Dogs have to be bilingual?

[Guest American Woman]

omg. I can't believe this. If the proposed law goes into effect in Montreal, dogs will have to understand commands in both English and French.

You can't make this stuff up. There's even a proposed test:

LaDouce wants all dogs in the city to learn at least 80 to 90 commands in both languages, calling the task "basic stuff." He said each canine should be subjected to a test by a city employee to confirm the animal's bilingual comprehension.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/canadian-city-may-require-dogs-bilingual-202551154.html

[Black Dog]

Actually you CAN make this stuff up. Someone did.

A fictitious story about a controversial Montreal bylaw proposal requiring dogs to becomfortable in the country's two official languages has rippled through the realms of social media and fooled even some seasoned news sites.

[cybercoma]

I love The Onion.

[Moonlight Graham]

I love The Onion.

they're involved?

[Guest American Woman]

Had this been in the Onion, I would have known it was a spoof - and I don't think it would have fooled "some seasoned news sites." Hopefully it doesn't give Montreal any ideas.

[Michael Hardner]

This is That is satirical news, but how it ended up on Yahoo! News is anybody's guess.

[Guest]

Probably because it's not that unreasonable...

Edit> I think it's gone.

Edited December 15, 2012 by bcsapper

[Sleipnir]

omg. I can't believe this. If the proposed law goes into effect in Montreal, dogs will have to understand commands in both English and French.

lol..... >_>

Edited December 15, 2012 by Sleipnir

[The_Squid]

Anyone who believed this to be true is a moron....

[Guest American Woman]

Probably because it's not that unreasonable...

Edit> I think it's gone.

It is gone - without explanation.

[Fletch 27]

Quebec gave us Tommy Mulcair... This wouldn't have surprised me in the least. He also knows 80 percent french..

[Guest]

What if someone committed suicide because their dog couldn't learn another language?

Then they'd regret posting that article, I'll bet.

[jbg]

omg. I can't believe this. If the proposed law goes into effect in Montreal, dogs will have to understand commands in both English and French.

You can't make this stuff up. There's even a proposed test:

LaDouce wants all dogs in the city to learn at least 80 to 90 commands in both languages, calling the task "basic stuff." He said each canine should be subjected to a test by a city employee to confirm the animal's bilingual comprehension.

http://news.yahoo.co...-202551154.html

Can the dog be unilingual French?

[Guest American Woman]

Can the dog be unilingual French?

Apparently not. Not even French Poodles.

[Sleipnir]

From CBC archives

Here are some cases that have attracted the interest of the language watchdog or people seeking to protect the French language:

• 1996: A woman warns the owner of a Quebec pet store she might get in touch with language authorities because Peekaboo, the parrot she wanted to buy, didn't speak French.
  
• 1999: The Old Navy chain is asked to rename its stores "La Vieille Rivière." It never happens.
  
• 2000: The owner of an Indian restaurant is told he's breaking the law by having coasters for "Double Diamond," a British beer.
  
• 2001: Some people express disappointment that race-car driver Jacques Villeneuve calls his restaurant "Newtown."
  
• 2005: Language authorities say they will investigate complaints that Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay's party used the word "Go" on its campaign posters and pamphlets, as in "Go Montreal."
  
• 2007: Imperial Oil says it will keep its Quebec-only "Marché Express" name for its Esso gas stations after protests against a proposal to change the name to "On the Run," as the stations are known elsewhere in North America.
  
• 2007: Language activists decry that callers to many Quebec government offices are told to "press nine" for English before instructions are delivered in French. Some of the departments have since changed the message to put English at the end.
  

[Guest American Woman]

My favorite: 1996: A woman warns the owner of a Quebec pet store she might get in touch with language authorities because Peekaboo, the parrot she wanted to buy, didn't speak French.

[GostHacked]

People really believed this story? Does this show how gullible people are? Does this show people have no critical thinking?

[Guest American Woman]

People really believed this story? Does this show how gullible people are? Does this show people have no critical thinking?

Does it show that some of what does go on in Montreal is over the top?

[Sleipnir]

My favorite: 1996: A woman warns the owner of a Quebec pet store she might get in touch with language authorities because Peekaboo, the parrot she wanted to buy, didn't speak French.

I guess the parrot was supposed to say 'cri' instead of 'squawk'.

[Guest American Woman]

I guess the parrot was supposed to say 'cri' instead of 'squawk'.

That was a funny one; proof that it takes all kinds of people to make a world.

Edited December 15, 2012 by American Woman

[GostHacked]

Does it show that some of what does go on in Montreal is over the top?

Quoting a comedy show called 'This is That' claiming it as legit is about as someone falling for an article by The Onion. I guess people don't check their sources anymore to find out if a story is legit or not. I've think I've heard the show a few times, it's not bad.

[Guest American Woman]

Quoting a comedy show called 'This is That' claiming it as legit is about as someone falling for an article by The Onion. I guess people don't check their sources anymore to find out if a story is legit or not.

I suggest you take that up with Yahoo News.

[The_Squid]

I saw it posted at yahoo... I'm not that gullible though.... Or so crazed about Quebec that I believe everything in the "news".

Edited December 15, 2012 by The_Squid

[TimG]

Quoting a comedy show called 'This is That' claiming it as legit is about as someone falling for an article by The Onion.

'This is That' is a comedy show aired on CBC radio - a source known more for current events coverage than for comedy (unlike the Onion which only does parody). The show also does not make it clear that it is spoof and it sounds exactly like any real CBC radio current event program. On top of that many of the stories are not so ridiculous to be obviously false and the first few i heard I had too look up before I realized what 'this is that' was. Edited December 15, 2012 by TimG

[Guest American Woman]

'This is That' is a comedy show aired on CBC radio - a source known more for current events coverage than for comedy (unlike the Onion which only does parody). The show also does not make it clear that it is spoof and it sounds exactly like any real CBC radio current event program. On top of that many of the stories are not so ridiculous to be obviously false and the first few i heard I had too look up before I realized what 'this is that' was.

Furthermore, Yahoo News and other reputable news sources picked up the story - before it came out that it was a spoof. Taking Yahoo News at face value is hardly akin to falling for the Onion. I think the parrot story confirms why some believed it as true. Strange things have happened.

Edited December 15, 2012 by American Woman