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dr who and the politically correct script writers

(145 Posts)
petunia Mon 29-Oct-18 08:50:38

I’ve been a Dr Who fan since I was a little girl. I’ve hidden behind the sofa when the Daleks were on screen. I’ve had nightmares about Cybermen. I was unnerved by the Weeping Angels. I’ve loved each and every one of the incarnations of the Dr, particularly David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston. I was thrilled when it was announced that the new Dr would be female. About time too.
But oh dear, they are laying it on thick. Each week feels like a lecture-racism, the environment, sexism. I await transgenderism. While I accept that some political statements are bound to happen, it’s the clumsy way they are shoehorned into each episode. It’s almost as though the producers are standing by with a clip board and checklist.
It makes me want to keep a check list of my own to see how many isms’ can be piled into each episode.
By the way, I love the new female incarnation

PECS Tue 06-Nov-18 22:28:43

Iam64 absolutely! Kids only know what we teach them . If they grow up with snow people they can choose man / woman/ boy/ girl etc. as they want. As the song goes, "You have to be taught to hate"

Bridgeit Tue 06-Nov-18 22:26:11

Brilliant Day6

annodomini Tue 06-Nov-18 22:19:44

There's nothing new in Sci Fi about a man giving birth. Some of my favourite books in that genre are Ian M Banks's 'Culture' novels about a society of advanced humans who can choose to change sex as and when they feel like it. They have the technology to make it happen!

Iam64 Tue 06-Nov-18 22:00:38

I can't see the link between calling a snowman, snowman or snow person and confusing children. No one is 'taking away innocence', what does that mean even?

The children in our family all know that Uncle x is gay and lives with his husband. They know that y's sister is gay and lives with her wife. It isn't confusing for them, it is as it is.

mcem Tue 06-Nov-18 21:54:24

Their sexuality is flaunted and hyped.
What a ridiculously sweeping generalisation.
What about all those gay people who simply get on with their normal lives - with no flaunting or hyping involved - just working, building homes, being members of families?

Day6 Tue 06-Nov-18 20:51:59

All I can say is, a small group of adults seem intent on confusing everyone as to what is acceptable and what is not. So now children have to be aware that being a man or woman, a girl or a boy is not how it is. The age of innocence is dead, more's the pity.

I remember when more and more homosexuals came out. I was glad they felt they could, but to this day THEIR sexuality is flaunted and hyped and now the current issue gender confusion, so that has to be hyped as well. Dr Who script writer - "Yeah, a pregnant man giving birth - that's out there." It fools no one.

Whatever happened to growing up and then discovering there was more to people than met the eye? Being aware of sexuality evolving...growing up, coming to terms with feelings. Dare I say that puberty is quite a big deal for a straight man or woman too?

I (and I am sure most thinking and caring adults) have no axe to grind whatever regarding the way other people are. We have to be true to ourselves and yes, there have always been hurdles to overcome for people who are different, who break the mould, who don't fit the norm, but do we REALLY have to now have an agenda (for snowmen) that is all inclusive? Really? We have to tell children their snow ...man, woman..has to represent the growing trend for cross dressing and denying their gender?

I suspect we are confusing lots of little ones who haven't the thinking skills, wisdom or maturity to embrace a minority push for a society without gender. Let them build a flipping snowman.

Give it earrings and a frock if necessary - but that will be the initiative of an adult

Just be - stop forcing issues on children.

It's not enlightenment, it's akin to mental cruelty if they haven't the capacity yet for awareness or understanding. Growing up without confusion and fear and gaining gradual enlightenment (because we are so much more aware these days so it will happen) should be the right of every child if we want to protect their precious innocence and their childhood.

That is not to say ignorance is bliss, as we all become aware and self conscious eventually but as far as I know, women give birth to boy and girl babies. The angst and confusion some suffer regarding their sex (a minority) is not for the mind of a young snow sculpture building child.

eazybee Tue 06-Nov-18 20:30:36

The names for disabilities aren't cruel ; they were all at one time correct and accepted medical terms; it is people's usage, calling someone 'spas' or cretin which is cruel.
In exactly the same way calling a woman a bitch or a cow, lovely animals both, is intended to hurt.
But I won't use the term 'chair because it is silly.
Madam chairman or chairman.'

NfkDumpling Tue 06-Nov-18 19:48:08

I spent half this weeks Dr Who wondering exactly how the man gave birth. I did like the idea of a one week pregnancy!

Iam64 Tue 06-Nov-18 19:38:56

What's the problem with a cross dressing snow sculpture? What's the issue about having snow people, snowmen, snowmen ?

