When is enough enough

[TeeDub]

I understand that we live in a special time...   But when is it enough that people stop getting offended over every little thing?

At first, I thought I was reading an Onion headline.

Detroit firefighter fired for bringing watermelon to station

DETROIT (WJBK) - Earlier this month, 41-year-old Robert Pattison went to introduce himself to his fellow firefighters at Engine 55 at Joy and Southfield in Detroit. Second Battallion Chief Shawn McCarty calls it a tradition for firefighters.

"It's not mandatory, it's voluntary," he says. "You come in bearing gifts. The usual gift is doughnuts, but you are allowed to bring whatever you want to bring in."

And Pattison, a probationary firefighter, decided to bring a watermelon wrapped in a pink ribbon. We're told some African-American firefighters were instantly offended, since 90 percent of the people who work at Engine 55 are black.

"When you get your first detail at a firehouse you pretty much know what you are getting yourself into," says Patrick Trout. "So you would have to say it was probably a bad call."
photo

FOX 2: "Is it racially insensitive to bring a watermelon into a fire house?"

"To some people," McCarty says.

FOX 2 spoke to Pattison by phone, who claims it was not a joke - and he did not mean to offend his fellow firefighters. But he clearly did. Fire Commissioner Eric Jones says the Fenton native was officially discharged.

In a statement Jones says: "There is zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior inside the Detroit Fire Department. On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Engine 55, a trial firefighter (probationary employee) engaged in unsatisfactory work behavior which was deemed offensive and racially insensitive to members of the Detroit Fire Department.

"After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the best course of action was to terminate the employment of this probationary employee."

In a world where racial tensions run high, some tell me the trial firefighter should have known better. Trout doesn't know if he meant anything by it - but feels it was a bad choice.

"For sure by far it was,"

The question is did DFD take it too far?

FOX 2: "Should he have lost his job over a watermelon?"

"I don't think so," McCarty says. "Between what he did and what was there are a few things that could have been done."

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/detroit-firefighter-fired-for-bringing-watermelon-to-station

[patric]

It seems today one has to plunder a busload of nuns before anyone even discusses any sort of discipline in a public service union... except of course his.
Sadly, an appeal to the court of public opinion might be the best next course if the system has failed that badly.

[rebound]

Well, I agree (on the surface at least) that he shouldn't have been fired.  But come on, man.  He's an idiot if he didn't see that coming.   Remember Fuzzy Zoeller and his joke about Tiger Woods not serving fried chicken and collard greens for The Masters dinner?  Fuzzy is/was a friend of Tiger's and was obviously making a joke, but he got hammered for it and rightly so.   I'm not all Mr Political Correctness, but good god, on your first day you don't bring a watermelon to a fire house that's 80% black.

[swake]

Well, I agree (on the surface at least) that he shouldn't have been fired.  But come on, man.  He's an idiot if he didn't see that coming.   Remember Fuzzy Zoeller and his joke about Tiger Woods not serving fried chicken and collard greens for The Masters dinner?  Fuzzy is/was a friend of Tiger's and was obviously making a joke, but he got hammered for it and rightly so.   I'm not all Mr Political Correctness, but good god, on your first day you don't bring a watermelon to a fire house that's 80% black.

He wasn't technically fired. He was never hired, he was a probationary employee. He wasn't retained.

[rebound]

He wasn't technically fired. He was never hired, he was a probationary employee. He wasn't retained.

Yeah, saw that.   Kind of a technicality, but OK.   Still, even more reason for the dude to be on his toes. 

[swake]

If he'd brought some steaks and potatoes and a watermelon I bet no one says a word.

But he brought a watermelon with a nice pink ribbon around it asa gift for a bunch black firefighters. He's lucky he didn't get his face broken.

[BKDotCom]

He's lucky he didn't get his face broken.

That's racist!

[Conan71]

If he'd brought some steaks and potatoes and a watermelon I bet no one says a word.

But he brought a watermelon with a nice pink ribbon around it asa gift for a bunch black firefighters. He's lucky he didn't get his face broken.

What if he'd have brought ribs and brisket with the water melon instead of steak and potatoes?

[Red Arrow]

What if he'd have brought ribs and brisket with the water melon instead of steak and potatoes?

Gotta have beans and/or cole slaw too.  Maybe some pickled jalapeño peppers too.

[dbacksfan 2.0]

Would it have been better if he brought corn bread and hog jowls?

[bluelake]

How about some Popeyes?

[heironymouspasparagus]

41 years old.  Had to know better.   The pink ribbon sure as heck didn't help things either.  First day for crying out loud - don't be stupid.  Like the commander said, other things could have been done as intermediate steps but that's the way it went.

[Conan71]

Is DFD so hard up they are hiring 41 year old rookies?  That's the other part of the story I found a bit odd.