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Subscribe to RSSBOSTON — A MBTA sign hacked by one of its own workers has caused quite a stir, NBC affiliate WHDH-TV reports.
A dispatcher programmed an LED message board in Park Street station to say lyrics of the popular Christmas carol, “Deck the Halls,” instead of the typical informational announcements.
On Christmas night the robo-voice and standard signage spoke, and read, “Deck the halls with boughs of holly fa la la la la la la la la.”
Most riders enjoyed the unexpected Christmas prank, but MBTA officials initially threatened punishment for the dispatcher, a veteran ‘T’ employee with a perfect record, who did it.
On Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Richard Davey addressed the prank after joking about it himself.
“The only thing I said this morning was Mele Kalikimaka would have been a lot harder to spell than fa la la la la,” said Davey.
While Davey says the rules will be explained to the dispatcher loud and clearly, he doesn’t expect serious punishment for the holiday prank.
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Good for Mr. Davey. His supervisors obviously have no holiday spirit!
The world has gone insane with seriousness. I hope the superivsors got a lump of coal for Christmas ;')
It's really amazing - things we would have laughed off years ago are now grounds for arrest, civil suits, or charges of terrorism. The world has become sick with rules and fear.
I see it as using public communication to send private messages. Also they said no punishment for him just a talking to.
JIM MOONEY...I agree with you 100%.Our world has become so politically correct that many people get offended at the smallest and simplest things. Our courts are overrun with such frivolus of cases that just boggles my mind.I think we all need thicker skin these days.50 years ago this kind of thing would not even be a news story.
Mr. Davey is the Transportation Secretary - he is the supervisor, so the supervisor seems to have a sense of humor. This is a "human interest" story, not a real news story, folks. I think YOU are the ones who need to lighten up, or get a thicker skin! There were no threats of "arrest, civil suits, or charges of terrorism". A worker played a little prank by putting up a carol on a sign, the Transportation Secretary had a good laugh and commented to the press, nobody's in trouble, all's good... Except for the usual suspects frothing at the mouth about political correctness and freedom of speech!
If he put up lyrics to a Kwanzaa or Islamic related song they would have given him a promotion.
As an atheist (at least tonight) I commend Davey for having some sensible judgement. True, it was funny. LOL
This is what can be expected from the liberals when you have muslim president.
Jay, scientists from a distant alien planet have a special probe awaiting those who still believe what you spew on a daily basis.
Christians spend BILLIONS of dollars buying junk from the nations that are the top persecutors of Christians in the world, namely China, India, Pakistan, etc yet when asked to respect the Rights of their fellow citizens in the MOST Christian FRIENDLY nation IN HISTORY they scream like you'd just crucified their kids and parents. You all want YOUR Rights but you refuse to respect the RIGHTS of others. One day you will have to learn with Freedom comes obligations to grant the same Rights to others as you want for yourself. NONE of you wants someone cramming their religions and religious celebrations down your throats, playing THEIR holiday music in every mall, pushing their traditions onto you, but you have NO qualms about ignoring their feelings when you push your beliefs on them. Freedom does come with a price and that price is to respect the Rights of OTHERS as much as you want your Rights respected. It does you NO harm to keep your celebrations personal and private. Even your Jesus said pray in a private so you can be rewarded in public and be NOT like the HYPOCRITES who pray in public...
Star Wizard, you're a prime example of what's wrong in this country, not those that you whine about. I have no doubt you take every opportunity to start one of your little rants. Grow up.
The Northeast has no sense of humor at all. Is everyone not sick of the majority having to bow down to the minority?? Where I live, we have Christmas signs everywhere, children can still have Christmas parties in school, our school break is called Christmas break, we have NO Holiday trees and we are living a normal life without fear of the ACLU, Muslim minorities, etc. We are very lucky to not deal with all the political correctness that much of the rest of our country deals with.
All that and yet so many "christians" hearts are STILL full of hatred, eh, integrity?
