Airing of Grievances

What is wrong with these people?

The object of today‘a ire seems to be a subsidiary of Netflix. A publishing footprint which paid an astronomical $1B fee to buy the copyright to the collected works of Roald Dahl. At this intersection of capitalism and private property rights is the choice of this publisher to change some of the words in Dahl works.

Now, this review by “sensitivity reviewers” is ostensibly to broaden the appeal of this work to new generations of readers. In this age of cultural and racial reckoning, a private company’s choices have come under fire. But should they?

If the arguments centered around the absurdity of our copyright laws or the cynicism of a multinational corporation engaging in the latest fad to make a buck, I would understand. But that isn’t what’s happening. Instead, we are treated to room temperature takes that this decision to modify personal property falls in the same arena as states deciding which books to carry in public libraries. Watching a “centrist” ask which of the two acts is worse.

What a ludicrous question to even ask. Netflix being stupid is in no way equivalent to what a government, with all of its powers of coercion, is doing. The only reasonable response to the controversy de jour is to vote with your feet. Or in this case with your wallet. Tell Netflix this is stupid and don’t buy the new editions. It’s really that simple.

These people can’t be serious.