How do we feel about the term SLF?
SLF here. Love the term and would like to echo Robin Pilot's rant:
I have grave concerns about where this world is heading on the humour front.
For god sake. Can no one take a joke anymore? Why are there so many idiots in the world looking for offence in every damn thing?
Why does the world have to stop coming up with funny sayings or names because some idiots are born without a sense of humour?
Are you really that high up on your horse that you can't fathom the need for humour to brighten up and colour our lives a little? Yes there's a butt of the joke in this instance - as there is with every joke. We're humans, we take the p!$$ out of each other. It's not done with malice, it's actually done to cheer each other up. Get on with it.
So to anyone who is GENUINLY offended by the innocuous, silly and cheeky term "Self Loading Freight" then I say GROW UP, for god's sake.
Why does the world have to stop coming up with funny sayings or names because some idiots are born without a sense of humour?
Are you really that high up on your horse that you can't fathom the need for humour to brighten up and colour our lives a little? Yes there's a butt of the joke in this instance - as there is with every joke. We're humans, we take the p!$$ out of each other. It's not done with malice, it's actually done to cheer each other up. Get on with it.
So to anyone who is GENUINLY offended by the innocuous, silly and cheeky term "Self Loading Freight" then I say GROW UP, for god's sake.
As the OP I've allowed the debate to continue without further comment. I wanted to learn from others here.
When I first joined Pprune I saw the term SLF, discovered what it meant, and laughed. Nice little insider joke that I was now privvy to.
And that was how I continued to treat it until last week when I started this thread.
Now, I'm sure that most people, most of the time, do use SLF as a bit of a joke with no malice intended. But, I'm sorry, I think there are occasions when the veil slips and it takes on a less acceptable connotation.
As others have said, all industries have their insider jokes and I know mine does. I also know that there are times when those jokes spill over to something less acceptable - that's life. I'd like to think that those unacceptable variants stay private but, in reality I know they don't - again, that's life, we're human.
I did appreciate the post made by F3G which I think summed up what I was (and am still trying) to say better than I can.
In the end, I think I may have overreacted.
When I first joined Pprune I saw the term SLF, discovered what it meant, and laughed. Nice little insider joke that I was now privvy to.
And that was how I continued to treat it until last week when I started this thread.
Now, I'm sure that most people, most of the time, do use SLF as a bit of a joke with no malice intended. But, I'm sorry, I think there are occasions when the veil slips and it takes on a less acceptable connotation.
As others have said, all industries have their insider jokes and I know mine does. I also know that there are times when those jokes spill over to something less acceptable - that's life. I'd like to think that those unacceptable variants stay private but, in reality I know they don't - again, that's life, we're human.
I did appreciate the post made by F3G which I think summed up what I was (and am still trying) to say better than I can.
In the end, I think I may have overreacted.
There is much to recommend the term 'patron' - it is perfectly apposite, it infers that we are indeed the revenue providers of last resort, and - in current circumstances, I also confess to feeling highly inclined to 'patronise' the BASSA militant tendency in the run-up to their apparently fast approaching dismissals.
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When flying with airline xy, I'm a Customer/Patron.
I expect to be treated like that (matching their level regarding price/value...).
This is a forum for professionals within the flying business, that means CC/FD and so on. And yes, from their point of view we are SLF part of their business. The more Self Loading, the better ;-)
As long as I'm treated as a customer (while behaving like a Patron, not like a King/Conqueror), I'm happy.
I expect to be treated like that (matching their level regarding price/value...).
This is a forum for professionals within the flying business, that means CC/FD and so on. And yes, from their point of view we are SLF part of their business. The more Self Loading, the better ;-)
As long as I'm treated as a customer (while behaving like a Patron, not like a King/Conqueror), I'm happy.
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SLF is Humour.
I've been aware of the SLF epithet for many years and it has always brought a little smile to my lips. I suspect it is a term of endearment at times and a curse on others. I do not have to deal with the general public in my job, only healthcare professionals, so I don't get any of the grief that the public can and does hand out.
My friends in the health service are endlessly thoughtful and caring for their patients, yet I know many radiographers who have been assaulted. Beaten up in one case. So, 'the general public' - and that includes your passengers - can and do behave like oafs sometimes and at others I bet they can be charming and fun. So SLF probably covers it.
I love the 'Tonka Backseater' being referred to as 'Talking Ballast' and I bet many of them used it to describe themselves. I am an MRI and CT Scanner Field Engineer - some of our colleagues refer to us as 'Tractor Mechanics'. 
Roger (Time to get back to a bit of tractor mechaniking)
My friends in the health service are endlessly thoughtful and caring for their patients, yet I know many radiographers who have been assaulted. Beaten up in one case. So, 'the general public' - and that includes your passengers - can and do behave like oafs sometimes and at others I bet they can be charming and fun. So SLF probably covers it.
I love the 'Tonka Backseater' being referred to as 'Talking Ballast' and I bet many of them used it to describe themselves.
