Political Correctness

B.A.Ware · 27-08-2005, 06:01 PM

I was talking to my 11 and 14 year old daughters the other day and my 11 year old told me that in the character Big ears is now called white beard, then my 14 year old informed me that they were not allowed to use the term brain storming as this might offend children with epilepsy. I thought they were winding me up so I had a quick look on the Internet and this is what I found.

Quote:

This led to the books being banned from some libraries in the 1980's, the Golliwogs were replaced with Goblins in the next reprint. Noddy spends most of his time with his great friend Big Ears, this character came under fire when the books were re printed for the US market, some said that his name should be changed to White Beard, and others that Noddy and Big Ears relationship was implidled homosexuality.

Quote:

The term "brainstorming" has become the latest target of political correctness, according to a charity. Trainee teachers are being told to avoid the word for fear of offending pupils with epilepsy. Instead they are being advised to use "word storm" or "thought shower".

Bloody beggars belief.

SGK · 27-08-2005, 06:15 PM

But surely 'word storm' will offend stutterers and 'thought shower' will insult those who can't think, i.e. labour voters.

I had heard the big ears thing and the homosexual thing and actually thought the books had been completely binned, never to be seen again.

It is ridiculous. It teaches kids the wrong thing (in my opinion) i.e. that you can pretend reallity doesn't exist. Wouldn't it be better to just make people come to terms with themselves? It's not as if the kid with big ears isn't going to get the **** taken out of him after he leaves school, is it? :shock:

Intbel · 16-10-2005, 04:41 PM

More on this crazy PC world:

LONDON (Reuters) - A woman struck by a hit and run car driver in northern England said she was told off by a police officer for using the F-word to describe the driver -- "fat."

Mary Magilton, 54, suffered cuts and bruises after being hit by the car which mounted the pavement while she was chatting with friends in Oldham and then drove off, newspapers reported on Friday.

She reported the incident but was ticked off by a police officer when she said the driver of the car was a "fat" woman.

"I was given a frosty look and told I couldn't say that. I could have said lardy, porky or podgy. But I wouldn't dare use those words," the Daily Mirror quoted her as saying.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the description recorded on the police log of the incident did include the word "fat."

"I don't think she was severely reprimanded," the spokeswoman said, adding GMP had a policy to ensure officers used "appropriate language" that would not cause offence.

Er ... spokeswoman? Shouldn't that be 'spokesperson'?

C_steam · 16-10-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

I could have said lardy, porky or podgy.

Oh right - lets just try describing a fat muslim as 'porky' and see where that gets you!

IceDragon · 16-10-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Er ... spokeswoman? Shouldn't that be 'spokesperson'?

Only if it's a man, if it's a woman they can be given a label according to their gender.

Apparently Asian is now a word which is forbidden by the police, words such as Bangladeshi or Pakistani are now used. School football matches are reset at half time if one side is losing badly, the term "black eye" is no longer encouraged, fail is a term no longer encouraged, it is now "deferred success".

Anthony Butcher · 16-10-2005, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceDragon

fail is a term no longer encouraged, it is now "deferred success".

That one was derided and dropped. It was suggested by a single teacher.

Intbel · 16-10-2005, 08:32 PM

I suppose Richmal Crompton's "William" books will be banned soon.

"William and the Outlaws" is aggrandising terrorism and anarchy and such a close-knit group is obviously homosexual.

The only way the PC brigade can succed is if folks buy INTO phpbb_their agenda.

The easy answer is: don't.

16-10-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IceDragon

Quote:

Er ... spokeswoman? Shouldn't that be 'spokesperson'?

Only if it's a man, if it's a woman they can be given a label according to their gender.

Apparently Asian is now a word which is forbidden by the police, words such as Bangladeshi or Pakistani are now used. School football matches are reset at half time if one side is losing badly, the term "black eye" is no longer encouraged, fail is a term no longer encouraged, it is now "deferred success".

That makes perfect sense. Hindus and Sikhs have been complaing for a long time about news reports which involve the word 'Asian'. It should be specific.

Also, 'Asian' can refer to Chinese, Japanese, Thais, Koreans, etc and political correctness has allowed it to mean 'people from the Indian sub-continent alone.

Christina

Intbel · 16-10-2005, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMUK64

That makes perfect sense. Hindus and Sikhs have been complaing for a long time about news reports which involve the word 'Asian'. It should be specific.

Using the same reasoning, the term "European" should also be banned.

16-10-2005, 09:21 PM

The reason for the complaints is that when negative reports are made about Asians because of crime, etc, Hindus and Sikhs get a backlash from some people. They're fed up of being lumped together with Islamist extremists.

In a crime report, it is no use saying the perpetrator was a European. So yes, the call for dropping Asian is consistent with not using European. Eastern European is sometimes used from accent or appearance, Southern European could be used, but just European can mean anything from blond Swede to dark Southern italian .

Christina

16-10-2005, 04:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Intbel Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a field near you - look for the yellow and purple tent ... Posts: 4,665	A PC PC ... More on this crazy PC world: LONDON (Reuters) - A woman struck by a hit and run car driver in northern England said she was told off by a police officer for using the F-word to describe the driver -- "fat." Mary Magilton, 54, suffered cuts and bruises after being hit by the car which mounted the pavement while she was chatting with friends in Oldham and then drove off, newspapers reported on Friday. She reported the incident but was ticked off by a police officer when she said the driver of the car was a "fat" woman. "I was given a frosty look and told I couldn't say that. I could have said lardy, porky or podgy. But I wouldn't dare use those words," the Daily Mirror quoted her as saying. A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the description recorded on the police log of the incident did include the word "fat." "I don't think she was severely reprimanded," the spokeswoman said, adding GMP had a policy to ensure officers used "appropriate language" that would not cause offence. Er ... spokeswoman? Shouldn't that be 'spokesperson'?

16-10-2005, 08:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Intbel Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a field near you - look for the yellow and purple tent ... Posts: 4,665	I suppose Richmal Crompton's "William" books will be banned soon. "William and the Outlaws" is aggrandising terrorism and anarchy and such a close-knit group is obviously homosexual. The only way the PC brigade can succed is if folks buy INTO phpbb_their agenda. The easy answer is: don't. __________________ We are all free to choose - every step of the way - no exceptions.

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27-08-2005, 06:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
SGK Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,237	But surely 'word storm' will offend stutterers and 'thought shower' will insult those who can't think, i.e. labour voters. I had heard the big ears thing and the homosexual thing and actually thought the books had been completely binned, never to be seen again. It is ridiculous. It teaches kids the wrong thing (in my opinion) i.e. that you can pretend reallity doesn't exist. Wouldn't it be better to just make people come to terms with themselves? It's not as if the kid with big ears isn't going to get the **** taken out of him after he leaves school, is it? :shock:

16-10-2005, 09:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	The reason for the complaints is that when negative reports are made about Asians because of crime, etc, Hindus and Sikhs get a backlash from some people. They're fed up of being lumped together with Islamist extremists. In a crime report, it is no use saying the perpetrator was a European. So yes, the call for dropping Asian is consistent with not using European. Eastern European is sometimes used from accent or appearance, Southern European could be used, but just European can mean anything from blond Swede to dark Southern italian . Christina