Punishment Reduced for Boston Subway Worker Who Programmed ‘Deck the Halls’ Onto Station Message Board
- Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:08am by
Billy Hallowell
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A Boston subway dispatcher is finding himself in hot water after trying to give a little holiday cheer to train travelers this Christmas. In what is being dubbed a well-meaning effort, the dispatcher programmed the lyrics to “Deck the Halls” on an electric message board. Now, he’ll face discipline for his actions.
Initially, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) officials said that he would face a potentially-major response from transit leadership. But now that the dust has settled a bit, they say he will endure a light wrist-slap for his actions.
MBTA authorities say that the punishment will be minor, but will potentially serve as a reminder of the fact that no sign should be used for anything outside of its intended purpose. Initially, a spokesperson for the transit authority said that the unnamed man could face a written warning, suspension — even termination. The second and third options now appear to be off the table, as many have spoken out in support of the man at the center of the debacle.
“While I appreciate what they were trying to do, we’ll just remind the employee that in the future we’ll expect that he’ll resist the temptation to use the signs in that way,” said Richard A. Davey, the state’s Secretary of Transportation. “There’s no malice here, just the employee trying to do the right thing. But we’ll ask him not to do it in the future.”
Perhaps the Twitter conversation that followed the news of the employee’s potential troubles helped ease the punishment some leaders were willing to inflict. People tweeted about the issue, saying that the man should be given a pass. Twitter users dubbed the incident “FaLaLaCaper” and “falalalalagate.”
Here are some of the more recent tweets using these terms:
Davey says the dispatcher is a good employee who has been with the MBTA for 20 years. You can watch video of the sign both “singing” and displaying the “Deck the Halls” lyrics here.
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Todd P
Posted on December 29, 2011 at 7:48am“…employee trying to do the right thing. But we’ll ask him not to do it in the future.”
21st CENTURY AMERICA – No good deed goes unpunished!
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 6:15pmFlog him.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 5:44pmThe man added some Chritmas spirit to an otherwise drab setting. Our “leaders” are so scared of not being politically correct that they go overboard. The holiday is named Christmas and celebrates the bith of christ. Notice it is not called Allahmas or Mosesmas. These religions can celebrte their religious holidays in public, why can’t christians?
Go man, you have the backing of a large portion of the population.
OMG
Report Post »kevinj319
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 4:59pmSome of you guys are ridiculous. He doesn’t own the sign so he had no right to change the display. I‘m glad that he isn’t going to be fired for what amounts to a silly prank. But this has nothing to do with a war on Christmas. The guy changed a sign he wasn’t allowed to change. He was reprimanded. OH MY DOG EVERYBODY PANIC.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:46pmthat person should be horse whip to mention Christmas carols in a Christian country
Report Post »Deckle
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 1:58pmThank God there are still people who know we are a Christian nation and who have a sense of humor. This guy should get and award!
Report Post »scheduler
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 2:49pmShould not have been a problem.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:45pmfire all boston transit controllers for4 HE did noting wrong PERIOD fire the fat cats all of them for this TRUELY is a misjustice of one mands FREEDOM OF SPEECH. FIRE THEM ALL N PLACE HIM AT THE HELM…
Report Post »lynda1276
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:09pmthat is almost funny if it wasn’t so sad- don’t do the “right thing” cause you’ll get in trouble- once again i’ve fallen through the rabbit hole.
Report Post »11:11
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:38amwow the idea is don’t get caught but i guess now there are so many cameras around, good grief some people need to lighten up and light one up!
Report Post »kapnkd
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:25amAND!!! …Given how the left has everyone thinking these days, he would have probably gotten a raise had he instead programmed it to read/play “Don we now our GAY apparel!”
Report Post »idarusskie
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:41amSounds like someone should pull the stick out of their @@@. Lighten up Gee.
