zlacker

> If a work of fiction is changed to not imply women are meant to stay at home and men are meant to go to work, doesn't that show that, to those offended, on some level those implications are core to what makes that work that work?

The problem is that Dahl’s work isn’t an essay, or a treatise. It’s whimsical. It’s art! The words chosen, were chosen because they were the words that worked.

Say these two extracts out loud:

> “You mean Prince Pondicherry?” said Grandpa Joe, and he began chuckling with laughter. “Completely dotty, said Grandpa George. “But very rich,” said Grandma Georgina

> “You mean Prince Puducherry?” said Grandpa Joe, and he began chuckling with laughter

They mean essentially the same thing, but they feel quite different. The rhythm of “Prince Pondicherry” has a bounce to it, “Prince Puducherry” is more like walking down hill.

You might make the argument that this trade of is worth making, but it is in fact a trade of.

>>bitcur+(OP)
Maybe we should change the Mona Lisa to have blue hair

>>bitcur+(OP)
OK, but how does an Indian child feel reading that, who has their name mispronounced every day (sometimes carelessly, sometimes with profuse apologies, sometimes deliberately), and knowing that Pondicherry could never be the name of an Indian prince?

>>lozeng+em
How do children of any specific minority feel when they read historical accounts of racial injustice against their people? Probably really terrible, and maybe even scared. Should they not learn about that history because it makes them feel horrible? That would be extremely unwise since the mistakes of history tend happen again once society forgets.

Old works of fiction also belong in historical narrative because it helps give us a window into popular culture at the time.

(Not that this should matter since my argument should stand on its own, but I’m not white. I just want to preempt any accusations.)

>>lozeng+em
They deal with it knowing that the world is a complex place.

My name was romanized in a incorrect way a hundred years ago and technically the entire English speaking world mispronounces it. I deal with it by not being a goddamn baby about it. And yes, I figured this out when I was 10.

>>chaost+Iv
The point of the book is to entertain, not to make someone feel scared and like an outsider. Dahl also made changes for this reason.

>>lozeng+Bp1
That’s not the only point of fictional works including Dahl’s. Often there are allegorical messages, themes, and satire.

It’s not constructive to stick children’s heads into the ground, especially when that self-chosen ignorance will lead to much worse societal outcomes long term.