O/T:- The Dam Busters!

[OP67]

So when's the West African country going to change it's name???

[Chauncey]

My grandad had a black Labrador back in the 70’s called Ni­gger and absolutely nobody batted an eyelid including myself but attitudes change over the years,Elvis Costellos Oliver’s Army has had the offending word edited out for decades

[queenslandpie]

Sorry, Queenie, but I believe you are mistaken. The pejorative term for an Italian is 'Wop' not 'wog' which is a diminuitive
of golliwog and a generic term for 'black people', now a term wholly shunned

It might be in Europe Sid but I can assure you it is not here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wog

[Notsohumblepie]

i was watching this Sunday afternoon and low and behold the dog is now called Trigger !!

Apparently Stephen Fry was deeply involved in the re-making of the Dam Busters a year or two back, but the name of the canine was causing the predictable furore . Apparently the name " Nogger" was eventually decided upon, which is even more obscure. The project was eventually abandoned.

If the dog has been renamed Trigger, perhaps Guy Gibson should be renamed Roy Rogers ( for older posters)

[ajojones]

It might be in Europe Sid but I can assure you it is not here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wog

Think Milligan referred to Mediterranean types like this. Shocking to hear in Aus having a UK upbringing but right to say, term is synonymous with med folk including Italian and harmless in Aus.

[Newish Pie]

i was watching this Sunday afternoon and low and behold the dog is now called Trigger !!

That sounds like a very sensible move to me. One minor editing tweak and viewers can continue to enjoy a classic film. I fear the change might 'trigger' (ho ho) the usual snowflake culture warriors who want to be offended about something, but it's hard to see anyone sensible objecting. Sure, there are much more difficult and borderline cases with regard to editing or not editing older TV/film/books, but this just feels like a really straightforward case.

[Mapperleypie]

So when's the West African country going to change it's name???

Please don't tell me you think that is pronounced the same as the fictional dog?

[Magpies1959]

Oh the ironing, it has been changed because of the snowflakes. Kids growing up will soon have no idea of true history as it will have been changed to supposedly make things better. If the word nigger was fine to use at the time, why change it now. It will sure confuse some kids who might read the book though.

[SaltySeaDog]

I don't see what all the fuss is about. If it reduces offense to many then I'll take that

[Kent Magpie]

I guess it could be left in and then the younger generation would be able to learn about the casual racism of the older generation from the original source. That may be as good a reason not to change it as any. I certainly would hope my children would take that message from it... in fact I know they would.