Simple my mom does not understand English you cannot say, you had to call her an illiterate, even if it is true, She is still your Mom, and the word sounds insultive.

Social Media and LIES.

The Guy Just cooked up some stories.

Once you hear " My Friend " My Cousin" "My Neighour" Gist

NA LIE

Hmmn.

From the employee's point of view, he did nothing wrong, he was simply describing his mum in a honest way.

But...the point the boss was trying to stress is that the employee's job is to describe people or situations using polished words (that's a key aspect of PR). If he could fail in such a scenario with his mum, how much less some client or even his colleague.

It's very harsh sha and the boss overreacted.

Twitter story with wahala

It’s absurd calling your mom illiterate. At least he could have said “my mom is not fluent in English language”

mansakhalifa:
I don't know if a lot of folks here are aware of this but there are a lot of people out there who find that very word 'illiterate' demeaning and insulting to say the least.

As a matter of fact, there are a number of 'harmless' words that we use on a day to day basis that are frowned upon in certain quarters.

Put in his shoes, I wouldn't have referred to my mom as an 'illiterate'. That doesn't really sound right in my opinion.

In this case, the man could have gone about it in another way by simply saying something like: 'Sir, you see, my mother does not speak in English. She is more fluent in her native language(you mention the language)...'

In such a scenario, your boss would get the point and then know exactly what to do.

Some words look rather harmless on the surface but they sure can get us into some sort of **** when used carelessly or in the wrong occasion.

The fellow in that twitter 'story' found himself in such a moment.

Now, the boss, I agree went overboard. What happened to a little reprimand?

Oh, and what's more? It's a PR firm.

Just my little opinion.

this is rubbish to me.. the guy did nothing wrong .. an illiterate is someone who is not educated .. na why I hate all these office jobs .. rubbish If I had the power I would just sack the woman self and hold her gratuities and pension join.. I hate rubbish

MickzyDonald:
The boss is an illiterate if he doesn't know the meaning of an illiterate also, maybe he's been looking for an opportunity to fire him before who knows

No. Boss was right though reaction was out of here. It's a PR company. There are better ways of saying same thing. Like, mum has problem with English# mum prefers Yoruba#
Illiterate has negative connotation. My take.

Fake story ni joor.

Maybe its about how he said it.its possible he said it in an insultive manner.

He should have just given the phone to his mum.

Poloyanabo2:
g

Ya A Criminal

The boss Na fool. Should he have Said, "my mama nor go school or what? He should have pretended that she is Oxon or Cantab?

We dudu go just dey react like chemical over inconsequential stuff.

If the boss really loves another man's mother as he pretends to be, he should have increased his salary instead of sack. After all chances are that the uneducated mother won't be a bank CEO, govt official or some cash madam.

9ja is full of hypocrites.

nice talk!

mansakhalifa:
I don't know if a lot of folks here are aware of this but there are a lot of people out there who find that very word 'illiterate' demeaning and insulting to say the least.

As a matter of fact, there are a number of 'harmless' words that we use on a day to day basis that are frowned upon in certain quarters.

Put in his shoes, I wouldn't have referred to my mom as an 'illiterate'. That doesn't really sound right in my opinion.

In this case, the man could have gone about it in another way by simply saying something like: 'Sir, you see, my mother does not speak in English. She is more fluent in her native language(you mention the language)...'

In such a scenario, your boss would get the point and then know exactly what to do.

Some words look rather harmless on the surface but they sure can get us into some sort of **** when used carelessly or in the wrong occasion.

The fellow in that twitter 'story' found himself in such a moment.

Now, the boss, I agree went overboard. What happened to a little reprimand?

Oh, and what's more? It's a PR firm.

Just my little opinion.

seanwilliam:
this is rubbish to me.. the guy did nothing wrong .. an illiterate is someone who is not educated .. na why I hate all these office jobs .. rubbish If I had the power I would just sack the woman self and hold her gratuities and pension join.. I hate rubbish

You will never understand.

I know why I said what I said. Did you see you see the sort of company that he works for?

Take a look at that tweet and you will understand why what you say matters in such a field.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the word 'illiterate' per se- at least not on the surface. But there are certain scenarios or contexts where using it could or might result in a few complications here and there.

It is what it is.

