[News] Enid Blyton, classed as xenophobic.

[KeegansHairPiece]

The extent to which political correctness is pervading everything in this country is now reaching ridiculous levels. Is anyone else getting heartily sick and tired of it?

Tired of what, being honest with the past? Why are we so scared of uncomfortable truths? Fingers in our ears...'I don't want to hear bad things la la la la la la'.

History should be treated as an evolving practice that constantly updates, refreshes, relooks, because history is often obscured, by propaganda of the day, politics, and whatever morals were part of it.

If Enid Blyton had some questionable views, so what, I'd rather know the full history than some edited version that suits a candy-land everything is lovely technicolour view of the world.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

No not outraged, just amazed at how people from an earlier time, are brought into todays social media society, so they can tut quite loudly in a polite sort of way.
I did read the article

But....she was always regarded as shit, with the blind eyes of a forgiving nation not turned, probably, as I suggested above, because she was a nasty piece of work, whereas a racist Rupert story is glossed over as 'a thing of its time' because the genre is otherwise blameless.

Incidentally, I haven't seen any new episodes of the Black and White Minstrel show in absolutely ages. Do you know what's going on with that?

 

[Klaas]

It also may be the case that as her treatment of her husband suggests, she was a nasty piece of work: "Blyton's marriage to Pollock became troubled for years, and according to Crowe's memoir, Blyton began a series of affairs, including a lesbian relationship with one of the children's nannies. In 1941 Blyton met Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters, a London surgeon with whom she began a serious affair. Pollock discovered the liaison, and threatened to initiate divorce proceedings against Blyton. Fearing that exposure of her adultery would ruin her public image, it was ultimately agreed that Blyton would instead file for divorce against Pollock. According to Crowe's memoir, Blyton promised that if he admitted to infidelity she would allow him parental access to their daughters; but after the divorce he was forbidden to contact them, and Blyton ensured he was subsequently unable to find work in publishing. Pollock, having married Crowe on 26 October 1943, eventually resumed his heavy drinking and was forced to petition for bankruptcy in 1950"

Wow. Been aware of her dodgy views for years but didn't know she was in no way the 'good little housewife' young Anne was always being told she'd grow up to be.
'What were you doing in the drawing room with Nanny Mama? She was making some very strange noises.'
'Oh, too much ginger beer and scones with LASHINGS of cream my dears.'

 

[jackanada]

Having recently endured the full set of famous five and secret seven, them having been gifted to the boy, I'm first in line to burn them.
Sod all the racism and multiple other prejudices they are utter bilge and share maybe 4 plot lines across 30 odd books.
And yes like Winston Churchill her attitudes are not just repugnant by modern standards but were also considered at least a touch unfortunate by contemporaries.

 

[KZNSeagull]

I sold a ton of the modern version of the Blyton books in my book shop in SA mainly, interestingly (or perhaps not), to the Asian population.

 

[A1X]

"Oh nuts, people are going to be asking difficult questions about the Government again. What can we do?"

"I know, let's have another round of the stupid culture war so people with nothing better to do can get absolutely FURIOUS about how Enid Blyton is being cancelled or something like that."

 

[AmexRuislip]

But....she was always regarded as shit

Wow

Incidentally, I haven't seen any new episodes of the Black and White Minstrel show in absolutely ages. Do you know what's going on with that?

I'll pass for someone else's superior historical knowledge vD

 

[A1X]

The extent to which political correctness is pervading everything in this country is now reaching ridiculous levels. Is anyone else getting heartily sick and tired of it?

These days if you say you're English you get arrested and thrown in jail.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Tired of what, being honest with the past? Why are we so scared of uncomfortable truths? Fingers in our ears...'I don't want to hear bad things la la la la la la'.

History should be treated as an evolving practice that constantly updates, refreshes, relooks, because history is often obscured, by propaganda of the day, politics, and whatever morals were part of it.

If Enid Blyton had some questionable views, so what, I'd rather know the full history than some edited version that suits a candy-land everything is lovely technicolour view of the world.

Precisely. Same with music. I had on tape a track played on the John Peel programme in the early 70s, by the Heavy Metal kids called 'the cops are coming' part of the narrative of which includes a 13 year old being raped. It was perfectly acceptable as presented, back then (as was Peel's constant drooling over 'school girls'), but today the track is shocking. Meanwhile, Peel is still revered presumably because he did not collect enemies by being unpleasant (in contrast to Blyton).

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

"Oh nuts, people are going to be asking difficult questions about the Government again. What can we do?"

"I know, let's have another round of the stupid culture war so people with nothing better to do can get absolutely FURIOUS about how Enid Blyton is being cancelled or something like that."

Not cancelled, not hung out to dry, no plaques removed, just a footnote on a website updated.

I wonder who the called woke's really are, the ones who update Enid Blyton's bio with factual information, or those who are outraged by them doing that?

 

[Zebedee]

I'm getting heartily sick of people acting like it's pervading everything in this country.

People are acting that way for a good reason. I don't have a problem with political correctness per se but I do think that as a society we have gone way, way over the top in slavishly upholding the requirement in all walks of life. It's now almost become an embarrassment.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

People are acting that way for a good reason. I don't have a problem with political correctness per se but I do think that as a society we have gone way, way over the top in slavishly upholding the requirement in all walks of life. It's now almost become an embarrassment.

No it hasn't

Give me an example of something you consider 'over the top' please.

 

[A1X]

Not cancelled, not hung out to dry, no plaques removed, just a footnote on a website updated.

I wonder who the called woke's really are, the ones who update Enid Blyton's bio with factual information, or those who are outraged by them doing that?

It always amazes me that some people get so furious because people say that famous people who are now dead were racist. Were they sticking up for dead celebrities accused of other things which weren't racism too? Do they wear their "Jim'll Fix It" badges with pride in a display against the woke attempts to denigrate that much-loved national treasure?

 

[JJ McClure]

This.
However, I vote we exhume Enid Blyton and make her stand trial for her crimes.. That should keep people happy. Once found guilty, we could re-bury her within the prison courtyard walls for a set period.

Stand trial? Just chuck her in Bristol harbour that's what the mob seem to enjoy.

 

[KeegansHairPiece]

People are acting that way for a good reason. I don't have a problem with political correctness per se but I do think that as a society we have gone way, way over the top in slavishly upholding the requirement in all walks of life. It's now almost become an embarrassment.

How is it political correctness? It is just a factual reflection of history. Blyton received these criticisms in the past, they are part of her past. They are not our present, all that has happened is that we're brave enough to be truthful with the past, rather than pretend certain inconveniences didn't happen.

 

[Zebedee]

These days if you say you're English you get arrested and thrown in jail.

Not sure about that but it's certainly not an advantage to be white, middle class and a English nowadays. I'm not suggesting it should be although there are an awful lot of bleeding hearts out there who claim that's the reality of the situation.

 

[A1X]

Stand trial? Just chuck her in Bristol harbour that's what the mob seem to enjoy.

If you can't get them in the dock one way at least there are alternatives.

 

[BBassic]

This is the thing with "great" people. They don't exist.

There are only flawed people who do great things.

Enid Blyton isn't even in that group. Those books are shit.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Stand trial? Just chuck her in Bristol harbour that's what the mob seem to enjoy.

Let’s just leave that sacred for evil slave traders? We still need to get boats in and out of the harbour.

 

[A1X]

Not sure about that but it's certainly not an advantage to be white, middle class and a English nowadays.