For those who do not know what Holiday/Christmas Spirit really is I will do my Linus imitation:
Note it is to ALL men, not just of any one religion, color or creed. Not just to those not living in the Northeast US, Not to only straight white men. Not to just Republicans. But to ALL men (Meaning Men & Women)....Try to remember that when you go about attacking people who are 'not like you'
BECAUSE just as above in John 3:16:
That is WHOSOEVER not whosoever attends your church, not whosoever straight white males, None of that...Just WHOSOEVER
But Integrity Matters?
Jesus also said:
What you call 'political correctness is simply doing what God said to do.
Too bad you miss that part of God's Message...even an atheist knows that these rules are the rules to live by. It is called respect. Try it. I am not a Bible Thumper by any means, I read it, I try to live by its real message of love, but I don't thump it...it is not nice to beat Gods word or beat others with it.
Boston, as well as the whole state of Massachusetts has absolutely no holiday spirit, or any sense of humor at all.
how does one generalize correctly an entire state with millions of people in it? Can you provide proof that Boston has no holiday spirit, solid proof? Can you also provide possibly getting handwritten statements from every single citizen in Massachusetts that indeed they have no sense of humor as well? I would start from Provincetown, then make your way up route 3 head up to the NH Border, skate across west the line pass the berkshires, make your way back east via the turnpike and grab everything through the attleboros, before jumping back on 95. Perhaps that will be so time consuming you wont have time to make stupid comments, about something you know nothing about. Troll.
Why does someone have to document their opinion for you? In my opinion, he might have something there.....TROLL!
tnt0946...who's obviously from Mass...I think you just proved Mathuin's point...
@Mathuin: I disagree! The people they interviewed had no problem with it. This seems to be another media-created non-story! (btw, I'm a born and bred "m@!$%#" and I thought it was funny!)
Did any of you read the whole article or just start posting because of the headline?
Ya, not really getting why people think Bostonians don't have any holiday spirit. The sign has a purpose and it isn't for holiday cheer. The T did what any organization in their position would do in our sue happy society and said they would take a look at it. By doing so, they avoid some ding dong filing suit saying they couldn't get to their destination because Fa La La La wasn't accurate.
Having covered their butts, they were able to laugh about it. Don't blame the T or Boston for no Christmas spirit. Blame a lawyer!
You cannot make such a blanket statement about Boston or the great state of Massachusetts, sir.
.
However, it is a known FACT that New Hampshirians have absolutely no holiday spirit, or any sense of humor at all; they worship Baal en masse and hold kitten stomping festivals.
.
True story.
Is 'troll' what a catty 9 year old girl calls another 9 year old girl? Is it like 'lol' or ';(' ? If you're one to use the word 'troll' seriously, shouldn't you be watching Teen-Nick or something?
Yo DarkSock, when's your kittie killing festival? In Pennsylvania we use hammers. Great fun. Nothing like whiskey and dead cats!
Troll all the way.
Actually I would say the Song "Deck THe Halls" has nothing to do with the real meaning f Christmas,,,,it is about decorating, singing and getting dressed up. IT is a party song.
And it was originally a Welsh New Years Song, Not A Christmas Carol. Here are the lyrics which are mostly about woman's Boobs, how soft they are, how sweet and how much they like to kiss them:
We are talking a major tittie obsession here!
How ridiculous!!
Manager with a Typical Republican leaning obviously opposing the Christmas Spirit.
Seriously? Politics? Over this? BTW, It is usually Democratic leaning that causes PC. Politics suck, huh?
I've seen this tactic before. Liberals know that one of their own just made them look stupid, so they attempt to change the subject by somehow placing the blame on the other party.
Actually, the Transp. Sec. was pretty cool about it. He did what he was supposed to do about any employee who goofs around on the job, then he had a laugh about it. All is fine now.
oy vey!
First they change the meanings of the words, then they change when you can say them,then they say you can't ever say them because it hurts someones feelings,then you say nothing and they do whatever they want...who are they....THEY are the idiots you elect,entrust and never ever stand up to, they are the fools that we let run amuck and ban everything so we're all safe from being offended and that OFFENDS my Liberties and my freedoms!
Hey transit boss, get bent and Fl la la la all the way home!
What do you expect? Christmas stopped being a holiday about Jesus, love or the joy of giving a long, long time ago. Christmas now is a commodity like any other stock. It is all about the money.
