Nanny Knows Best

Nanny Knows Best
Dedicated to exposing, and resisting, the all pervasive nanny state that is corroding the way of life and the freedom of the people of Britain.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Nanny Bans Cartoon Smoking

Nanny Bans Cartoon SmokingNanny Knows Best has been up and running for almost two years now, during this time I have written many articles about Nanny's nasty little rules and absurd political correctness.

Given Nanny's daily output of rules and regulations there is a danger that one becomes somewhat "numb", for want of a better word, to Nanny and her rules. As such, sometimes, even I have to step back and read a few times what I have written before the absurdity (no, I don't mean that I write in an absurd fashion!) of it really sinks in.

However, in this particular case my dander was well and truly up before I even set finger to keyboard.

I think it is the combination of the sad little loser being able to stifle artistic creativity, and the fact that a large media organ is playing out Orwell's warning about history being literally airbrushed away that has really got my dander up.

Anyhoo, it seems that in shades of Orwell's 1984, history is being airbrushed away by Turner Broadcasting.

This all started when some sad loser, with nothing better to do than complain, made a complaint to British media regulator Ofcom about the content of a couple of Tom and Jerry cartoons.

Horror of horrors, they showed Tom smoking!

Needless to say, "Disgusted of Pratt's Bottom" or wherever the sad little loser resides took umbridge at this, and told Ofcom that these scenes (scripted back in the 40's) would encourage children to smoke.

Ofcom, following Nanny's mantra that the prejudices of the minority outweigh the commonsense of the majority, immediately sprang into action. Disregarding any form of commonsense they contacted Turner Broadcasting (part of Time Warner) who own the channel (Boomerang) on which the offending cartoons were aired, and asked them to stop showing them.

Turner, showing no backbone whatsoever (this is the result of living and working in the Nanny state), not only complied but are now scouring more than 1,500 classic cartoons including; Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo to edit out scenes that "glamorise" smoking.

Yinka Akindele, spokeswoman for Turner in Europe, said:

"We are going through the entire catalogue.

This is a voluntary step we've taken in light of the changing times
."

I have a number of points to make about this nonsense:

1 What about the numerous occasions when Tom and Jerry do immense damage to each other with pots, pans, guns, explosives etc? Are these not also a danger to "innocent" children?

2 Smoking was de rigeur in the 40's and 50's. The cartoons are a reflection of the social mores of the day. To pretend otherwise and airbrush them in this "Nazi/Soviet like" manner, is to deny our own history and to lie to the children. Is this the way we want to raise children, with a lie?

3 Many other characters from history smoke, real and imaginary; Popeye, Churchill etc. Should we airbrush them too?

4 Why does the prejudiced view of one sad loser carry more weight with Nanny and her acolytes, than the unspoken views of the majority?

5 Given the fact that, in Nanny's world, the views of the minority carry more weight than that of the majority I would ask you top drop Turner and Ofcom a line to the effect that:

"I was appalled to learn that you are airbrushing historical cartoons to comply with the prejudiced views of one individual, who has a grudge against smoking.

I would note that your actions are depriving children of a true and accurate historical perspective of society in the 1940's and 50's, and as such your actions constitute a breach of the rules that require impartial and accurate broadcasting.

I would also note that by taking these actions, as a result of the complaint of only one person, you are in effect liable to accusations of being biased and prejudice; ie you are guilty of discrimination.

In view of this I would like to raise a formal complaint with you about this matter, and request that you investigate and reconsider your actions.

I would note, that since you have taken these actions based purely on one complaint, you are obliged to respond to my complaint with the same attention to detail and thoroughness.

I will, depending on your response, consider taking the matter further."

Here are some useful addresses for you to send the above to:

Offcom - graham.howell@ofcom.org.uk

Investor Relations Time Warner - ir@timewarner.com

Turner
Phone 404.827.1700
Address: 1 CNN Center
100 International Blvd.
Atlanta GA 30348
USA

Boomerang - toon.pressoffice@turner.com

Time Warner Board
c/o Office of the Corporate Secretary
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019
USA

Don't let 1984 happen because of apathy.

