Aldi withdraws Roald Dahl book from shelves because of one word

The 1982 book, Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl is a book that has been loved by many. It was something most people read during young adulthood if not childhood and was filled with some valuable life lessons.

This was however until the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Aldi had one customer complaint that saw this iconic book removed from shelves.

It was a word that is today known as slang for a promiscuous woman. Commonly known as “sl*t”. I have to admit that in my time of knowing this book, I never actually realised that this word was in it. Let alone thought it was mighty inappropriate.

But, one woman found it disgraceful, complained online via Facebook and Aldi reacted immediately and removed it from shelves.

I did some research after this about the original meaning of the word and alas, I found it is quite different to the modern day definition. According to Harper Douglas the word originally meant dirty and untidy and was neither a male or female directed word.

It saddens me that so many people are so sensitive to something like this. I can understand that people don’t want their children or grandchildren familiarising themselves with the modern day terms of words like gay, sl*t and others, but to deem a book that has had over 30 years of success inappropriate seems to be quite shocking.

It is a fact of evolution that as time goes by the meanings and uses of words will change, but as this happens do we have to change the traces of history too?

So tell us, what do you think? Is Aldi right to discontinue sales of this iconic book? Or should we be teaching younger people the original meanings of words and stopping these new ones?