Yes, only we Christians could bastardize this holiday to the degree it bears no resemblance to the original!
Sheesh - tempest in a demi-tasse - so what - the worker did a fun thing, ok, not to the letter of the law - but so what? Why not make the robo-voice over the loud speaker do regular type greetings of the season, including first day of spring, first day of summer, thanksgiving - you get the point - why not for goodness sake? - but, then again, that's just one free citizens opinion
Congratulations. You made me look up "demitasse."
Good for you that you had the innate curiosity to bother.
I'm with you, Kate. We need a little more levity in this world. I thought it was great! We're Jewish but If I had been walking through Park Station and seen and heard that announcement, it would have put a great big smile on my face.
I know that the director has been bombarded with emails and calls in support of the T worker. I think the news media blew the "discipline" aspect of this WAY out of proportion. Local news updates suggest that the director actually has some common sense and found some redeeming value in the whole thing.
AG Demi Tasse is just Demi Moores maiden name!
we have way more serious things to worry about in our country then this NON issue. . . taken free speach away would be on the top of the list. . . .
Seems like an appropriate response to a festive breaking of the rules. Good judgment by the supervisor.
I woulda put a lot worser things!! Da HHAA yep i wooda
Wha_? He sang to the official "Lick O' Santas B_lls"
this country has is way to serious about hurting peoples feelings! we are such pussies when it comes to @!$%#tt likr this! its so riduculous anymore!
I like how you say "WE are pussies" because you include yourself meaning you care about this country. I agree with you. We are in fact becoming a bunch of pussies ( no offence females)( case in point!). We cant even fart anymore without someone crying about it. We need some FEELING management, that's what we need!
Thank you MR. Davey for seeing this person's intent was only to spread Holiday cheer. I can understand rules & regulations regarding employees that have access to the message board, however it seems mable mgmt might want to pay attention to public reaction that seemed to approve. They are the ones that make it possible for MBTA to receive their paychecks.
Doesn't matter if the whole City of Boston came out in support of the guy. It's the one A-hole who hires a lawyer and files suit for not being able to get to where he needed to go because the sign wasn't accurate they were worried about.
MBTA wasn't ignoring the majority public, they were doing what every organization has to do these days - protect themselves from the minority of idiots.
For pete's sake--it's not even a Christmas song...no mention of Christmas anywhere and it has its roots in paganism.
So does christmas.
Sorry folks, but you worship through an updated version of the ancient Egyptian man-god Horus, whose life and the details of whose birth were lifted as a whole cloth and draped over the shoulders of a "person" who never lived. In fact, most of the religions that have their origins in any area of the world that was influenced in any manner by ancient Egypt have founding "persons" with the same details in their mythologies, too.
Even the date, 25 December, is merely grafted onto the first day of the Jewish holiday Chanukah, which begins every year on 25 Kislev (a month in the Jewish calendar). All religions grafted their customs onto the "pagan" customs of the area in which they originated, in order to make converting the local population that much easier.
It helps if you know not only the mythology of your own religion, but something of comparative religions and of the history of religions. Too many christians not only don't know, but don't care to know. It's time to wise up.
Rpearlston, you'd through the baby out with the bathwater on any topic, I'm certain. It's irrelevant that goons from centuries ago (who worship false gods) used a certain date for their hob-nobbery. Today's context is what counts. Christmas (as the name itself implies) refers tot he annual liturgical celebration of Christ's birth. Get over it. Who cares if "technically" the druids got a hardon over the use of holly and evergreens for symbolism. It translates nicely into the everlasting God.
If you would research many common American sayings, you'd be red-faced in embarrassment or slapped because of their original sexual or derogatory meanings. Last I checked, the founding fathers didn't go to a baseball game and cook burgers and hot dogs on a grill for July 4th, either. Take a pill.
Thank you, Stop the Bull@!$%#. This incessant lecturing about the true meaning of Christmas, the history of it, the lack of respect for it, is insane. Everytime the subject comes up, or in this case, doesn't come up, we get Religious Beginnings 101. Its a beautiful season, people are generally much nicer, and stories like this are at the most "feel better stories". And I do, and I applaud Mr Davy. Massachusetts sounds great!
