My contention with political correctness

[Trunksee]

Here it is again another person changing things for dumb reasons. I think this is where and why i start losing my mind. Its something so little yes, but what are we becoming. Are we not able to think for ouselves so we need to make sure people dont have to? How far are we going to go? The homogenization of society to make sure nothing can hurt us is getting sad. Whats next Santa is drunk because of his cheeks? No more of anything that may effect someone? We are bsecoming sheep in a heard of boring.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ensorship.html

[Howard Moon]

I'm with you OP, I can't stand the carebear society.

What's wrong with him smoking a pipe? If anything, I think his severe obesity problems are much more alarming!

[Skizo]

Unfortunately to some people, the comment that a tradition isn't harming anyone isn't good enough anymore
They ignore the fact that tradition adds to the common human experience and creates solidarity
Being that culture is the sum of all symbols in a society, this specific article refers to a sort of a war on culture. Tradition doesn't exist because of efficiency or effectiveness, so people will always attack it. I don't think revisionist censorship won't add anything positive to humanity besides eliminating the potential for stupid hurt feels in the face of the way things truly are.

[Rukentuts]

I say what I want. If people cannot bear to hear it, that's their problem.

Sugarcoating is an insult to the listeners imo.

[Trunksee]

I say what I want. If people cannot bear to hear it, that's their problem.

Sugarcoating is an insult to the listeners imo.

Thats my point are we becoming a boring society without differences? Are we trying to make everyone the same? I feel bad for my daughter who will have to grow up in this. Ill make sure she doesnt miss out but how many kids will be censored to the point they dont know whats life ç

[Puck]

If it's so little and insignificant why does it bother you?

[Rukentuts]

Thats my point are we becoming a boring society without differences? Are we trying to make everyone the same? I feel bad for my daughter who will have to grow up in this. Ill make sure she doesnt miss out but how many kids will be censored to the point they dont know whats life ç

Some differences aren't exactly relevant, however.

[Trunksee]

Some differences aren't exactly relevant, however.

My point isnt that they changed this but whats next? Is the red badge of courage to violent? Is the Tolken series to magical since magic isnt real? Is there to much anti woman writing in the scarlet letter? I mean my point is when is enough enough?

[Brytryne]

Christmas: A time of the year when people feel compelled to buy eachother Stuff™ mixed with the birth of the child of some entity people claim is their god, a guy who lives on the north pole and flies around in a sled pulled by reindeers and dressing up trees in your livingroom.

And to think whether there is a pipe or not in the picture would cause an uproar...

Happy holidays!

[mvaliz]

That would be a blogger... and blogger's have learned the sad sad SAD truth of all news corps - controversy gets hits, and hits make money.

This guy isn't believing in what he's saying... he's simply reporting an idea to get a reaction out of people and to get people (Like you OP) to LINK his blog to other web-sites to expand the number of hits he gets.

Congratulations OP, you're a blog-sucker. You bit into his hook, and you've just made him some cash. ^_^

[SirRobin]

These books get edited over and over again through the years. Who is to say that it hadn't been edited already to remove the word "crack," before "pipe."

[Catta]

It 'oughta be true, ah re'd 'bout in the Mail.

[Gamdwelf]

These books get edited over and over again through the years. Who is to say that it hadn't been edited already to remove the word "crack," before "pipe."

because we have the original poem, and crack did not exist when this was written.

[SirRobin]

because we have the original poem, and crack did not exist when this was written.

Was it "really" the original poem? There is no mention of aliens in the original poem either. So how can we be sure there weren't any there?

[gerhard2202]

I despise the whole "politically correct" nonsense. Goddamnit, if I want to publish Santa smoking a pipe I'm going to publish Santa smoking a pipe, and anybody who wants tries to stop me from doing so is infringing on my rights.

[ptwonline]

Is it political correctness you dislike, or the fact that you don't think smoking a pipe is so bad and thus see no need to remove it?

I mean, what if Santa's frowned-upon hobby was getting an erection when the little kiddies sat on his lap? Would you argue against the "political correctness" for removing that?

[Gamdwelf]

Is it political correctness you dislike, or the fact that you don't think smoking a pipe is so bad and thus see no need to remove it?

I mean, what if Santa's frowned-upon hobby was getting an erection when the little kiddies sat on his lap? Would you argue against the "political correctness" for removing that?

But its an old story that has been around for many years and hes not doing anything illegal for an adult to do.

[Reeve]

I don't think the poem necessarily needed to be changed, but I don't think it was hurt by the omission of the tobacco. Santa being a pipe smoker has never been a part of my personal vision of Santa Claus, and I don't think kids are going to see Santa any differently for not being a pipe smoker.

If they were changing Santa to be a skinny dude because fat is bad, I could see your objection because it changes the essence of both Santa and the poem. I could also see your objection if they removed Santa's reindeer because it was cruelty to animals or something. But the tobacco pipe is a complete non-starter.

[Prokne]

"I think these edits outweigh other considerations,' she added. 'If this text is to survive another 200 years it needs to modernize and reflect today's realities."

People need to stop thinking crap like this. People today have no right to change anything written in the past. If you want a Santa poem where he isn't smoking write your own poem. Not only does it violate the author's rights but it also denies people an insight into the past. Guess what, lots of people used to smoke a lot, how about we use historical context to teach about how things used to be and then you can say "we don't smoke anymore because its bad for you."

[Auloria]

Give me a break, this isn't censorship, it's just an adaptation to a classic. Censorship is a rule against certain speech, to which I am whole-heartedly opposed. Some guy wanted to publish a book and doesn't like smoking, isn't that free speech in itself?