Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Bowdlerising Factory

[lpm]

Things haven't got better enough, and part of the reason is because too many boys stop reading fiction. Which is why preventing the sanitisation of good books is so important.

There's been loads of studies on why boys stop reading. Part of it appears to be that they choose easier books, skip passages and get a bit bored of the book. Enjoyment is reduced and so they read less and less.

And studies often conclude that Roald Dahl is the number 1 most popular writer, or in the top 10, across both sexes and across several age ranges. We can't mess with what works simply for this ridiculous snowflake theory of children.

[Tessa K]

Things haven't got better enough, and part of the reason is because too many boys stop reading fiction. Which is why preventing the sanitisation of good books is so important.

There's been loads of studies on why boys stop reading. Part of it appears to be that they choose easier books, skip passages and get a bit bored of the book. Enjoyment is reduced and so they read less and less.

And studies often conclude that Roald Dahl is the number 1 most popular writer, or in the top 10, across both sexes and across several age ranges. We can't mess with what works simply for this ridiculous snowflake theory of children.

So it's fine for boys to absorb misogyny if it gets them reading? Come on.

[lpm]

Yet again, please try to name the example you are thinking of.

On the one hand, you have boys becoming Matilda Wormwood, being part of her experiences and having empathy for her.

On the other hand, you have... what exactly? What the hell kind of books are you lot reading?

[Tessa K]

This attitude of gaining strength through adversity is a very old fashioned public school mentality. Cold showers, caning and bullying are character building and toughen you up.

[lpm]

Er... you do know that children reading fiction don't physically experience the cold showers, caning and bullying? That they are safe in their bedrooms?

You seem desperate to avoid traumatising children. In one of the most popular children's books, the protagonist is a physically and mentally abused child. He becomes friends with a grief stricken man. He is attacked by his mother. He tries to care for a baby; the baby starves to death. His mother commits suicide. His best friend dies.

Why are children so resilient when it comes to challenging fiction? Because they are trained up from an early age. By the time they are 3 they are starting with the traumatic story of Elephant losing his balloon, but with the reassuringly happy ending of finding it again and having lemonade with friends.

Fiction means children can gain the strength through adversity without actually experiencing any adversity.

[Tessa K]

Er... you do know that children reading fiction don't physically experience the cold showers, caning and bullying? That they are safe in their bedrooms?

You seem desperate to avoid traumatising children. In one of the most popular children's books, the protagonist is a physically and mentally abused child. He becomes friends with a grief stricken man. He is attacked by his mother. He tries to care for a baby; the baby starves to death. His mother commits suicide. His best friend dies.

Why are children so resilient when it comes to challenging fiction? Because they are trained up from an early age. By the time they are 3 they are starting with the traumatic story of Elephant losing his balloon, but with the reassuringly happy ending of finding it again and having lemonade with friends.

Fiction means children can gain the strength through adversity without actually experiencing any adversity.

Yes, it was a metaphor.

There's a big difference between children learning about adversity and being told they are worth less than others because of their race, gender etc. The experiences you describe are universal and could happen to anyone.

What's more, the happy ending in many children's stories, or at least the child surviving wiser and unscarred emotionally are hardly the experience of many people - hence the need for therapy.

Being safe in the bedroom doesn't count for much if the world outside isn't safe.

And no, I'm not trying to cottonwool them. A Monster Calls is an excellent story. Many Disney movies feature lost or dead parents. Children learn through fiction but they needn't learn they are inferior.

[lpm]

And yet again no example.

You lot are like Ron deSantis, pretending all childrens books are packed full of CRT and removing them from schools, yet when challenged for examples he can't find a single case of CRT.

Please name the book you are thinking of where you say "children are... being told they are worth less than others because of their race, gender etc".