August 2012
Alan Jones said a particularly stupid and sexist thing this morning. It’s what Alan Jones does when he’s preaching to the converted on his radio show. He tells them things they already think so they can feel righteous in thinking them. That’s his job.
It’s been a tiring week for anyone who takes part in debate about feminism in Australia. Between silly old Grahame Morris calling Leigh Sales a cow, and Bic having the temerity to, shock horror!, release a range of pink ball points branded for the ladies, there’s been a lot to start bashing the keyboard about.
But in an environment where these skirmishes demand an increasing amount of energy, it’s time we started picking our battles a little better.
A shopkeeper writes:
Dear The Punch,
I’ve recently hired several staff to man my clothing stall. One staff member is perfectly lovely. Handles everything competently and with charm.
But after a successful start, it seems like her sales sass is failing her. She hasn’t met our budget for the past three weeks.
She’s the daughter of a family friend and I’d hate to hurt that relationship. But I’ve got to get rid of her. How can I do it and get off scot-free?
It’s businesstime. What should she do?
Comments on this post close at 8pm AEST. Send your dilemmas to feedback@thepunch.com.au by Friday
Latest 2 of 38 comments
-
pa_kelvin says:
nihonin…......I might have put my foot in it… Read more »
-
JS says:
the problem is you. you are obviously a horrific boss if she has lost the will to work in three weeks. maybe instead of being an arsehat you should actually try training and mentoring her. Read more »
Victorians are under scrutiny this morning for admitting they consume five or more standard drinks in one session per week.
Phwoar, say the community minded. Outrageous, say the teetotallers. Wonder what they’re drinking, ask the thirsty?
But before we get too far up on our respective Friday morning high horses, ask yourselves this Punchers, do you really, truly count every drink that you have? And if you did, would it really, truly be so much less than the (at least) five Victorians admitted to.
Continue reading "Honestly, how much do you drink per week?" »
Latest 2 of 155 comments
-
Em says:
Zero and the same for my partner. Neither of us drink alcohol. Read more »
-
Denise Webber says:
I have a glass of wine at Christmas, does that count? My reason is that I grew up in a household with someone with a drinking problem, and living through that put me off drinking altogether and I also freely admit, made me judgemental towards drunk people, and people whose… Read more »
The death of five Australian soldiers in Afghanistan demands that the Australian Government remind the public why we are there, particularly when our soldiers are being killed by the very people we are there to help.
One of the reasons for the public confusion is that the strategy in Afghanistan went from defeating the Taliban and al Qaeda, which was achieved by the end of 2001, to being lured into rebuilding a nation emerging out of the 11th century, believing that if only we spent enough money on well-meaning social programs they will eventually love us and not harbour trans-national terrorists who threaten Australians at home and abroad.
All the while Pakistan continues to support theTaliban, an issue that the Australian Government refuses to address.
Continue reading "We must be very clear what we’re doing in Afghanistan" »
Latest 2 of 241 comments
-
jonka says:
Hello, have any of you ever been there? I’m an Aussie who travelled in 1966 and was a cabin attendant for a Middle Eastern Airline. In Beirut Airport there were hosties from ARIANA AFGHANI AIRLINES—beautiful girls, no rags on their heads!! And 30 yrs later they weren’t even allowed to… Read more »
-
stephen says:
PM Gillard’s comment that we shall stay in Afghanistan until at least another year is the only thing I’ve heard her say recently that I agree with. The Taliban have made no ground against us for a year ; this means that their intentions of incorporating the whole area to… Read more »
This horrible turn of events with Charlotte Dawson proves that bullying isn’t just in the schoolyard.
Bullying can happen in all walks of life, in classrooms, offices, on the streets, in pubs.
And now, bullying follows you home through the internet. It’s very real problem for adults and it’s a problem to which we have not yet found a solution.
Continue reading "Cyberspace bullies are destroying the internet" »
Latest 2 of 132 comments
-
What's Rangoon to you is Grafton to me says:
So, within hours of being admitted to St Vinnies Psych Unit, Charlotte leaves the hospital to do an interview with 60 Minutes. You gotta love a quick recovery. Read more »
-
Evalee says:
So now Charlotte is going on 60 Minutes. I can see how another media interview will make the hurt go away. I can see how important her mental health is to her - until someone wants to get her on television so she can tell her story - AGAIN. Yes,… Read more »
OK, so not many people are in love with the carbon tax. But then who likes taxes? Find me a mug who enjoys paying income tax and I’ll show you proof of intelligent life on other planets. Ask your friends whether they now suddenly enjoy paying GST. And ring the men in white coats if they say yes.
Taxes are evil. But we learn to live with them. The question hanging over the carbon tax is whether the same sense of institutionalised submission will eventually apply to it.
This is the political conundrum for Abbott; a person who likes paying tax is as rare a creature as a government ready to repeal one and very few people believe that he will actually do as he says and dump it.
