After reading my articles over the years, whenever I go off on one about something, you know it’s never fake outrage on my part.

To quote the late Hughie Green…“I mean it most sincerely!”

TV shows in which ‘Talking Heads’ sneer at clips of 1970s sitcoms and stand-up annoy me as it’s pointless judging comedy from decades ago through modern eyes.  Comedians criticising 40-year old comedy should consider that in 2060 they might feature in a TV show in which they’re sneered at.

It’s true – “The past is another country. They do things differently there!”  Like old films made before we were all supposed to become ‘woke ‘.  Look it up if you’re not sure what that is.

Instead of studying, an Aberdeen University student watched 11 Disney animated films, declared that many of them were ‘Outdated’ and ‘Racist’ and got what she wanted . . . Fifteen minutes of fame.

So, as happens a lot these days, an individual complains that something ‘Offends’ them and expects everyone else to share their opinion.

Let’s analyse the accusations….

Outdated? Well “Dumbo” was made in 1941 – but the scene featuring the song “Baby Of Mine” is one of the most poignant in animation history and still creates tears.

The student says the “Bella Notte” spaghetti kiss scene between “The Lady and The Tramp” in the 1955 cartoon – also replicated in the 2019 version – is ‘Inappropriate’.  Someone please tell her they’re not real dogs!

Many Disney animated characters have human characteristics and voices.  It’s called anthropomorphism.  It’s a word I love because it once earned me 900 points at Scrabble.

The student thinks King Louie in “The Jungle Book” is ‘A racist caricature’ because the lyrics of his song “The King Of The Swingers” contain the line…
“What I desire is white man’s fire”. Wrong!

The actual line sung in the film by the great Italian-American entertainer Louis Prima is… “What I desire is man’s red fire!”

It’s always preferable to get your basic facts right when something gets your goat.  Particularly if it’s an animated, jungle-dwelling, spaghetti-loving, dog-smooching goat.

That’s all folks!