Remember when Oakley, in fun and without fear, hoisted the skull and bones to announce to the world that they were bold, edgy and bad-boy? That was so last century.

Related Articles Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride will stop auctioning brides

Inside the legendary Pirates of the Caribbean ride 50 years later Today, the Foothill Ranch-based company switches off the Jolly Roger with the Stars and Stripes and PC police go after Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride by changing the “wench” auction to “loot” auction.

Yet hundreds of online commenters and interviews with Disneyland aficionados finds that many visitors are furious about the ride’s upcoming changes.

“Disney has lost their collective minds,” says Roberta E., a Reno, Nev., homemaker, after she emails me during the online frenzy. A redhead herself, she says she laughs when the redheaded “wench” appears. “Because it’s presented humorously. Because pirates say and do bad things. Because it’s not bloody!”

But Disneyland Senior Vice President Kathy Mangum offers a different take. “Given the redhead has long been a fan favorite, we wanted to keep her as a pivotal part of the story, so we made her a plundering pirate!”

The back and forth may seem silly. Yet there is a dark side to PC debates.

Roberta and some others declined to allow their full names to be published out of fear of a backlash. That’s understandable. In person or online, getting flamed burns.

The irony is that in trying to soothe over concerns about possible sexism in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, Disneyland inadvertently poured gasoline on the fiery debate about what is politically correct.

A QUESTION OF PERSPECTIVE

The brouhaha started when Suzi Brown, spokeswoman for the Disneyland Resort, 10 days ago announced pirate ride changes at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris.

“We believe the time is right,” Brown said, “to turn the page to a new story in this scene, consistent with the humorous, adventurous spirit of the attraction.”

Of course, Disney knew the online universe would light up. Tradition is a big part of what makes their parks so attractive – and lucrative. I still mourn the loss of the yellow submarine voyage and that closed nearly two decades ago.

But the rough pirate vibe changed when Disneyland added Johnny Depp’s very popular, fun-loving, good-hearted – and, yes, very drunk – character, Jack Sparrow. Pirates were no longer, ahem, just murdering, town-burning rapists. They were lovable alcoholics.

What to do about the conflicting story arcs? In a fantasy park where teacups fly and fish talk, some very thoughtful fans say keep both kinds of pirate. Most of all, leave Uncle Walt’s original vision intact.

Carol A. is a clinical microbiologist who has visited Disneyland since she was a child. After high school, she worked at Fantasyland foods. Decades later, she and her husband remain devotees.

They have Premier Passports which gives them entrance to both the California and Florida parks. They enjoy chicken dinners at Plaza Inn and breakfast at the Cafe on Main Street. They stopped by the park only a few days ago. A few weeks before, they spent 10 days in Orlando.

Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones, and Pirates are favorites.

But don’t mistake appreciation for obsession. Carol loves trout fishing and is a hard-core soccer player. She also considers balance when thinking of the planned changes for Pirates of the Caribbean.

“When Pirates was originally built,” Carol says, “they made it reflect what pirates really do. Taking women prisoner and selling them was something a pirate would do. They were not supposed to be cuddly guys.”

The microbiologist, however, also takes into account different perspectives. “If Disneyland is making these changes just to be politically correct, then I don’t agree with it.

“But if they’re making changes because people have complained and have been offended, then I don’t mind. It’s a family park and they have to be mindful of the messages they’re sending.”

The online universe is more black and white.

RIDE OFFERS LIFE LESSONS

Bob Stevens isn’t really Bob Stevens. He works in law enforcement, has a different name and fears his social media life could spill into his work life if his real name is disclosed. He also is Jewish and Hispanic.

“If my family chose to be,” he says lightheartedly, “we could be offended at just about everything.”

In that vein, he questions how far Disneyland’s PC policies will go. “It’s like when someone looks at art and says they see ‘x’ when someone else sees ‘y.’ There are so many things in Disneyland that could offend someone that if they truly wanted to stay middle of the road it would be awful.”

As examples of possible PC offenses, he lists the Alice in Wonderland ride (an LSD trip), Indians on the train ride and Jose, the parrot on the Tiki ride who speaks with a pronounced Mexican accent voiced by Oregon native Wally Boag.

“How about It’s a Small World,” he asks, “and their straight-up racist depictions of the Japanese and Chinese kids?”

Angela Henderson is a professor at Fullerton College and worked at Disneyland’s Plaza Inn when she was in college. She recalls those years with fondness, met tons of other college students and enjoyed taking her two daughters to the park when they were little.

Now 18 and 16, one of the girls recently earned enough money to buy her own pass and Henderson has a pass as well.

“I have an affinity toward Disneyland,” Henderson explains. “I feel part of the family. When we go, we talk about the memories.”

The professor, too, questions the decision to change Pirates of the Caribbean. “You wipe that stuff away and you take away a layer of history that we’ve learned from.”

Henderson explains that the behavior of the animatronic pirates offers opportunities to have easy and safe conversations with children about being vigilant.

“There is sex trafficking,” she points out, “in Orange County.”

When I started writing this column, I used a very similar yet different word than “bad-boy” in the first paragraph. Some would argue the change makes me overly PC.

Others would argue such language has no place in a family newspaper.