Changing public attitudes over the last few decades have managed to push out political incorrectness and bring to light the need for more care and attention to what is said and how it is handled, says the Weekly News.
In this climate, people can and do take offence at anything these days and to be honest, within reason, they are entitled to.
Blackboards are now chalkboards and whiteboards are now dry marker pen boards and so on.
This week we feature a re
sident who found himself somewhat amazed when he came across a gift shop in the town selling Golliwogs.
Offence was taken and he accused the shop of being racist for including the toys on the shelves.
The man, who did not want to be named, said that Brambles was "risking its reputation" by stocking what he called "a profound symbol of racism and intolerance".
The Smalley Place shop was selling a five and a half inch high soft toy key ring for £2.99 and a smaller plastic golliwog pen at £1.99 in the style of the rag-doll like character created by Florence Kate Upton in the late 19th century.
These products have now been withdrawn from sale after the owners were asked about the toys and informed of the resident's concerns. The shop owners were shocked that someone had taken offence.
A spokesperson from the Commission for Racial Equality said: "The issue of golliwogs is offensive to many people; not least because they have associations with slavery and are seen as a patronising representation of black people.
"We believe that any business or organisation should think very seriously when deciding to sell or display such items. They are not mere toys and can cause offence to people from all communities."
Sometimes political correctness becomes so far fetched that people lose sight of the real issue.
But whilst many may not see the harm in something like this, others certainly will.
