Thread: Discrimination

Some of you know I'm a lifeguard at a swimming pool. Our pool has rules, and some parts of the pool are restricted by height or swimming ability. Today, a woman got quite angry about this saying that it was racist and discrimination blah blah blah.

Chatting about it in the staff room with two of my bosses, I effectively said it was discriminatory but it was important to do it because of health and safety. Unsurprisingly, this was met with them lecturing me on how it wasn't discrimination.

How ever, as far as I'm concerned discrimination is making a distinction between things. In this case, the distinction is it's safe for people over a certain height and dangerous for people under it. That's discriminating between two groups of people is it not? It's a certainly a 'pre-judgement' as there are certainly people under that height that are quite safe and people over it who are not.

Now, does this show that people have a narrow minded view of discrimination as a negative thing? Am I wrong? I don't understand how and arbitrary rule cannot discriminate.

Discrimination is a good thing most times- it lets me choose chocolate ice cream over vanilla etc. Its just bad when it becomes hate crimes. Like my "type" is brunette white women. Am I a bigot for not dating blondes or other races? No.

Originally Posted by khaos

Discrimination is a good thing most times- it lets me choose chocolate ice cream over vanilla etc. Its just bad when it becomes hate crimes. Like my "type" is brunette white women. Am I a bigot for not dating blondes or other races? No.

Yes, if you turn down an extremely hot blonde and youa re not dating anyone, you are a bigot and you will regret it. I like brunettes too, but am dating a blonde, so am I a bigot for not being choosy? NO

Originally Posted by khaos

Am I a bigot for not dating blondes or other races? No.

Well, John Mayer is, so I guess you are too, yes. Sorry!

It is a bit like saying "Fair or ginger haired white people should not be sun bathing without a sunscreen". No one would call that discrimination becausce it is common knowledge that fair and ginger haired white people get terrible sunburn without.

Discrimination is defined as: prejudiced or prejudicial outlook, action, or treatment. If something is unsafe for people of certain body shape they should not be allowed to go there for their own safety. This has nothing to do with prejudice toward a certain body shape.

Yea i think the negative connotation associated with the word discrimination stuck with your co-workers and they couldn't shake it off so they decided not to use the word at all. But i can understand their point of view. I mean if you use the word discrimination anywhere people hold their breath.

tell them they're discriminating against you for your definition of discrimination and see if that helps broaden their social perspective

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

tell them they're discriminating against you for your definition of discrimination and see if that helps broaden their social perspective

Heh, we may have a way forward here.

I can't see that making rules about swimming ability is in any way racist. Certainly height could be slightly more controversial. I've swum in lots of pools in several countries and have never seen a height restriction.
Are we talking about a pure swimming pool or some kind of leisure attraction with a slide or chute?
If the rules are quite clearly posted in an area where a customer can see them before they part with their cash, then I would politely tell them that if they have any issues then they should complain to the management.
In the UK we've got to a point where political correctness is starting to adversely affect those it is intended to protect.

Political correctness run amok. If you didn't discriminate, how could you make a decision about anything. Discrimination is necessary in life, it's how you use it that becomes a moral issue.