[Oliver_W]

It's a Christmas classic probably being played in shops and radio stations all over the world.

But a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio has decided to remove Baby It's Cold Outside from its playlist following complaints from listeners.

Local media report that listeners said the song was inappropriate and at odds with the #MeToo movement.

But a poll on the station's Facebook page showed a majority of respondents did not want the song banned.

Glenn Anderson, a host at the Star 102 station, blogged that although the song was written in a different era, the lyrics felt "manipulative and wrong".

"The world we live in is extra sensitive now, and people get easily offended, but in a world where #MeToo has finally given women the voice they deserve, the song has no place."

The tune takes the form of a back-and-forth conversation where a man tries to persuade his female guest not to risk the journey home in bad weather, but to have another drink and spend the night with him instead.

When this was trending on Twitter, the decision was being almost universally mocked and derided, which is refreshing. It's just a bit of a shame that some lonely cat-obsessed lesbians decided to get a Christmas staple banned from the station.

Youtube video

Youtube video

[Toy Soldier]

To be fair the lyrics are hilariously dodgy ... But as always, it wasn't written yet aterday and "banning history" because it doesn't fit with modern society is daft.

I also do worry about whether or not baby would have died if she had tried to walk home because it sounds like it was a real risk .

[Toy Soldier]

It can also never beat "Young Girl"

[Lostie!]

Tom Jones trying to date rape Cerys Matthews on VH1 is a bloody Christmas tradition!

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Lostie!

Tom Jones trying to date rape Cerys Matthews on VH1 is a bloody Christmas tradition!

"Say, what's in this drink?" is maybe the most disturbing lyric in the song.

"What's the sense in hurtin' my pride" is up there though!

[Smithy]

[Liam-]

Not a war on Christmas

[Epic.]

This pissed me off. The song may sound a little severe out of context but it was never intended to be a Christmas song about sexual assault. Anything can be twisted for it to sound bad. It's like banning Santa Claus because 'he sees children when they're sleeping or awake, he knows when they've been good or bad' and that he climbs down chimneys in the middle of the night. See how wrong it sounds with a negative spin on it? This is just another overblown unnecessary decision

[Livia]

Good grief...

[bitontheslide]

they will be banning this next

Youtube video

[Livia]

Yeah! Chevalier's obviously a paedo. It's disgusting how those old songs are so dodgy. I'm glad we now live in a time where that kind of thing doesn't happen.

Meanwhile, I'm off to listen to Smack My Bitch Up my Prodigy.

[Maru]

I think the true offense here is the song contains the most triggering word of all: "outside"...

Have we already forgotten this gem?

Youtube video

[James]

I've read that it is being misinterpreted now, and the song is not about coercion, but rather the woman is worried about damaging her reputation if she stayed with the man -as that was the social convention at the time.

And the line 'What's in this drink?' was a common phrase then, that means something different from what it sounds like now.

[Alf]

Hey, me too movement, why don't you fook off!

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by James

I've read that it is being misinterpreted now, and the song is not about coercion, but rather the woman is worried about damaging her reputation if she stayed with the man -as that was the social convention at the time.

And the line 'What's in this drink?' was a common phrase then, that means something different from what it sounds like now.

To play devil's advocate though, the "current ideal" is that no pressure of any kind should be applied after a "no", no matter what the reason for saying no (and one valid reason would be public perception). No means no and all that.

And I guess the logic in not allowing it to be played now would be worries that, even though the song is from anothet era, the lyrics could still be seen to normalise "applying gentle pressure" and "the game / chase" aspect of things (i.e. The pursuer believing that, although the pursuee has said no, they really do want to and just need to be convinced to say yes).


That said I think it's massively over thinking the issue and no one is realistically getting life lessons from old crimbo bops.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Little Mix to release a anti Christmas album called

"Mary , my Hoe years in Nazareth"

track one being "God, suck my dick, you gender neutral sexist PIG"?

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Pretty much.

[montblanc]

Originally Posted by Smithy

yup happens every day

[Marsh.]

Good.

Have never been able to abide it, especially the Tom Jones version.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

When this was trending on Twitter, the decision was being almost universally mocked and derided, which is refreshing. It's just a bit of a shame that some lonely cat-obsessed lesbians decided to get a Christmas staple banned from the station.

And your wide-of-the-mark sexist and homophobic diatribe is allowed?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Lostie!

Tom Jones trying to date rape Cerys Matthews on VH1 is a bloody Christmas tradition!

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

Yeah! Chevalier's obviously a paedo. It's disgusting how those old songs are so dodgy. I'm glad we now live in a time where that kind of thing doesn't happen.

Meanwhile, I'm off to listen to Smack My Bitch Up my Prodigy.

That's also going on 20 years old. Showing your age.

[Maru]

Originally Posted by James

I've read that it is being misinterpreted now, and the song is not about coercion, but rather the woman is worried about damaging her reputation if she stayed with the man -as that was the social convention at the time.

And the line 'What's in this drink?' was a common phrase then, that means something different from what it sounds like now.

Yeah I remember that phrase from watching classics. I actually like the song even if it seems a bit extra cheesy (to me).

[Elliot]

Mariah Carey invented Christmas all the other flops could never!

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Originally Posted by Liam-

Not a war on Christmas

Nice strawmanning. No-one sensible is using this as an example of the "regressive left" or "war on Christmas", I've only heard the decision being derided as bloody stupid in its own right.