The Fat Controller

[cambus]

The Commission for Racial Equality has received a complaint about the childrens tv series, Thomas The Tank Engine. Apparently the names of the engines hark back to the days of the British Empire and it is thought this may offend some minorities. Sir Trevor Phillips the commission chairman, has promised an investigation. Is this Political Correctness gone totally mad?

[China Doll]

I think glenis's idea has some merit.

I've always liked the naughty and arrogant ones nat.

On the contrary cambus, you'd be suprised how in awe I am by some of the answers on this thread.

[fagidill]

Le Chat , Good One!! End Of.

[ll_billym]

I also heard that "The Fat Controller" feels that "Fat" is a derogatory term and thinks that "The Clinically Obese Controller" is more appropriate.

[Oneeyedvic]

Is this like the good old Daily Mail story which claimed that a school had banned Baa Baa Black Sheep which turned out to be an inflammatory lie?

Or is it like the Evening Standard's (Mail's sister paper) mosque story which again turned out to be an inflammatory lie.

Or the fact that a load of councils have banned Christmas (which surprise, surprise) turned out to be (I'll leave it there - see if you can fill in the blanks)

[China Doll]

I just wanted to wave a hello at vic as not seen his pixels around for a while.

waves

I maintain the daily mail has a quality crossword on the back.

[jno]

aye CD but have you noticed how the first letters of the answers always spell out 'send the migrants home'?

[China Doll]

I never get the answers right jno... I thought they said 'welcome'

[sp1814]

You know what?

As a laugh, why don't we all start writing to the Daily Mail complaining that farmers are deliberately favouring black sheep over white sheep, and that traditional British white-wooled sheep are being systematically culled in favour of black sheep...and see whether the journalists fall for it.

I'm going to try it. It would be hilarious if the went for it.

[Supernick]

Prizes for the first person to get utter nonsense in the DM. I'm going to write in and say that the government is starting an initiative to cull local British wildlife in favour of bringing in exotic species from all over the globe to make people feel 'more at home'.

For the TtTE story though (James was the best by the way), we have no link, no mention anywhere on Google, 1 complaint from a mystery person, and basically zero evidence to back any of it up in any shape or form.

IF (and there isn't a font large enough to stress that) this turns out to have any basis in fact, I imagine that the commission for racial equality is duty bound to 'investigate' any complaint, rather than having a bunch of temps filing letters straight into the bin.

[Oneeyedvic]

It would be impolite of me not to wave back at CD (even though I still haven't completely forgiven her for calling me 'old' - and yes I do have along memory - just ask SP about the bet!

[persianlady]

It beggars belief if true! Has PC replaced common sense?
Are we to have quotas in Thomas The Tank Engine too?
And what happens if the tanks that have "ethnic" names are not the cleverest trains on the track? Would we be guilty of discrimination if we chose not to buy an engine with an "ethnic" name? how many ethnic minority groups have we got in this country? I will stop there,as I am ranting now.

[ludwig]

Apparently the 'PC brigade' are forcing the program makers to introduce a gay engine called Puffta who likes being shunted up the tunnel. You couldn't make it up!

[jno]

oh yes you could, ludwig

[ludwig]

Well, you know what they say - fiction is often stranger than the truth.

[persianlady]

ludwig..... brilliant!

[China Doll]

Very good ludwig.

Vic - I can't believe you remember that! If I have to resort to simpering and eye lash fluttering to get your forgiveness it's going to get unplesant around here! However I'm going to try and catch up with Splat about the bet...