Talk:The Ballad of Eskimo Nell

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Hello, my name is John Mehlberg. Although I did not start this article, I have a great interest in it because I am a folklorist intersted in drinking songs, toasts and recitations. Eskimo Nell is the later.

If you know a version of Eskimo Nell, please feel free to email me at CONTACT at IMMORTALIA.COM or by visiting my user page and dropping me a note.

John Mehlberg 20:17, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Robert Service's metre

The poem shares the same structure and meter as one of Robert Service's famous Yukon poem, 'The Cremation of Sam McGee'.

Yes, it seems to partially parody it... AnonMoos 15:19, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sex hate??

The cited source for this claim makes no argument as to why this ballad is an example of so-called sex-hate literature, whatever that is (the term appears to be undefined). Rather, it merely labels the ballad a "sex hate recitation" on numerous occasions. I would argue that the poem is nothing of the sort, and probably more accurately echoes the sexual-liberation-of-women argument put forth by Germaine Greer and various feminists. In the absence of a reliable source explaining why Eskimo Nell is "sex-hate", I am deleting the reference.--ABVS 10:07, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

In fundamental terms Beefart is entirely of the same view as Yeti Hunter but approaches these things from the liberal tradition that in Australia is summed up by the expression "fair crack of the whip". I do not think that Eskimos Nell (EN) qualifies as "sex hate literature" (SHL). In fact, I find the proposition ludicrous. Nell is a ball-breaker. She uses what God gave her to bring both Dick and Pete down several rungs and adds a lustre of dignity to the reputation of the old profession in the world. This is my opinion. There are no facts involved, only what I happend to think sounds right. I have been known to be wrong. (I can recall the last occasion clearly; it was on a Tuesday...) I agree that the published citation makes no case for why EN is an example of SHL. The point is that somebody else thinks so. They may have failed risably to support that opinion but, hey, its a free encyclopedeia, aint it? We will not survive if we fall into the error of trying to supress the opinions of fools. There are too many of them. Let them speak. Please restore the link. If it is a link to the ridiculous, it cannot harm us.

Fair call, I actually decided to leave the link in there after writing in talk, because as you say the sentiments of the poem speak for themselves, and any reader can decide for themselves that the "sex hate" proposition is bollocks. (this is in contrast to at least one version of the "Lil the whore" poem in America which is allegedly similar, but in which Lil is most certainly the victim of "sex hate")--ABVS 13:54, 22 October 2006 (UTC)