Political [In]Correctness Gone Mad

gotchan · Nov 7, 2011

I'm reading a public library copy of the 3rd edition of Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey. Someone ahead of me struck through all the gender inclusive language with a black felt pen.

For example:
"A note about the term 'hero': As used here, the word, like 'doctor' or 'poet,' may refer to ~~a woman or~~ a man."

"In romantic comedies, the Call to Adventure might be the first encounter with the special but annoying someone the hero ~~or heroine~~ will be pursuing and sparring with."

"MENTOR (Wise Old Man ~~or Woman~~)"

"Note that I use the word Hero to describe a central character or protagonist ~~of either sex~~."

The initial 's' of every instance of she is blotted out. Every 'her' is expunged. Sometimes 'him' is written in, sometimes not. As the book progresses the blotting becomes heavier and more frantic. Crazed scribbles saturate the page with ink and nearly tear through the paper. Then, around page 38, it stops.

I think the reader had a stroke. Pity. I was looking forward to how he or she dealt with the discussion of Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz, or Titanic.

Caitlin Black · Nov 7, 2011

That just ticks me off.

Grr.

GailD · Nov 7, 2011

gotchan said:
Every 'her' is expunged. Sometimes 'him' is written in, sometimes not. As the book progresses the blotting becomes heavier and more frantic. Crazed scribbles saturate the page with ink and nearly tear through the paper. Then, around page 38, it stops.

I think the reader had a stroke. Pity. I was looking forward to how he or she dealt with the discussion of Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz, or Titanic.

Sounds like a nasty misogynist who has no respect for books or consideration for others who may want to read them.

The library should have a record of who borrowed the book last. I hope you report the vandalism.

veinglory · Nov 7, 2011

If you report it maybe they will get charged for a replacement copy?

seun · Nov 7, 2011

GailD said:
Sounds like a nasty misogynist who has no respect for books or consideration for others who may want to read them.

The library should have a record of who borrowed the book last. I hope you report the vandalism.

veinglory said:
If you report it maybe they will get charged for a replacement copy?

Problem is the last person to check the book could just say it was like that when they took it and they forgot to mention it on return.
This happens all the time in my library. Anyway, the person who did this obviously has issues. They're not likely to own up to being a complete fruitcake.

veinglory · Nov 7, 2011

In this case I'd be happy to by the replacement myself, rather than subject downstream borrowers to his post hoc editing.

Although a guy who'd mark up a library book might just admit to it if they call and ask.

Alan Yee · Nov 7, 2011

Yeah, someone clearly has serious issues.

Maryn · Nov 7, 2011

At my library, something similar came up in a book I had checked out. Someone had eradicated all the coarse and graphic language in a mystery novel about the murder of prostitutes. I showed it to the librarian when I brought it back and she told me she knew exactly who'd done it but would go through the steps, confirming this individual had checked out the book, then charge him or her for a replacement copy.

It's just pathetic that someone still does get the message that women aren't children or chattel. Sheesh.

Maryn, shaking her head

Maryn · Nov 7, 2011

Edit: Oopsie, duplicate post.

gotchan · Nov 7, 2011

There's no "Damage Noted" sticker in the book. So I will report it when I take it back. However, there may be others between marker boy and me who did not report the damage.

LOG · Nov 7, 2011

I'm thinking TIRL (Troll In Real Life).

benbradley · Nov 7, 2011

seun said:
Problem is the last person to check the book could just say it was like that when they took it and they forgot to mention it on return.
This happens all the time in my library. Anyway, the person who did this obviously has issues. They're not likely to own up to being a complete fruitcake.

That's good reason for the library to keep track of who checked out all marked-up books, and see if there's a pattern of one person having checked out several of them. Even so, such books could have been marked up in the library when no one had them checked out. A person who had checked out two such books could be falsely accused, especially if they (or "he," or "he or she" - see below <sigh>) have check out a large number of books, as they may have coincidentally checked out two marked-up books. A statistician should be part of such an investigation.

