Thanks so much for writing this! I clicked through to see the changes and got enraged all over again, particularly around the complete removal of the word fat. As a fat person myself the absolute ignorance of the move makes my blood boil. The problem with body image in society was never the word fat but the perceptions around that word. Removing the word fat stigmatizes a perfectly useful adjective and does absolutely nothing about changing the way society worships at the the alter of starvation physiques. Striking a red pen through the word fat is the thoughts and prayers of body empowerment--useless rhetoric designed to make the person holding the pen feel better while doing absolutely nothing to make substantive changes.
Kids love the bad guys and can understand that is their role. A Series of Unfortunate Events, the book series won't ruin kids, as we know. Some parents roll their eyes and gasp, but kids get it.
I think we should also hold back in referring to people as all out “horrible” unless they are Hitler or someone else at that level of infamy. They have said or done “horrible” things but does that define their existence? Who should be the curator of that viewpoint.? This reaction if mine is perhaps inspired by friends who have referred to the residents of Palestine, Ohio as “knuckledraggers” holding signs that read ‘Joe has got to go” as if anyone who has concerns in that region is a “Trumper”. As far as the books go, I can’t imagine “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein surviving.
Thanks so much for writing this! I clicked through to see the changes and got enraged all over again, particularly around the complete removal of the word fat. As a fat person myself the absolute ignorance of the move makes my blood boil. The problem with body image in society was never the word fat but the perceptions around that word. Removing the word fat stigmatizes a perfectly useful adjective and does absolutely nothing about changing the way society worships at the the alter of starvation physiques. Striking a red pen through the word fat is the thoughts and prayers of body empowerment--useless rhetoric designed to make the person holding the pen feel better while doing absolutely nothing to make substantive changes.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. :)
Kids love the bad guys and can understand that is their role. A Series of Unfortunate Events, the book series won't ruin kids, as we know. Some parents roll their eyes and gasp, but kids get it.
I think we should also hold back in referring to people as all out “horrible” unless they are Hitler or someone else at that level of infamy. They have said or done “horrible” things but does that define their existence? Who should be the curator of that viewpoint.? This reaction if mine is perhaps inspired by friends who have referred to the residents of Palestine, Ohio as “knuckledraggers” holding signs that read ‘Joe has got to go” as if anyone who has concerns in that region is a “Trumper”. As far as the books go, I can’t imagine “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein surviving.