Santas warned 'ho ho ho' offensive to women

[Nessa 23]

Santas are told to say "ha ha ha" instead of "ho ho ho" so they don't offend women.

SYDNEY (AFP) - Santas in Australia's largest city have been told not to use Father Christmas's traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it may be offensive to women, it was reported Thursday.

Sydney's Santa Clauses have instead been instructed to say "ha ha ha" instead, the Daily Telegraph reported.

One disgruntled Santa told the newspaper a recruitment firm warned him not to use "ho ho ho" because it could frighten children and was too close to "ho", a US slang term for prostitute.

"Gimme a break," said Julie Gale, who runs the campaign against sexualising children called Kids Free 2B Kids.

"We are talking about little kids who do not understand that "ho, ho, ho" has any other connotation and nor should they," she told the Telegraph.

"Leave Santa alone."

A local spokesman for the US-based Westaff recruitment firm said it was "misleading" to say the company had banned Santa's traditional greeting and it was being left up to the discretion of the individual Santa himself.

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[Ban Hammer 13,353]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=96246

[MissStacey 1]

That is ridiculous. Ho Ho Ho has been used for as long as anyone can remember.

[Krikit 1,164]

Oh brother.

Speaking of brother.... that reminds me of the time my brother's friend played Santa one year at the local mall. I was walking by when he spotted me and yelled out "Hey little girl! Come on over and sit on Santa's knee! heh heh heh"

[Cassie 8]

Has the world gone nuts?? Seriously!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The only women offended by ho ho ho are the women who are hoes but can't admit it yet. They need to be true to themselves, keep it real. Aint nuttin wrong with bein' a hoe, hoe!

[JODO 2]

How silly.

ETA: In a way it's really like some people not wanting you to say Merry Christmas anymore,but Happy Holidays or Happy Winter Solstice

Edited November 15, 2007 by JODO

[Nessa 23]

And I searched to see if nobody posted. Sowwy.

[ivona 0]

What is this world coming to?

Winter Solstice and christmas are two different holidays

[Sinergy 3]

If your not a ho you shouldnt be offended

[Jenn! 918]

Santa's ho ho ho came first. I think Santa needs to do some azz kicking.

[Toshtishtash 1]

That's ridiculous....

[almaty 19]

sadly, the hos are becaoming more politcally correct....i ask one ..and called her a hooker... she reported she was an entertainment piece

[SteveLaura 0]

Link

Yesterday department stores David Jones and Myers and the Westfield shopping centre chain moved to reassure children, and their parents, that Santa and his customary greeting was part of Christmas's present as well as Christmas's past.

A David Jones spokeswoman said they had discussed the situation with Westaff and their Santas would not be silenced.

"Senior management have assured us that Santas provided to David Jones have not been censored in any way," the spokeswoma said.

At Myer, where Westaff also train the fat men in red suit, Santa could not stop laughing about the suggestion.

"Myer has not directed our Santas to refrain from using 'ho, ho, ho' and believe the expression is an important Christmas tradition," a spokesman for Myer said.

Westfield's Santas are recruited and trained by RegProm Marketing and they will be "ho, ho, ho-ing" a Westfield spokeswoman said.

"Westfield Santas are known for their friendly and welcoming nature and know how to deliver a real festive 'ho, ho, ho'...

Westaff's national Santa co-ordinator Sari Hegarty wrote to stores explaining the company's position.

"Westaff has been a provider of quality caring Santas for over forty years," Ms Hegarty wrote in an email.

"Part of our advice to our Santas is that they should be mindful of children having their first Santa experience.

"We ask our Santas to try techniques such as lowering their tone of voice and using 'ha, ha, ha' to encourage the children to come forward and meet Santa. We wish you and your family a very merry Christmas."

[Scott & Lai 12]

What is this world coming to?

Winter Solstice and christmas are two different holidays

And so are the commercialized/secularized "Christmas" holiday season (which begins somewhere in October now ) and Christ's Mass (which begins December 24 in the evening, and lasts 12 days).