What do you think? Joke I found offensive.

I don't think secondary schools can stamp on a lot of stuff teenagers say because teachers and other staff don't even hear most of it. I get the impression from Minibags that the kids stamp on unacceptable stuff themselves. As we did. Didn't we?

The joke in question might have bothered me a bit had I been in the audience but I think in a free society we have to expect to be bothered by stuff we hear. The fact that we find something offensive doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed to be said. I know a lot of people don't agree with this idea.

Let us know what the director says in reply to your letter, bellsisabelle.

Doubt that I'll get a reply Bags. But will let you know if I do.

I'm with bells on this - the use of fairy & poof in that context has no place in a children's production.

I'm really surprised it was in the script to be honest - be interesting to hear any response from the director.

My DD teaches at a school where words of this kind would be stamped on very quickly. I hope all schools these days are the same.

I think so, bells. I doubt any school drama teacher would risk an army of angry parents at the school gates. Even an old script would be edited and brought up to date.

I agree with Bags that kids stamp on unacceptable stuff. Had any of my DGCs been in that audience there would be whispers of, 'That's awful. You can't say that!'

If all kids stamp on it, why are there many examples of this type of language being used in schools? That a far too rosy view of reality

Rigby - it's just untrue, I think people would be shocked if they heard how kids speak when they're on their own. Homophobic and sexist language is on the rise as the country slips further to the right.

Where are all the gay politicians, actors, sports stars? Why do so many gay people pretend to be heterosexual? Because the world is still incredibly homophobic and it's really important to challenge casual homophobia.

Unfortunately there will always be some cruel kids but they're not ALL like that. They throw homophobic comments around without a thought to the meaning or effect. In our day it was playground jokes about spastics and people who stammered.

Most grow out of it. Those who don't are best avoided.

A pantomime is not a school playground and bells was right to send a letter of complaint. Quite honestly I'd be cross at the use of language that belonged in 'It Ain't 'alf Hot, Mum' because today it reveals ignorance and banal script writing rather than a desire to amuse offend.

I have had a reply. The director hides behind the old chestnut of, "it's what pantos do". As I thought she would.

Not good enough IMO.

I replied as follows -

"I accept you are happy with it. I, however, think it was quite wrong to put such words into the mouths of children. If any of the children in the production, or in the audience for that matter, went back to school and called another child a 'fairy' or a 'poof', they would be in deep trouble. I believe we need to educate children away from such unkind mocking."

And there, I will leave it. You will be glad to hear.

You ve done what you can shame on the woman who obviously is very old fashioned and out of touch Nothing more to be done really

So let's deal with the concept that it is OK to have such jokes in Panto because that is the nature of Panto. Perhaps it has been, but in the past it was also considered fine to have shows like The Black and White Minstrels. No one would consider that acceptable now. Things change and it is perfectly possible to have a funny Panto with appalling and corny jokes without resorting to ones that refer to a particular group of people in unacceptable words that have been used as insults.

There is still homophobia in society and in schools and nothing should be done which encourages this or gives the impression that this is acceptable.

I think it is highly inappropriate! But I have found pantos pretty inappropaite for quite a while now. Why not try a theatre show instead - I took my grandchildren who are younger to the Hungry Caterpillar last week ...and used to to take my children when older (12) to a tbeatre show rather than a panto, a,ways a success

If anyone is interested, my lunchtime friends weren't bothered by the panto lines, just thought it old fashioned and not humorous. Don't expect it raised a laugh. They did say a few other things, but People might be offended!!!!!

Has anyone got a comment about the 'joke' I referred to in my post of 19.55 yesterday?

There were a couple of others along those lines. TBH I'm sure it went over the children's heads, but humour like that really has no place in a theatrical production primarily for children.

Sorry Ana.Didn't mean to ignore you. Yes, the joke you mentioned could be seen as offensive to native Americans, but, to be absolutely honest, I can't feel the same about it, probably because there are likely to be fewer native Americans around to be hurt by it.

Yes, I know, but I still felt mildly annoyed by it. Perhaps we're all getting a bit too PC these days...?

It reminded me of an old fashioned stand-up comedian's joke. The kind you'd get at the end of the pier.

We grew up talking about cowboys and injuns but it was a long time before I understood what poof and fairy referred to so I suppose I would find that joke more or less harmless.

It just seemed demeaning to the poor girl playing Tiger Lily, who was the butt of another couple of jokes along the way as well.

Bet if the tribe had been African there wouldn't have been any so-called jokes...

Anybody seen Book of Mormon? Plenty of offensive jokes there, including African ones. Thing is the Mormons haven't taken offence at all..........

But the girl playing Tiger Lily was acting. Surely the jokes weren't aimed at her personally?

Not really comparable to a children's pantomime production though, is it?

(post to Jayanna9040)

No, merlot, but the 'poof' and 'fairy' jokes presumably weren't personal either.

Are we overthinking this