Bend in the Weather (Entries tagged as respect)

Perspective

mbottrell@gmail.com (Matt) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:48:00 +1000

MX is a free commuter magazine published in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

A regular feature, they ask commuters a question.

Given their time again, I think John and Claire would answer differently.

Source: PhotoBasement

Presenting Pr0n.

mbottrell@gmail.com (Matt) — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:49:00 +1000

I read Jacinta's post and have to agree with the statements she made.
I'm a red blooded male with crazy hormones running around my body like the next person, yet I know there is a time and a place for such things.

Let's put it in clear context. "Pr0n has no place in a technical conference presentation."

One wouldn't show pr0n related images to their own grandmother or a stranger in the street.
Use this 'stranger in the street' or 'my own grandmother' as a general guide if you are unsure.

If you feel the need to resort to showing such images, you need to ask why.
Is your presentation that dull you need to distract your audience?
Are your presentation skills that poor you need to resort to cheap stunts to keep your audience interested?
Is your knowledge on the given topic limited and needs attention to be misdirected away from the main discussion point?
Are you sure all your audience is of legal age? Being a technical conference doesn't mean there aren't minors present. Keep this in mind.
As a parent, I would be outraged if my teenage child attended such a conference to be subjected to pornographic images.

Playing the 'pr0n card' in a presentation shows a lack of maturity and disregard for your audiences intelligence.
It really isn't 'witty' at all and quite offensive.

Feel free to use humour in your presentation to liven it up, but keep it on a neutral topic and not one that is controversial.
Remember - your presentation is supposed to educate people to your point of view. You won't do this if it polarises your audience!

You would expect a backlash to your presentation if it contained anti-semitic or a white supremacist suggestions... expect the same with anything controversial.

If in doubt, why not run your presentation prior to the conference via the organisers. It's much easier cleaning up the slides prior to the presentation rather than the egg you'll have on your face.

Intolerable Tolerance

mbottrell@gmail.com (Matt) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:40:00 +1000

I find it disturbing that many who claim to be tolerant to minorities often are often bigots in other areas. They are often the first to dismiss or call out others who are intolerant in a particular area, yet unwilling to remove the log that is their eye.

In particular, the majority of people are tolerant to same-sex partnerships and fight for equal rights for these couples. They stand and shout for equality for different races or skin colour (and rightly so).

Yet I find it's become 'hip' in modern times to mock those holding religious beliefs, particularly those of Christian beliefs. This has been drummed into me more in recently time as I read more blog posts of people whining about Easter.

I find it alarming that many of those that stand on their soap-boxes and shout for basic human rights seem to misunderstand the universal declaration of human rights.

One can not claim they stand for human rights if they are not tolerant for all the human rights... this includes: "....race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status... "

Personally, I don't hold an opinion, in the religious affairs of others. They are free to express their beliefs (or not).
I do however get annoyed when so called 'tolerant' people decide to complain about those following their religious beliefs.

Fair enough, if you personally aren't a believer. That's your personal choice. However, it's rich to mock those that do. Don't also claim to be tolerant if you do mock those who hold different beliefs to your own.

Certainly Christian beliefs and holidays aren't everyone's cup of tea. However, like respecting those of other faiths such as Muslim, Buddhism, Hinduism or Judaism; those of the Christian faith should be respected and tolerated.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, some 68% of the population professed to be of Christian faith. Yes, this number is falling, however it is still the majority in this country.

Whilst audiences may not state openly their objections to your public ridicule; any such mocking of any faith is likely to alienate many readers.
So consider what you write, open bigotry of any form is not something that should be tolerated.