SHP Forums

Utterly ridiculous.

All right now, let's pretend that a magical fat man from the North Pole brings you presents every year, and rides on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, and can ride around the world in a single night...

...but he's not allowed to smoke a pipe now, because somehow it would "offend modern children". Riiiiiiight.

Tell you what, I'll just be over here... when you're done ruining the magic of childhood, just let me know.

Aw, dear Rath...
Every once in a while, the PC police come to try and get the Black Peters out of our folk tradition: Black Peter is the assistant of St Nicholas, with dark skin, curly hair and golden earrings. St Nick has a huge amount of his helpers, and some people see them as racist.
Of course, kids are taught that they're really black from soot.
I've played Black Peter. Kids love Black Peter and will continuously ask you how to become one. The whole notion of racism has been stuck on by ignorants who never believed in St Nicholas themselves.

Recently I got back my child toys, which nearly killed me by nostalgia. One of them is an old 80s monkey by the Russ company. I cherished him, still do. But now it's for a different reason: they don't make toys like him anymore. Here's what he looks like: http://bonnzai.deviantart.com/art/They- ... -325487885

Just remember smoking is real, real bad for you and those around you, and monkey see, monkey do.

LOL... cute monkey. Yep, I'm aware that smoking is very bad for me and I've never smoked, nor do I wish to. I'm just annoyed that someone really thinks a poem about Santa Claus (a poem, FFS!!!) is worth making a fuss about. It's not as if the kids would even remember the one line about Santa having a pipe. It's one line - biiiiiiig deal. Stop ruining Santa for the kids and let them enjoy the holiday, darn it.

I can't say I even recalled Santa smoking before reading this story. I'm sure I knew it at some point, but the main draw to Santa Claus -- as a child -- was never about "how cool smoking a pipe is" (was it ever?) or whatever other nonsense.

What's next? They'll start editing classic books and movies too?