The word "professional" is racist?

[CoolBreeze]

If you use the word "professional" in a Craigslist ad, you're a racist

There's something disturbingly totalitarian about the Fair Housing Council of Orange County Ca, a nonprofit organization that polices housing "discrimination" in the county and shakes down local landlords for large settlements. The Register's Brian Joseph reported on a particularly disturbing case that should not only alarm Orange County residents, but should lead to reform in the way anti-housing-discrimination laws are enforced.

In 2006, Newport Beach resident Dan Bader placed an innocuous ad in Craigslist, seeking a tenant for a 480-square-foot room in his house. He wrote, "Well suited for professional adults" and "Perfect for 1 or 2 professionals." Any normal person would see that for what it is: a realistic description of a small room. But the housing council, which proclaims its mission as "fostering diversity in housing," saw ominous motives. Officials viewed the ad as a form of discrimination against people with children and filed a complaint with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing. With such actions, we'll definitely see less diversity in housing as fewer people are willing to subject themselves to these Orwellian anti-discrimination enforcers.

Mr. Bader was forced to attend a hearing in Los Angeles and told that the complaint would be dropped if he paid $4,000 in fines and agreed to take five years' worth of re-education classes at $250 a pop – even though the state ruled that he does not discriminate. The four grand would go to the Fair Housing Council, which funds its operations in part from fines assessed from the people the agency targets. This is a blatant conflict of interest, an unethical system that merges enforcement with profiteering.

Even though Mr. Bader was declared innocent of any "crime," he still was asked to pay up and go to classes. What a scam. To his credit, Mr. Bader did not want to be blackmailed, and he chose to fight, leading to a two-year battle. Sure, the state ultimately dropped the suit after the housing council retracted its complaint – not out of any obvious decency, but because the council was happy that Mr. Bader was being forced to pay its attorney fees. The council gets its money, which is all this seems to be about. Meanwhile, Mr. Bader owes a total of about $44,000 in fees to his own attorney and to this council for a frivolous charge.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hous ... rimination

[lastone]

I know of "professional " hookers of many races. I don't see the problem.

[jag]

Uh..., what am I missing, here, CoolBreeze? Where's the accusation of "racism" in this? I see what one might (with a lot of creativity) construe as bias towards "professional" people (as oppose to non-professional people). I see what might be construed (with, again, much imagination) as bias towards childless persons. What I don't see, however, is any so-called racism overtone, hint, suggestion or indication ("so-called" because racism is one of those words which defines something that most people agree doesn't even exist--that being race).

Help me out, here, will you?

[AmpedNow]

You see this term a lot in affluent areas. It basically means, "people with at least a 4 year college degree who are motivated primarily by their careers. Usually single, or married without children".

Who wouldn't want to rent or sell to professionals? They're never home, they have the money to pay you every month, and they don't have kids running around disturbing the neighbors and tearing everything up.

So, there. I'm a "racist", too.

[Bob Campbell]

It may be "hillbillyist".

[jag]

Indeed, it might be "hillbillyist," "parentist," "blue collarist" or "any-of-a-number-of-other-thingsist." But I don't see that it might be potentially "racist." Of course, I suppose that's contingent upon one's definition of "race" and/or "racism."

[Big Media]

I dunno. I say that calling professional racist would piss me off if I were a black professional. It is like they are saying black people could not possibly be professional, therefore, saying professional somehow dis-includes (is that proper Engrish?) black people.

[The-Hammer]

It is like they are saying black people could not possibly be professional, therefore, saying professional somehow dis-includes (is that proper Engrish?) black people.

I think the word you are looking for is "excludes".

[CoolBreeze]

Uh..., what am I missing, here, CoolBreeze?

You are correct sir: I read the article too quickly and arrived at the wrong conclusion.