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Go ahead and add another word to your arsenal of Starbucks lingo. Along with no-whip, half-caf, and venti, say hello to skinny. In this case, "skinny" means nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup, so you're getting fewer calories and sugar than in, say, your average latte. They call it "The Skinny Platform." But not everyone is on board. The Starbucks Gossip blog featured a letter from a barista sharing her concerns about the new drink title. Among her complaints? A new drink type will cause confusion among customers, and use of the the word "skinny" to describe a beverage is politically incorrect, and could hurt customers' or workers' self-esteem. "Should we start calling drinks with 2% or whole milk and regular syrups "Fat" or "Obese?" she stated. "In today's society, the term "skinny" often refers to a person who is considered TOO thin or unhealthy looking. People will not want to order a drink with a name that they associate with an unhealthy appearance."
The letter set off a barrage of reader comments, many of them attacking the letter writer's assumed weight or appearance, and suggesting that if she not like it, she get a new job.
What do you think? Is the new platform offensive? Would you feel embarrassed (or proud) to order a "skinny" latte? Should Starbucks be more sensitive to their customers' needs? And furthermore, should they be required to take individual workers' opinions into consideration? Or should the workers just adhere to whatever new rules are dictated to them by upper management?
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1-17-2008 @5:05PM Coffee Princess said... Blargy! That was the best response yet!!!! Thanks for translating "skinny latte" into a PC format!!!
1-17-2008 @12:21PM captcrc said... What is the difference in connotation between someone ordering a "skinny" latte and someone ordering a "diet" cola?
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1-18-2008 @10:41AM MES said... I love a Grande Non-fat with 1 Splenda. I tried the Skinny and couldn't drink it, yuck, yuck, yuck. So it's back to my usual.
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1-17-2008 @12:20PM Therese said... gee, I just don't get it. So many real problems to worry about. Just call it "diet" and get over it.
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1-17-2008 @12:20PM gina said... I worked at Starbucks for years...and lots of customers would ask for "skinny" lattes or mochas. It was Nordstrom's lingo at the time. Baristas, however, were forbidden to use anything other than "non-fat". We got in trouble, when Mr. Schultz himself came into the store (again, this was in '90 or '91 when he used to make fairly regular appearances at the few stores that were around at the time) and overheard the cashier calling to the Barista to make a "double tall nothing" which meant non-fat, non-caffeine. No, no, no...were were to call it a "decaf, double tall, non-fat latte"...as soon as he left we went back to calling out our "nothing" drinks.
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1-17-2008 @12:20PM Nancy Ferraro said... There are many people with "sugar" problems. I think this is a terrific move and will be a lucrative one for Starbucks. Have to use a sentence with 6 to 8 words to order a coffee is far too much. Skinny Frap - cool. Skinny cafe mocha - great. If the worker is offended, it is time for her to move on; perhaps to a company whose menu names are more pleasing and less offensive.
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1-17-2008 @2:59PM Hohocumred1 said... The following is the 2007 winning entry from an annual contest at Texas A&M University calling for the most appropriate definition of a contemporary term. This year's term: Political Correctness.
'Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.'
Put that in your "PC" pipe and smoke it!
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1-17-2008 @12:21PM lyrical said... WHEN WILL THE MADNESS END PEOPLE????????????? GET A LIFE, GET OVER YOURSELVES, IF YOU ARE FAT, DEAL WITH IT AND STOP HATING PEOPLE WHO AREN'T. 'SKINNY' IS A WORD, AN ADJECTIVE NOW BEING USED TO DESCRIBE A DRINK. PLAIN AND SIMPLE END OF STORY - IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT AND YOU ARE FAT OR OBESE, DON'T EMBARASS YOURSELVES BY ORDERING A SKINNY DRINK IF IT EMBARASSES YOU, BUT WHY WOULD IT???????????? IT'S JUST AN ADJECTIVE. YOU PEOPLE ARE LACKING INTELLIGENCE AND EDUCATION. YOU P.C.ERS MAKE ME WANT TO THROW UP - AND NO I'M NOT ANOREXIC, JUST SICK OF ALL OF YOU OVERLY SENSITIVE BORES.
100 LB SKINNY GIRL
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1-17-2008 @12:24PM Elle N. said... How about "Latte Lite?"
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1-17-2008 @12:18PM Elle N. said... How about "Latte Lite?"
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1-17-2008 @12:21PM Patty said... Oh, my goodness... can't people just accept ANYTHING? What is up with people that just need to complain about anything and everything? Don't these people have a life? Go get a latte', take a walk, enjoy the fresh, crisp air... C'mon, loosen up, people, life is very short, enjoy it!!
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1-17-2008 @12:21PM Lori said... Good grief...there are other more important things to get upset over....IT'S a drink people....Get over it!
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1-17-2008 @12:21PM cigarpal said... Dont forget to order your cinnibond with your "skinny".
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1-17-2008 @12:22PM Amazed said... For those of you offended how about a reality check?
This is the problem with the "everybody wins" mentality that we've been feeding everyone for years. IT's just so frustrating living in a place where there are no losers, things have to be good for everyone, a living language that suddenly everyday reasonable words now cannot be used in everyday talk for fear of being chastized, i.e. gay, fag, skinny, big, etc...
I don't know if anyone is going to read this, but HELLO!!! There is no way of being Politacally Correct! Someday common sense will make it back to this country...I really hope it's in my life time.
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1-17-2008 @6:14PM Coffee Princess said... Amazed,
Have you ever read Muzzled? Check it out. I think that you might find it entertaining based on your comments here.
1-17-2008 @12:22PM tired of ignorant posts said... hilarious that we should even consider whether we would be "embarrassed or proud" to order our coffee a certain way... IT IS COFFEE!!! anyone who is going to judge a person based on how they order their coffee should really find something better to do with their time...
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1-17-2008 @12:22PM Corpscopp said... Not worth a comment.
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1-17-2008 @12:23PM dkzk said... this is hilarious...man, the s*it people get worked-up over!
with obesity having taken over as a top ranking
health hazard in our hyperindulgent "culture",
"skinny" pizzes folks off.
g*dbless us all...wee humans is f**ked up!
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1-17-2008 @12:23PM JENNISTUBB said... OH PLEASE....BARISTA OFFENDS ME....TO THINK EVERYONE IS AS STUPID AS SHE IS...I LOVE THE PHRASE SKINNY!!!!!
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1-17-2008 @12:24PM james said... please donate your obvious over-abundance of time to a useful cause.
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