To give my son a "golly" toy?

[xalyssx]

DS1 has a few Noddy books from when his nan was a child, and his favourite character is a golly. I was in a charity shop today, and I saw one being sold for a pound, so I got it for him. I know that people find them racist, so I told him that they are "gollies" not anything else, and I don't let him take soft toys out, so hopefully it shouldn't offend people. AIBU to have bought it?

We have one. It was a much loved toy of DPs from his gran (I think it was actually hers)

We found it in the loft whilst having a clean out and DD was fascinated, we explained to her why she couldn't have it and what it represented and popped it back In the loft.

I wouldn't go out and buy one but equally I don't see the need to bin something that DP has such fond memories of.

Some of the comments on that facebook page are reason enough for me that is what the toy is associated with.

YABVU, but you know that.

The BNP is now bankrupt, I believe, has a new leader who likes beating up young boys and is now banned from teaching ever again and is barred also from working with children. So, morally bankrupt too.

Can you moderate your language?

Ok thanks, I won't give it to him. In fact, I'll even unpick it (as it looks hand knitted)

Yabu.

I find them slightly uncomfortable.

My sister often buys books from charity shops for my 4 year old niece. She had an old Enid Blyton book about a naughty little doll and her friends. My niece loves it and insisted I read a few of the chapters to her. One of the toys was a golly, sometimes addressed by his name 'Golly' and at other times by the word gollyw*g. (Can't bring myself to write the whole word.) I don't like the word at all (I'm white if it makes any difference.) I referred to it as Golly throughout as I couldn't say the whole word. I mentioned it to my sister who had similar reservations when reading it.

I'm not sure about the doll, I can certainly understand the reservations behind it but also see children just see it as a teddy. But the whole word is definitely offensive.

I had one as a child (in the 50s/60s) and I loved it. It sat on my chair in my bedroom with my two teddies and my soft grey elephant.

Would I buy one for my DGCs?

No.

Spidey- so both you and your sister kept on reading this book you both had severe reservations about......instead of binning it? Why?

Hakylut......I understand your point completely. I was staying with my sister, my niece asked me to rad her the story, which I did. I voiced my discomfort to my sister, who agreed with me explaining she'd got the book from a charity shop as a job lot and my niece was quite taken with it though she was not comfortable with the toy (in the story.) We were then distracted by my niece so couldn't discuss it further. You'll have to ask my sister why it wasn't binned, it's her child and book.

She may have got rid of it by now, this was a couple of months back. Both her and her husband are very socially aware and wouldn't want my niece to grow up to be in any way racist and I'm sure if the book stayed it would have been explained why the toy and the term were not acceptable.

Would you say something to an adult who has a golly keyring? Or just judge her silently?

Depends on how well I knew the keyring owner.

Someone in the street? I'd silently judge.

A friend/family member? I would say something.

Spidey- so both you and your sister kept on reading this book you both had severe reservations about......instead of binning it? Why

My son is 24. In the years when we read to him oddly we found that as there were , oh I don't know, about a gazillion books to choose from avoiding the questionable ones from a writer whose work on the whole hasn't aged well was one of the less taxing aspects of parenthood. There will be another 20 years' worth of books to choose from now making it even easier.

My DGM(aged 72) bought one for my Ds when he was 2, saying " I hope Mr Likklemum isn't offended." She absolutely meant no offence but why would you buy a toy which could cause offence? And that is a Q for you too Op.
We were offended and hid it in the airing cupboard as DH's family were all about to visit. We took it out if hiding and into the wheelie bin the minute they left.

Also, my DM bought Noddy books for me in 1980s, but when reading them, was so horrified at portrayal of Golly (kidnapped and robbed Noddy- tying him to a tree etc) that she couldn't bear to have anyone else read them to their child and burned them all. Rightfully so.

Some of the comments on the FB page listed above, physically hurt my head.
How people so stupid can function is beyond me.

Yes. YABU.

Next.

How old is your son?

I'm not British so i'm completely unfamilliar with this character. But allmighty google says its a controversial item. So maybe only as a collectible... But a toy for a small child... Pretty weird

Umm, no. Just no.

I used to work as an Occupational Health Advisor and Robertson's Jam was one of the factories in the group. In the 90's you could still buy the Golly badges and they were collectors items.

I think if your son likes Noddy so much I would get him the newer books which don't have gollys in them.
I would only want my DCs to read the newer printed Enid Blyton's which have had the language changed.

I often buy my children books in charity shops, and occasionally have picked something up from the 70s which when I got it home I realised was not something I wanted my kids reading. I remember one book was about a boy going fishing with his dad, and his sister wanted to go but their mum said 'don't be silly, girls don't fish, come and clean/bake with me instead'. That one went straight in the recycling!

I wouldn't have bought the golly so I think YABU. The world has changed since the 1970s. Imagine if your DS decides to draw a picture of the golly at school? Or describes it to a teacher as his favourite toy? How will that come across? He is totally oblivious of the connotations of this toy, but you are not....