedded. She's identical to the employees who told postmasters "You're the only one" when they complained about Horizon.