compl3x Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Shoppers threaten to boycott ALDI after it pulls Roald Dahl book containing word 'sl*t' off shelves Shoppers have threatened to boycott the supermarket chain ALDI after it pulled a Roald Dahl book containing the phrase "dirty sl*t" off its shelves. ALDI Australia removed the book, Revolting Rhymes, after complaints about offensive language, namely when the Prince says to Cinderella: "Who is this dirty sl*t? Off with her nut." The company released a statement saying it takes complaints from shoppers seriously. "ALDI Australia has withdrawn the Roald Dahl Picture book entitled Revolting Rhymes from its Special Buys range, following comments by a limited number of concerned customers regarding the language used in this particular book," the statement said. "The range of Roald Dahl Picture Books went on sale on Wednesday 27 August 2014 and the remainder of the range will still be available to consumers at $4.99 each. "ALDI Australia would like to inform all of our customers that we take the concerns of the community seriously." But customers have taken to social media, demanding the children's book be returned for sale, with some calling for a boycott of the chain on its Facebook page Professor Kay Margretts of Melbourne University said many great writers used language considered to be obscene in their careers. "This book is a parody on fairy tales - it's about comedy and funny words. If we look back over history some of the great writers did these types of things - Shakespeare did this kind of thing," she said. "It's one little word, in a book, but it's just part of literature, it's part of the richness we're exposed to in literature. Yes, I think it's inappropriate censorship." While many Facebook users agree the removal of the book is censorship, linguist Roley Sussex said Dahl's choice of words should not be so quickly excused. "Slut's got two main meanings - it comes from about 1402. One is dirty and unkempt woman, and the other is a woman of low morals. "I'm afraid it's always been derogatory and it's only now that we're coming to realise, in the context of other discriminatory language, how bad it is," he said. The book remains off ALDI shelves and ALDI has not yet responded to the criticism on Facebook. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-29/shoppers-urge-boycott-of-aldi-for-pulling-roald-dahl-book/5706696 Another example of a small number of people scaring a company into unnecessary censorship. So stupid. Kind of surprised the word "slut" isn't censored on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiagosilva29 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Kind of surprised the word "slut" isn't censored on here.Won't somebody please think of the children? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidosho Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 And that will probably go as well as certain people boycotting Nestle due to animal cruelty and killing babies, which isn't very well at all, last I heard the impact was like a peashooter fired at a tank...... Dick Montage 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compl3x Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Won't somebody please think of the children? lol, it doesn't bother me personally but every other curse word on here is censored, see: ###### ###### ###### ###### Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compl3x Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 And that will probably go as well as certain people boycotting Nestle due to animal cruelty and killing babies, which isn't very well at all, last I heard the impact was like a peashooter fired at a tank...... Except boycotting Nestle because they were tearing down the Borneo rain forest forced Nestle to partner with the Forest Trust and audit their supply lines. It was a worthy goal which seems to have had a positive outcome. This is just a few uptight, repressed types who think the word slut in a book is evidence that society is decaying at an alarming rate. Not really comparable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 With the low number of customers our local ALDI has it would be hard to tell if there were a boycott. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick H. Supervisor Posted August 29, 2014 Supervisor Share Posted August 29, 2014 Revolting Rhymes was initially published in 1982. Do these people complaining really want to admit that they are that slow on the uptake? As the article says, next up should be Shakespeare then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snuffy Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Lets hope ALDI ban the dictionary too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taim Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 They'll have to ban most of the internet because words they don't like can appear on most of the internet at any moment or they'll have to make their own internet that has every edit even if a single letter gets changed reviewed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 We have a slut problem now ? :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taim Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 We have a slut problem now ? :huh: Sorry I can't help myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Revolting Rhymes was initially published in 1982. Do these people complaining really want to admit that they are that slow on the uptake? As the article says, next up should be Shakespeare then. I got that book for my little girl a few years ago.. Laughed her head off! :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakem1 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Kind of surprised the word "slut" isn't censored on here. It's not that much of a surprise given the amount of misogyny that's expressed in these forums on a daily basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compl3x Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 ^Bitch also isn't censored so you very well may be onto something :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 It's not that much of a surprise given the amount of misogyny that's expressed in these forums on a daily basis. Really? Where? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anibal P Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Really? Where? Usually if you disagree with whatever new trendy scandal is in the media you are immediately labeled racist, misogynist, etc. better to ignore them than letting them rant over nothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidosho Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Except boycotting Nestle because they were tearing down the Borneo rain forest forced Nestle to partner with the Forest Trust and audit their supply lines. It was a worthy goal which seems to have had a positive outcome. This is just a few uptight, repressed types who think the word slut in a book is evidence that society is decaying at an alarming rate. Not really comparable. My point was that boycotts rarely work... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
compl3x Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 ^ Then you should have chosen a boycott that failed. You're not illustrating your point very well if your example is the exact opposite of your point. I reject your assertion boycotts don't work, anyway. There are examples of boycotts working: fruit of the loom reopening a factory in Honduras, Anti-Apartheid Boycotts, The Montgomery Bus Boycott, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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