Matilda Mugs Removed Due To Snowflakes.

[webbo3]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8640207/Roald-Dahl-fans-furious-campaigners-force-Sainsburys-remove-Matilda-mugs-sale.html

It takes a special kind of stupid to think this refers to domestic violence.

Didn't Newton come up with gravity when something "hit him"

[sanmac]

“Don't get too deep, it leads to over thinking, and over thinking leads to problems that doesn't even exist in the first place.”
– Jayson Engay

[Mamyalynne]

I like that Sanmac, very succinct.

Time for some music.

Bye.

[Spicerack]

Are you feeling quite well, Andy?

[andy-hughes]

Spicerack - // Are you feeling quite well, Andy? //

Always, and thanks for asking.

[Jackdaw33]

The whole point has been missed. The question is not about the layout of the mug but whether Sainsbury's were right to cave in and withdraw it from sale.

[andy-hughes]

Jackdaw - // The whole point has been missed. The question is not about the layout of the mug but whether Sainsbury's were right to cave in and withdraw it from sale. //

That depends on the individual's point of view.

For people who think that the world is over-obsessed with political correctness, and that 'snowflakes' rule the world, then this was indeed a 'cave in' of stratospheric proportions.

My own view is that the mug was badly designed, and the implications of that bad design leading to misinterpretation and offence, were missed by whomever sanctioned its manufacture.

I think Sainsbury's, as a major retailer, will have legitimate concerns about the damage to its brand caused by bad publicity, and whether that bad publicity is warranted or not is, once again, a matter of individual opinion.

It is perfectly possible for the mugs to be re-designed with the complete quote in the same typeface, and the market for the mugs is open with no controversy.

Just because it's easy to label people who were upset about the implications of the design as it is as 'snowflakes' and huff and puff about them 'getting a life' and 'finding something to moan about' and so on, does not mean that they did not actually have a valid point of protest in the first place.

[Old_Geezer]

Well I was a brilliant idea; and I didn't hit her.

[andy-hughes]

Genuine - // I have a mug which claims: "My farts hospitalise small children".
I wonder what these do-gooders would think to that? //

Maybe that your IQ is the same as your shoe size?

[sanmac]

You're quite correct, JD; however, the thread took off on a tangent, left the tracks, took a sudden yaw, and meandered away at 2026.

[Old_Geezer]

No sane normal person can accidentally misinterpret, "A brilliant idea hit her". Some might pretend they did though.

[andy-hughes]

sanmac - // You're quite correct, JD; however, the thread took off on a tangent, left the tracks, took a sudden yaw, and meandered away at 2026. //

I disagree - unsurprisingly - I think that taking a look at what all the fuss is about is a perfectly legitimate point to make.

What's the point in discussing a situation unless you know something of the background behind it.

I illustrated that in my view, the fuss is caused by poor design, and I think that protesters have a valid point.

[andy-hughes]

Old_Geezer - // No sane normal person can accidentally misinterpret, "A brilliant idea hit her". Some might pretend they did though. //

No argument there.

But someone may think that saying 'A Brilliant Idea … Hit Her' is in bad taste, which in my view it is, and that is what the mug actually says.

[sanmac]

There is no ellipsis on that mug.

[pixie374]

It's hard to believe that designers with any brain cells to rub together, would come up with this and think it's going to work. All of us can see the problem, whatever the different views are.
Personally, I don't find it offensive or believe it will cause any domestic violence that isn't already likely... but the briefest glance at this presentation would have said "this doesn't look how we mean it. Try again".
The stupidity is more offensive than any possible snowflakery. They are supposed to be appealing to the public and trying to make money.

[johnny.5]

mugs is an anagram of smug

Am I Right ?
I'm Not Wrong !

[andy-hughes]

sanmac - // There is no ellipsis on that mug. //

A fair point.

But -

A Brilliant Idea Hit Her

doesn't actually look any better - does it?

[andy-hughes]

pixie - // It's hard to believe that designers with any brain cells to rub together, would come up with this and think it's going to work. All of us can see the problem, whatever the different views are.
Personally, I don't find it offensive or believe it will cause any domestic violence that isn't already likely... but the briefest glance at this presentation would have said "this doesn't look how we mean it. Try again".
The stupidity is more offensive than any possible snowflakery. They are supposed to be appealing to the public and trying to make money. //

A fair point.

As you say, I doubt that such a message sews the idea of violence into a mind not already thinking about it, but it looks nasty, and that is entirely against the ethos of Mr Dahl and his wonderful characters and books.

[andy-hughes]

// sanmac - // There is no ellipsis on that mug. //

A fair point.

But -

A Brilliant Idea Hit Her

doesn't actually look any better - does it? //

For some reason, the site layout has taken away the spacing I put in which is crucial to my point - let me have another go -

A Brilliant Idea


Hit Her

Hopefully that works.

[sanmac]

I say that it is an unimaginative logo to put on a mug; however, to conjure up in one's mind a outbreak of spousal-abuse being initiated by it is completely mind-boggingly ridiculous.

[pixie374]

^ "Hit her" is actually in capitals... it's the layout that is awful. I don't think Sainsburys have "caved in", they should have seen it in the first place and sent them back. It isn't rocket science... particularly when a "complaint" nowadays, could just be a pee-taking post on Twitter.