to think Roald Dahl's 'Revolting Rhymes' should be banned?

[SquareholeRoundpeg]

I know Dahl is a national treasure and children love a bit of gore and all that - but DH and I were shocked at some of the language used in some of the stories (it is not easy to shock DH!)

There is a line in the Cinderella story where the prince says of Cinderella, 'who is this dirty slut'. Had to pause on that part when reading to DS!

The language in the story shows how deeply engrained misogynistic attitudes are, and continue to be carried through in our children's literature.

How can this be allowed?!!!

Yes - I have a copy of rhyme stew in the back of the cupboard as it is a bit too saucy!

I just don't agree words like that should be allowed in children's literature.

Shakespeare, yes - mainstream children's stories - no.

can your 6 year old read the book himself?

if not, then where is the problem?

You already have a filter for age appropriateness. YOU.

Could you not use it as a jumping board for discussion about how words change over time etc?

I just don't agree words like that should be allowed in children's literature.*

Shakespeare, yes - mainstream children's stories - no.

Now days they wouldnt. We are very policed in our languages. But Roald Dahl are now considered a classic. And you can't edit out thousands of books that have been published through the years because you don't agree with it

shouldn't be allowed?

FGS.

Who decides what is allowed then? which government department? and what is their remit criteria?

Shall we consider what might get banned as a result?

Beware the very frightening (for parents) story "the swan" in the Henry Sugar book. Some people wanted that banned because it had alarming parallels to something unspeakably nasty.

I know I am a filter-I did filter.

Yes he can read, I was reading him a bedtime story.

Ok - you all agree slut should be left in.

But it's not a bad word, it's a word used correctly and in context

I prefer the Roald Dahl Cinders to the simpering passive fool in the actual cinderella! SPOILER ALERT!!
She turns down the prince when she sees how shallow and violent he is and lives with a lovely jam maker!

If you think that's bad you should try reading some of the poems in his 'Rhyme Stew'

My mum bought it for me when I was about 11, not realising that it is definitely not meant for children. The one about Miss McPhee the gym instructor always particularly stuck in my mind!

There are plenty of books who are bit 'old' and use language which has evolved in time.
Another one is GAY as in a gay colour.

I read the book and explain to the dcs what it meant, that it now has a different meaning and how the meaning of words changed. I can't see the problem TBH.

If you read a story with a character described as gay, with the description of the character showing that gay meant happy, would you sensor that too?

There are a lot of words who have two or meanings now days

Another one horrified at the suggestion of "not allowing" ie censoring words from children's classics.
If you're not comfortable with a word, don't read it out loud to your child.
Oh and probably best avoid Struwwelpeter......

Any child with average reading ability will see words like that everywhere if they have access to books/magazines/newspapers. Far better to have a discussion about it than leave it to him to file away inappropriately.

I remember having to explain some graffiti to DD "Mummy, what does F...O.. mean?" at about that age. A quick explanation of how it was rude, a discussion of how it was a shame to spoil the fence and change the subject. I've never heard her or her sister use that expression themselves.

Banning books is the best way to get kids to read.

I probably would not censor gay as it is not a derogatory word.

And what's wrong with Esio Trot?

YABU

Better not let your kid out the house OP.

They might be exposed to nasty stuff that should be banned.

Or you could take the responsibility on yourself, rather than you teaching them why they are not appropriate.

But gay can be used in the derogatory sense.

I.e "no I won't go in the room if he's in there. He's so gay"

I say, 'Mutt.' Because DD is four and she doesn't give a shit about the ever-changing nuances of the English language, she just wants a bit of a rhyme before she goes to sleep. And I'd rather she enjoyed books and poetry and language rather than it being seen as a tedious, complex, exercise in learning.

This place pisses me off at times. Are people really this earnest and twitchy in real life? Who has the time for all this angst over a bit of comic verse? I am a Literature graduate and love reading and interpreting texts, but I also want to just read stuff and enjoy it with my daughter instead of agonising over every fucking nuance.

I think I'd better go where other people are not for a while.....

Surely if your 6 year old doesn't know what 'slut' means and you just read it along as normal, how would he pick up on it? It's only a big deal or noticeable if you make it into one!