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Your views on Media “censorship” ?

(39 Posts)
MawBe Fri 20-Nov-20 12:16:54

BBC Radio 1 will not play the original version of Christmas favourite Fairytale of New York to avoid offending its youthful listeners.
The Pogues’ gritty festive hit with Kirsty MacColl has become a festive playlist staple, but in recent years has come under increased scrutiny for its adult content and lyrics, which include the words ­“faggot” and “slut”.
BBC bosses say they fear the terms may upset Radio 1’s younger listeners.
This year, the station will play an alternative version – also sung by ­MacColl – with the offending references replaced by more modest terms.
Radio 2, however, will continue to play the original, and BBC 6 Music is making both ­versions available and leaving it to each ­presenter’s choice.

Jane10 Fri 20-Nov-20 16:05:50

Terribull you said 'shites'! shockshockshock. Shock horror. On Gransnet too. What's the world coming to. grin

EllanVannin Fri 20-Nov-20 16:03:15

Usually the minority, Lexisgranny who win every time by the banning of certain innocent words.

EllanVannin Fri 20-Nov-20 15:59:10

Yet the lyrics of Eminem get top marks ? Uncensored of course.

Lexisgranny Fri 20-Nov-20 15:56:29

Oddly enough we bought some faggots this week. When I was small, faggot was a term of exasperated endearment used by mothers to children whose behaviour left much to desired, it’s weird how it means different things in different parts of the country.

MissAdventure Fri 20-Nov-20 15:44:28

Iceland sell them, I'm sure.
My daughter was a big fan of faggots when she was a little girl. (I'm not though!)

sodapop Fri 20-Nov-20 15:19:57

LauraNorder

Brain's Pork Faggots anyone? Delicious.

Can you still get those LauraNorder I like them too.

TerriBull Fri 20-Nov-20 14:14:09

My husband told me he was listening to the radio this morning, and a student representative from De Montfort University was being interviewed because she and others are calling for the name of that university to be changed. Simon De Montfort, lived 800 or so years ago, I'm sure he wasn't very nice, but different days! you wouldn't think that needed explaining! Where's all this going to end, should we re name places derived from Scandinavian invaders, because they might be ok now with their lovely furniture and hygge and all that, but they were a right bunch of marauding shites back in the 8th century........and then when we've changed all those names, lets alter anything Latin and dismantle any vestiges of Roman remains, cos look wot they did to us shock ..........back and back in time we can finding something unacceptable on the tribes who lived in England pre BC, probably culminating in the dismantling of Stonehenge because slave labour was used for that blah! blah!................ and then we can all finally disappear up our own cleansed exhaust pipes having kicked over the traces of every historical misdemeanour that ever happened.

LauraNorder Fri 20-Nov-20 13:53:58

Brain's Pork Faggots anyone? Delicious.

Gwyneth Fri 20-Nov-20 13:51:56

Well I shall be playing the song with the original lyrics over Christmas. The BBC are just ridiculous.

TerriBull Fri 20-Nov-20 13:45:43

I have no idea what Radio 1 deems suitable these days, don't tune in, but wonder whether they deemed the recent "WAP" song passable to be heard by young ears. There's a whole mass of sexist, sexualised and violence alluding lyrics around and have been for a while. Personally I think "Grime" has a lot to answer for, how many times have the murderers of young men been associated with that particular genre, usually, putting out their own videos, disguised with facial coverings, whilst they glorify what they're going to do to gang rivals hmm

I took one of my sons to task as an adolescent for liking The Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" no idea how that got the thumbs up shock

I think "Fairy Tale in New York" is quite tame compared to some of the lyrics around today.

Jaxjacky Fri 20-Nov-20 13:44:21

EllanVannin we had venison faggots a few weeks ago!
But, to go back to the OP, I’m fed up with ‘history’ being cleansed, I thought we were grown ups who could decide what we listen to, read,watch, eat etc. And I like the Pogues track, it has fond memories, as do other Christmas songs and carols.

Tweedle24 Fri 20-Nov-20 13:43:07

The organisation to which I belong, had a Zoom talk last week about the songs that were banned by the BBC from 1932. Some of them were allowed back later.
Some of the reasons are amazing. One Pat Boone song was banned because it was a religious song which "should not be sung by a pop singer. Only a pastor should say those words"!

MissAdventure Fri 20-Nov-20 13:40:42

That's always what I thought it was referring to - meaning someone had as much common sense as a bundle of wood.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 20-Nov-20 13:38:25

Faggot is a bundle of wood.

EllanVannin Fri 20-Nov-20 13:37:14

Double standards galore. No wonder kids are confused.

EllanVannin Fri 20-Nov-20 13:34:03

I used to love faggots in gravy years ago anyway ! There, I've said it.

Remind me to complain bitterly about all the swearing on TV !

EllanVannin Fri 20-Nov-20 13:31:45

Unless these things are deliberately brought to our attention, they go unnoticed. I wish this nit-picking would stop as that's what it is, purposely pointed out by the media to cause maximum hysteria and unnecessary sensationalism.

I'm sick of it all. Thank goodness I've got the original Christmas recordings.

LauraNorder Fri 20-Nov-20 13:26:45

we in the north eat faggots

MissAdventure Fri 20-Nov-20 13:20:33

That's my take on the word, too.
My best friend used to call me a silly old faggot when we were about ten.

Blossoming Fri 20-Nov-20 13:18:41

Missfoodlove I think I’d reply “What makes you think I’m going on holiday?”

Blossoming Fri 20-Nov-20 13:17:09

I think it’s because too many people assume the word ‘faggot’ is being used as a homosexual slur. When I was young the word meant an old bag, much the same as besom. I always thought that was how it was used in the song.

Missfoodlove Fri 20-Nov-20 13:16:08

If I am wished “happy holiday” I will scream.

MissAdventure Fri 20-Nov-20 13:13:29

My grandsons know a lot worse words than are used in the song, just because they are young, listen to music and watch things online.

petra Fri 20-Nov-20 13:10:13

Another one from the BBC wokespeak bible this week was from Katya Adler. When commenting on the trade talks she used the word Fisherwoman
Thank god the 2.4 Fisherwomen in this country well and truely castigated her and pointed out that they are Fishermen.

Doodledog Fri 20-Nov-20 13:08:14

The song is a favourite of mine (and of a lot of people!), but it is of its time, and times change. I don't see a problem with changing the word. It doesn't change the meaning of the song, the band is happy with the change, and it seems to me a storm in a teacup.

When I was young I heard all kinds of words on a daily basis that I wouldn't have wanted my own children to hear, and they will feel the same about their own children.

Think of those 'It was alright in the 70s' shows. Some of the things that are on there are shocking, even though they were considered ok at the time. I see this as a bit like that - it wold be a pity to ban the song, as it is so good, but there is no need for a new generation to hear that sort of language, IMO.