Saturday 30 June 2007

Not In Front Of The Children

Not for the first time, and probably not for the last, a posting over at Sugar Queen Dreams made me think. How could I find out if my blog was suitable reading for people of all ages?

As usual, it was young Jasper Blunt who came to the rescue. "Pa," he said, "you need to take the Cinema Test, which rates your blog content just as if it were a movie."

Well, having put my 'URL' to the test, it seems that Bill Blunt is not deemed suitable for children,at least not without some guidance from their parents...



This, apparently, because I mentioned the words 'death' and 'stab'.

My regular reader (and I know who you are) will doubtless be surprised, as you will be aware that this is not a place that encourages people to take knives to their enemies. And the thought that I must offer guidance to my children (who are all now in their late 30's or early 40's), before they dip into their father's writings, is not one that sits easily with me.

I must admit, I am careful with my language. I try to stay true to the maxim of my old colleague from the Birkenhead Beagle, Johnny Mercer, who famously said: 'There's no need for profanity when you can dazzle them with inanity'.

It's a brave man who calls Bill Blunt a prude, however. There are times and places when euphemism isn't enough, where only a carefully-chosen swear word will fit the bill. I won't easily sacrifice my PG rating, however, now that I've got it.

On the subject of profanity, however, I am aware that some readers have a more relaxed attitude than Bill does to the use of bad language. Such readers may enjoy this pastiche of the popular children's animation, Postman Pat, re-worked for an adult audience, which attempts to re-locate the beloved postie to a suburb in Middlesbrough.

But, please, don't press that 'Play' button unless you're prepared for more than a few shocking words...



11 comments:

Sugarqueensdream said...

I enjoyed reading this post. I think that our society is more excepting of what our children hear and the things they see on Television.Commercials are usually willing to use sex to sell what ever they can. Cartoons have lied to us for years with all the death and then snapping back to life to be killed again.... They now play Video games that they can, Buy prostitutes, buy and sell drugs, be or hire a hit man, have sex in public places, unlimited gun and weapon use and all in games that many of their parents may or may not realize have this content. Todays Parents are in a hurry, they have to spend more hours working to make less money. They are so busy they don't realize that it's their Children who will, in the end suffer. Gone are the days of one person working to make the months bills. Now it takes 2. With that fact in place,Many Children are then left in a situation to decide for themselves what is good and what isn't. Its a sad sad trend in our country here....
My Blog is still rated R , with all that I have taken out, still the rating is high.... I tried! thanks for helping me use my noggin this morn...
Regards

News Update said...

Mr Blunt,

Having looked at your recent excellent post - I have just done the cinema test. And I am appalled to discover that my site is resticted and not be viewed by those under the age of 17!
The naughty words are: death, sex, punch, abortion and crap.
Will post eight things you didn't know about me shortly.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for opening the debate up, sugar queens dream!

Well, Ian, I too am shocked that your admirable blog should be considered out of bounds to those under the age of 17!
Your 8 things reveal you to be a proud, family man who I doubt for one minute would seek to shock people.
Thanks for picking up the meme!

Anonymous said...

There is no way I'm going to press that play button - I love Postman Pat and his black and white crap.

Anonymous said...

You're right, of course, daddy papersurfer. Some things should remain forever sacred...

Anonymous said...

dearest bill.... I'm back and reading your blog but don't think I have the courage to enter the gimcrack for the cinema test. especially with the post I'm preparing to unveil shortly

Anonymous said...

nursemyra - courage, dear woman, courage! I took the liberty of taking the test on your behalf, and was surprised to find that the Gimcrack is only rated as 'PG'... which is, I am sure you will agree, quite astounding!

Bill

Anonymous said...

PS

Great to hear you are back!

Anonymous said...

Bill darling,

I must be shielded from anyone under the age of 17 years, it seems...
I have managed to acquire myself an R rating for using the words "shit" and "death".
While I cannot remember overusing these words, I have used the words "minge" and "penis" which are obviously not worth a jot.
I am confused, but also a little titillated...

xx

Anonymous said...

domestic minx... I'm sure your minge is worth much more than a jot:-)

wouldn't you concur mr blunt?

Anonymous said...

I have never claimed to be an expert when it comes to valuing minges, nursemyra - although I do know a good one when I see it.