I am an MRI and CT Scanner Field Engineer - some of our colleagues refer to us as 'Tractor Mechanics'. Roger (Time to get back to a bit of tractor mechaniking)
Paxing All Over The World
Every line of work has slang for it's customers [insert name of choice] and you can ask the 'caring' professions too. A medical doctor pal of mine has the most ghastly things to say about some of his patients - but when he is with them, he takes great care of them. That's what human beings do.
I have been in service industries all my life. From aged 16 when I worked in a department store on Saturdays and school holidays, through telecommunications, then a consultant in that field to now in a highly specialised field that involves great delicacy, tact and all sorts of stuff with people that emotionally highly vulnerable. Today, a family that I worked for on Wednesday emailed an apology for their demands and behaviour. Mostly they don't. Sometimes, when I get back from helping people - I have been known to say some unkind things about them ... welcome to the world!
SLF? I think it's a VERY funny label.
I have been in service industries all my life. From aged 16 when I worked in a department store on Saturdays and school holidays, through telecommunications, then a consultant in that field to now in a highly specialised field that involves great delicacy, tact and all sorts of stuff with people that emotionally highly vulnerable. Today, a family that I worked for on Wednesday emailed an apology for their demands and behaviour. Mostly they don't. Sometimes, when I get back from helping people - I have been known to say some unkind things about them ... welcome to the world!
SLF? I think it's a VERY funny label.
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Words are just that...words.
Dont bruise,dont hurt,dont afffect.
I have no problem at all with SLF. Humor is the most endearing human atribute, in my opion. Why shouldnt the people in aviation use humor to enhance thier working days? No reason they shouldn't.
I have read some very funny stuff since I joined this forum.
Keep smiling folks!
SLF?...MFW!
Dont bruise,dont hurt,dont afffect.
I have no problem at all with SLF. Humor is the most endearing human atribute, in my opion. Why shouldnt the people in aviation use humor to enhance thier working days? No reason they shouldn't.
I have read some very funny stuff since I joined this forum.
Keep smiling folks!
SLF?...MFW!
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SLF here - and proud of it!
Agree with many others here - every industry has it's own insider slang, acronyms etc, doesn't bother me one little bit.
I wonder sometimes, whether folk feel they should be "offended" by something rather than actually being offended at all.
Call me what you like amongst yourselves, just as long as I get treated with a degree of respect when travelling and good customer service etc.
I wonder sometimes, whether folk feel they should be "offended" by something rather than actually being offended at all.
Call me what you like amongst yourselves, just as long as I get treated with a degree of respect when travelling and good customer service etc.
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Call me what you like amongst yourselves, just as long as I get treated with a degree of respect when travelling and good customer service etc.
I try to abide by " treat others how you would like yourself to be treated..unless thier actions dictate otherwise"
I dont understand why passengers would create for themselves, ( by worrying about terminology), a tense uncomfortable enviroment whilst contained in a confined space for hours on end. I think that at 35000ft, apart from different levels of legroom and stretch-ability, also the different quality of vino available, we are all pretty much in the same " boat".
Happy Landings.
Last edited by Scarbagjack; 15th May 2010 at 12:54. Reason: spelling again...and again...etc..
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Like it says in the OPīs quote of the moderator, itīs pprune vernacular.
Must be because I have never heard it used anywhere else.
Hartington, taking exception to innocent matters like these can cause premature greying, acid reflux and a sour loking face.
Beware!
Must be because I have never heard it used anywhere else.
Hartington, taking exception to innocent matters like these can cause premature greying, acid reflux and a sour loking face.
Beware!
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This is a non-issue
In many jobs where the staff have to interface directly with the public, it - they, the public that is - can be very trying sometimes. There are some areas of work where maintaing a sense of humour and a sense of detachment are perhaps the only way of maintaining your sanity.
Hence the medical profession has a particularly grim form of gallows humour (or so I'm told, since I'm not in that profession myself); in my area of work we sometimes call the end users of the IT systems which we design and maintain "lusers." You get the idea. It's more of a coping mechanism, and is very, very rarely meant maliciously. Indeed if malice is intended, then I could certainly come up with something a bit richer than "luser."
So if those who help to keep us firstly safe, and secondly fed and watered while we're on board, want to call us SLF when we're out of earshot, then that's fine with me. I don't see any point in making heavy weather out of this very natural and very human bit of behaviour.
Hence the medical profession has a particularly grim form of gallows humour (or so I'm told, since I'm not in that profession myself); in my area of work we sometimes call the end users of the IT systems which we design and maintain "lusers." You get the idea. It's more of a coping mechanism, and is very, very rarely meant maliciously. Indeed if malice is intended, then I could certainly come up with something a bit richer than "luser."
So if those who help to keep us firstly safe, and secondly fed and watered while we're on board, want to call us SLF when we're out of earshot, then that's fine with me. I don't see any point in making heavy weather out of this very natural and very human bit of behaviour.
