Fawlty Towers “Don’t mention the war” removed.

[boredtotears11]

Aibu to say I think that is a ridiculous decision by the BBC.Theyve removed it from its streaming service because of its “racist slurs”. It was a classic piece of comedy. I mean if they start picking apart old classic comedy how far are they going to go. Dads Army next?

I can easily imagine sitting there with a black grandchild and finding it very unpleasant as family viewing. It is so hard to call these things, my husband and our mixed race kids love Basil Fawlty, they don't seem to be offended by a silly old man. On the other hand white me hates it, can't bear to watch it. I don't think it is as straightforward as people think.

It's getting rediculous.

I don’t know whether this is the right way to challenge issues of racism, but there is an argument that if racists are depicted in this way, it makes them and their ideas less powerful. I think that is how DH and kids feel, I must ask them.

There's already a version of this episode without the racist language - I imagine they'll just put that one up instead

In which case - why did they have the other version up in the first place?

This sounds like a complete non-story in that case. Sigh.

I find most "comedy" massively cringey and embarrassing anyway but banning everything is a bit stupid when it can be cleverly edited.

@1forsorrow I think I would mainly feel ashamed!

If anyone has seen the Hitler comedy film, ‘Look who’s back’, the makers were very keen to depict the character as a bit of an idiot.
Really? The book made it clear that he was dangerous, as people were still taken in by his rhetoric.

If anyone has seen the Hitler comedy film, ‘Look who’s back’, the makers were very keen to depict the character as a bit of an idiot

I read the book, I didn't see the film. It was quite amusing but didn't really go anywhere (not sure where I thought it to go, but thought the ending was a bit naff).

We've moved on people. There's a lot of 1070's comedy that has been rightly censored, horrible sexist racist shit. We don't watch Benny Hill chasing young women whose clothes have fallen off any more.

There's more TV available now than ever before, from all around the world. I'm sure we can all find something to watch.

Hopefully we aren’t heading towards a humourless society.......an anti-racist one would be good though don’t you think?

I certainly do, but you think that’ll be achieved by removing old comedy shows?

I should think the BBC has removed it entirely (rather than editing) so that if they get any accusations of racism, they can point to this widely reported and noticed change as a sign of how anti-racist they are.

My to German ex colleagues loved Fawlty Towers and always quoted the bit about not mentioning th ewar!

I certainly do, but you think that’ll be achieved by removing old comedy shows?

Do you not read the news? Read about history? Race relations?
We should be falling over ourselves to make this better.

This is turning into complete virtue signalling teratory at this point.

Let’s remove everything which makes mention of anything which might, possibly, maybe, be constrewed as being racist ever because it’s the “right-on” thing to do.

They’re not removing it because they’ve suddenly realised it was offensive, they’ve removed it for fear of being targeted if they don’t.

The reality here is that these protests have caused far more division than they have solved.

It’s ok to deface any kind of symbol of racism back then, it’s ok to cause violence and looting, to throw items at the police, to inflict personal injury on other people, because it’s all about the pent-up feelings.

Presumably it was also ok for Zimbabwean and now South African white farmers to be routinely murdered all in the name of the past...

TBH I could go on but in truth I think I am about to leave social media altogether as well as MN because these discussions have become so completely polarised that all reason has been lost.

As for removing all material that might contain offence to women, that would be just as ridiculous.

@ravenmum So my husband and kids should be ashamed, of what? Not being white? Not finding something offensive? Wow we have come to something haven't we.

Well I am aware of German heritage children who are bullied about it at school so it isn’t just the older generation, clearly, who are anti-German.

@fascinated I was surprised when we had a German exchange student staying with us and he told us about the abuse he got. He couldn't understand it, as he said his parents weren't born in 1945 let alone him.

That episode was also never "anti-German" or in any way laughing at German people. The German characters behave politely and reasonably throughout. The joke is on Basil, whose prejudice is completely nonsensical, and his ridiculous behaviour.

It is so hard to call these things, my husband and our mixed race kids love Basil Fawlty, they don't seem to be offended by a silly old man. On the other hand white me hates it, can't bear to watch it.

I’m like that about any shows (including Fawlty) where they depict the Irish as thick and idle. Even though I’m Irish myself I find a lot of it hilarious. I think when it’s done in an over exaggerated way it’s funny. The Irish are stero typed but then the English are too. It can all be funny if done right. I think people are shocked now when they watch some of the old comedy shows and films at how overtly racist they could be. I think rather than add to racism it probably makes people more determined NOT to be racist.

So my husband and kids should be ashamed, of what?
I meant that I would feel ashamed, as a white person, watching a TV show that made light of racism as if I found that acceptable.
In the same way that I sometimes feel ashamed, living in Germany, when my German children hear the nastier anti-German comments from my fellow Brits.

That episode was also never "anti-German" or in any way laughing at German people. The German characters behave politely and reasonably throughout. The joke is on Basil, whose prejudice is completely nonsensical, and his ridiculous behaviour.

^This. The joke is always on Basil in every Fawlty Towers episode.

Just checked and the episode is still on Netflix.

I can't find any Fawlty Towers on mine 🤔

Perhaps we should ban all comedy, because 99% is imo completely unfunny. Has anyone had the misfortune to hear any Radio 4 “comedy”? I heard a piece where they were joking (a man) about periods. It was I suppose meant to be modern and brave. I was offended: it was salacious and grim.

Ironically it’s the same kids who have expressed mildly racist views towards a mixed race child. Somehow I don’t think they would understand the irony of that.

This is why the BBC should go.

Presumably it was also ok for Zimbabwean and now South African white farmers to be routinely murdered all in the name of the past...

Oh dear. Didn't take long for some angry SBALT (some black people are like that) did it?

I don’t know if that’s specific episode but me and DH watched one last week when Sybil was in hospital, for a toenail I think, and were shocked when Basil Fawlty recoiled back at the (black) doctor and the words N**r and I forget the other one were used.
We had watched fawlty towers for years and always loved it and shocked to hear it.
I think it’s right for it to be removed.