Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan So one of the big news stories is how a BP grand poobah made statements that BP cares about "the small people." The last thing I want to do is leap to BP's defense on, well, anything at the moment. But this is the sort of controversy that makes me crazy. This is the sort of molehill people get hung up on and miss the mountain. He of course MEANT "the average citizen" or "regular folk". But because English isn't his native language, he said "small people" several times, not understanding that the term can be easily misconstrued and seem insulting. (I'm sure dozens of PR folks schooled him very quickly in the last 24 hours, and you'll not hear that one again). Plenty to be fired up about in this disaster. But a clumsy choice of wording isn't one of those things.
Originally Posted By Labuda Guess what, 2oony? You just converted me! They made a big deal about this on the morning radio show I listen to today, but looking at it from the pov that you put forth, yeah... at least he's saying they care, even if he doesn't know the proper terminology in his non-native tongue. Thanks for once again being a voice of reason here for us.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Small people. Little people. Regular folk. What's the difference? It's insulting any way you slice it, especially considering the level of devastation and poor response from BP. Were this not the case I think people would believe that he was sincere in his remarks. The people at the top of BP are indicative of everything that is wrong with big corporations and are not to be trusted. Carl-Henric Svanberg has very good command of English. I believe his use of the word small was interpreted correctly as he was practically smiling as he said it in the video clips that I've seen.
Originally Posted By Mr X It would be less of an offense if the rest of those BP clowns hadn't lied over and over again and said such stupid things (it's only a trickle, no big deal, just 5 thousand barrels...and we MEANT to include walruses). The overall impression is of a bunch of arrogant SOB's who aren't the least bit remorseful except for how it has inconvenienced THEM, and saying "we care about the small people" months into the fiasco certainly doesn't help. Also, if language barrier is such an issue, I would say that the guy shouldn't be speaking off the cuff. The Toyota CEO spoke MUCH less English, and yet managed to get through without committing any insulting gaffes (and the BP NATIVE English speakers sure don't have a language barrier to fall back on as an excuse).
Originally Posted By Mr X ***it's only a trickle, no big deal, just 5 thousand barrels...and we MEANT to include walruses*** Oh, and the best one. "I want my life back", from the poor beleaguered millionaire CEO who is forced to actually account for his massive screwup.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Carl-Henric Svanberg has very good command of English. I believe his use of the word small was interpreted correctly as he was practically smiling as he said it in the video clips that I've seen.<< What would be the reasoning behind him intentionally insulting people? It wouldn't make sense to do so: He has millions of customers, potential customers, shareholders, franchisees, and any number of government and environmental watchdogs up to and including the President already furious with his company. It doesn't pass the smell test that he would go out and intentionally make a remark that makes it even worse. That's why I am sure that this was a case of mangling the language a bit, not picking up on one of those peculiar fine-line differences that a native speaker would pick up on instantly. I know the narrative is "See/ BP sees everyone as "small people"! How DARE they!???" But I don't buy it. Not in this case, anyway.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I thought this topic was going to be about little people, a.k.a. "midgets."
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I agree with 2oony. If he'd said "we care about the little guy affected by this," there's no story.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I haven't seen it yet but apparently Youtube has some videos of "little people" taking it to BP. That said, I too believe this was a matter of poorly chosen words but perception is everything and they just poured more fuel on the fire...or in the water if you will.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "What would be the reasoning behind him intentionally insulting people?" It is possible for someone to be so detached from reality as to not even know that their words are insulting. We've witnessed this with members of Congress several times over the past year. You are giving the BP Chairman far too much credit.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Again, I'm not really defending anything BP has or hasn't done in this whole mess. They've made some enormous PR blunders, no question about it. I just think this particular thing is a language/poor choice of words issue. I grew up amongst relatives from Germany, and even though they were fluent English speakers, there were still a few "oops" moments when they'd come off as harsher than they meant. This quote just sounds like that to me. BP and other oil companies have certainly taken enormous risks with the environment, as we see with this disaster. But I don't think that even IF this BP exec thinks the average person is insignificant he'd come right out and say it in such blunt fashion.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***What would be the reasoning behind him intentionally insulting people?*** One possibility...he's privately ticked off that so many people are giving him and his friends a hard time over this "incident" that, after all, is only affecting the small people whom he dislikes?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I just think this particular thing is a language/poor choice of words issue. I grew up amongst relatives from Germany, and even though they were fluent English speakers, there were still a few "oops" moments when they'd come off as harsher than they meant. This quote just sounds like that to me." The truth is that we'll probably never know, therefore you can't be certain it was just an "oops" moment or not. Nor can I guarantee that he's a malicious monster either, although given the evidence it's probably a little bit of one and a whole lot of the other.
Originally Posted By DVC dad clone Small people? What about fat people? What about dumb people? What about average normal standard people? I'm with the OP. Who cares?!
Originally Posted By Terminus Yeah, but they have little hands, and little eyes ... And they walk around telling great big lies.
