to feel uneasy about my son reading Enid Blyton books

[frances5]

My son wants me to read him a book called the "Wishing Chair", I have read two chapters of it and it has a pixie in it called "Chinky". To make it worst the drawing of "Chinky" shows an elf like creature with slitted eyes. However I think my son is totally and utter oblivous to this.

Admitally Enid Blyton lived 50 years ago when people didn't know better. But do you think I am making a mistake letting my son enjoy this book? He is even trying to read it himself that he is so desperate to know what happens next.

When my son chose this book I had no idea that it had a pixie in it called "Chinky" other wise I would have diverted him towards something like Ronald Dahl.

Very well said, Josh. I could not agree with you more.

Now all fark off and read 'The Magic Faraway Tree' to your kids.

And untwist yer knickers while you're at it

If you think Enid Blyton and her characters are a problem, then God help you when you have teenagers to deal with!!

Nuts magazine is far more offensive imo

well, josh, I am tempted to post a truly dreadful quote from an EB that I have got knocking round the house - but it is too cringeingly racist - far worse than anything that has been mentioned on here.
so EB will be filtered in our house.

YABU. I don't get this [shock[ about EB, but then I still enjoy reading John Buchan and there's some seriously dodgy stuff in there.

I have noticed that the rudest people on this thread today are the pro-enid ones

and are the biggest eye-rollers

Oh, you do surprise, me NN.

I had many happy hours reading EB books as I child so am a big fan and I'm also very polite!

spiffing, nikki!

Lentils, can you please tell me what ranks you have infiltrated? Also why would there be shock horror at non white people on MN? Why are you assuming I am white?

You kind of prove my point by your shock horror comment and the fact people might be shocked by the fact not all mumsnetters are white??
As I pointed out in my post it is a black friend of mine who gets pissed off with the people pointing out what should offend him, ergo thinking he is too thick to know for himself what he finds offensive.

Now be a good girl and hop back in you Chelsea tractor to go pick up some more Dahl books.

Anyone for lashings of ginger beer??

Here, here, Vera.

but this PC stuff is such a nause.

golly, vera, one wouldn't find language like that in a Blyton, you chump!

Pax 'n' all that.

What people have to realise, is that these books were written in non-PC times! Jane Austen is pretty un PC and full of snobbery but people just accept it as part of the era it was written in - should be the same for EB in my book.....no pun intended!!

Here's a thought...One way to destroy predujice is through education. If you don't give children the opportunity to see and discuss other points of view and ways of thinking then how will the world get better? I'm from the states and we've taken "PC" to the nth degree. In fact you can't say anything now without insulting someone. I say lighten up everyone. Remember "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me." "PC" would have died out a long time ago if people would remember that a little more. Just my opinion

I say chaps shall we all go off for a lovely picnic tomorrow, we can go on our bikes and find a lovely little spot, tell our parents we will be home for dinner, and just ride off in the the country for the day.
I am sure we can stop n at a farm house or two for ginger beer as well.

Live and let live I say. I would never in a million years advocate book burning.

Everybody should be free to guide their children to read Enid Blyton, drink 5 fruitshoots a day and eat McDonalds for every meal. Absolutely.

I don't do any of the above with my infants, but that's my choice.

One of the points I was trying to make to the OP is that it is nonsense to excuse EB's racism on the grounds that she lived 50 years ago. Plenty of much better children's writers of that vintage and earlier were not remotely racist or classist at all. Take E Nesbit as an example.

What is that awful post about good white folk telling blah blah? Did we need that really?

oh yes, kimi! Bags I bring the nice ham.

Oooh Kimi!!! Supahh idea darhling!! What fun!!!

Any mnetters up for a midnight feast tonight once matron is alseep??

Did you ever see 5 go mad on mescalin? It is the funniest sketch ever. I am determined to be one of the five with you Kimi. On our bike ride, can we find some local oiks to patronise?

Yes because those who don't want to read EB books to their children are obviously refusing to educate their children about any kind of predjudice etc etc etc

And can some of you slagging off Political Correctness actually find out what it means rather than the daily mail definition?

"Remember "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.""

That is the most untrue truism going IMO