Applicants for Dublin Fire Brigade were asked if they’re gay or straight

Hitchens · 31-08-2013 03:54PM #1

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?

Read more:

http://www.thejournal.ie/fire-service-recruitment-1061816-Aug2013/

LeinsterDub · 31-08-2013 03:56PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?

Read more:

http://www.thejournal.ie/fire-service-recruitment-1061816-Aug2013/

Why doesn't the poxy journal open in a browser. No I don't want to download an app

Yamanoto · 31-08-2013 03:57PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?

Another brigade of sorts

Gummy Panda · 31-08-2013 03:58PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?

Read more:

http://www.thejournal.ie/fire-service-recruitment-1061816-Aug2013/

To see if they were use to handling different hoses

Sunglasses Ron · 31-08-2013 03:59PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?

Read more:

http://www.thejournal.ie/fire-service-recruitment-1061816-Aug2013/

Because if they didn't ask and three gay lads who applied didn't get a job some moany PC lobby would have one out about discrimination.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

TheLastMohican · 31-08-2013 04:01PM

Firemen's ladders can put fierce ladders in nylons

dd972 · 31-08-2013 04:01PM

Maybe they were doing a shortlist for the 2014 Dublin Fire Brigade calendar.

Grayson · 31-08-2013 04:01PM

It seems to be part of a survey as opposed to selection criteria and it's not mandatory to participate. It doesn't seem to matter if they participate at all. I'm ok with it so long as it's kept completly separate from the selection process and most of all, the results are confidential. It'd be best if they deleted any and all personal details (like name).

It's like those irritating popups you get on certain websites "Would you like to take a few minutes to complete a survey"

The OP makes it sound like a selection criteria.

Cody Pomeray · 31-08-2013 04:02PM

Fire PC Brigade fail.

B.A._Baracus · 31-08-2013 04:03PM

Shouldnt be asking that question. It's personal business.

I've had alot of jobs in my time and the one job that actually asked me this question was Borders in the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. But they phrased it as "What type are you sexually attracted to: A, members of the opposite sex B, members of the same sex or C, both"

Asking the question was wrong but the way they phrased it was even more wrong too :pac:

MrStuffins · 31-08-2013 04:05PM

"Gay? I'M FLAAAAAMING!"

Muise... · 31-08-2013 04:07PM

Grayson wrote: »

It seems to be part of a survey as opposed to selection criteria and it's not mandatory to participate. It doesn't seem to matter if they participate at all. I'm ok with it so long as it's kept completly separate from the selection process and most of all, the results are confidential. It'd be best if they deleted any and all personal details (like name).

It's like those irritating popups you get on certain websites "Would you like to take a few minutes to complete a survey"

The OP makes it sound like a selection criteria.

ah don't be getting in the way with your facts.

From the article:

"Love said that applicants are given the option of whether or not to complete the questions, and said that the details aren’t being passed on to Dublin City Council, who will make the final decision on who to hire."

Love, eh?

Elbaston · 31-08-2013 04:09PM

They were just looking for someone to be the fireman for their village people dedication band.

osarusan · 31-08-2013 04:10PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?

Read more:

http://www.thejournal.ie/fire-service-recruitment-1061816-Aug2013/

The answer is right there in the article you linked to. Somehow you missed it, and started a thread instead.

Hitchens · 31-08-2013 04:19PM

osarusan wrote: »

The answer is right there in the article you linked to. Somehow you missed it, and started a thread instead.

1. I didn't miss anything.

2. Have you some problem with me?

osarusan · 31-08-2013 04:21PM

Hitchens wrote: »

1. I didn't miss anything.

You missed the answers to both of the questions you asked in the OP. They're right there in the article.

Hitchens · 31-08-2013 04:24PM

osarusan wrote: »

You missed the answers to both of the questions you asked in the OP. They're right there in the article.

No, there are certainly are not any logical answers, in my view

osarusan · 31-08-2013 04:26PM

Hitchens wrote: »

No, there are certainly are not any logical answers, in my view

That's not what your OP covers though, is it?

Hitchens · 31-08-2013 04:31PM

osarusan wrote: »

That's not what your OP covers though, is it?

