Sometimes I read things in the news, and it takes me a few days to actually get my head around the archaic stupidity on display. It has taken me over a week to get my head around this one.
BBC News reported from an East Anglian town that a bingo caller was being told to drop the traditional bingo patter from his charity games. The local Council feared that “two fat ladies” might insult fat ladies who play bingo, and that “legs eleven” may make women think the bingo caller was looking at their legs.
The bingo caller in question, John Sayers, is a former mayor of Sudbury in Suffolk, and is now a town Councillor. The bingo games he runs are for charity – John is 75.
“I was advised that someone might take offence and we could end up being taken to court. No-one had ever complained about being offended. But they moan now they say it’s boring. And I think just saying the numbers is boring too.
“I’m obviously not being offensive – just having a bit of fun. It’s the tradition of the game and part of our language.”
John Sayer to BBC News.
In defending their decision the Council said that because John is a Councillor he had to be “politically correct”, adding that it was a sad case because the lingo is part of the fun of charity bingo.
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