discriminates against unfriendly people.

Travelco, a travel agency, put in a request for a “Friendly employee” to provide food for its staff.

But the Job Center in Bristol told managing director Harry Smith that he would have to remove

the word “friendly” before the advertisement could be accepted.

Mr. Smith said he could not believe the decision and thought it was “ridiculous.” He said: “We

were told we could not use that particular word because it was discriminatory against people who

looked unfriendly. We thought it was ridiculous. It s only too natural for us to specify what kind of

people we want.” He added, “The people at the center have since said they thought they had been

a little over the top.”

The center had made it a rule that certain words were nor allowed in ads and the words

“motivated” and “enthusiastic” had been banned in the past.

An official of the center said: “We do have guidelines of not using personality characteristics in

advertisements to ensure that there is no discrimination in the process.”

She added: “We should leave the dispute to the local judges. They ll make the final decision. It s

possible that a member of our staff has been over-enthusiastic in cutting out words in ads.”

Persons/Agencies Words/Actions Reasons/Purposes

A firm advertised for a friendly employee;

Was asked to change the wording discrimination against unfriendly people

Travelco requested for a friendly employee to provide food for its staff/employees

The Job Center told the Travelco managing director to remove the word “friendly”

The managing director said was told not to use that word; thought it was ridiculous It was natural

to specify the kind of people they wanted

added that the people at the center thought they had been a little over the top

The center had decided that certain words were not allowed; e.g. motivated, enthusiastic

An official said they had guidelines of not using personality characteristics no discrimination

added that they should leave the dispute to the local judges to make the final decision

maybe a member of their staff had been over-enthusiastic in cutting words

VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking

Task 1: Banning Cigarette Ads

Nancy: Hey, Robert, what do you think about cigarette ads?

Robert: They re disgusting. Many countries have banned tobacco ads completely.

Nancy: I heard in the States advertises are not allowed to show young people smoking cigarettes,

neither are ads targeted at youth allowed.

Robert: But advertises keep finding ways around the law. Some years ago one cigarette ad showed

a deer smoking, but it was dressed in a university sweater. Obviously the ad is trying to attract

young people.

Nancy: In order to increase sales, they have to make smoking appealing to young people. Make

them think it s cool.

Robert: Right. Cigarette manufacturers need to keep bringing in new customers. The old ones are

dying of lung cancer.

Nancy: Good point. Our Student Union should do some publicity against smoking in campus.

Robert: I couldn t agree more.

1. They have banned tobacco/cigarette ads completely.