Even here on nairaland, I used that word in anger once and somebody reached out to me immediately and I had to recant and apologise. A seemingly harmless word but things change everyday and that is why you have to be creative when using words in certain social circles.

We are now in an era of 'political correctness' too, you see.

I have actually seen people get sued for referring to a corpulent person as 'fat'. Weird, right? But these things are happening these days.

Twitter story

MickzyDonald:
The boss is an illiterate if he doesn't know the meaning of an illiterate also, maybe he's been looking for an opportunity to fire him before who knows

This is just the bloody truth

I don't understand, I see no fault in that, my mum would be pleased if I did that.
At least she gets to communicate in the language she understands.

Mehn they have been looking for a way to displace you.

extol1:
speaking the truth at times might be wrong

He should have just said, she is not well read....
Or better still shut up and let the boss figure it out herself

Twitter lies.. Nansense

nawah for the boss sha.

there is error somewhere ....
we all have skeleton in our cupboard ,
that is not the way he should have presented his mum to his boss , calling her mum illiterate doesn't sounds well that might even tricker his boss to sack him ....

I share your thoughts. Truly the boss over reacted but PR company deals with use of words. The boss expected some level of maturity when choosing words which the guy lack.

mansakhalifa:
I don't know if a lot of folks here are aware of this but there are a lot of people out there who find that very word 'illiterate' demeaning and insulting to say the least.

As a matter of fact, there are a number of 'harmless' words that we use on a day to day basis that are frowned upon in certain quarters.

Put in his shoes, I wouldn't have referred to my mom as an 'illiterate'. That doesn't really sound right in my opinion.

In this case, the man could have gone about it in another way by simply saying something like: 'Sir, you see, my mother does not speak in English. She is more fluent in her native language(you mention the language)...'

In such a scenario, your boss would get the point and then know exactly what to do. Sometimes, shortcuts kill when interacting with others and you must learn the art of Circumlocution paraphrasis

Some words look rather harmless on the surface but they sure can get us into some sort of **** when used carelessly or in the wrong occasion.

The fellow in that twitter 'story' found himself in such a moment.

Now, the boss, I agree went overboard. What happened to a little reprimand?

Oh, and what's more? It's a PR firm.

Just my little opinion.

Speak to her in yoruba, she might not hear you well in english. Simple

Hmm, mind u the man never actually used the word "illiterate" infact he said it in a polite way, the boss went 2 far...

Cutting off the nose to spite the face.
She did not act like a boss. That should be her first lesson for her new employee. Did she sack him to fight for his mother's right/dignity or what exactly is her problem?

,

mansakhalifa:
I don't know if a lot of folks here are aware of this but there are a lot of people out there who find that very word 'illiterate' demeaning and insulting to say the least.

As a matter of fact, there are a number of 'harmless' words that we use on a day to day basis that are frowned upon in certain quarters.

Put in his shoes, I wouldn't have referred to my mom as an 'illiterate'. That doesn't really sound right in my opinion.

In this case, the man could have gone about it in another way by simply saying something like: 'Sir, you see, my mother does not speak in English. She is more fluent in her native language(you mention the language)...'

In such a scenario, your boss would get the point and then know exactly what to do. Sometimes, shortcuts kill when interacting with others and you must learn the art of Circumlocution paraphrasis

Some words look rather harmless on the surface but they sure can get us into some sort of **** when used carelessly or in the wrong occasion.

The fellow in that twitter 'story' found himself in such a moment.

Now, the boss, I agree went overboard. What happened to a little reprimand?

Oh, and what's more? It's a PR firm.

Just my little opinion.

You are right dear. How will the guy feel if he hears another person calling her mum an illiterate?
He is a PR personnel. He is supposed to know how to use words very well even in a situation that looks so bad.
A PR person is not supposed to use harsh words.
If that guy can use that crude word on her own mom, imagine how he will describe his clients.

It is really not an insult but the boss premises was that it is the boy duty to use his education to polish and improve his mother and I think she was right with that even dough she overstretched the issue.

sherylbaky:
Wahala for who be Nigerian, different people just full this country. Is illiterate an insult?

The mama no fit read, write or speak the borrowed official language, if pesin wan talk that one for English abeg wetin e go be?

The Boss also needs mental evaluation, Na Semi Illiterate. Illiterate isn't an insult.