"common," not "inoffensive" (was Editing literature)

[lupinesque]

Kathryn wrote:

For example I have a large collection of books by
> W E Johns and even the most recent reprints have kept his original 
langauge,
> which throughout the different series' could probably offend every 
race and
> nationality on earth, with the exception of the noble Englishmen of 
course.
> Most reprints use the solution of footnotes explaining that the 
words used,
> and the attitudes shown, were common at the time but are deeply 
offensive to
> many people now. 

One quick note, though:  I'd like to reiterate Cindy's point:  most 
of them were offensive at the time too.  Common, yes, but only among 
the noble Englishmen, not among the people to whom they referred, who 
knew perfectly well that they were being insulted in the worst way.

Amy
pretty sure she'd have been as offended to be called a kike 100 years 
ago as today