You offered your opinion and it was rejected as the lady had a different one. Whether golly should be banned or prosecuted over or whatever, I won't debate, but I don't see the need to leave bad reviews for a business based on a difference of opinion.
In your opinion the golly is a racist symbol, in the owner/manager's opinion, it's a doll.
I see the racist symbolism in a golliwog, but I also see a doll for children, that's where the difference of opinion lies.
It's been a long time and I'm not going to go hunt it up, but I think that, while golliwog was indeed a character of his times, complete with all the racist trappings we now abhor, but...and this is the bit I may need to be corrected on, he was, in the book, also the hero, the smart one. So yeah, he's got some bad aspects, but also some good ones.
Your motives may have been good but your method sucked. You probably would have had much more success if you had written them a letter, clearly outlining your concerns and providing evidence and research about the racist connotations of the the product and the history. It is not common knowledge in Australia about the negative connotations which these dolls stand for- particularly among the older generations, who grew up with Enid Blyton and Pixie O'Harris fairy books and saw golliwogs as just dolls.
Instead you went in, insulted the business and, in essence, accused the business owners of being racist and then got upset when they became defensive and didn't pander to your will. That's not bad_service, that's customers_suck. And I say this as an Australian who fully understands the racial connotations and history of golliwogs but at least has enough tact and sensibility to handle the issue like an informed adult.
Also in regards to "the thing with Australia is that if it's perceived to be racist in the US, they don't think it
( ... )
I took offence to the thing with Australia is that if it's perceived to be racist in the US, they don't think it applies here... but then they can't explain why they wouldn't use the n-word too.
There are many things perceived to be racist in America that the vast majority of Australian's I know would see applying here too. And then there are some uniquely Australian terms that are as well. Blanket statements that suggest we are all (or the majority are) racist is pretty 'ist' in it's own right!
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I see the racist symbolism in a golliwog, but I also see a doll for children, that's where the difference of opinion lies.
It's been a long time and I'm not going to go hunt it up, but I think that, while golliwog was indeed a character of his times, complete with all the racist trappings we now abhor, but...and this is the bit I may need to be corrected on, he was, in the book, also the hero, the smart one. So yeah, he's got some bad aspects, but also some good ones.
You and the lady, I think, are both correct.
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Instead you went in, insulted the business and, in essence, accused the business owners of being racist and then got upset when they became defensive and didn't pander to your will. That's not bad_service, that's customers_suck. And I say this as an Australian who fully understands the racial connotations and history of golliwogs but at least has enough tact and sensibility to handle the issue like an informed adult.
Also in regards to "the thing with Australia is that if it's perceived to be racist in the US, they don't think it ( ... )
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There are many things perceived to be racist in America that the vast majority of Australian's I know would see applying here too. And then there are some uniquely Australian terms that are as well. Blanket statements that suggest we are all (or the majority are) racist is pretty 'ist' in it's own right!
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This suggests to me that you feel yourself that they were a bit judgemental or out of place.
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