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The bishop the priest and the ladle storyĪssumptions, deceitfulness, dishonesty, delusion, arrogance, puzzles, mysteries, discovery, creative problem-solving Lateral thinking, creativity, problem-solving, quick-thinking, short answers to big questions, efficiency, cleverness, teaching and learning, exams and tests (and other legendary clever answers to difficult test questions) The philosophy student and the chair story Learning, lessons, messages, examples of usesįollowing the crowd, scrutiny, questioning, bystanding, pride, trickery Or ethnicity your aim is to be aware of your audience and purpose, and to choose and position your materials and words and references accordingly. Your aim therefore, if you are a communicator who uses stories (and any other form of communication media), should not be to reject everything which refers to a disadvantaged stereotype or some other 'potentially offensive' example of human condition Not because the stories are bad or evil or inherently offensive,īecause they are not, but because in this modern age it is possible to infer and find something offensive to somebody somewhere in anything that humankind can create, and so certainly any bunch of entertaining stories is likely to be highly potentially There are warnings on a few of the stories, notably the ones which mention blind (visually impaired/challenged) people, but similar warnings could effectively apply to every story on this page. Otherwise ninety-nine percent the world's fairy tales would be outlawed and banned, and nearly all books (especially the Holy Bible), newspapers, films and every other media would not exist. This is a major aspect of storytelling and unavoidable in many cases I'm sorry.Īt the same time, the infinite values, lessons, and significance of stories and storytelling of all sorts represent much deeper human interest than should be controlled by the arbitrary application of 'political correctness' in everything that what we read and share. Anyone seeking examples of political incorrectness and stereotyping of all sorts will find lots here. Many of these stories refer to different forms of the human condition, and to people from different parts of the world. If you are a publisher, editor, teacher, trainer, writer, or speaker of any sort, then please be mindful that disability, discrimination and equality are highly sensitive issues, and that when seen from these angles, some of these stories will be objectionable If you are a strong advocate of political correctness or are easily offended please don't read this page, or the rest of this website, and for goodness sake Some of these stories might be offensive to certain people in certain situations.
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The version on this page was also somewhat different to Barbara's original. To explain that she is indeed the author, and that the work is protected and so is not to be reproduced. Please note that The Person Who Had Feelings story, which was on this page for some while (with suggested but uncertain attribution to Barbara Dunlap) has been removed at the request of Barbara Dunlap Van Kirk, its author, who has kindly contacted me See also the quotes page, which contains many more motivational, educational and amusing anecdotes for writing, speaking, learning, teaching and training. Read and enjoy and send me your own favourite stories and anecdotes. If you know who wrote any of the unattributed stories below please let us know so that credit can be given.
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Some of these stories are ironic and so can best be used to illustrate pitfalls and vulnerabilities rather than best practice. Stories, examples, fables and research references add colour and substance to presentations and reports, and reinforce learning of all types. Look at the stories index for stories listed by subject.Īnalogies, stories, fables and case-studies are great ways to illustrate teaching, training and business lessons. Read about the travellers and the monk, tickle me elmo, get in the wheelbarrow, the shoe box story, the scorpion and the frog, murphy's plough, Pavlov's dogs, the monkeys and the stairs, and more. Here are stories, analogies, research findings and other examples that provide wonderful illustrations for learning, and inspiration for self-development. Analogies for motivation, inspiration, learning and training
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