Posted by RichardG on March 27, 2002 at 13:53:32 from 213.120.127.26:
In Reply to: Re: N-word - Admin response to a removed post posted by Ian E-N on March 26, 2002 at 14:23:59:
This is an interesting discussion. Wasn't it Lenny Bruce who did a sketch on the "forbidden" words - something about the millions of words in the English language, out of which a dozen or so could not be spoken ? I seem to remember that his point was that it was not the words themselves that were the problem, it was the use that people made of them.
So - are those who cannot bring themselves to type or read a word that has the potential to cause offence suggesting that future editions of AR's books should be edited to exclude it ? That would seem to be the start of a slippery slope if words that were acceptable at the time the author wrote them have to be expunged due to changing tastes or fashions. How long before "native" goes the same way ? Or even "Titty" ?
In the 1950s Noddy had encounters with the Golliwogs, who could also be found on jam labels. Political correctness has, I believe, caused Enid Blyton's words to be re-written, and the jam firm finally gave up on its renamed Gollies a few years ago. Are we really to believe that these stories created prejudices in children ?
Another example - I have just found a copy of Malcolm Saville's "The Gay Dolphin Adventure". In 1950, when it was written, the name (that of an hotel around which the book is set) would mean something along the lines of a happy dolphin, which was depicted on the inn sign, and a pub with that name outside would have been attractive to visitors. Nowadays, a pub with that name might be expected to attract a particular type of clientele, and be shunned by others of a different persuasion. Likewise, the book title would give a distinctly different impression to the potential reader ! So, if the book is re-issued, should the publishers alter the title ?
What do other TARS think ?