Report Post »Charles
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 10:32amThat was funny! So someone who works for the big brother computer network programmed the computer to say something that amuses people? And they were going to punish him?! Dude needs to get a job somewhere else.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:43am“There’s no malice here, just the employee trying to do the right thing. But we’ll ask him not to do it in the future.”
Report Post »__________________________________
So by default, doesn’t that make it “ the wrong thing”? It‘s getting so difficult to know what’s right and what’s wrong anymore. Right is wrong, wrong is right….
bigdaddyt46
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:00am“just the employee trying to do the right thing. But we’ll ask him not to do it in the future.”
what hypocrits these people are. they “deem” it the right thing then turn around and say “we’ll ask him not to do it in the future.”
Report Post »so what your saying is from now this employee can only do the wrong things when he is at work?? and what is that wrong thing? shouting all the candy bars (allah ackbar)?
Linny
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:55amTime for this person to gather their energy and take it to the height of joining a PAC, maybe becoming the leader and fight against the destruction of America.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 9:38am@Linny
Report Post »That is hard to do when you look around. Many people you think you know will change with the wind. To many are out for themselves not our country. They have fallen into the trap that has been a long time in the making. It is being sprung now and stopping it is not going to be easy, it will get very ugly.
ldpeters
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:40amBoston….that bustlin’ town.
Report Post »To say that ANY sort of punishment should be meted out to this subway employee is, at its calmest, ….LUDICROUS!
Perhaps the Muslims would have preferred “Bomb the halls with tons of dynamite….Fa La La”
Boston, you are currently the frontrunner for the “Idiots of the Week” award.
lynda1276
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:10pmi agree! even Paul Revere thinks you are all stupid
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:28amI bet 100 to 1- if the electric message board would have been programmed with the following nothing would have been said:
Allah is Most Great. Allah is Most Great.
Allah is Most Great. Allah is Most Great.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
Come to prayer. Come to prayer.
Come to Success. Come to Success.
Allah is Most Great. Allah is Most Great.
There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar.
Report Post »Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar.
Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah.
Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allah.
Ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasoolullah.
Ash-hadu anna Muhammad-ar-Rasoolullah.
Hayya ‘alas-Salah. Hayya ‘alas-Salah.
Hayya ‘alal-falah. Hayya ‘alal-falah.
Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar.
Rodster
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 8:16amThe political correctness mafia strikes again. He should have inserted allahu akbar, that would have gotten him a promotion plus bonus. We officially suck as a Nation.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:34am.
That’s the guy that needs to be running the place……
Somebody call the man…………
Report Post »Jomil48
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:21amGod forbid if anyone should even mention Christmas anymore. Carl Marx said the first thing you have to do is to destroy the belief system of a people, next destroy the family unit, and finally destroy any hope for the future, and you can control them.
Report Post »kapnkd
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:27amAgreed!! …“They” are doing it ALL at one time with no pretenses anymore!!
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 3:23pmOddly enough, I don’t believe that “Deck the Halls” actually mentions Christ or Christmas in the first verse.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:19am“just the employee trying to do the right thing. But we’ll ask him not to do it in the future.”
Report Post »Thank goodness, we just can’t have government workers doing the right thing…what would become of us?
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:31am.
Happy after Merry Christmas Gonzo.
I‘m tell’in you Purple looks good on you……..Geaux Tigers……
Happy New Year Ya’ll…………
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 7:44amHe should be fined heavily and the money should be used to fund a sensitivity training course. all kidding aside, who complained?
Hope you all had a Merry Christmas – even the Tiger / Saints fans. (Can I say Saint anymore?)
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:44amHah! You see it! Now I can take it down! :-) Merry Christmas Monkey.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 11:46amThe Falcon’s defense is putrid! I wouldn‘t mind Brees shredding the defense but the Falcons couldn’t even stop the run! Did the Saint’s punter ever even get on the field?
Report Post »Damn_Lucky
Posted on December 28, 2011 at 12:00pmThe Saints and Tigers could there be a better Christmas and New Year.
Report Post »