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.

No dissing junk fiction

If I was called Sue, I would be offended that everyone wanted to Sue me.

Google motto is do no evil, do you think they were talking about baking,or EB?

Yes, Quattro, I think most of us do actually 'but know it,' about Alice.

He was a mathematics teacher, and it's all about that, with a dollop of esoterics.

But don't assume for one moment that he wouldn't have used the same lingo as someone else of his generation, given the context and in RL conversations.

comfortable with unsuppressed aggression and personal insulting? what a nice person you must be, d

So we don't have a problem with a book written by a sicko who wanted to marry a 12 year old, and used the story to get close to her because he at no point in his book said I want to fiddle with a child, but Blyton names a pixie with a word that has since been jumped on by the thicko bunch and she is the devil incarnate. I see.

So can we still say there is a chink in the armour? A chink of light? Or are we going to be causing upset?

NN, Desi and I have crossed swords before. Think she's still annoyed with me. Don't you get cross now, I want you to come on the bike ride.

She thinks that words can't be racist in themselves which I don't. She thinks that everyone is racist which I don't. She thinks that "White people are no longer allowed to get away with it." which is a sentiment that is utterly abhorrent to me and finally she thinks that Bernard Manning is a pretty good bloke. Which I don't.

We are never ever going to be reconciled on the issue of race. TBH I think we should stay off the subject of race and start packing for the bike ride. What larks.

I'm fucking gorgeous, NN.

Well I separate the books from the writer. It's a normal approach to most forms of art. Gauguin spent his life in Tahiti enjoying sex with children. He is a repulsive character but his paintings are fab. Ditto Lewis Caroll. EB's books are pants for many reasons.

Can I just point out that not only white people a racist.
Ever person of every colour cam be racist, it works all ways and is not a black and white issue [no pun intended]

Sorry mate, but I'd rather sit in Vera Ducksworth's handbag than your saddle any day of the week.

She talks more sense.

If you want to pin me on your donkey board as a racist, that's entirely up to you. But you're endemic of a recent problem in society, 'cos I'm not pinning my tail in quite the right spot for you.

As I said, I'm comfortable in my own skin. I think that everyone should be comfortable in their own skin.

Don't you?

Confused, [bloody DP] so something that has been created by a someone who lives a bad life is ok as long as it is good to look at and does not point to their lifestyle, but a word used in a book by someone 50 odd years ago when it was not connected to being racist is bad.

When the books get reprinted all they have to do it change the name if it is going to cause upset.

lol desid your gorgeousness speaks for itself

ooh thankyou for the invitation q - will definitely come on the bike ride!

Desiderata want to ride tandem?

I know I am going to regret this but..... Perry Rodden books????

How am I endemic of a problem? Not being fighty just trying to see if there is a point in there.

• Rhodan

Yes, Kimi. I'll ride tandem with thee any day, lass.

Quattro, it's OK then, to be a child molester providing you make good art and you don't use

I think you've just exposed your Achilles heel, lass.

Gauguin = good
Garry Glitter = bad [not cause he is a pervert but cause his songs stink,] ok now I'm getting it.

Kimi, this is the fourth time I have made this point on the thread. EB was racist because she chose to be so. Don't suppost she could help being pants, in all fairness. There are many writers of her generation and of earlier generations who chose not to be racist and were not pants. Up to you which you choose to read.

BUT, did the word chinky have the same meaning then as now?

Desi I am not in the business of making value judgements about writers or painters. None of my business. However I do make value judgements about the books I choose to read and the paintings I go to see. My choice is not to read crap. Lots of people make the choice to read crap and that is an equally valid choice for them.

But, what one person views as crap another may not.....
I would not read a Jackie Collins book as they do not appeal to me but I do like Stephen King, another person may hate king and love collins.
I would not tell that person that they should not read crap and would not expect them to tell me, I read the new scientist not hello but would not tell everyone that hello was crap

Desi, Do you want front or rear???