(Because rex demanded it, the return of the "War on Christmas" thread.)

War on belly laughs: Staffing firm in Australia suggests that Santa's trademark 'ho, ho, ho' might be offensive to women

  • Santas across Sydney, Australia, are rebelling against attempts to ban their traditional greeting of "ho, ho, ho" in favor of "ha, ha, ha."

    Recruitment firm Westaff — which supplies hundreds of Santas across the country — has told its trainees that the "ho ho ho" phrase could frighten children and could even be derogatory to women.

    Two Santa hopefuls reportedly quit the course because of the hullabaloo of the ho, ho, ho.

    One would-be Santa has told The Daily Telegraph he was taught not to use "ho, ho, ho" because it was too close to the American slang for prostitute. He also quit.

    "Gimme a break," said Julie Gale, who runs a campaign against sexualizing children called Kids Free 2B Kids. "We are talking about little kids who do not understand that 'ho, ho, ho' has any other connotation, and nor should they."

    "Leave Santa alone," she added.

    Australian Childhood Foundation chief executive officer Dr. Joe Tucci said it was the latest example of political correctness gone mad.