Day6 Tue 06-Nov-18 19:12:45

PECS
What a nasty and extreme suggestion.

Snowmen will always be snowmen. That they should be 'snowpeople' is laughable. Oh but it will be adopted, just as the chairman of our regular meetings is referred to as 'chair'. He often jokes he wished he had four stable legs.

To mention he is male isn't offensive and a solicitor who leads another group is known as Madam Chairwoman - a long standing tradition which, apparently, she (mid 30s) has no desire to change, and finds unoffensive.

Your example is extreme, suggesting people are unfeeling and cruel. Cruel names for disabilities have been changed and rightly so, but when has referring to an icy garden sculpture, fun to make, which melts, as a snow MAN been offensive?

Just who does it offend? By all means have a snow woman and differentiate.

We will be having cross-dressed and transgender snow sculptures before long I dare say.

It's all getting quite ridiculous. The word MAN is not offensive (Or is it? ) I find it all slightly sinister. And yes, the pregnant man giving birth in Dr Who was a liberal writers nod to the norm (miraculously) changing. Should we give our snowMEN wombs too?

Sigh.

Iam64 Tue 06-Nov-18 19:10:27

Oh PECS your post made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. 35 years in public service and a real interest in history means I'm overly familiar with the changes in terms used to describe various things or people over the years. The term 'lunatic' was replaced because of recognition it diminished and demonised the person. Same goes for 'mongol' or 'spastic' and 'cripple'.
When I started work the term "mixed race' was seen as less offensive than 'half caste'. By the time I finished, the term 'dual heritage' was in use and I honestly found it more appropriate, less dismissive.
I know I know, I'll be dismissed as a snow flake, or as someone who is too "politically correct" and has no sense of humour. I don't mind. I'd rather be diminished in this way, than find myself diminishing and dehumanising others.

PECS Tue 06-Nov-18 18:54:06

EllanVannin So do you use terms like 'mongol' to describe a person with DS or "spastic" for a person with CP or " cripple" for someone in a wheelchair?

oldbatty Mon 05-Nov-18 12:31:49

Well that's bloody marvelous ( awaits crazed PM's and widespread condemnation)

EllanVannin Mon 05-Nov-18 11:42:50

It'll always be a snowman to me like everything else non-pc.

GrandmaKT Mon 05-Nov-18 10:57:48

I see yesterday's story featured a pregnant man giving birth!

toscalily Mon 05-Nov-18 10:56:20

Snowpeople? Well If I were building something from snow with my grandchildren it would be a snowman or a snowwoman but certainly not snow people, a) because there would probably not be enough snow and b) because I wouldn't have the strength nor inclination to build more than one.

JessK Mon 05-Nov-18 10:34:21

And don't forget we will now have to all the Cybermen Cyberpeople!

EllanVannin Mon 05-Nov-18 10:15:10

No more " Snowmen ". CBeebies are now calling them Snowpeople !

Iam64 Thu 01-Nov-18 21:26:10

If friends don't discuss religion, personal politics, 'only froth', that's fine but it isn't close friendship imo.

lemongrove Thu 01-Nov-18 20:59:28

defend the indefensible? What new nonsense is this?
You are certainly being defensive about something but hey! May you find enlightenment too.

mcem Thu 01-Nov-18 20:52:55

Congratulations lemon on your very vivid imagination.
I am so pleased that we live in very different worlds but am sorry that for some strange reason you feel the need to defend the indefensible!
May you find enlightenment xx

lemongrove Thu 01-Nov-18 20:36:29

I think you protest too much mcem and may have a personal axe to grind.

mcem Thu 01-Nov-18 20:28:09

I didn't say that living in a village makes one narrow-minded nor did I say that * GG* used the term 'undesirables'.
However given the attitudes expressed and the terminology used
that is simply my interpretation of the post. I have also taken a view based on similar comments on other threads.
As far as I know I am entitled to state my point of view whether or not you like it/ agree with it / choose to argue over it.

GabriellaG Thu 01-Nov-18 18:52:34

Well...I went against the grain when I voted to leave but I have no idea how my friends voted. We never discuss religion, our personal politics or sex, only froth.

petunia Thu 01-Nov-18 10:25:06

Just caught up with the comments on this thread. I find it fascinating when a thread takes a completely different turn. One minute we are talking about the heavy handed lectures on life in Dr Who, the next moment, we are off at a tangent. Life is so much more interesting when we see other people’s point of view, even if we don’t agree.
Long live gransnet
and i also found the weeping angels scary