Yep, that’s me, ‘The Devil’s Advocate’! I often go out on a limb saying what other’s either dare not say, or dare I even say it, other’s dare not even think it. Social conditioning is such today that the right to freedom of speech, a right considered ours if we live in a democratic country is no longer a right – that is if you dare to think any misogynistic thoughts, or any thoughts such as ‘toughen up Sunshine’, or ‘just get on with it’.

I woke early today and couldn’t get back to sleep so did something I never do, I went into the living room and turned on morning TV. The first item was about Australia’s shortage of teachers. Apparently today’s kids are misogynistic, sexist, homophobic, bully’s……… And guess what the teachers aren’t getting the support they want from the board (or whomever it is that deals with teacher’s problems), so they’re leaving the profession. WELL DAH!!!! They’re kids, and just like kids from every generation, some will always push boundaries. Admittedly today, in some instances, it is harder to reign in bad behaviour without the inappropriate punishments that were available to teachers when I was at school.

So, here I am, playing Devil’s Advocate. And before you all start yelling at me, I’m not directing this at  the really, really bad behaviour, as no doubt there is enough of that in schools, just as there is in any workplace. I’m directing this question at any behaviour in any workplace, my question is “why does every little slip of voiced misogynistic, or homophobic, or sexist, or racist behaviour need to be addressed to the perpetrator?” Sometimes is the victim at the receiving end really a victim, or have they just grown up feeling a little to entitled to perfect behaviour from everyone around them. Quite honestly, I’m sick to death of feeling like I’m treading on eggshells everytime I dare to think, or voice an opinion that isn’t supportive of some minority. Why can’t someone say occasionally, ‘toughen up Sunshine’! I’m not advocating a return to last century’s mindset. I just think we’ve gone too far the other way. Can we please, please reach a comfortable balance where freedom of thoughts and speech allows for some of those spoken words to sometimes be not censured by political correctness, a comfortable balance were battles are kept for really bad and unacceptable behaviour, and a comfortable balance where sometimes we can actually to say to someone, ‘toughen up Sunshine’.

Let’s get the balance right between what it’s reasonable for someone to be able to shrug off, and what’s totally unreasonable and unacceptable behaviour, and let’s pick our battles accordingly. Teacher’s are leaving in droves apparently, and I get that some have probably left for very good and justifiable reasons. But are some leaving because all their lives mummy, or daddy, didn’t dare say, ‘toughen up Sunshine’, did mummy and daddy fail teach their child one of the fundamentals lessons of life, ‘shit happens – deal with it’, it’s not always someone else’s problem.