Maryn said:
...
It's just pathetic that someone still does get the message that women aren't children or chattel. Sheesh.

Maryn, shaking her head

Whoever did this definitely has "issues" of some kind, probably misogyny, but it occurs to me the person might be an English Language Nazi who wants to enforce the convention (as I was taught in the early 1970's) that indefinite (?) male pronouns such as "he" and "him" apply to both men and women.

seun · Nov 7, 2011

benbradley said:
That's good reason for the library to keep track of who checked out all marked-up books, and see if there's a pattern of one person having checked out several of them. Even so, such books could have been marked up in the library when no one had them checked out. A person who had checked out two such books could be falsely accused, especially if they (or "he," or "he or she" - see below <sigh>) have check out a large number of books, as they may have coincidentally checked out two marked-up books. A statistician should be part of such an investigation.

A nice idea but my library (as with most in the UK - the ones that are still open, thank you, Cameron) is operating with a pretty thin level of staffing so I don't think many libraries would have someone free to do this.

gotchan · Nov 7, 2011

LOG said:
I'm thinking TIRL (Troll In Real Life).

I don't think so. You can see marker boy getting angrier page by page. The first few redactions are thin, neat single lines. Gradually the strike-throughs get heavier and messier. The last few are huge black splotches. You can see the frenzy in the pen strokes. I think if he'd been using a ballpoint he'd have gone right through the paper.

It's a fascinating little study of a deteriorating mind. No matter how hard he tries, he just cannot make these women go away! There's always another one on the next page.

(Sort of like that old Sesame Street book, There's a Monster at the End of this Book.)

benbradley · Nov 7, 2011

seun said:
A nice idea but my library (as with most in the UK - the ones that are still open, thank you, Cameron) is operating with a pretty thin level of staffing so I don't think many libraries would have someone free to do this.

I was thinking a few lines of SQL code added to already computerized databases, could pay for itself in finding the culprits of just a few books.

backslashbaby · Nov 7, 2011

That's pretty scary. It's not surprising if you think about it, but it's damned scary.

kct webber · Nov 8, 2011

benbradley said:
Whoever did this definitely has "issues" of some kind, probably misogyny, but it occurs to me the person might be an English Language Nazi who wants to enforce the convention (as I was taught in the early 1970's) that indefinite (?) male pronouns such as "he" and "him" apply to both men and women.

That occurred to me too. Of course, it doesn't make him less of a douche-bag. Either way, he either has an unhealthy disrespect for property rights and women, or an just an unhealthy disrespect for property rights. Either way, he (or she :tongue

) has the morals of a poo-flinging monkey.

RobJ · Nov 8, 2011

gotchan said:
The initial 's' of every instance of she is blotted out. Every 'her' is expunged. Sometimes 'him' is written in, sometimes not. As the book progresses the blotting becomes heavier and more frantic. Crazed scribbles saturate the page with ink and nearly tear through the paper. Then, around page 38, it stops.

I think the reader had a stroke.

Yeah, this person is probably dead now. I'm surprised it took so long.

Whatever views someone holds, that kind of behaviour is pure vandalism. Vandalism of books is serious business. If it was indeed a man who performed this act, and it seems likely, and if he's not already dead, then I'd like to see him given a hard slap on the wrist and a sex change and sent on her way.

Political [In]Correctness Gone Mad

gotchan

Caitlin Black

Wild one

GailD

Still chasing plot bunnies.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

seun

Horror Man

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Alan Yee

Still Here!

Maryn

Baaa!

Maryn

Baaa!

gotchan

LOG

Lagrangian

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

seun

Horror Man

gotchan

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

backslashbaby

*

kct webber

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

RobJ

Political [In]Correctness Gone Mad

Wild one

Still chasing plot bunnies.

volitare nequeo

Horror Man

volitare nequeo

Still Here!

Baaa!

Baaa!

Lagrangian

It's a doggy dog world

Horror Man

It's a doggy dog world

~~~~*~~~~

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.

*