Pity the Poor Potato

I was going to mention this story as an amusing footnote to my discussion about politically correct language. However, I forgot, so here it is today.

It seems that the British Potato Council objects to the term “couch potato” on the grounds that it has negative connotations and people won’t buy potatoes as a result. While this may sound exceedingly silly – I certainly won’t stop buying potatoes because of the term and I find the suggestion faintly patronising – there is a serious side to all of this. We have been discussing this very topic over at News & Views and one correspondent mentioned that in his home state of Texas it is illegal to comment adversely about Texan agricultural products. That is serious and it makes “land of the free” ring rather hollow.

All of this reminds me of the French Golden Delicious apple. The Golden Delicious is a green apple that looks delicious (the clue is supposed to be in the name) – but as English apple producers will tell you, they lack the flavour of a good English grown product such as a Cox’s Pippin or Granny Smiths. Looks can be so deceptive. They are right – while the English apple has a tart, lively taste, the Golden Delicious is sweet yet bland. The Golden Delicious became popular in the UK during the late seventies much to the consternation of the local growers who were threatened by the competition. And, indeed, orchards have been in decline during the past couple of decades. Yet, my love for France doesn’t extend to their apples – I much prefer that tart, zingy taste of the English varieties. My French penfriend, Elizabeth explained this during an exchange visit in the early eighties. The French, she said, kept the best varieties for the domestic market; exporting the lesser quality apples to the UK. I cannot comment on the veracity of that claim, but if it is proved to be true, it wouldn’t surprise me.

So, perhaps the British Potato Council has a serious point to make. Perhaps the political correctness surrounding the term “couch potato” is merely a smokescreen designed to get their product into the national consciousness. Making a silly point can be an effective method of delivery. Certainly we are discussing it, so there is a degree of success so far. If it is just an elaborate publicity stunt, then that’s okay with me. If however they are serious in wanting to change our language, where do we stop? Is the term cathouse offensive to cats? What do the Cats’ Protection League have to say about this?