FabSwingers.com forum: Mini Gems

By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

M&S have renamed a popular sweet to Mini Gems so as not to associate the kid’s favourite with Victorian freak shows. Tesco could soon follow too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A person complained. A big corporate instantly buckled. Welcome to 2022.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"A person complained. A big corporate instantly buckled. Welcome to 2022.

*A person who has the disability associated with the word midget complained.

Does it matter to the sweets? Where once we had Opal Fruits, we have Starburst. Where a Marathon was consumed in years past, we munch on a Snickers. No longer do we use Jif to clean up the mess, but now Cif.

The world changes, things move on

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

Snickers is a shit name.

Progress isn’t finding offence in confectionery.

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By *ed-monkeyCouple
over a year ago

Hailsham

So the MG Midget should be renamed the Mini

Well that's OK that name hasn't been used

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By *dsmithMan
over a year ago

Loudwater

As long as they don’t use it as an excuse to reduce the weight of the bag I don’t care.

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By *iamondCougarWoman
over a year ago

Norfuck! / Lincolnshire

We’ve become such a PC nation!!

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By *aliceWoman
over a year ago

Birmingham

It's called progress. No-one is harmed by the new name and I'd question the intentions of anyone who thinks this change is problematic. I don't see the diferrence between this and the changes that meant we no longer have golliwogs on marmalade jars.

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By *ed-monkeyCouple
over a year ago

Hailsham

"We’ve become such a PC nation!! "

PCNa Nation

Didn't he plod the Bethnal Green beat??

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"Snickers is a shit name.

Progress isn’t finding offence in confectionery."

Cif is a shit name too. The excuse given for the rename was differences in the way the letter 'J' is pronounced in other countries. So they went with C-I-F. Pronounced "sif" yes? No. In Castilian Spanish, "ci" = a "th" sound. "Thif".

Lots of things get renamed or discontinued for all sorts (not liquorice) of reasons.

Words change in meaning over time. How many people would invite you to "have a gay day" nowadays? But my Grandmother used that all the time (meaning a happy day).

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

"It's called progress. No-one is harmed by the new name and I'd question the intentions of anyone who thinks this change is problematic. I don't see the diferrence between this and the changes that meant we no longer have golliwogs on marmalade jars."

You’d be harmed if you walked into a M&S shop and mistakenly asking for a quarter of midget gems unaware some of the cast for this year’s Snow White panto were in the aisles.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A person complained. A big corporate instantly buckled. Welcome to 2022.

*A person who has the disability associated with the word midget complained.

The world changes, things move on

Whilst the term ‘midget’ *can* be used as an offensive term for such people, it’s also a legitimate everyday word for “small”, much like dwarf etc.

It’s in the dictionary and everything.

I guess it’s all about context and intention.

They’re called midget gems as they’re shaped like small gems.. and have been for years.

There’s no inference that they’re intended as a slight against the disability you mention.

This is different to the likes of the Robertson’s Golly that someone else referred to above, as that clearly WAS a racial depiction and was rightly removed (imho).

It seems to me that some people LOOK to be offended these days, and as soon as someone says “I’m offended by that” then it just HAS to change. Everyone is constantly walking on eggshells fearful that someone will find offence where none was intended!

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

I must admit I’ve progressed to Haribo.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"M&S have renamed a popular sweet to Mini Gems so as not to associate the kid’s favourite with Victorian freak shows. Tesco could soon follow too.

They need the publicity after Aldi absolutely beat their arse over the Colin Caterpillar cake.

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

"M&S have renamed a popular sweet to Mini Gems so as not to associate the kid’s favourite with Victorian freak shows. Tesco could soon follow too.

They need the publicity after Aldi absolutely beat their arse over the Colin Caterpillar cake.

Wow I never knew of such cut-throat competition..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Wine gums the next target?

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By *ora the explorerWoman
over a year ago

Paradise, Herts

I find them offensive to my taste buds. Awful things

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Snickers is a shit name.

Progress isn’t finding offence in confectionery."

I agree on both counts.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Wine gums the next target? "

Doubly offensive to alcoholics and people with no teeth.

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By *ora the explorerWoman
over a year ago

Paradise, Herts

"Wine gums the next target?

