Libby Weaver recalls 20,000 books over offensive term.

Forums › Off topic › Libby Weaver recalls 20,000 books over offensive term.

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#224177 6-Nov-2017 15:34

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11941032

I cannot get my head around this. 20,000 books go to waste over 1 word!?! With the focus on the environment, what is going on!? Yes, some people may choose to be offended (Somewhat reasonably), however, it seems disproportionate to the actual issue in my opinion.

I can't really understand how her editors and proofreaders didn't catch this in the first place though.

For my money, a public apology would be plenty of recognition of the issue. It's unfortunate, but hardly even the most serious thing to happen in the last 24 hours.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

4244 posts

Uber Geek

#1896131 6-Nov-2017 15:37

im more amazed that a Dr didnt know that Mongolism was a offensive word to describe Downs, i thought even the average person knew that.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#1896134 6-Nov-2017 15:40

Normally when this sort of thing happens they would manually replace the page, stick a sticker over the word with a replacement , or something similar. Seems odd.

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#1896136 6-Nov-2017 15:41

vexxxboy:

im more amazed that a Dr didnt know that Mongolism was a offensive word to describe Downs, i thought even the average person knew that.

Although wouldn't that have been picked up by proof readers as well?

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1896140 6-Nov-2017 15:45

I haven't used that word since I was a kid (primary school or intermediate) and even then I didn't know what it meant.

I think a note of paper inserted between the two pages, with an apology would more than suffice for 99% of the population.

To me, wasting 20,000 books is much more offensive.

allan

2044 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1896143 6-Nov-2017 15:49

Can we also place a sticker over the NZ Herald site to correct the missing word in the opening paragraph?

'Dr Libby Weaver has had 20,000 copies of her book What Am I Supposed to Eat? after using the term "mongolism".'

No proof-readers there either

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1896144 6-Nov-2017 15:51

allan:

Can we also place a sticker over the NZ Herald site to correct the missing word in the opening paragraph?

'Dr Libby Weaver has had 20,000 copies of her book What Am I Supposed to Eat? after using the term "mongolism".'

No proof-readers there either

I think the NZHerald should be recalled in it's entirety :)

Journeyman

1187 posts

Uber Geek

#1896156 6-Nov-2017 16:02

vexxxboy:

im more amazed that a Dr didnt know that Mongolism was a offensive word to describe Downs, i thought even the average person knew that.

Perhaps the good doctor did not write the book herself ;)

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Starscream122

568 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1896171 6-Nov-2017 16:04

I've never heard of that word before.

vexxxboy

4244 posts

Uber Geek

#1896180 6-Nov-2017 16:10

Starscream122:

I've never heard of that word before.

because most people dont use it any more, it pretty much died out in the 80's

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Behodar

10508 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1896185 6-Nov-2017 16:17

Starscream122:

I've never heard of that word before.

Neither had I. I looked it up in the dictionary and it says "offensive - another term for Down's syndrome". No other definitions are provided.

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1896204 6-Nov-2017 16:38

She's not a medical doctor...

(even so it's an old fashioned term I'm surprised she didn't know it. I remember it being thrown around the primary school yard and I am a similar vintage to her)

networkn

Networkn
32354 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1896210 6-Nov-2017 16:41

afe66: She's not a medical doctor...

(even so it's an old fashioned term I'm surprised she didn't know it. I remember it being thrown around the primary school yard and I am a similar vintage to her)

It kind of annoys me how people with doctorates are called Doctor. Makes it very misleading esp when those people are giving advice which could be misconstrued as medical advice. I say this knowing it doesn't necessarily reflect the opinion of my wife, a medical doctor.