this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2025
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cross-posted from: https://linux.community/post/3497784

Example: several of my former coworkers are from Mexico, Peru and Argentina, meaning they share Spanish as a common language.

I used to practice Spanish with them, but my last charge (like a ward's manager) would yell at us to stop it, use English only. She would get very angry really fast if she heard anything in a language she didn't understand.

I find it stupid, because some of them would use Spanish to better explain to the new nurses how to do certain procedures, but maybe I'm missing something?

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 34 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I don't agree. Forcing people to use a language they are less comfortable with just so others can eavesdrop has nothing to do with "politeness."

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's not eavesdropping lol. I worked a company that was primarily Chinese people at the head office and they made a rule of speaking in English for inclusivity.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The post references any usage of spanish as bannable. There's a difference between workers speaking spanish with each other while someone who only speaks English is present, and workers speaking spanish with each other when nobody else is involved with the conversation. I also worked at a company with a huge portion of speakers that were uncomfortable with speaking English despite myself only speaking English, any attempt to ban their language would hurt the company.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I am directly replying to the context listed out by the user, which in this case seems to be racist and anti-worker.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

And I am directly replying to you saying there is context and I specifically said not always

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It is always negative in the case of the user's context with the information we have. You implied an entirely different situation, meaning it's an entirely different question.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's not an entirely different question. This is how conversations work on message boards. You say something in response to the post, and people add to the conversation. In this particular situation with the OP it could be racism, it could be dissuading people from talking about unions, quite simply all you're doing is guessing, because you don't have the entire story. I added that there could be more, not flat out denying what you said, saying there is context that could be the reason for situations such as this.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The context in the OP outright states anger at any use of spanish, period. This has nothing to do with "politeness," and is always some form of racism or worker control. If OP had stated that this was only the case when said charge was involved in the conversations and felt left out, then this is a different context from the one OP provided.

You came in here trying to invent a situation that is, at its fundamentals, unique from what OP described.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes as i said above this is how message boards work, you say something and people add to it, hence the not always i didn't "invent" a situation, I was talking about other situations, there is more than just this example that happens you know. Conversations are supposed to evolve

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You didn't add, though. By just saying "it depends on the context" without providing the alternative situation you were talking about, it implies that the OP's situation may be fine with different context. Now you're acting demeaning and pretending I must not understand how message boards work.

Here's an example of what you could have done:

I agree that in this case it's probably due to racism or to prevent unionization, but there are good reasons to speak a common language at work, such as if the OP's charge was being shut out of conversations they were involved with.

This makes it clear that you're talking about a different context, and prevents this entire back and forth.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Was it really that unclear that I was talking other possible situations (based on the actual question that op posted) about not always and context seems to me to be fairly self explanatory.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm sorry it wasn't clear enough lol

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You're forgiven. Try to add to the conversation from the beginning next time, otherwise it looks like you're disagreeing that this is an instance of racism and exerting power over workers

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I would also like to point that I agreed with you here, being that this particular point was about racism and abusing workers. Here

https://lemmy.ml/comment/21187799

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yes, after the fact. Your use of "context" without justification implies that OP's specific situation, in an alternate context, would be fine, not that an alternate situation may be different.

[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

E: you know what this stupid bickering is, well, stupid I wish you well, and I will stop responding to this thread.

[–] MelonYellow@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Good move. Yeah this back and forth is pretty silly, like it’s not that serious lol. We got what you meant.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] T00l_shed@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Lol no, i clearly didn't

[–] andrewta@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think you should have asked what context was being referred to.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I can't really imagine a context where it would be a politeness thing unless the English-only speaker was actively involved in the conversation but was being intentionally shut-out, and not because it was easier to convey in non-English languages but deliberately for spite.

[–] grindemup@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I can't really imagine a context except for this very common context which completely negates my point

Well said!

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It isn't the context brought up in the post body, so no, it doesn't completely negate my point. The post is talking about banning any and all use of spanish, period, and the other user came in trying to talk about a different situation entirely.