Doubly offensive to alcoholics and people with no teeth.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Wine gums the next target?

Doubly offensive to alcoholics and people with no teeth.

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By *oeBeansMan
over a year ago

Derby

Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

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By *ora the explorerWoman
over a year ago

Paradise, Herts

"Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

Erm I’m not a guy! Im offended

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By *ed-monkeyCouple
over a year ago

Hailsham

"Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

I never realised it had a sexual purpose

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

Erm I’m not a guy! Im offended "

Guy Fawkes is turning in his grave. Well. What's left of him...

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

Is it etiquette to eat them one by one rather than by the handful?

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By *oeBeansMan
over a year ago

Derby

"Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

Erm I’m not a guy! Im offended "

Sorry dude

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

Erm I’m not a guy! Im offended

Guy Fawkes is turning in his grave. Well. What's left of him..."

Frazzles

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Is it etiquette to eat them one by one rather than by the handful?"

One by one is the way. Savour the flavour.

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By *ed-monkeyCouple
over a year ago

Hailsham

"Is it etiquette to eat them one by one rather than by the handful?

One by one is the way. Savour the flavour. "

Taste the rainbow?

Oh wait ... that's something else

As you were

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By *ora the explorerWoman
over a year ago

Paradise, Herts

Oh they’re not what I’m thinking of! I was thinking of iced gems

. I do like them

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

"Oh they’re not what I’m thinking of! I was thinking of iced gems

. I do like them

Phew. Thought you’d gone mad or summit?

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By *ora the explorerWoman
over a year ago

Paradise, Herts

"Oh they’re not what I’m thinking of! I was thinking of iced gems

. I do like them

Phew. Thought you’d gone mad or summit?

. Iced gems are gross

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By *ed-monkeyCouple
over a year ago

Hailsham

[Removed by poster at 13/01/22 21:40:05]

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By *ed-monkeyCouple
over a year ago

Hailsham

"Oh they’re not what I’m thinking of! I was thinking of iced gems

. I do like them

DeBeers are trying to corner the market on gems

They will become iced bite sized biscuits

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By *oeBeansMan
over a year ago

Derby

"Oh they’re not what I’m thinking of! I was thinking of iced gems

. I do like them

Iced gems are amazing! The wonderful coloured sugar dissolving in your mouth with a lovely biscuit base. What's not to love?

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By *ssex_tomMan
over a year ago

Chelmsford

Surely all chocolate bars and sweets should be called midgets..

They have all shrunk

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By *eah BabyCouple
over a year ago

Cheshire, Windermere ,Cumbria

"As long as they don’t use it as an excuse to reduce the weight of the bag I don’t care.

Well they did with Yorkie when they removed the not for girls off the bar, they took a chunk off, I think it was someone’s twisted humour that if girls were now allowed to eat them they had to be smaller

I have to buy two now

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By *ssex_tomMan
over a year ago

Chelmsford

The girls Yorkie bar had a pink rapper as I remember

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

Despite the colour don’t the gems all taste the same? Or is it just me?

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By *good-being-badMan
over a year ago

mis-types and auto corrects leads cock leeds

Do the black ones taste of liquorice or that god awful blackcurrant.

Lion brand are the best. Homebargains 79p for a 200g packet.

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By *ickeyblueeyes7Man
over a year ago

newport

"So the MG Midget should be renamed the Mini

Well that's OK that name hasn't been used"

Will still be called a MG Midget as it is not made anymore so this is not offensive as opposed to midget gems as these sweets are still being made.

Has anyone asked the people of Dwarfism if they find midget gems offensive

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Snickers is a shit name.

Progress isn’t finding offence in confectionery.

I agree on both counts."

I agree three. Funny how people think this advances society.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"So the MG Midget should be renamed the Mini

Well that's OK that name hasn't been used

Will still be called a MG Midget as it is not made anymore so this is not offensive as opposed to midget gems as these sweets are still being made.

Has anyone asked the people of Dwarfism if they find midget gems offensive "

It was someone with Dwarfism who asked for the name change. The word "midget" is considered very offensive to people who have dwarfism. That, I do know.