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As a frequent SLF all I do is load myself on time and in a correct manner, comply with instructions and generally be a good boy. All I ask is an occasional refreshment and maybe a bite to eat if it is over a couple of hours flight and if it is not too much trouble can I get a seat away from the bassinet? Been there....
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Keepthembodiesmoving
A late friend of mine, who was an airline captain, used the term self-loading cargo. This was long before the advent of PPRuNe.
Personally, I like Self-Moving Ballast. Being slightly overweight, it seems more appropriate.
In my line of work, anyone who uses our software (mainly pilots, but some office bods too), are known as Lusers, (a combination of Losers and Users). Some of my colleagues even have LARTs - Luser Attitude Readjustment Tools, such as baseball bats, hammers, large wrenches etc. I suspect some CC/FAs could make good use of a LART every now and then.
Like it says in the OPīs quote of the moderator, itīs PPRuNe vernacular.
Must be because I have never heard it used anywhere else.
Must be because I have never heard it used anywhere else.
Personally, I like Self-Moving Ballast. Being slightly overweight, it seems more appropriate.
In my line of work, anyone who uses our software (mainly pilots, but some office bods too), are known as Lusers, (a combination of Losers and Users). Some of my colleagues even have LARTs - Luser Attitude Readjustment Tools, such as baseball bats, hammers, large wrenches etc. I suspect some CC/FAs could make good use of a LART every now and then.
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SLF revisited
I am very bemused to find that a post I wrote and got rapped over the knuckles for, is still alive'ish and causing waves. Whilst not wishing to start the whole barrel rolling again, I would like to just pick out the thought that was behind the post and which was not clearly defined within it.
If you downgrade the importance of your market and source of income in your thinking and potentially your operation, it will have an effect on your operation.
Given, in this case, that the union drive is to take over/maintain control and command of the operation in place of the management, the more that can be done to downgrade the management and operation is viewed as being to the benefit of the union.
They have already attacked the pilots to some effect in creating dissent with various elements of CC, witness some of the more vitrolic posts and stylised name calling. To turn the CC against the source of business and cause more dissent by starting to address/discuss the passengers in a derogatary manner could be easily achieved when you start from a baseline of SLF coupled with spin and lies - so this post was meant to highlight those possibilities (not very well!). - it was never intended to be a lecture to CC!! - there are too many of you!!
Just for the record, I am not a CC not do I currently work in the aviation industry, but, I did work for both BOAC and BEA for 15 years (1957 - 1972), including 11 years on the hangars. I have spent the last 38 years in the computer industry, in various roles and have obviously done a reasonable amount of travelling during that time whilst remaining an aviation enthusiast despite the odds!! - and while the term SLF has apparently been around for ever, during the 1950's;1960;s and early 1970's, in BOAC and BEA we used the term passengers - but there goes the neighbourhood!!
Cheers
(p.s. this post is NOT intended to upset anyone - despite rumours)
If you downgrade the importance of your market and source of income in your thinking and potentially your operation, it will have an effect on your operation.
Given, in this case, that the union drive is to take over/maintain control and command of the operation in place of the management, the more that can be done to downgrade the management and operation is viewed as being to the benefit of the union.
They have already attacked the pilots to some effect in creating dissent with various elements of CC, witness some of the more vitrolic posts and stylised name calling. To turn the CC against the source of business and cause more dissent by starting to address/discuss the passengers in a derogatary manner could be easily achieved when you start from a baseline of SLF coupled with spin and lies - so this post was meant to highlight those possibilities (not very well!). - it was never intended to be a lecture to CC!! - there are too many of you!!
Just for the record, I am not a CC not do I currently work in the aviation industry, but, I did work for both BOAC and BEA for 15 years (1957 - 1972), including 11 years on the hangars. I have spent the last 38 years in the computer industry, in various roles and have obviously done a reasonable amount of travelling during that time whilst remaining an aviation enthusiast despite the odds!! - and while the term SLF has apparently been around for ever, during the 1950's;1960;s and early 1970's, in BOAC and BEA we used the term passengers - but there goes the neighbourhood!!
Cheers
(p.s. this post is NOT intended to upset anyone - despite rumours)
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Like many others, I find the term SLF amusing. I'm more bothered by the fact that most SLF aren't very good at it - nicely demonstrated in the 'Overhead baggage anyone?' thread in the CC forum.
Should've added to my earlier post.
Seriously looking for a "Professional SLF" World Tour T-shirt. PPRuNe ID on it is optional, but would be appreciated.
Anybody know where I could get one (or two)?
Got to have "Are We There Yet?" on the back, Naturally......
Donkey
Seriously looking for a "Professional SLF" World Tour T-shirt. PPRuNe ID on it is optional, but would be appreciated.
Anybody know where I could get one (or two)?
Got to have "Are We There Yet?" on the back, Naturally......
Donkey
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Personally I do not particularly like the term SLF, quite happy to be just a 'passenger'.
Not sure if name calling sits well in the 21st century commercial/business world.
Just my thoughts.
Thanks
Not sure if name calling sits well in the 21st century commercial/business world.
Just my thoughts.
Thanks