Teach Your Children
Last Saturday as Dearest and I settled in our seats at the City of Manchester stadium, the pre-match 'entertainment' started. This generally consists of a profoundly unoriginal playlist at top volume interspersed with announcements regarding fan's birthdays, team news, latest scores etc.Recently the thrill-fest that is the penalty shoot out has transferred from half-time to pre-match. This consists of youngsters from each camp trying to score past City's resident mascots - Moonchester and Moonbeam.
All good clean fun n'est pas ? Well up to a point Lord Copper. The DJ (a regular on Manchester's Key103 I am told) decides to have a quiz. Three questions for the assorted 6, 7 and 8 year olds. Questions like "whose latest single is called 'Sexed Up'"? "Which local comedian's catchphrases include 'a bit 'o blue f't'dads'."?
Now I might be being a bit thick here but why on earth would anyone think that these were suitable questions for kids who, not too long ago, were still toddling . Why not refer to Peter Kay's more well known catchphrases ? "Garlic Bread" for instance. Why not "what's the title of that stout Glaswegian's...er Michelle's hit single" ?
There must a thousand and one more suitable questions that could've been asked. Why should kids of that age be dragged into adulthood before their time ? "Mummy what does 'sexed up' mean"? "Daddy what's a 'bit of blue'"?
I was ruminating on this over the weekend. After reading Nakedblog and being directed to the Chavscum web page I came to the conclusion that the type of youngster that probably would au fait with a 'bit 'o blue' would be a 'Chavlet'.
Still, I smugly thought, at least my kids are big enough not to embarass me with such questions. Then I read Robin's blog and discovered much philosophising (?) re: censoring the pop songs that are broadcast on aimed-at-kids- radio. In his excellent analysis he observes "the whole [radio] listening experience is packed with unwelcome surprises, a bit like finding sex toys in a Barbie set." Rap and R&B takes the biscuit when it comes to adult content. "Sexed up" is pretty bland next to 50cent and his ilk.
It wasn't always like this was it ? Its not just me growing older is it ?
"Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority has issued a stern rebuke to women who appeared at a conference unveiled in the presence of men." The Grand Mufti (a man as usual) had probably received a phone call from God telling him that the women's behaviour was "shameful" and to warn them of "grave consequences".
No doubt the *faithful* will be calling for stonings or somesuch to punish this wicked affront to Allah. I mean....showing your face - whatever next ?
If it wasn't so serious it'd be laughable.
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