Christmas is always under attack screw the pc police!
I for one am totally offended and hope this man loses his job. Obama/Biden 2012
mark,
Typical, liberal, self-righteous, PC crap!!
Bernie, Why is this okay to offend my constitutional rights with this display on a public forum with my tax dollars? I paid for that sign and there is no reason for it to be used for the advancement of some Christian agenda. Obama/Biden 2012
It will be interesting to witness when you liberal Aholes go too far and have to shut your own mouths out of fear of oppression.
Why do my rights end when yours begin? Do I not have the right to live free of social oppression and, in this case government oppression through a public agency receiving my tax dollars? This dispatcher knowingly utilized public property to spread his religious message of "holiday cheer". My tax dollars did not pay for him to use that to spread his agenda of religious fanaticism. If I was a praying man, I would pray that he loses his job and is never allowed into a position of the public trust ever again. Obama/Biden 2012
Please quote ANY religious terms in "Deck the Halls".
Well, it's obvious to me you don't know the first thing about Christmas Carols. Typical conservative Republican Tea Bagger. Obama/Biden 2012
Screw you mark im tired of the pc crap! you dont like it? dont listen? I dont want to pay for your health insurance any more than you want to listen to my christmas music! But the president says I have to so I guess I will!
Seriously? How are you being "oppressed"? Get over yourself. A positive message isn't oppressing you. It simply offends you. I have the right to offend you, you have the right not to pay any attention to it. Cry me a frickin' river. ANYBODY BUT OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!
Mark: Your Constitutional rights were not infringed upon in any way, shape or form. Until you get Christmas removed from being a FEDERAL HOLIDAY, then you have no argument. There was not even a religious component to the section of the song posted. And for that matter, his tax dollars paid for the sign as well.
Man, some people just go around looking for things to get offended about. Sheesh.
By the way Mark please dont bring your sexual preferences re teabagging into this family friendly arena! You have offended me by foisting your opinion on me! Go back to bagging Barney Fwank!
@ssmike, You're tired of my civil rights? Really? Sounds like oppression to me. @mikec, I have the right to not pay attention to it. But I cannot ignore where my tax dollars go. Go jump in the fricken river. @CNR, Christmas should be removed as a federal holiday. In fact, so should Good Friday and also Thanksgiving. We need to remove all symbols of Christian and American oppression and quit celebrating them. Obama/Biden 2012
@ssmike, Barney Frank is a good man and you should be more respectful to him. BTW, tea bagging is a term for you conservative fascists. Tea bagging--the fun kind--would probably be a lot of fun with Mr. Frank. But, that was not the kind I meant. Typical thug nazi conservative.
Obama/Biden 2012
Mark roflmao
Mark, explain to us how you're being oppressed by any of this? I can remember back years ago when there was a time music like that was played over all public address systems. And in all those years, not one person ever died, or was harmed by it, or ever complained about it. But now, it seems to be the PC thing to do. Heck, our town still plays Christmas music everyday through these two holidays, and has done so from the forties up through today. And we're all still free, and not oppressed because of it.
Mark: The problem is that you're trying to claim civil rights that don't exist. Sorry, but you have NO civil right that says you can not be exposed to the traditions, societal, and cultural norms of a holiday that is recognized by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, just because you don't like it.
So, you really need to stop your delusions about rights that you do NOT have, and quit lying about the rights we DO have in being able to celebrate a FEDERAL HOLIDAY.
Plus I love it that you're so "outraged". Yes, you're so outraged that you'll overlook the fact that there is a huge FEDERALLY APPROVED CHRISTMAS TREE and will STILL vote for Obama.
Mark, stand up for the courage of your convictions and quit being a hypocrite by supporting someone who supports Christmas. You're voting against your own convictions.
Mark is jerking all of your chains except ssmike and I guess myself... Funny how so many have their panties in a bunch and it exactly what Mark wanted all along...
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year Mark and ssmike...
Obama/Biden 2012
LOL harrybutz WIN!
Obama/Biden worst presidency ever.They stinking up the place.
Hi Mark
Mark, good work! Maybe Jon Stewart or Mahar will notice your talent!
