Its last political correctness row was over the use of the N-word. Now, the BBC is once again under fire. Only this time, the dispute involves a rather less offensive term … girl.
The corporation was accused of censorship after cutting the ‘G-word’ from a documentary on the Commonwealth Games.
During the programme, presenter Mark Beaumont, 31, was flung to the ground by a young judo champion, and joked: ‘I am not sure I can live that down – being beaten by a 19-year-old-girl.’
His remarks were aired in full when the documentary was first broadcast on the BBC News Channel in April.
But fearing viewers might take offence, the corporation decided to edit out the word ‘girl’ when it was repeated last week.
Critics, however, attacked the move. Tory MP Philip Davies, who sits on the Commons culture, media and sport committee, said: ‘They are finding offence where none is taken or intended.
‘We are going to end up in a situation where nobody is going to dare say anything lest some politically correct zealot deems it offensive.’
Read more at THE DAILY MAIL.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
You can be sure that the reality is that someone was annoyed that a poor kid had a spitting tongue. And they probably are ok to do the deletion.
Freedom of Speech as defined by Leftist political correctness is actually the gradual disintegration of Freedom of Speech.
If you do not conform to the arbitrary standards of terminology as set forth by the Left, they will shut you out, slime you, and then ostracize you.
There is no freedom of speech in England, so the British may have things imposed on them what the US doesnt.
That being said, the BBC is not actually banning anything, just limiting any possible backlash from any twisted politically correctness. Just like they would not actually print/broadcast any vulgar profanity, they are being overly cautious here and just not printing the word girl! P.C. gone mad, but not ostracizing anyone.
Bashing Israel or killing Jews in Europe is not offensive.
Depends on the context. The speaker here was clearly intending to be condescending. He was embarrassed, so tried to embarrass the young woman. Not so nice, as your bubbeh would have said.
BTW – a 19-year-old “girl” may be a mother, a working woman supporting her husband in kollel, in the US be old enough to vote, and in many parts of the world would have been married for three or four years.