Ok, here are my questions again:

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman? What logical answer was given?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?
What is the point of putting such a question in the first place?

One of the statements made by Mr Love was “We wouldn’t normally be involved in recruiting for the Fire Brigade so maybe that’s why this question is coming up,” he told TheJournal.ie. Does that make sense?

Nodin · 31-08-2013 04:31PM

Hitchens wrote: »

1. I didn't miss anything.

2. Have you some problem with me?

Yes you did.

Yep.

T-K-O · 31-08-2013 04:32PM

Apparently its for training purposes. Straight men rescue cats, Gay men rescue dogs.

Nodin · 31-08-2013 04:33PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Ok, here are my questions again:

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman?

It doesn't. That's not why they're asking.

Hitchens wrote: »

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?
What is the point of putting such a question in the first place?

Data gathering, demographics etc. Its in the article you linked to in your OP.

Muise... · 31-08-2013 04:33PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Ok, here are my questions again:

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman? What logical answer was given?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?
What is the point of putting such a question in the first place?

It doesn't.

People interested in the demographics of State employees.

Muise... · 31-08-2013 04:34PM

SNAP! Nodin.:)

osarusan · 31-08-2013 04:36PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Ok, here are my questions again:

Why would that have anything to do with being fireman or woman? What logical answer was given?

Who thought that it would be a good idea to ask such a question?
What is the point of putting such a question in the first place?

The logical answer is that it has nothing to do with being firemen or women. The applicants' (voluntary) answers to the question never gets to those making decisions about who gets the jobs.

To investigate whether or not the ratios of applicants from any particular groups (women, black people, gay people) in society remain stable throughout stages of the application and hiring process. In some cases, a question needs to be asked to determine if a person is a member of a particular group*. Effectively, I'd imagine, to investigate any potential discrimination.

It's right there in the article.

*Not sure if group is the right word, but hopefully it serves the purpose.

Zen65 · 31-08-2013 04:40PM

Hitchens wrote: »

No, there are certainly are not any logical answers, in my view

There were logical explanations in the article, and either you missed them or you didn't understand them, or perhaps you wanted to start a thread with a misleading but sensationalist heading (like a true Irish journalist).

Perhaps if you researched the way in which state organisations monitor the recruitment of minority groups you'd understand better why these questions get asked.

Similar questions were asked until recently when people hired in Northern Ireland in relation to religious background (and may still be, I'm just unsure of current policy). The information could not be used by the employer, but it served to ensure that discrimination in employment was not taking place.

Z

Hitchens · 31-08-2013 04:42PM

osarusan wrote: »

The logical answer is that it has nothing to do with being firemen or women. The applicants' (voluntary) answers to the question never gets to those making decisions about who gets the jobs.

To investigate whether or not the ratios of applicants from any particular groups (women, black people, gay people) in society remain stable throughout stages of the application and hiring process. In some cases, a question needs to be asked to determine if a person is a member of a particular group*. Effectively, I'd imagine, to investigate any potential discrimination.

It's right there in the article.

*Not sure if group is the right word, but hopefully it serves the purpose.

Love said that applicants are given the option of whether or not to complete the questions

so if some, or all of the successful applicants take the option not to answer the questions, where does that leave the 'investigation' ?

osarusan · 31-08-2013 04:44PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Love said that applicants are given the option of whether or not to complete the questions

so if some, or all of the successful applicants take the option not to answer the questions, where does that leave the 'investigation' ?

I guess they've decided that they can't or shouldn't force applicants to answer these questions if they don't want to, but feel that whatever data they can get is better than none.

The swines.

Nodin · 31-08-2013 04:48PM

Hitchens wrote: »

Love said that applicants are given the option of whether or not to complete the questions

so if some, or all of the successful applicants take the option not to answer the questions, where does that leave the 'investigation' ?

...with less information than they'd like, but with more than they would have garnered by not asking at all.

Hitchens · 31-08-2013 04:49PM

osarusan wrote: »

but feel that whatever data they can get is better than none.

???????

AtomicHorror · 31-08-2013 04:55PM

Hitchens wrote: »

???????

Sarcasm confuses you too?

Applicants for Dublin Fire Brigade were asked if they’re gay or straight

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