Fanatics are so easily sucked in. So out of touch with reality themselves, that they assume idiocy in everybody else, and wouldn't know a sarcastic spoof if it came at them in Newsvine.
Mark, as I noted before, this is not even a Christmas song, so don't get your knickers in a wad. It's a song of good cheer for a festive season (the pagan season of Yule, as a matter of fact).
Management needs to lighten up. Without some humor....life can really suck.
Jiminy Crickets!! It's not like he wished anyone a Merry Christmas!!
Political correctness went amuck! No holiday spirit! Bah, humbug!
I live in Massachusetts, so this hand-wringing, politically-correct, humorless, uptight, inane reaction is no surprise. We are the state that brought you Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank, and we are the poster children for the new reality of Oba-merica. Before long, if you place a lump of coal up the proverbial a** of this increasing clueless, coddled, entitled country, you will be able to get back a diamond in about 30 seconds.
Yo, "vincent-1720273" re: your stupid comment:
"Manager with a Typical Republican leaning obviously opposing the Christmas Spirit."
"vincent" - besides the "typical" grammatical and punctuation errors "Typical" of a moron liberal Democrat, be reminded - IT IS DEMOCRATS banning "Merry Christmas" and bowing to the tyranny of "political correctness" - NOT Republicans or conservatives. We LOVE CHRISTMAS.
Perhaps it's the Democrat support for Islam or atheism, whatever - but if you want to find people "OPPOSING CHRISTMAS SPIRIT" look at the Obama's "Christmas card" or the multitude of other examples of DemocRat/"progressive" secularism.
So, stfu.
Vincent was hitting the pipe in poli-sci class.
It is one thing when people post responses to say something valuable, but when people use this means just to bring attention to themselves; that's immature and insecure. Right am I Mark-1687211? And besides that, most likely very few care if you're offended or not. I guess by being offended, at least you can say you are something.
Wrangler99, why do you hate your country so much? The Constitution clearly states that there is no establishment of religion. When you tolerate this message, you support trampling on the very freedoms our forefathers hold so dear. Obama/Biden 2012
Mark, the Constitution DOESN'T say you can't have a religion, it doesn't say you can't speak of your religion, it says quite the opposite. SO STFUYSFP!
P.S. I'm not Christian, but I have no prob with this....
Mark..Im not religious at all and dont have any more problem with it that I do seeing a Muslim women covered completely in their garb. Learn more about the Constitution...no surprise there, just you mentioning obama/biden 2012 says allot about you.
oh boy if that isn't a crime then what is? riding the subway is very stressful so a lil holiday carol can go a long way for some?one thats been working all day. the boston transit authority shouldn't be so uptight when one of their own workers tries to make things a lil cheerful for its riders. WTF is wrong with people today? if you don't want to affend anybody stop letting illegals & other non Americans into the country & we won't have to worry about hurting somebody elses feelings.BTA suckass!
Deck the Halls is non secular--the only thing it says is YULE TIDE CAROL---meaning winter time song. It IS winter by the way---well here in the northern hemisphere!!
What the muslims were offended??? There are many winter celebrations in AMERICA (and if you are in AMERICA---it's OUR culture--and if you don't like it you can always go back to where you came from!!) and many are celebrated through out the world ---and singing about them is part of the celebration.
OK so if it had been religious based that night be a gray area---but Jingle Bells, Deck the Halls, Frosty the Snowman, Dashing Through the Snow and many others are WINTER favorites.
The idiot supervisor should be fired!!!!
