Remember the complaints about Eastenders talking about someone having an 'epi'?

[edam]

Just got a response from the Beeb to my complaint about Bianca in Eastenders talking about 'having an epi'. It misses the point entirely, as I've told them. The day I see a character on Eastenders using the word 'Paki' is the day I'll believe this line of argument...

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Thank you for your e-mail.

We were very sorry to hear that you were upset by comments made by Bianca in the episode of 'EastEnders' which transmitted on 02 June.

We certainly didn't mean to cause offence or upset any of our audience with this episode.

'EastEnders' tries to reflect life as it really is and the term 'eppy' is a commonly used figure of speech.

Although we appreciate that it is not 'politically correct', we feel it is the sort of language which Bianca would use.

Of course, other characters wouldn't use the same language but this was very much in keeping with Bianca's character that viewers have come to know over the past 15 years.

We're sorry for any offence caused as this wasn't our intention.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.

Regards

BBC Complaints

Well that's hardly satisfactory, is it? What will you do? Write back and say you're not satisfied? Ask to escalate to someone else? Well done for writing.

Oh, and I'm particularly infuriated by their use of the phrase 'political correctness'. So objecting to discrimination against people with disability or chronic medical conditions is mere political correctness, is it? Why do they spend so much of OUR money on diversity training then?

I've responded to their message saying it is not good enough, demanding to know if they'd let characters use racist language without challenge and objecting to them sneering at me for being 'politically correct'. Gits.

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Just to give my 2p that is a commonly used term and I think most who use it have no idea it relates to something offensive and upsetting to others.

The word 'paki' is a whole different matter.

Cod, you know I love you, but discrimination against people with disabilities or long-term medical conditions is just as bad as racism, sexism or any other 'ism'.

The ignorance of what is means response is one favoured by my granny who stills bemoans the absence of n*** brown wool from the shops. I really don't think it stands up.

I think it is likely someone like Bianca may use terms like this (agree with Cod re the racist terms; don't think she'd say it out load) and it would be the norm for her to be heard saying such a phrase. However, I would like to see the counter arguement - someone commenting on her term and picking her up on it.

some of my expletive asterisks were cut from my previous post

Agree with you Hulababy.

I'd never heard the expression beofre; when I saw the original thread title I thought it was about Epipens.

Exactly, Hula, if it was challenged by another character that would be fine. But to use it as if it's OK and then to brush off complaints with a sneer about 'political correctness' (from the BBC, FFS!) is just Not On.

I hate the expression and if I watched Eastenders I'd have written in too. My sister suffers from epilepsy and to hear the BBC being so flippant about such use of language is disgusting.

I think the response is piss poor. Sorry. OK, I am not unbiased here (My daughter has epilepsy) but I think this is really ridiculous. So let's all continue using offensive terms, as long as it is 'only' at the expense of people with disabilities. FFS.

Well, Chris Moyles got away with saying something was 'gay' because it was normal for yoot to use it in that way, so I wouldn't Hold Your Breath.

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The thing that gets me is that kids watch eastenders and will think that the term is acceptable. Try explaining that it's "in character" to an 11 year old.

Thanks Aunty, totally agree.

Very good points, Aunty and herbie.

edam, I got exactly the same response from them this morning!

I don't usually agree with Cod, but I have to agree about the "in character" thing.

Only this morning, was reading Stephen King's autobiog and he was saying how much hate mail he got for a range of things - from foul language to racism and psychopathic tendencies. His point was that at the end of the day, as a writer you have to be true to your character and that anything less becomes unbelievable and stilted dialogue.

It's a whole different scenario if a presenter uses an offensive term, imo and I'd be with you all the way on that. But for a fictional character - despise the character not the production, as that is the whole point of characterisation.

here here!