# Forget "niggardly", fight the homophone agenda **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680 "2014-08-02T22:23:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/1 "2014-08-02T22:23:18Z")
A decade ago, a lot was made out of a few ignorant PC idiots idiots objecting to niggardly. [Now, they’ve been eclipsed by the sacking of a teacher at an ESL school for writing a blog post on homophones.](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/58236366-90/says-english-homophones-language.html.csp) The school owner justified the sacking "“Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality,” :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/2 "2014-08-02T22:29:05Z")
Oh good grief…headsmack indeed! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/3 "2014-08-02T22:39:38Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > “Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality” …is what the person who was fired said the person who fired him said. What the firer actually did say was “that Torkildson had caused him concern because he would ‘go off on tangents’ in his blogs that would be confusing and sometimes could be considered offensive.” And, seeing that the firee had also noted that the firer said that this was “the last straw”, it would appear that there were a number of occasions where the firee made questionable posts, exhibiting a pattern of behavior. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/4 "2014-08-02T22:42:42Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > The school owner justified the sacking > "“Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality,” > :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: Er, no; now your school is going to be associated with management by morons. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/5 "2014-08-02T22:45:48Z")
This smacks of fake story to me. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/6 "2014-08-02T22:49:10Z")
sounds like someone has homophonic tendencies. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/7 "2014-08-03T00:04:28Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > …is what the person who was fired said the person who fired him said. > > What the firer actually did say was “that Torkildson had caused him concern because he would ‘go off on tangents’ in his blogs that would be confusing and sometimes could be considered offensive.” And, seeing that the firee had also noted that the firer said that this was “the last straw”, it would appear that there were a number of occasions where the firee made questionable posts, exhibiting a pattern of behavior. You mean “what the firer claims he said.” I saw a screenshot of the post in question, and I couldn’t see anything offensive or confusing at first blush. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/8 "2014-08-03T00:16:04Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > sounds like someone has homophonic tendencies. Probably sends nosegays to his sweetie. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/9 "2014-08-03T00:46:32Z")
so much for homogenized milk in the cafeteria ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/10 "2014-08-03T00:51:45Z")
These puns are all starting to sound the same to me. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/11 "2014-08-03T00:53:37Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > so much for homogenized milk in the cafeteria Once, a grocery store I drove past on the way back from a place where I had a regular interpreting gig was advertising on its big sign with those block letters “1 gal homo, $1”; this was before camera phones, or I so would have gotten a picture. I have no idea why it didn’t just say “1 gal milk,” unless they had lost the K or something. It was not the kind of store that had a woo-hippie section that might sell raw, unhomogenized milk. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/12 "2014-08-03T01:14:32Z")
I would’ve gotten more than a picture. I always have a couple of dollars on me. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/13 "2014-08-03T01:58:39Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Once, a grocery store I drove past on the way back from a place where I had a regular interpreting gig was advertising on its big sign with those block letters “1 gal homo, $1”; this was before camera phones, or I so would have gotten a picture. I have no idea why it didn’t just say “1 gal milk,” unless they had lost the K or something. It was not the kind of store that had a woo-hippie section that might sell raw, unhomogenized milk. To this day, whole milk is still referred to as homogenized milk and often just shortened to homo milk. Never made sense to me since (almost) all milk is homogenized. As for the the post on homophones, I’d like to see it since the author said “He knew the “homo” part of the word could be politically charged, but he thought the explanation of that quirky part of the English language would be educational” That makes me wonder what he actually said. Back when I learned about homophones that homo, WRT homosexuality wasn’t even mentioned. Of course this was back in the 80’s when homosexuality wasn’t really mainstream (so to speak) and they certainly weren’t going to bring it up English class with a bunch of 2nd graders. According to the article the principal also said “Woodger says his reaction to Torkildson’s blog has nothing to do with homosexuality but that Torkildson had caused him concern because he would “go off on tangents” in his blogs that would be confusing and sometimes could be considered offensive.” To me, that sounds like he’s been talked to in the past about his blog posts and they finally had it this time, it wasn’t about this one specifically. You’ll note, the teacher is the one that claims the principal said “Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality,” \*That’s not a direct quote. \* I feel that last line needs to be said again because it’s not clear in the article… **“Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality,” is NOT a direct quote from the principal.** It’s what the fired teacher claims the principal said. Until confirmed, it’s hearsay. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/14 "2014-08-03T02:02:15Z")
I thought I read elsewhere that there are two blogs under consideration, one the instructor’s personal blog, one his work blog. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/15 "2014-08-03T02:15:43Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I thought I read elsewhere that there are two blogs under consideration, one the instructor’s personal blog, one his work blog. Here’s his personal one [http://iwritetheblogggs.com/](http://iwritetheblogggs.com/) I see several posts about the firing but not any actual post about homophones (that would innocently have been posted before being fired). If there was one, he’s since taken it down. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/16 "2014-08-03T02:16:58Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Once, a grocery store I drove past on the way back from a place where I had a regular interpreting gig was advertising on its big sign with those block letters “1 gal homo, $1”; this was before camera phones, or I so would have gotten a picture. I have no idea why it didn’t just say “1 gal milk,” unless they had lost the K or something. It was not the kind of store that had a woo-hippie section that might sell raw, unhomogenized milk. It hasn’t all that long since almost all homogenized milk sold in stores was labeled homo milk. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/17 "2014-08-03T10:26:26Z")
Those who want to rain in bad egg samples for miners say eye! _Yes, yes! I’m leaving already, no need to poke me with sticks!_ ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/18 "2014-08-03T13:32:05Z")
The blogger should have pointed out that many talented Thespians are delighted with homophones. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/19 "2014-08-03T13:50:34Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > To me, that sounds like he’s been talked to in the past about his blog posts and they finally had it this time, it wasn’t about this one specifically. > You’ll note, the teacher is the one that claims the principal said “Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality,” \*That’s not a direct quote. \* > > I feel that last line needs to be said again because it’s not clear in the article… > **“Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality,” is NOT a direct quote from the principal.** It’s what the fired teacher claims the principal said. Until confirmed, it’s hearsay. True, but this does seem to be a direct quote. \*Woodger says his school has taught 6,500 students from 58 countries during the past 15 years. Most of them, he says, are at basic levels of English and are not ready for the more complicated concepts such as homophones. **“People at this level of English,” Woodger says, " … may see the ‘homo’ side and think it has something to do with gay sex.** He says Torkildson had worked at the center for less than three months before he was terminated in mid-July.\* ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680/20 "2014-08-03T14:01:45Z")
For when they make a musical of this incident: [I ain’t no homo.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptRHGlrfc9M) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forget-niggardly-fight-the-homophone-agenda/694680.md?page=2)