To feel sympathy to the National Trust volunteers at Felbrigg Hall?

[lucydogz]

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-norfolk-40825660&ved=0ahUKEwjXzYeYwb_VAhUDB8AKHfOABAsQiJQBCJcCMCU&usg=AFQjCNESdvsFPzoWQVu_7i8WHq_3mutfKA&ampcf=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">link
I'm pro-inclusion of minority groups, but think the NT should stick to doing it's job - looking after old houses. As most of its volunteers are retired, who might not want to be representatives of whatever right-on case the Trust decide to espouse,it's also short sighted of them to treat volunteers this way.

Ah right - there are tons around me

Yet they can dictate to a nationwide organisation? That could be fun with all sorts of rival views...

My thoughts are if we're liberal enough to not impose rules around something so incredibly emotive as the Swastika it'd be odd to find rules associated with other badges. But the police aren't allowed to ally themselves with certain groups so I guess badge wearing could be in their conditions.

Interesting that all but 10 decided to wear said badges. The badges are no different to wearing a uniform, you don't get to pick and choose in many areas of work. They were for showing support for equality not a cause.Sorry but I think many would draw their own conclusions to everybody but 10 happily wearing a sodding badge to support equality. I think only those against equality would refuse to wear them. I'd happily don any badge that supported equality if my boss told me to, would certainly not refuse or make a fuss. I suspect the vast majority would do the same.

The one thing I'm taking away from this is how much I want a rainbow National Trust badge.

'Yet they can dictate to a nationwide organisation?'
Well no. They can say they should be allowed the freedom of choice to decide whether they want to wear symbols that support any organisation.
As said the NT have u turned so clearly they now agree.

Trust properties are not always that close - the only ones I can think of are hatchlands and clandon park in Surrey, and the latter is now a burnt out shell. There are also mileage limits for volunteers which makes sense.

Mainly though, people choose a property because the roles there suit them. The next nearest one may not suit.

As I said, no dress code, but I think it only reasonable not to wear anything covered in slogans or logos. Not that I own much like that.

I do wear a poppy at the right time of year, but it isn't compulsory and should not be.

I mean for goodness sake you simply pin on a badge. Not a big ask unless you make it one. So incredibly petty.

Yes we all know how badges are put on. It isn't petty, its their choice. You don't enforce support of organisations on people.
I'd wear it but I can see why people think they shouldn't have to.

I mean for goodness sake you simply pin on a badge. Not a big ask unless you make it one. So incredibly petty

It is an issue. Why should they just suck it up and pin a social/political/charitable symbol on because someone in an office wants to tick their equality box?

I'd take an issue with my employer telling me I must wear a symbol that has zero relevance to be doing my job.

Equality and diversity comes from the way we treat each other, the conversations we have and attempting to make social organisations more inclusive, not making people wear a badge.

Petty is trying to force people to wear a badge.

Forcing them to pin on a badge for a few days to show support for equality, oh the hardship.

What the fuck has wearing a badge got to do with equality.

I've said it on other threads and I'll say it again. I am sick to death with hearing about who people choose to have sex with. I don't give a shiney shite where you want to stick your bits as long as you don't do it front of me and don't expect me to be interested in hearing about it.

Is it just me?

Yes I feel sympathy for them
Who the hell decided they MUST wear this badge? Officialdom gone mad.

'Forcing them to pin on a badge for a few days to show support for equality, oh the hardship'
Stop being sarcastic and recognise in this country you shouldn't get dictated to with who or what you support.

ironing You're missing the point.

People can believe in equality without wanting to wear a badge that has nothing to do with their job.

I've not worn any pride badge ever. Am I some raging homophobe? No.

Wearing or not wearing a badge is as much of a sign of social caring/not caring as whether you stick the latest charity issue border on your Facebook profile or sharing an image saying #prayforparis.

It's all for show and a bit "look at us we are so liberal, but not liberal enough to allow adults to decide if they wish to wear social and political symbols".

I would think 90% of people in a place like a National Trust property being given the choice and choosing to wear the rainbow badge makes a much more effective statement about equality than 100% being forced to wear it.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel
The choice matters here. And genuine choice, not choice with pressure. And with zero assumption that someone not wearing one is some kind of out of date bigot.

A simple 'if you'd like to show your support for this cause then some badges and lanyards are available in the staff room' is all that's needed.

I'd have happily picked a rainbow badge and lanyard up in that situation, Maisy. But there are plenty of things I wouldn't be happy to support in that way.

I find it so utterly depressing that LGBT+ rights are still seen as a "cause" that people can just shrug their shoulders and say "Well, they can choose whether to support it or not". Same for women's rights.

This is a bigger issue than the badges we're discussing here, and I agree that they should have the right to choose whether to wear them or not (however when visitors walk in and find 10% of volunteers/staff not wearing the badges, they'll draw their own conclusions about the viewpoints of those volunteers), but I think the very fact that we're discussing LGBT+ rights as though it's a charity that you can choose to care about or not is proof that campaigns like this and things like Pride are still very much necessary.

No Antigonads it's not just you.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries
I find it so utterly depressing that LGBT+ rights are still seen as a "cause" that people can just shrug their shoulders and say "Well, they can choose whether to support it or not". Same for women's rights.

It is interesting that you include the "T" in rights and compare them to women's rights, especially given the threads that have been across the boards.

I don't think anyone should be forced to wear rainbow badges or poppies. They are a choice and completely unrelated to the person doing their job.

I think it's awful
That people are being told what their views should be. Once again dictatorship in the name of liberalism! You have the right to be diverse so long as your diversity fits in neatly defined boxes. Oh the irony

ovaries
It's not about choosing to support or not support.

I can be pro gay rights without displaying a symbol of my personal views.

Not only that, but as many people have said on these boards there are issues with the way some trans activist groups are being that actually erodes women's rights. These things are never straightforward and reducing it to 'wear a badge or we'll assume you are oppressive' isn't the way to have meaningful and productive discussions about equality.