Political correctness gone mad

seun · Dec 9, 2010

As you lovely people may know, I work in a library. We've been given two figures made by seven and eight year old kids for display over Christmas. The two figures are Mary and Joseph. Both are about four feet tall, clearly made by children and are the sort of creations only a parent would like.

Joseph is black.

Which means I have to ask how long before a customer utters the dread phrase: "It's political correctness gone mad", and I am forced to kill them?

Mr Flibble · Dec 9, 2010

About a minute and a half?

How you going to do it? Arsenic in the coffee machine or the Secret Screwdriver in the groin?

seun · Dec 9, 2010

IdiotsRUs said:
About a minute and a half?

We had a customer complain about the dvd cover of the Sandra Bullock film The Blind Side because she's a white woman sat next to a black man.

I told him to fuck off.

OK. I didn't really but only because I can't afford to lose my job.

Silent Rob · Dec 9, 2010

Oh...I thought it was going to be because it had Sandra Bullock on it.

seun · Dec 9, 2010

Silent Rob said:
Oh...I thought it was going to be because it had Sandra Bullock on it.

A completely acceptable complaint.

Silent Rob · Dec 9, 2010

I know...my next comment was going to be that you were a bit harsh on the poor fella.

But then I realised he was a racist.

Mr Flibble · Dec 9, 2010

seun said:
We had a customer complain about the dvd cover of the Sandra Bullock film The Blind Side because she's a white woman sat next to a black man.

I told him to fuck off.

OK. I didn't really but only because I can't afford to lose my job.

I'd have told him to fuck off (without using the word fuck

). A loud 'What, are you racist?' often works wonders. *

ETA: Oh hang on, you're in the EDL area aren't you? That might not work....I'd tell him to piss off back under his stone. Quietly, with no witnesses so if he complains I can get him banned for being a delusional loony.

Alpha Echo · Dec 9, 2010

seun said:
We had a customer complain about the dvd cover of the Sandra Bullock film The Blind Side because she's a white woman sat next to a black man.

I told him to fuck off.

OK. I didn't really but only because I can't afford to lose my job.

Seriously? WTF? Wow...WOW! I don't even know what I'd say if I were in your position.

Thump · Dec 9, 2010

Honestly though, it IS political correctness gone mad (*ducks*). I'm all for inclusion and all that new-fangled, hippie stuff

but historical accuracy is not to be trifled with. Unless you're the BBC and you're making "Merlin" in which case, go forth and put black people where they could never have been...

cray · Dec 9, 2010

Thump said:
Honestly though, it IS political correctness gone mad (*ducks*). I'm all for inclusion and all that new-fangled, hippie stuff but historical accuracy is not to be trifled with. Unless you're the BBC and you're making "Merlin" in which case, go forth and put black people where they could never have been...

*bolding mine*

what?

Priene · Dec 9, 2010

Thump said:
Unless you're the BBC and you're making "Merlin" in which case, go forth and put black people where they could never have been...

From the National Archives:

In Roman times, Black troops were sent to the remote and barbaric province of Britannia, and some of them stayed when the Roman legions left Britain.

From Times Online (Analysis of Roman grave reveals that York was a multicultural society):

Scientific research techniques have established that a lavish grave containing a woman’s skeleton, an ivory bangle, perfume bottle, mirror and jewellery, belonged to a North African member of York’s high society in the 4th century.

Scientific analysis of isotopes from the teeth revealed that water she drank during her childhood had contained minerals likely to have been found in North Africa. Skull measurements have also established that the “Ivory Bangle Lady” was black or of mixed race

Thump · Dec 9, 2010

Thank you, I didn't realize there were a many of those. I thought there were only a few African soldiers in the Roman legions and I didn't know any women actually made it that far north.

Iz interested.

But Guinevere was still not black, just sayin'...

Woof · Dec 9, 2010

seun said:
As you lovely people may know, I work in a library. We've been given two figures made by seven and eight year old kids for display over Christmas. The two figures are Mary and Joseph. Both are about four feet tall, clearly made by children and are the sort of creations only a parent would like.

Joseph is black.

Which means I have to ask how long before a customer utters the dread phrase: "It's political correctness gone mad", and I am forced to kill them?

Political correctness aside, the biblical figure of the new testament who we know as Joseph, wasn't exactly white, either. He was Semitic and dark-complexioned as were most of the Jews and Arabs living in the Middle East then.

seun · Dec 9, 2010

Woof said:
Political correctness aside, the biblical figure of the new testament who we know as Joseph, wasn't exactly white, either. He was Semitic and dark-complexioned as were most of the Jews and Arabs living in the Middle East then.

I know. My point is, someone is doubtless going to assume we have a black Joseph because we're being PC.

Button · Dec 9, 2010

Thump said:
But Guinevere was still not black, just sayin'...

She would beg to differ.

Priene · Dec 9, 2010

Thump said:
But Guinevere was still not black, just sayin'...

She also probably never even existed.

CheyElizabeth · Dec 9, 2010

seun said:
I know. My point is, someone is doubtless going to assume we have a black Joseph because we're being PC.

What part of the country do you live in?

Woof · Dec 9, 2010

seun said:
I know. My point is, someone is doubtless going to assume we have a black Joseph because we're being PC.

Let them. People will always assume what they want. But even if they're a little bit surprised or put off, that might be a good thing. It may cause them to think about it--or even better, discuss it, debate it and ask questions.

Silent Rob · Dec 9, 2010

Btw...are you sure it's Joseph? It might be Shaft.

seun · Dec 9, 2010

CheyElizabeth said:
What part of the country do you live in?

East Anglia. Google it. I dare you.

Woof said:
Let them. People will always assume what they want. But even if they're a little bit surprised or put off, that might be a good thing. It may cause them to think about it--or even better, discuss it, debate it and ask questions.

You have a kinder opinion of the locals than I do.

Bmwhtly · Dec 9, 2010

Priene said:
She also probably never even existed.

Say it ain't so.

Silent Rob · Dec 9, 2010

seun said:
East Anglia.

My sympathies.

Lavern08 · Dec 9, 2010

Silent Rob said:
Btw...are you sure it's Joseph? It might be Shaft.

ROFLMBO!!!!!!

(I suppose that means that Mary = Pam Grier?)

Williebee · Dec 9, 2010

Personally? I'd tell them that the kids were going for historical correctness and just ran out of time to shade Mary... then point them off to a history book

Good answer. Maybe a small display of related reference stuff, too.

shyne · Dec 9, 2010

Silent Rob said:
Btw...are you sure it's Joseph? It might be Shaft.

Btw...I can dig that.

Political correctness gone mad

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