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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to throw this book in the bin?

175 replies

warzone · 03/04/2011 16:34

It was a present for my 2yr old dd. It is called "Be the best ever princess!" The 'content' (ha!) basically involves wearing pink dresses, eating pink cakes, living in a pink castle, being waited on hand and foot, having parties all the time, being the most beautiful of all girls and, of course, meeting a handsome prince.

Would it be ridiculous of me to throw the book in the bin on the grounds that these are the opposite values I want to teach my dd?

I am hesitating because a) it was a present and b) dd seems to like it.

OP posts:
Beamur · 03/04/2011 18:31

I'd ditch it too.
I've passed onto charity shops books for DD I don't like, after all I am the one who has to keep reading the drivel. I've hidden the Disney Princess book as it was such pap.

dontcallmepeanut · 03/04/2011 18:35

I'm with JojoLapin on this one... The thought of throwing a book out feels wrong to me... If you really can't stand the thought of having it in the house, then how about a charity store? At least someone benefits.

I'll also point out I hate DS's collection of Thomas the Tank Engine books (which I tormented my father with as a child, when I wasn't forcing him to sit through countless Disney films) but I still tolerate them for him. Luckily, he's made no plans to move into a shed, or walk along train tracks talking to trains... yet...

cazza40 · 03/04/2011 18:43

Yab ridiculous

fanofpeamum · 03/04/2011 18:43

But if you don't feel that the contents will benefit anyone, don'tcallmepeanut, why would you want to pass it on?

dontcallmepeanut · 03/04/2011 18:52

They may not benefit you, personally. But they may bring some light entertainment to someone.

I don't feel my back issues of Pick Me Up from when I was a bored, heavily pregnant barmaid would benefit anyone... But the reception at the doctors surgery put them to good use. Wink

BlueAmy · 03/04/2011 18:53

That's the point though fanofpeamum. Why is it your business to decree what benefits someone else? Isn't that for them to decide?

babybarrister · 03/04/2011 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fanofpeamum · 03/04/2011 19:05

Everyone has values that they operate by though, don't they? Not sure that this is a very good example, but if you had a children's book that was racist and offended you for that reason, would you pass it on to someone else in the hope that they at least might enjoy it? Confused

Sorry, I just don't get it. Why is a book automatically a precious thing? Perhaps they were once upon a time, for other reasons, but these days in this part of the world it's just not true, is it?

lisianthus · 03/04/2011 19:07

Bin/recycle/compost. Bleurgh.

StealthPolarBear · 03/04/2011 19:09

ok i have to ask
if you happened to gain possession of contented little baby...what would you do?
I wanted to get rid of my CBC breastfeeding book, and made it clear I didn't agree with it on here. In the end a regular who will not be taken in about bf myths bought it :o

dontcallmepeanut · 03/04/2011 19:09

I'm not saying it's automatically sacred... (although I am a lit student, so...)

But if the book is NOT promoting hate of a group or individuals, then what is the harm? Really? If it set out with the intention of being offensive, I'd have second thoughts, but it's a harmless little FICTION book...

hatebeak · 03/04/2011 19:13

Totally agree with fanofpeamum. I'd bin it - it's not been illuminated by monks over decades, it just sounds like a bit of pernicious publishing hackwork that's better out of circulation.

nethunsreject · 03/04/2011 19:15

Bin

dontcallmepeanut · 03/04/2011 19:19

I think you're all a bunch of spoilsports... What about what the little girl wants, then? If she doesn't like the book, then charity shop/bin/doctors waiting room... If she likes it, bear iin mind, that doesn't mean she'll buy into those values. I mean, she'll still have you as a role model, which means a lot more than a 16 page book.

BlueAmy · 03/04/2011 19:19

I never said the book itself was precious, the point I am making is that it's not actually doing anyone any harm. It's a book, it would be a treasure to some children (the OP's included apparently), yet some people think it's best to make a silly stand over such a trivial issue and throw it out instead of donating it. The only reason I can see coming through to throw it out is that people believe it has no value. I say again, when it comes to other children, it is up to their parents to decide what they read. Throw it out if you really want to be daft, but don't pretend to yourself you're doing anyone a favour or benefitting the greater good. You're not, you're just silly.

dontcallmepeanut · 03/04/2011 19:21

Well said BlueAmy. :)

dittany · 03/04/2011 19:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

youcangetpregnantstandingup · 03/04/2011 19:22

Oh fgs get over yourself OP, yabu. These books are harmless, all my dds have read books like this and it's done them no harm, none of them are airheads or wannabe princesses.

I bet you tell everyone in RL you've done it as well to show how liberated you are.

And your dd liked it.Totally U.

StealthPolarBear · 03/04/2011 19:23

Come on - Gina Ford - what would we all do?? :o

nethunsreject · 03/04/2011 19:25

My GF got binned.

And baby whisperer and rachel waddilove.

tallwivglasses · 03/04/2011 19:26

Babette Cole writes a good antidote.

Don't bin it. DD got given some hideous Barbie books (with photos of posed Barbies, Kens, etc). It proved a great resource for taking the piss, introducing a touch of early feminism and bonding with laughter.

In fact Op, I'm tempted to buy this evil book myself. Wink

fanofpeamum · 03/04/2011 19:27

I'd be stuck there Stealth because I'd have to read it to feel okay about binning it. Dilemma.

GoldenGreen · 03/04/2011 19:28

Stealth
ok i have to ask
if you happened to gain possession of contented little baby...what would you do?

I recycled mine. I genuinely felt the advice in it was wrong (don't want to explain at length why - I do believe it has been updated since) and I didn't want it to be passed on to anyone else. I am normally quite precious about books so it was a big decision!

Regarding this "pink" book - I would need to read it to be sure but I think I would probably donate rather than chuck.

fanofpeamum · 03/04/2011 19:35

Ok, charity shop advocates, so what would you do with a book that you did think was harmful?

We do have our fair share of crap books here too, by the way. And they will probably end up at a charity shop eventually. But you've got to be able to recycle a book if you want to.

moonstorm · 03/04/2011 19:35

It was a present from your 2 year old? So she liked it (assuming someone helped her to pick it out) and you're throwing it out?

Poor dd. Will you do something similar every time you have a difference of opinion? It's only a book...