The Language Police Strike Again.

[Herlock Sholmes]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/feb/18/roald-dahl-books-rewritten-to-remove-language-deemed-offensive

[Enigma]

One can't help but despair.

[Dickere]

Read it as Lancashire Police

[Svensson]

there is nothing to be upset about. Puffin decided to make these changes on their own accord. These are chilren's books and as such, are intended to be consumed by children. And as language changes, so does how a child perceives language in a modern environment which IMO has a laundry list of problems that most of us did not have to worry about in a pre-internet upbringing. So in a way, every little helps. It is Puffin's decision and thiers alone. I personally don't care, I'm just pointing out that there may be some valid reasons why they decided to do this without a single policeman in sight.

[Herlock Sholmes]

But the problems are inventions. How can you censor the word ‘fat?’

[caz]

You censor it by changing it to something a little kinder. The problems may seem like inventions to us, Herlock, but clearly not to others.

A girl at my primary school was mercilessly bullied for being on the chubby side. I felt like weeping at her obvious pain, when other girls, including one of my own friends, called her fat and threw her school beret in the gutter. I picked it up for her, as the least I could do, which wasn't much.

Nobody today wants to bring back Agatha Christie's Ten Little N words, do they?

It's another small step to teach us all to be nicer to each other. And nobody died.

Love,

Caz
X

[etenguy]

I'm not sure I'd call modernising language for today's sensibilities censorship. I am not sure it's needed in this case, but that is someone else's decision.

Having said that, I would be shouting from the rooftops if someone tried to modernise the language of Shakespeare such that the original was removed. I have no problem with modern interpretations.

But why is Shakespeare different for me (and its not just his writing). I think it is because the language is so intrinsic to the story telling and enjoyment of the text, much like the Christian bible. I am happy for modern language versions to exist alongside the original, to aid accessibility for instance, but not to surplant it. But with the Roald Dahl books, I don't think that argument stands.

[caz]

Agreed, etenguy.

Shakespeare would be very different for me too, which may sound like double standards, and I'd struggle to explain why I feel that way. Maybe it's because nobody reading it today, children or adults, could reasonably feel personally affected or belittled by any of his language. They may find it hard going, as I often do, but mostly I just think it's wonderful, and all human life can be found there.

Love,

Caz
X

[rjpalmer]

there is nothing to be upset about. Puffin decided to make these changes on their own accord. These are chilren's books and as such, are intended to be consumed by children. And as language changes, so does how a child perceives language in a modern environment which IMO has a laundry list of problems that most of us did not have to worry about in a pre-internet upbringing. So in a way, every little helps. It is Puffin's decision and thiers alone. I personally don't care, I'm just pointing out that there may be some valid reasons why they decided to do this without a single policeman in sight.

It's the 'woke' crowd that is supposedly unhinged and hysterical, but if you missed it, you should have seen the tizzy fit that Tucker Carlson and an Australian pundit named Nick Adams made when a private U.S. company decided to remove the Go-Go boots from their green M & M candy character and replace them with sneakers.

This was enough to ignite a firestorm. You'd think the company had personally questioned the two men's sexuality or had emasculated them with a pair of scissors or had discovered and torched their secret stash of Wankers Monthly Digest. Their outrage was loud, long, and...successful.

The Go-Go boots returned.

[caz]

Interestingly, the word 'woke' was only officially added to the OED as an adjective in 2017, but was in use by the 1930s to mean 'awake to social/racial injustice'.

We're taking a loooong time to wake up.

I don't understand why anyone in 2023 would be proud to admit they remain sound asleep to such injustices, while crying and throwing a wobbly at the injustice they feel whenever they have to share one of their toys, or grow up and do without it.

Love,

Caz
X

[caz]

It's the 'woke' crowd that is supposedly unhinged and hysterical, but if you missed it, you should have seen the tizzy fit that Tucker Carlson and an Australian pundit named Nick Adams made when a private U.S. company decided to remove the Go-Go boots from their green M & M candy character and replace them with sneakers.

This was enough to ignite a firestorm. You'd think the company had personally questioned the two men's sexuality or had emasculated them with a pair of scissors or had discovered and torched their secret stash of Wankers Monthly Digest. Their outrage was loud, long, and...successful.

The Go-Go boots returned.

But if you talk to characters like this here in the UK, they will insist they are "not allowed" to say what they think these days about such 'woke' decisions. Yet they got their own way in the end by being the squeaky hinges that got the oil.

I would actually prefer these people to go ahead and say exactly what's on their mind. That way, we can judge how small and mean that mind is and don't have to guess.

Love,

Caz
X

[GBinOz]

There was a time when Mom meant cooking and gay meant happy. - Al Bundy.

Would any of Bundy's statements survive today?

[Dickere]

There was a time when Mom meant cooking and gay meant happy. - Al Bundy.

Would any of Bundy's statements survive today?

Ted agreed.

[Bridewell]

there is nothing to be upset about. Puffin decided to make these changes on their own accord. These are chilren's books and as such, are intended to be consumed by children. And as language changes, so does how a child perceives language in a modern environment which IMO has a laundry list of problems that most of us did not have to worry about in a pre-internet upbringing. So in a way, every little helps. It is Puffin's decision and thiers alone. I personally don't care, I'm just pointing out that there may be some valid reasons why they decided to do this without a single policeman in sight.

My understanding is that both versions will continue to be published so the issue may well resolve itself. If both sell there is a market for both. If one sells and the other doesn't publishers will back the winning horse. They are in business to make money when all's said and done.

[Svensson]

But if you talk to characters like this here in the UK, they will insist they are "not allowed" to say what they think these days about such 'woke' decisions.

What are you talking about Caz? These people go thier own TV stations like Fox or GB News......

I mean seriously, if I had penny for every time someone went on Tucker Carlson's prime time and shouted "I HAVE BEEN SILENCED!", I could buy a few rounds down the pub on Friday.....