For the annual Ethics Training! These are always fun, and each year brings something new.
This time, we’ve been regaled with the following gem of a question from our Ethics Trainers:
Have you ever wondered why billboards along Illinois highways rarely boast photographs of certain officials and members of the General Assembly?
Because nobody wants to look at their skanky mugs? I mean, I’ve been wondering for years. It’s really preyed on my mind.
The training further informs us that “even something that appears to be an obvious disability may not be a disability as defined by law”. And don’t we know it! Forcing people to sit through endless compliance trainings appears to be an obvious disability but strangely doesn’t count as one.
Then there is the multiple-choice test to evaluate our ethics. Here is what one of the situations we are supposed to evaluate as ethical or not: “The director turned from their desk, and using a nickname typically used to denote race, summoned the administrative assistant to help with a computer problem.” I’m now very curious as to what that nickname is. Most importantly, this situation sounds extremely realistic. Even more so than the idea that people wonder about the absence of billboards with “photos of certain officials”.
The next problem is this: “The alleged workplace sexual harassment included a supervisor calling the employee derogatory female slang on a daily basis.” And then these masters of the written word wonder why nobody hangs their pictures by the highway.
On the other hand, I need to get out more because the test is making me feel like an ignorant prude. Here is an activity that is considered sexual harassment: “Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements”. I must be very sheltered because I can’t begin to imagine “a sexual gesture with hands”.
There’s also a category of sexual harassment defined as “looking a person up and down”. And by the way, concerning what we discussed yesterday, “unwanted requests for dates” are considered sexual harassment. Of course, the only way to know that a request for a date is unwelcome is to make it, right? They should have simply outlawed dating among colleagues to make things easier.
I know this is running a bit long but I can’t help sharing this enlightening definition of race: “Race includes traits associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists.” Oh, the beauty and the power of the English language! Race includes race including race. Such poetry! Plus, consider the implications of the message here. If I braid my hair right now, what race will I be? And more importantly, what “nickname typically used to denote race” would then be associated with me and my race braids?
Clarissa's Blog 
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an state legislator on a billboard. But wouldn’t the relevant factor here be “did this legislator pay for a billboard?” Which is in turn mostly influenced by “is this legislator facing a competitive election?”
“I must be very sheltered because I can’t begin to imagine ‘a sexual gesture with hands.’” You are indeed sheltered, in this instance, perhaps because you were never a teenage boy. I’ll describe some examples. 1. Fingers in v shape over the mouth, tongue wagged out in a crude way indicative of oral sex. This one is quite common. 2. One hand forms a circle using thumb and index finger. Finger on other hand “fucks” the hole. 3. Closed fist makes “jerking off” motion in front of the crotch. This one I’ve never seen used to indicate sexual interest, it’s used as an insult, especially in the UK where “wanker” is a common insult. Humorous skit about this one:
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Thank you, this is very enlightening. I still wonder why we have to be warned off this behavior in professional contexts when it’s so rare that I never heard of it until now.
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It’s one of those things that I suppose needs to be against the rules, but shouldn’t really need to be explained in a professional workplace. I assume nobody bothered to tell you to not to wear a bikini to class, but you’ve still never done it.
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billboards…
Around here the answer would be: “Because all the billboards were already rented by injury lawyers and PSAs trumpeting our social disintegration. Politicians can’t get a word in edgewise.”
But of course the real answer is probably: “Who uses billboards anymore?”
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When you cross into Illinois from Missouri, which I do all the time, you are greeted with two billboards. One says, “Welcome to Illinois where you can get a free legal abortion” and “Nearest Cannabis dispensary – take the next exit”. Absolutely nothing else about the state of Illinois is advertised. Get stoned and abort – that’s what Illinois has to offer. It’s our brand!
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Yeah. Our town: billboards are 98% either personal injury lawyers, or signs of dire social dysfunction: legal weed, drug-resistant gonorrhea alert, freeHIV testing, Narcan, crisis pregnancy center, kids need dads, don’t abandon your baby: here’s the safe drop-off place, Were you a chain-smoker? Get your lungs scanned!, “When you die, you WILL meet God…”, buzzed driving is drunk driving, NO BULL– HIV testing without the judgmental bull, abortion: leaves one dead and one hurting, don’t drink while you’re pregnant…
And every dang one of these things my kids want an explanation for: Why do you have to advertise being a Dad? (like isn’t it the greatest thing on earth already?), what is HIV (it’s a blood disease) and why would people be judgmental about it?(because usually people get it by doing things they are ashamed of) Like what? (Like, uh, drugs and stuff– we’ll talk about that more when you’re older). What is gone-hrah? (I have no idea, I’ve never heard of it) What is abortion? (gah!).
I used to be very libertarian when it came to advertising. Now? I think billboards should be outlawed. They’re a blight on the landscape.
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I’m always afraid I’ll face the need to explain abortion before I’m ready to do it. I know what to say but I don’t want to be rushed into it before I believe it’s appropriate.
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Yeah, I was definitely not ready to explain that one, but the dang billboards forced that discussion. My kids were completely horrified, of course– they clearly remember my last pregnancy, they came with us to the ultrasound, and all the discussions we had then, about little brother growing inside, and he was basically their adorable new pet when he was born, so the whole concept… like “Whyyyyyy would anybody want to DO that? To a baby???” Oi. I’m totally with you guys, I really don’t know.
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The worst part about this topic is that a kid starts to see his existence as optional, a matter of somebody else’s choice. This can create a lot of anxiety because they can’t yet word it to themselves. They need to know they aren’t an accident, that they were meant to be.
I’m speaking from experience because my mother spent my whole life telling me how I was an unfortunate, untimely accident. Why she thought it was a good idea to share this story I don’t know but I do know that it doesn’t have a great effect.
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Sigh. Yeah. All those things. It doesn’t do kids any good to know that their parents could have just got rid of them like exterminating rats, before they were even born. No matter what you say after that (we love you and we would never, our religion forbids it, you’re what makes us a family and we always wanted a family etc)… now they’ve got that ugly concept floating around in their heads. Can’t be removed.
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A rose is a rose is a rose – Gertrude Stein, 1913
Race includes traits associated with race – Ethics Trainer, 2023
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