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By *ickeyblueeyes7Man
over a year ago

newport

"So the MG Midget should be renamed the Mini

Well that's OK that name hasn't been used

Will still be called a MG Midget as it is not made anymore so this is not offensive as opposed to midget gems as these sweets are still being made.

Has anyone asked the people of Dwarfism if they find midget gems offensive

It was someone with Dwarfism who asked for the name change. The word "midget" is considered very offensive to people who have dwarfism. That, I do know. "

I can understand if you called someone with dwarfism a midget they would be offended but to be offended by midget gems really

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"So the MG Midget should be renamed the Mini

Well that's OK that name hasn't been used

Will still be called a MG Midget as it is not made anymore so this is not offensive as opposed to midget gems as these sweets are still being made.

Has anyone asked the people of Dwarfism if they find midget gems offensive

It was someone with Dwarfism who asked for the name change. The word "midget" is considered very offensive to people who have dwarfism. That, I do know.

I can understand if you called someone with dwarfism a midget they would be offended but to be offended by midget gems really "

It's not me that reported it. I'm just repeating what the original complainant has given as the reason.

Many people don't realise that "midget" is offensive to certain people. I've heard people refer to people with dwarfism in that way many times.

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By *uby StarCouple
over a year ago

Durham

Oh for crying out loud, the world has gone mad.

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By *ORDERMANMan
over a year ago

wrexham

"Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

Erm I’m not a guy! Im offended

Guy Fawkes is turning in his grave. Well. What's left of him..."

Let's be pedantic his name was guidius fawkes

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By *alking HeadMan
over a year ago

Bolton

Definition of midget

1: something (such as an animal) much smaller than usual

2sometimes offensive : a very small person and especially one of unusually small size

3: a front-engine, single-seat, open-wheel racing car smaller and of less engine displacement than standard cars of the type

Some people with dwarfism might THINK they own the word, but they don't. Are we going to stop calling gingernuts by that name, because redheads get called gingernut? No, and nobody is calling for it. One academic suggested the ban on midget gems and the corporate world pissed it's knickers.

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By *inky_couple2020Couple
over a year ago

North West

"Guys, guys, guys... It's a fucking sweet

Erm I’m not a guy! Im offended

Guy Fawkes is turning in his grave. Well. What's left of him...

Let's be pedantic his name was guidius fawkes"

I thought it was Guido. Anyway, we split hairs. Poor Guy was split a lot more than that

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By *ORDERMANMan
over a year ago

wrexham

Actually I think you're right

Just knew it wasnt guy

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By *ssex_tomMan
over a year ago

Chelmsford

"So the MG Midget should be renamed the Mini

Well that's OK that name hasn't been used

Will still be called a MG Midget as it is not made anymore so this is not offensive as opposed to midget gems as these sweets are still being made.

Has anyone asked the people of Dwarfism if they find midget gems offensive

It was someone with Dwarfism who asked for the name change. The word "midget" is considered very offensive to people who have dwarfism. That, I do know.

I can understand if you called someone with dwarfism a midget they would be offended but to be offended by midget gems really

It's not me that reported it. I'm just repeating what the original complainant has given as the reason.

Many people don't realise that "midget" is offensive to certain people. I've heard people refer to people with dwarfism in that way many times. "

My advice.. be very careful when posting news items. Unless it's all over the news these fabbers go nuts..

Can I say nuts? Sorry if that's offensive...

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By *ickeyblueeyes7Man
over a year ago

newport

"So the MG Midget should be renamed the Mini

Well that's OK that name hasn't been used

Will still be called a MG Midget as it is not made anymore so this is not offensive as opposed to midget gems as these sweets are still being made.

Has anyone asked the people of Dwarfism if they find midget gems offensive

It was someone with Dwarfism who asked for the name change. The word "midget" is considered very offensive to people who have dwarfism. That, I do know.

I can understand if you called someone with dwarfism a midget they would be offended but to be offended by midget gems really

It's not me that reported it. I'm just repeating what the original complainant has given as the reason.

Many people don't realise that "midget" is offensive to certain people. I've heard people refer to people with dwarfism in that way many times.

My advice.. be very careful when posting news items. Unless it's all over the news these fabbers go nuts..

Can I say nuts? Sorry if that's offensive..."