Continue reading "Abbott might be knocked out by carbon tax fatigue" »
Latest 2 of 209 comments
-
Richard says:
Well, I only listed those countries because they’re our most direct competitors, but if you want to be pedantic, then trees, you can add Uzbekistan to the list, well actually Kazakhstan moreso, as well as New Zealand, Russia, America, Mongolia, and some African countries as well. Read more »
-
Richard says:
@james Yes, I’m serious. Answer the question: how can any Australian prefer a plan which sends tens of billions of our dollars overseas to scamsters (i.e. The Government’s) rather than the plan which will keep our money in our country, and reduce our own actual emissions to boot (the coalition’s… Read more »
This week I was told that I should have a baby before I’m 40, keep my weight under control for my husband and make a serious dent in my career by 28.
These ominous warnings came from Collette Dinnigan, Samantha Brick, and Germaine Greer to name a few. Surely there’s a difference between offering advice and menacing caution. I just wish my generational elders would learn the difference.
There is so much white noise, so much screeching commentary heading my way as a 22 year-old woman. I’m sick of being warned about babies and marriage. We’ll figure it out okay?
Continue reading "A message for older women: we don’t need your advice" »
Latest 2 of 169 comments
-
marley says:
@happy - quite true, most boomers haven’t lived enviable lives. But most boomers are aware that living ordinary lives which are uninteresting to anyone but themselves is part of the human condition. The odds that any Gen X or Gen Y’er will lead an enviable life are exactly the same… Read more »
-
VIcki PS says:
What an ill-natured and graceless diatribe! It’s 20-somethings like you, Hannah, who could almost make 50-somethings like me regret that we paved the way for you and your egocentric generation to have the choices you do. Never mind, my dear—if and when you do decide to breed, I think you’ll… Read more »
It’s never a good thing for interns to be in the headlines.
The situation Monica Lewinsky fell into when former US president Bill Clinton “did not have sexual relations” with her is the most extreme example of that.
On the far less controversial end of that scale, it’s been sad to hear some commentators say they’d trust interns less because of various scandals in the media and political worlds recently.
Continue reading "Two types of workers: The paid and the unpaid?" »
Latest 2 of 29 comments
-
Al says:
Admiral Ackbar - Generaly: Work Experience = Organised via a secondary education institution, not specific to a course of study. Internship = Organised as a requirement of a Tertiary course of study to gain experience in the industry related to their course of study. However there are other uses for… Read more »
-
Bec says:
As someone who has just entered the workforce from uni (and put a damn lot of effort into doing so), I would hate to see internships that aren’t university-linked become illegal. Yes, they exploit you for free labour, but most people would be happy to be exploited if it would… Read more »
This week’s proof that someone, somewhere always appreciates the work you do. Montreal artist Jon Rafman makes art from Google Street View. According to a report from American website the Daily News, Rafman spent hours combing through millions of Google street images “to find the beautiful, tragic and sublime.”
Rafman claims viewers are able to see “intention and purpose” in the photos even though they are “artless and indifferent.” With this in mind, we invite you dear readers, to please explain the photograph above.
And welcome to Friday, what else is on your mind?
Latest 2 of 140 comments
-
Anne Voter says:
Economics info for China is a rather difficult area, with a range of national, local, and reporting issues in play. For Australia, reliable National data are easily found from reputable major sources (despite Babylon’s claimed struggles yesterday). As a very broad indicator, in China minimum wages (set locally, not nationally)… Read more »
-
TimB says:
‘Tony Abbott once supported a carbon tax - there’s a youtube vid of him actually suggesting a carbon tax as an alternative to the ETS, as if it was his own idea’ No he didn’t. Watch that vid again. He didn’t say what you think he means. Note his use… Read more »
The fact that Charlotte Dawson has been hospitalised after sustaining a particularly putrid and distressing wave of online abuse should force a serious discussion about our air-headed enthusiasm for social media.
On one hand, social media has created a terrific vehicle for like-minded people to come together and share their lives and discuss issues of common interest. At the same time, the ability to have unfettered communication with total strangers has created an easy and powerful platform for the maladjusted to have twisted sport at the expense of others.
Some people can shrug it off. Many cannot. Charlotte Dawson is in the latter category. This woman, who has never done anything to upset anyone, clearly became fixated on the bile being sent her way, in some cases by crackpots who had no Twitter followers but had simply set up accounts with the express intention of teasing and abusing people such as her.
Continue reading "Charlotte Dawson: Social media on trial" »
Latest 2 of 138 comments
-
Hammer Flip says:
Cyber bullying and trolling is a criminal offense. In most cases they get away with it. Only when public opinion is rallied will something be done about it. I think this is one of those cases where it should. The psycho’s engaging in this behaviour should take note..your not anonymous… Read more »
-
marley says:
Hmm. Previous comment disappeared into ether. Nope, I don’t want the trolls jailed and nope, I don’t want the racists jailed. I want them all to experience the other side of free speech - a wave of contempt and opprobrium (and policy a job loss or two). Free speech goes… Read more »
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
Latest 2 of 96 comments