Duolingo is trying to queer us again.

[PollyHutchen]

Not content with describing JK Rowling as 'gemein' mean, Duoling's German course is busy normalising BDSM/kink to users of all ages. Here - image attached - we learn that single Dad Eddy has a leather suit and a whip in the cupboard. Duolingo encourages users to sign up via its family plan. But I wouldn't really fancy explaining this one to younger members of my own family.

The Duolingo screenshot has been flagged up as 'sensitive' by Mumsnet's algorithm.

The relevant sentence - spoken by Eddy's small son Junior - is, 'Ich habe im Schrank deinen Lederanzug und deine Peitsche gefunden.' - I found your leather suit and your whip in the wardrobe.'

Duolingo is having some serious issues with whoever is writing content for it's German language section.

I had exactly the same story in DuoLingo French.

The ending was that Eddy pretended to be a lion tamer :)

WTF? Oh come on Duolingo, it is actually entirely possible to learn a language without referencing kink.

Umm you know that (some) straight folk also have leather and BDSM kinks?

What specifically is queer about this?

WTF. What happened to learning 'where is the nearest supermarket' and 'I like to play tennis' .

Does Eddy take his headband off when he indulges, or does he swap it for a tight leather one?
It's all a bit unnecessary for an app used by young kids, perhaps it's a cultural foible.

I’ve only used Duolingo to learn Spanish and never encountered anything as fun as this. I might have to take up German…

Come to think of it, Eddy does have the look of a young Frank Bough.

Errrrr....

The idea some employee decided that it is ok to design a language app option where a child would become involved it their parents sexual activities.....

That is an employee kink best solved by removing the employees access rights.

Otherwise a "Q" employee is upselling the P

Duolingo content is being created by AI not humans now.

I've seen this same story being posted from the Spanish Duolingo too.

That's given me the shove I needed to delete the Duolingo app.

I've been doing German on duolingo for about 2 years and not come across this! Thankfully.

Children and teens use duolingo. Its encouraged by DDs Spanish teacher. (They have a competition going, the daily practice helps even if the content doesn't match their school work).

So no, nothing sexual is appropriate.

A female character referencing a wife or similar is of course completely fine.

This is very disappointing, the courses dont need to reference someones supposed sex life whether gay or straight.

Im just thinking about starting the Spanish againa nd now this has given me cause for thought. Is there any way of flagging this and getting it removed?

Then somebody needs to teach it not to involve children in anything to do with sex acts

That's it's involving a "child" character is even worse

Primary children use Duolingo, in school

Me too and I think someone posted it in Spanish on the other thread a few days ago. They tend to reuse the stories across different languages.

It’s on the Spanish course as well. I guess it depends on your level.

Queer theory, ie smashing boundaries. Aren’t you familiar with the term “queering”? It doesn’t always mean “make homosexual or bisexual”.

Did you actually intend to post saying you wanted to learn German so that you could hold a conversation with german ( native ) speaking children about your sex life?

Yes this, Im surprised someone has to ask this. Its not about gay or straight anymore, its about being your true self. Whatever that is.