tbourner Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Wasn't sure how to title this thread, hopefully anyone who finds it offensive will post their opinions on the story. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/05/mark-twain-new-editions-offensive-words_n_804523.html I heard it on the news this morning, but that was the best web version I could find. To me it's ridiculous and reminds me of Orwells 1984 where they re-write history so that suddenly your allies are you enemy and vice versa, forcing the people to believe the 'new' truth. Maybe we should all read new versions of Shakespeare written in modern English as well so the kids don't get confused. Having said that, it is in the US where views on this kind of thing are very different, maybe if it's only for the very young readers to stop them repeating offensive things without understanding them then it's OK, like a badly dubbed song to remove expletives! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesy Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Title: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Not offended +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 FFS. Title changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fizzle Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 seems fair to be honest, maybe negro instead of slave though.. even though it is still widely used in hip hop lyrics etc. Just seems pointless to use it in a kids book nowadays as it is deemed offensive by most.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 FFS. Title changed. Thanks Gaz, you're kind of proving my point if I'm not allowed to even say the N-word as a point of discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Thanks Gaz, you're kind of proving my point if I'm not allowed to even say the N-word as a point of discussion. Did you stop for a second and think about the way that might affect web searches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kill1308 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Seems pretty crazy to me, surely things written in a time when it was not an issue to use such words should be left as they are. I mean whoever is reading it must be aware that they are reading something that was written before political correctness was even heard of, let alone made its way into a book. Soon wartime books will no longer read 'Nazi Germany' it will be, 'Those jolly unfriendly German Chappies'... The world is going mad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kill1308 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Thanks Gaz, you're kind of proving my point if I'm not allowed to even say the N-word as a point of discussion. Why, what was the title? NVM - Saw it.... Oh, and as for the search thing... anyone typing that word into google isn't likely to be offended by this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I don't agree with re-writing of classic books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Blazing saddles anyone? vg2O5SlZ25g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Did you stop for a second and think about the way that might affect web searches? Yep, I was literally sitting for a few minutes wondering whether I should press 'Submit' or change it to something else, but the whole point is it shouldn't be offensive in the right context, it's written on a forum not being thrown verbally at a coloured person with intent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I regularly read books with 'the N-word' in them, and agree they wouldn't be the same if re-written. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davej705 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I don't agree with re-writing of classic books. I agree. When reading a classic book you should also consider the period in which it was written Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I agree. When reading a classic book you should also consider the period in which it was written Exactly my point. This book is a snap-shot of the time. Are we going to start re-teaching history at school? I understand what offensive words are - if taught in the correct context then they are narration on a rather racist time in history rather than 'offensive' on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Yep, I was literally sitting for a few minutes wondering whether I should press 'Submit' or change it to something else, but the whole point is it shouldn't be offensive in the right context, it's written on a forum not being thrown verbally at a coloured person with intent. But it's in a public forum mate, and as you're aware this site has quite high traffic so it pops up pretty high on Google searches etc. Besides, there's also this thread to consider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Yep, I was literally sitting for a few minutes wondering whether I should press 'Submit' or change it to something else, but the whole point is it shouldn't be offensive in the right context, it's written on a forum not being thrown verbally at a coloured person with intent. Careful, that'll get you in trouble nowadays too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 But it's in a public forum mate, and as you're aware this site has quite high traffic so it pops up pretty high on Google searches etc. Besides, there's also this thread to consider Heheh, yeah I considered that as well. That's why my first line was relating to the title, so anyone hovering over would have a better understanding and decide whether to read or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_p Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Careful, that'll get you in trouble nowadays too! Yup, 'Coloured' is deemed offensive, the correct word is 'Black' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 Yup, 'Coloured' is deemed offensive, the correct word is 'Black' Really? I'd think it was the other way around! My god ( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 If this stays on track it would actually be quite an interesting topic for a change. I suspect it won't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 It is blatant ignorance to go changing books due to offensive words being used in them. Reading those books shows the racism and prejudism of the time/era depicted in the pages. In most cases it is the whole point and inspiration for writing such material. To change them in order to cause less offence is ridiculous. I would also assume that most rational Black people would see it as a bit of a cover up , as if it was trying to mask the past mistakes of the "white man" by cooing over offensive literature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 If this stays on track it would actually be quite an interesting topic for a change........ ....for one of Trev's threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Really? I'd think it was the other way around! My god ( So would anyone but apparently "black" is better than "coloured". No idea why.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purity14 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Really? I'd think it was the other way around! My god ( That is offensive to me, as you are blaspheming. Black people are indeed Black, they arent coloured at all. It is "White guilt" that has brought us "Black History Week" in schools, mobo awards, the little niche black awards and associations. Now it seems, we have gone another step, and we are re-writing history, we will be burning books next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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