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:58 AM

    Done and done, Ken.

    I've sent Mr Howell an email complaining about the violent use of frying pans, asking that such scenes are suitably altered.

    The person who complained must lead a very VERY sad life. Absolutely ******* pathetic!!!

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  2. Anonymous11:17 AM

    sent mine yesterday:

    Dear Mr Howell,

    I was extremely distressed to learn that the original Tom and Jerry Cartoons are to be altered to remove any smoking scenes. I have watched and enjoyed this cartoon series for many years, decades even, and to have scenes altered on the basis of one complaint, appears ludicrous.

    I can't erase my memory, so why should anyone think it is appropriate that millions of viewers should remember the cartoons in a different fashion? Isn't this some kind of psychological abuse in the form of propoganda?

    History is history, it happened, you must not alter it to suit a current, idiotic, politically correct campaign.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So, having banned smoking in cartoons what else can Nanny turn her attentions to ? Let's see:

    Scooby snacks obviously promote obesity so they have to go.

    Elmer Fudd is blatantly flouting hunting bans every time he goes after Daffy or Bugs so sorry Mr Fudd, you are banned too.

    Marvin the Martian has his "Eludium Q-36 explosive space modulator". Promoting terrorism, off to Belmarsh you go Mr Martian...

    ...and then there is Wile. E. Coyote. Promotion of terrorism through use of Acme(tm) dynamite, cruelty to animals, persecuting a minority (I believe Roadrunners are an endangered species) and numerous health and safety violations from falling rocks and anvils, jetpacks, trampolines, tightropes and telegraph poles. Oh and I haven't mentioned posing a danger to motor vehicles and their passengers through painting tunnels on cliff faces.

    Alternatively maybe the tw*ts who seem to see fit to take umbrage at these things should perhaps go and get a life instead. They obviously have far too much time on their hands if they can spend their days watching cartoons.

    As for the tw*ts who take notice of them, Hitler and Stalin would be proud indeed at their re-writing of history via the means of altering the media.

    Finally, I have many of the unexpurgated episodes of Tom & Jerry on DVD, my dauighter will be allowed to watch them as they were intended and two fingers up to Nanny.

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  4. Anonymous3:53 PM

    It's not the first time the PC mob have done this (maybe you already covered it somewhere Ken) but they tried to do the same with IK Brunel's cigar! The famous photo of him in front of the SS Great Britain is a famous and enduring image of our once great country's industrial heritage. That didn't stop one textbook publisher from trying to alter historical fact by removing the cigar.

    The sooner the public wakes up and demands the removal of these narrow minded socialist ratbags from any position of power or influence the better in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Indeed I did Anom, here is the link to the Brunel story

    http://nannyknowsbest.blogspot.com/2005/12/nanny-bans-brunel.html

    Ken

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  6. Anonymous9:29 PM

    I have emailed Turner offering to buy the exclusive rights to all their back catalogue of cartoons, which presumably now have virtually zero value, at £5 each.

    I await their expected enthusiastic response and hope to save this valuable asset for the future children of the world.

    Right, next the egregious government advert for the spurious climatechallenge web site ...

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  7. Anonymous7:42 AM

    Done, Ken. Ofcom personnel must lead a very lonely and unrewarding life to respond to busy bodies like the very sad wanker who asked that Tom and Jerry be air-brushed. Next, they will want good old Churchill's famous cigar air-brushed out of historical paintings. This is one of the many reasons I left England to become a permanent expat. Good luck with your wonderful weblog.

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  8. Anonymous9:17 AM

    Tom and jerry smoking? That's ridiculous. How can two cute cartoon characters loved by kids be doing such an act. I know the sentiments. I wouldn't want my kids to pick up such nasty habits from cartoon shows.

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  9. Anonymous2:17 PM

    Done Ken. I was a mite strapped for time, so borrowed certain key sentences from your suggested letter content bit. However, I inter-mixed them with plenty of my own.

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  10. Anonymous12:18 AM

    Glad to see that Brunel has his cigar on the new 50p pieces.

    ReplyDelete