Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

sl8

(13,767 posts)
Tue Mar 7, 2023, 12:05 PM Mar 2023

Author R.L. Stine Responds To Reports 'Goosebumps' Is Getting Edited With Inclusive Language - Updat

https://deadline.com/2023/03/goosebumps-author-rl-stine-edits-book-series-changes-mental-health-weight-ethnicity-references-1235279014/

Author R.L. Stine Responds To Reports ‘Goosebumps’ Is Getting Edited With Inclusive Language – Update

By Armando Tinoco
March 4, 2023 4:01pm

Book covers of R. L. Stine's 'Goosebumps'
Scholastic


UPDATE, Mon. March 6: R.L. Stine is reacting on social media to reports Goosebumps is being edited with more inclusive language.

“The stories aren’t true. I’ve never changed a word in Goosebumps. Any changes were never shown to me,” Stine tweeted.

Scholastic shared a statement regarding the edits to the children’s horror book series.

“For more than 30 years, the Goosebumps series has brought millions of kids to reading through humor with just the right amount of scary,” read the statement. “Scholastic takes its responsibility seriously to continue bringing this classic adolescent brand to each new generation. When re-issuing titles several years ago, Scholastic reviewed the text to keep the language current and avoid imagery that could negatively impact a young person’s view of themselves today, with a particular focus on mental health.”

[...]

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Author R.L. Stine Responds To Reports 'Goosebumps' Is Getting Edited With Inclusive Language - Updat (Original Post) sl8 Mar 2023 OP
IDK. I read the article & some of them made me ask, CrispyQ Mar 2023 #1
Bowdlerized exboyfil Mar 2023 #2

CrispyQ

(36,464 posts)
1. IDK. I read the article & some of them made me ask,
Tue Mar 7, 2023, 12:41 PM
Mar 2023

Are we getting overly sensitive? Here are three:

In The Curse of Camp Cold Lake from 1997 the boys of summer camp are no longer described as giving “a loud wolf-whistle” and are now said to have “whistled loudly.”


This one needs more context, but if they were whistling at a female, it doesn't matter what you call it, it's unacceptable behavior. That said, it's fiction & I'm against censoring fiction.


I Live in Your Basement! was published where the protagonist of the novel asks, “did he really expect me to be his slave – forever?” The protagonist now asks, “Did he really expect me to do this – forever?”


Don't say slavery. This one sounds like something DeSantis would censor.


In Say Cheese and Die – Again!, schoolgirls were described as having “crushes” on the headmaster but that line has now been deleted.


So girls don't have crushes anymore?

exboyfil

(17,863 posts)
2. Bowdlerized
Tue Mar 7, 2023, 12:45 PM
Mar 2023

I am watching a Wonderium course right now that is pretty good regarding banned and challenged books.

https://www.wondrium.com/banned-books-burned-books-forbidden-literary-works


I think kids a bit tougher than Scholastic seems to think they are.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Fiction»Author R.L. Stine Respond...