Replying to Avatar alanajoy

How can we learn from the past if we rewrite it? It would be as though no progress was ever made. Not to say there isn’t progress left to make, there’s so much, too much! But the record of our wins and losses, the lessons depicted in them, the strategies passed on through generations disappear. We are moved back to start.

What respect do we show historically brilliant artists the respect they earned it life by modifying the intent in their death? Augustus Gloop WAS fat. That was the point. The archetype was gluttony. It is an adjective. I’m insulted a slur is being protected on what the author did NOT intend it to be, but one of countless ways his gluttony caused him trouble. What should be censored here? What is so scandalous? Gluttony does lead to becoming overweight. This is not opinion, it’s fact: Relevant to the character development Roald Dahl put forth and a significant catalyst in the lessons he imparts on the reader through the story. Fat is now charged to… enormous? Help me understand how that’s better? Better enough to justify rewriting the work of this renowned author.

Oompa Loompah’s were described as “tiny”, “titchy” or “no higher than my knee,”… now it will just say “small”. Oompa Loompas were ORANGE. They are a made up thing. How bland is this clever writing now?

I’m furious over this, I predict it becoming normalized and that scares me. I will be ranting about this for a while I can tell so just a heads up.

Anyway, mood:

Is the publishing company doing this…

Who owns the publishing company doing this?

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Quick rabbit hole dive into who owns the publishing company (Puffin Books) that decided to modify Roald Dahls books and here’s my notes: (flip through images)

OR

Puffin belongs to Penguin Random House, a subsidiary of the German media conglomerate Bertelsmann.

Bertelsmann is a major conglomerate, offering not only books but also television, radio, music, magazines and services. Its principal divisions include in the RTL Group, Penguin Random House, BMG, Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments.

Bertelsmann is an unlisted and capital market-oriented company, which remains primarily controlled by the Mohn family.

Started by Reinhard Mohn who in 1977, founded the non-profit Bertelsmann Stiftung, which is today one of the largest foundations in Germany, with worldwide reach - as the result of social, corporate and fiscal considerations. As the Bertelsmann Stiftung itself has put it, the foundation promotes "reform processes" and "the principles of entrepreneurial activity" to build a "future-oriented society."

So, that’s who’s rewriting history. I’m going to bed 🫡