I for one is totally offended, and I hope this man has to work for free slave labor from now on so people like me can get richer. Gingrinch/Palin 2012
It's too bad that people like you want to get rich off of oppression and slave labor. When you one percenters all end up in poverty and the remaining 99% of us have taken from you what is rightfully ours that you stole from us, then we will truly be a society of equality. Back to the point at hand, this man used an oppressive holiday as an occasion to spread a message of hate and religious oppression. This was done through public property, and he deserves to be fired and run out of town as an added bonus. Obama/Biden 2012
Mark, you are a chimp...a knuckle dragging ape with a trolls soul and a heart of coal. When was it ever written that a minority opinion rules? And you ARE in the minority, make no mistake. You are trolling and most of us can see it. So step away from the keyboard son, and get a job...its the only way you're going to get any of the things you think you are entitled to. I OWS you nothing, I worked for what I have and you will have a very difficult and painful time trying to take what is mine. If I have anything of yours, it's because you're too much of a pussy to keep it. Pucker up goldilocks, and kiss my non-1% a-hole...you a-hole. oh btw, you didn't personally pay for the entire sign, just a wee smapp portion of it, so the people who work for a living get first crack at what goes on it. It is monkeys like you that conflict the poor supervisor who thought he had to reprimand the worker for doing something ....fun...get a life, you loser.
Otter54 is obviously a soulless capitalist crook with no heart who would love to see the poor starve and go without shelter on these cold nights. Otter, how many kids did you kill in Gaza today with your support of the oppressive regime? How many people will freeze tonight while you sit by your warm fire sipping your brandy? I hope when the redistribution of assets occurs, you end up living in the street in rags. You, and your kind, will pay for my rent, groceries, car, cell phone, health insurance, and everything else that we decide. Obama/Biden 2012
Mark I bet we already pay your way!
@ssmike, So what if you do? Where does it say that I owe any of you a damn thing? YOU work for ME. Get used to it. I'm a vet. I gave three grueling weeks to this country before I was discharged from basic. I sacrificed for you people and now I am getting what I deserve. What I do not deserve is to be condemned for holding my views. But you people seem to do it quite vociferously. We are changing this country! Obama/Biden 2012
In your dreams, Nancy! There will never be "redistribution of wealth" at the scale you wish because we aren't an oppressive communist country. If you want such a thing, haul your worthless carcass to the country of your choice; I'll pay the airfare.
Mark Where does it say any of us owe you anything! So why dont you go pick up Obamas freeloading aunt and go back to wherever she came from!
ssmike- that's what I was gonna say!
Marky, what did you do today to end the yadayada and save the pumpkins and feed the whales yada yada nyuknyuknyuk. I mean, what did YOU personally do today, or yesterday or ever to change anything? send money? rant on a newsvine? I volunteer time, I donate food, My wife and I have "adopted" a single parent family with an autistic son, and we help them whenever we can. redistribution of assets? lol, I will redistribute your azz all over the map if you ever got the nutsack to try to take anything from me or mine...but I can see you are the type to have another knuckledragger do your dirty work, right pussy? oh, and 3 weeks in basic? lolol...I begin to see the light.
P.S. Mark, serving for 3 weeks doesn't make you a veteran. Serving in a hostile environment does; people disagreeing with you doesn't count. No one owes you a thing.
Mark is looking like the only fire hydrant at the Westminster Dog Show.
"We are changing this country! Obama/Biden 2012"
Mark, don't you mean suppressing this country to your every whim?
methinks marky been stirring up the stinky just to get a rise out of us poor chumps, and we fell for it. read all his posts again and see where his tongue got firmly placed in cheek, or I am wrong and his tongue can go in between my cheeks. Playa!
I'm a vet. I gave three grueling weeks to this country before I was discharged from basic. I sacrificed for you people and now I am getting what I deserve
Mark, if you did not see any combat during your time in the service, the only thing we paid you for, was to keep you fit and trim during you stay, and in your eyes, that is bad?
It's true. But, I ask you this, is it so wrong? Okay, yeah it was. I just like to satirize libs. All of you vets, thank you for your service and God bless you for keeping us safe in our nation with it's Christian traditions and values. If I offended or made anyone angry, let me apologize to you. I just like mocking libs and Obama voters in a way that sometimes is not readily apparent. God bless every last one of you and Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and Seasons Greetings. All the best from Fort Worth, TX.
dude, that just is not right....lol
ah well, i guess I need to not get so uptight when someone goes all libtard on the vine, cuz it could be a playa like Mark-1687211
@otter54, at least YOU have a sense of humor. It might be a good idea, though, if I lay low for a day or two from some of these other folks. LOL
Mark...I'm speechless, lol. You got me, I bow to the master.
Wow, I actually feel small now...Mark, you need your own show, TNT maybe?