Three Little Pigs is too offensive...

[syciprider]

Three Little Pigs 'too offensive'
By Sean Coughlan
BBC News, education

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7204635.stm

The judges said this depiction of a pig "raised cultural issues"
A story based on the Three Little Pigs has been turned down from a government agency's annual awards because the subject matter could offend Muslims.
The digital book, re-telling the classic fairy tale, was rejected by judges who warned that "the use of pigs raises cultural issues".

Becta, the government's educational technology agency, is a leading partner in the annual schools award.

The judges also attacked Three Little Cowboy Builders for offending builders.

The book's creative director, Anne Curtis, said that the idea that including pigs in a story could be interpreted as racism was "like a slap in the face".

'Cultural issues'

The CD-Rom digital version of the traditional story of the three little pigs, called Three Little Cowboy Builders, is aimed at primary school children.

But judges at this year's Bett Award said that they had "concerns about the Asian community and the use of pigs raises cultural issues".

The Three Little Cowboy Builders has already been a prize winner at the recent Education Resource Award - but its Newcastle-based publishers, Shoo-fly were turned down by the Bett Award panel, run the government's technology agency.

The feedback from the judges explaining why they had rejected the CD-Rom highlighted that they "could not recommend this product to the Muslim community".

They also warned that the story might "alienate parts of the workforce (building trade)".

The judges criticised the stereotyping in the story of the unfortunate pigs: "Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?"

Animal Farm?

Ms Curtis said that rather than preventing the spread of racism, such an attitude was likely to inflame ill-feeling. As another example, she says would that mean that secondary schools could not teach Animal Farm because it features pigs?

Her company is committed to an ethical approach to business and its products promote a message of mutual respect, she says - and banning such traditional stories will "close minds rather than open them".

Becta, the government funded agency responsible for technology in schools and colleges, says that it is standing by the judges' verdict.

"Becta with its partners is responsible for the judging criteria against which the 70 independent judges, mostly practising teachers, comment. All the partners stick by the judging criteria," said a Becta spokesman.

The reason that this product was not shortlisted was because "it failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria", said the spokesman.

Becta runs the awards with the Besa trade association and show organisers, Emap Education.

Merlin John, author of an educational technology website which highlighted the story, warns that such rulings can undermine the credibility of the awards.

"When benchmarks are undermined by pedestrian and pedantic tick lists, and by inflexible, unhelpful processes, it can tarnish the achievements of even the most worthy winners.

"It's time for a rethink, and for Becta to listen to the criticisms that have been ignored for a number of years," said Mr John.

[Jeremy Crockett]

The mind boggles.

[Mark Latimour]

I wondered how long it would take for this to show up on OT. Its another story where reading between the lines makes it pretty easy to spot the reality from the newspapers "spin" on the story. Still seems a bit ridiculous to me, but nowhere near as "OMG!!" as it seems when you first read it.

[IconBasser]

holy crap... when I first saw the title, I thought it was a joke.


this is absolutely ridiculous. People need to stop finding useless crap to moan about and get on with life.

[fenderhutz]

You know it's funny but in Thomas the Tank Engine the US version has the main conductor as Sir Topham Hat, but the British Version ALWAYS refers to him as "The Fat Conductor" which I have never seen in a US book or story.

I guess it is starting to reflect he UK's bulging waistlines. Tolerance of fat is going up.

[Thunderbird91]

America is getting a little too tame for my tastes. (and George Carlin's too.) I think this might be the sign that America's once-massive-balls are slowly vanishing. Oh wait. Is that offensive?

I don't care. And I don't see why anyone should.

[funkalicious101]

I keep hearing "people could get offended"

Has anyone who has been offended by something like this ever come foreward?

[Valerus]

Ridiculous!

[Vandelay]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird91

America is getting a little too tame for my tastes. (and George Carlin's too.) I think this might be the sign that America's once-massive-balls are slowly vanishing. Oh wait. Is that offensive?

I don't care. And I don't see why anyone should.

Uh, this occured in Great Britain.

[iamlowsound]

If you are offended by the three little pigs, you have much bigger issues to worry about.

lowsound

[Josh Ryan]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird91

America is getting a little too tame for my tastes. (and George Carlin's too.) I think this might be the sign that America's once-massive-balls are slowly vanishing. Oh wait. Is that offensive?

I don't care. And I don't see why anyone should.

I agree,

(even though I'm aware the OP was about something that happened in the UK, I'm also aware that sometimes, just sometimes, minor thread drift occurs and topics have their scope broadened. )

[Darkstrike]

Wait till playing the bass is offensive!

[kserg]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird91

America is getting a little too tame for my tastes. (and George Carlin's too.) I think this might be the sign that America's once-massive-balls are slowly vanishing. Oh wait. Is that offensive?

I don't care. And I don't see why anyone should.

What does America has to do with anything written here? Or is it just because saying that is "cool"?

[burk48237]

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

I wondered how long it would take for this to show up on OT. Its another story where reading between the lines makes it pretty easy to spot the reality from the newspapers "spin" on the story. Still seems a bit ridiculous to me, but nowhere near as "OMG!!" as it seems when you first read it.

In what way Mark? I'm not at all surprised by the story, and I agree it isn't quite an OMG. But maybe thats part of the problem? These stories of absolutely ridiculous PC selectivity are far to common. Much like the kid who got suspended from school for drawing a gun or the Danish Cartoon story all this stuff does is squelch freedom and destroy creativity. When the creative among us have to get everything approved by the thought control boards so we don't offend selective religions (and it's not every religion- it's perfectly OK to offend Jews and Christians) or cultures, then freedom of expression no longer exists.

[dancehallclasher]

I say we all jump to conclusions without actually reading the story ourselves! Are you with me, Talkbass?!

[hartke20g]

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

I say we all jump to conclusions without actually reading the story ourselves! Are you with me, Talkbass?!

seriously though, this is getting really annoying really fast. someday everything entire generations have had/been able to do will be banned. i hope these kinds of things are just a fad, and pass just as quickly as one.

[jrthebassguy]

They should've told this version and everything probably would've been alright.

[Tomass]

Thats unbeleivable, why is it such an issue now, its just a story that reflects upon morals and teachs a lesson (to a degree, its been a while since ive read it). I guess some people are bored, or just want more attention.

[iamlowsound]

Here is the best version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vNk4K3YaIc

lowsound

[Valerus]

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

Here is the best version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vNk4K3YaIc

lowsound

HAHAH