Comments on: Another PC Myth is born

By: Matt Munro

Matt Munro — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:34:35 +0000

The Quango’s feedback was to the effect that it wouldn’t be able to recommend it to muslims (so a whole 3% of the population, so what ?) and that builders might find it offensive (have you ever tried to offend a builder, they don’t generally do “offended”). If they had just said words to the effect that it was crap then no one would have noticed and it wouldn’t be a story.
The more sinsiter thing behind these stories is that they reinforce, in the public domain, the victim mentality, the idea that nothing can be done which might possibly upset any section of the population. It’s the very essence of political correctness.
I noticed that in my sons’ Thomas the tank engine books, the one’s published in the 90’s all have the “fat controller” called “Sir Topham Hat”, whereas in the newer ones he is correctly called the “fat controller”. A small victory for common sense.

By: Clarice

Clarice — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:19:56 +0000

*I* was just about to blog about this! It’s just a case of sour grapes, because it didn’t win. But the reason it didn’t win is because it is a shite book. “The Three Little Cowboy Builders?” What a load of rubbish. Could it be any more inappropriate for young children?

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:18:57 +0000

I mean, the myth will be that those muslims kicked up a fuss about something again, and that we changed as a result. Which won’t be true.

By: Matt Munro

Matt Munro — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:05:56 +0000

It’s not a myth though is it - it happened, as reported on Radio 4 last night and on your blog today - in what sense is it a myth ?

“we are not offended by that at all” says the MCB.

In which case why did the quango in question decide that it WAS offensive. I think it’s this (the cliche of the self hating white liberals standing in cultural judgement) that infuriates people rather than anything about the culture itself. I can’t see why they would find it offensive anyway - muslim (and jewish) practice prohibits the eating of pork, not representations of pigs.