Saying nuts might be offensive to Eunuchs

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Interesting thread

Some people find the word offensive and complain

Some people find changing the word offensive and complain about people who want to change the word.

This is the way

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By *ssex_tomMan
over a year ago

Chelmsford

Has anyone thought that the sweets could have kept their name and we no longer refer to dwarfism people as midgets.

Why not just call them little folk or let them decide..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 14/01/22 09:00:49]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I’m in marketing so know all too well about having to change name. Companies rarely bow to the pressure of one or 2 consumers. They change either because they have to because of litigation through the courts, being efficient so they can share same marketing activities and products across countries (the real reason behind Jif to Cif), or if there is a mass discontent that will lead to their brand massively declining…but when they do there is a lot of big money research on consumers to switch to the right name…but you can never get something 100% will be happy with.

Now back to what I’m actually on Fab for…

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By *WDomMan
over a year ago

Taunton

I don’t understand the attitude that says I’d rather deliberately upset someone than make a change that costs me nothing.

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

"I don’t understand the attitude that says I’d rather deliberately upset someone than make a change that costs me nothing. "

I don’t understand the internet voice that says softly, softly don’t type what I really think.

A true democracy is built upon thoughts and attitudes not tackling every perceived breach of eternal niceness.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I don’t understand the attitude that says I’d rather deliberately upset someone than make a change that costs me nothing.

I don’t understand the internet voice that says softly, softly don’t type what I really think.

A true democracy is built upon thoughts and attitudes not tackling every perceived breach of eternal niceness."

Western societies have versions of Democracies. Any version of a (successful) Democracy relies on participation, engagement, debate and processes that allow change.

Not really sure what Democracies have got to do with changing the name of a sweet though. The company that changed the name isnt a democracy.

Ive just been listening to a piece on radio 4 about a para olympic swimmer who is regularly called names he finds unpleasent because of his Dwarfism. Maybe we should listen to the people it affects?

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By *ou only live onceMan
over a year ago

London

"I don’t understand the attitude that says I’d rather deliberately upset someone than make a change that costs me nothing. "

Amen!

I know it might seem an unnecessary change to some, but what's the harm is not using a word that is highly offensive to some people?

Really doesn't change the price of fish for the majority of people, but might help some people feel more at ease, which can't be a bad thing. It's just about being as inclusive as possible, surely...

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By *yron69 OP Man
over a year ago

Fareham

"I don’t understand the attitude that says I’d rather deliberately upset someone than make a change that costs me nothing.

I don’t understand the internet voice that says softly, softly don’t type what I really think.

A true democracy is built upon thoughts and attitudes not tackling every perceived breach of eternal niceness.

Western societies have versions of Democracies. Any version of a (successful) Democracy relies on participation, engagement, debate and processes that allow change.

Not really sure what Democracies have got to do with changing the name of a sweet though. The company that changed the name isnt a democracy.

Ive just been listening to a piece on radio 4 about a para olympic swimmer who is regularly called names he finds unpleasent because of his Dwarfism. Maybe we should listen to the people it affects?

Democracy is about majority views and allowing opinions to be expressed even if unpopular .

My comment was directed at a particular view and not at all suggesting that the rebranding of sweets was an attack on it.

If you want everyone to be heard, and that’s fair then listen to the old, ugly, obese, working class and a whole host of others too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"M&S have renamed a popular sweet to Mini Gems so as not to associate the kid’s favourite with Victorian freak shows. Tesco could soon follow too.

"
we talking miget gems

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"A person complained. A big corporate instantly buckled. Welcome to 2022.

*A person who has the disability associated with the word midget complained.

The world changes, things move on

"
those changed because most of the world called them that except UK so came in line with rest not really the same.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Feel sorry for the dwarf rabbits and flowers bet there shitting there self's as to there new name

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By *ex HolesMan
over a year ago

Up North

They’ll always be midget gems to me

even if they pull down the midget statue I’ll still call them midget gems.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Looking at this, the name change appears to have been driven by a campaign by a university professor, herself a person of restricted growth, who coincidentally or not has a book on the subject to be pushed.

I can't see it affecting animals or plants with the name, disabled people have long lost the tag spastic, though it's still used elsewhere eg spastic colon.

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By *andsome HandMan
over a year ago

roundabout

Odf, really?