[Archived] Had Enough

[Paul]

I rarely listen to JR's radio show and when I do don't really enjoy it. I do watch Friday Night with JR, quite why I'm not sure as it regularly makes me cringe. The only person I know who thinks RB is in anyway funny is 16. Having said that it's obvious from his Guardian / Observer writing RB is an intelligent individual who I understand has managed to work his way through a very hard upbringing and early life to get where he is today.

Abusing a 78 year old man, for no apparent reason, is unforgiveable and to do it in the name of entertainment even worse. I'm far from outraged by the incident but have decided it tells me a whole lot about JR and RB as people. The one thing I hope is the BBC will not make scapegoats of the production team and meet out any punishment in a fair and reasonable manner.

[Ninjathunder]

Well I've now had enough of an incident which has been completely blown out of all proportion to satiate an aspiring model's career, a spiteful newspaper which preaches hysterical knee-jerk nonsense (remember it's reaction to Brass Eye?) and News Corp who have an obviously vested interest in bringing down the BBC. There are editorial questions to be answered here and lessons to be learned but, face it, it's a 'celebrity' story hence it's acres of column space. I'm even fed up of how much time and space BBC Radio 4 is giving it.

[Al]

I am really disappointed to see how many of my fellow forum members are condoning the actions of these two morons. I thought that the members on here had a bit more respect than that.

I realise that some just take the opposing line for the sake of it but even so I am surprised and disappointed by the number of people who support them.

[ABBEY]

well im sick of it being headlines every hour on the news ....well OTT.

[BuckyRover]

Abusing a 78 year old man?

He is quite happy taking the publicity at the moment.

The apology letter was reworded at his request to include the reference to" Andrew Sachs, Manuel from Faulty Towers" rather than just "Andrew Sachs".

He also has a book out at the moment.

He is a comedian. His character in Faulty Towers could be considered offensive to Spanish people. But it was funny, so that was ok. Just because people don't find it funny doesn't mean they should be sacked.

Audience figures are a measure on how well they are liked, and his audience figures are just fine (and will rise I imagine).

Grow up. A reference to a sl*tty granddaughter (who is shamelessly promoting her group) is not a sackable offence. It was also pre-recorded, nobody had made a complaint. Sachs agent realised this would sell a few more of his books, and so made a big deal about it and then the Daily Mail got hold of it.

I am embarassed to be a part of this media circus.

What is the FTSE doing at the moment?

[Al]

Abusing a 78 year old man?

He is quite happy taking the publicity at the moment.

The apology letter was reworded at his request to include the reference to" Andrew Sachs, Manuel from Faulty Towers" rather than just "Andrew Sachs".

He also has a book out at the moment.

He is a comedian. His character in Faulty Towers could be considered offensive to Spanish people. But it was funny, so that was ok. Just because people don't find it funny doesn't mean they should be sacked.

Audience figures are a measure on how well they are liked, and his audience figures are just fine (and will rise I imagine).

Grow up. A reference to a sl*tty granddaughter (who is shamelessly promoting her group) is not a sackable offence. It was also pre-recorded, nobody had made a complaint. Sachs agent realised this would sell a few more of his books, and so made a big deal about it and then the Daily Mail got hold of it.

I am embarassed to be a part of this media circus.

What is the FTSE doing at the moment?

You are the main one of the people I was referring to above. Never let the truth get in the way of a good argument.

[RevidgeBlue]

I'm just curious, who on here would **** a young(ish) girl, then at a later date ring her grandfather's number and leave a crude message on his answer machine boasting about it?

Not even those on here defending this pair of prats I'd wager. In fact you'd be prime candidates to be carted off to a padded cell tbh.

[ABBEY]

shes a bloody good un ,,,,,,,I WOULD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Flopsy]

what they did deserves a bollocking, a fine, a craven public apology and a warning of future conduct. And in brand's case a large slap. What they don't warrant is to be sacked.

[DingleBaiter]

Who's actually lost out in all this then? Everyone's a winner as I see it, in roundabout terms nonetheless.

We should be more vexed at the celebrity fixation in the media than being disturbed by proxy about other people's feelings.

I'm not defending anyone's actions here - but everyone's getting just a teensy bit precious about it. Double page spreads in at least two 'dailys' today won't be doing the poor lasses's bank account no harm I'd suggest.

Once again, personal responsibility seems to have slipped in the course of the 'debate'. Brand hasn't done anything that he wasn't know for - be it jiggying the girl (I'm pretty sure we're not talking about rape, after all) or using shock tactics for attention.

Why would the girl tell Brand about Sachs in the first place, if she was so concerned about what he may do with the information?

Brand & Woss didn't exactly get Sach's number by chance did they?

'Abusing a 78yo man'? Seriously? They acted in a childish way, probably not the way some of a certain generation would do, and I'm not saying by any stretch they are innocent. However, it has been blown out of all proportion - it's far from the national crisis it's suggested it is, given the airtime and attention.

I'm not defending Brand or Woss on this, just the opportunistic moral outrage and indignity of an overly-sensitive society that are more perturbed by this than possibly any of the parties involved.

Think it's the editorial team/producers that are going to carry the can on this one, and rightly so.

[BuckyRover]

You are the main one of the people I was referring to above. Never let the truth get in the way of a good argument.

The truth?

Can you please elaborate as to where I have not used the truth?

[Al]

what they did deserves a bollocking, a fine, a craven public apology and a warning of future conduct. And in brand's case a large slap. What they don't warrant is to be sacked.

And what about a prosecution for making obscene phone calls, and sacking.

I'd be glad to get the pair of berks off the tele in any case. Can't stand either of them.

[BuckyRover]

And that is the main issue here.

What people don't like, they don't want others to enjoy.

If we are prosecuting people for making offensive phone calls, it would be a pretty long list:

Graham Norton

Russell Brand

Jonanthan Woss

Fonejacker

Bart Simpson

Scott Mills (Radio 1)

Don't forget the pranks in person; Noel Edmonds, Jeremy Beadle....

Those are just off the top of my head. Any more you would like to add?

Why don't you put a case together to pass to the CPS, you will be able to find plenty of evidence? Type in prank calls on Youtube, you could make a living out of this.

Please explain why this is any different other than the fact the Daily Mail got hold of it and decided to create a story....

[Flopsy]

al, i think you're overreacting but its your opinion the same as bucky's has his. I don't think they deserve to be fired

[Majiball]

Curiously has no-one on here done a Bart and made a prank call??

I remember me and mates going through the telephone directory and picking out the good names and giving them a call. Kids can be cruel but we where only having a laugh.

Perspective seems to be lacking these days.

[DingleBaiter]

Curiously has no-one on here done a Bart and made a prank call??

I remember me and mates going through the telephone directory and picking out the good names and giving them a call. Kids can be cruel but we where only having a laugh.

Perspective seems to be lacking these days.

I still make prank calls today. Immature? Of course. Funny, amusing & enjoyable? Hell, yes.

If 'growing up' is ending up with a holier-than-thou aloofness tinged with melancholy as practised by some of the older posters on here, I hope it never happens

[Al]

Prank calls and obscene calls are two different things. I enjoy a smutty joke as much as the next man but this went behond what is acceptable.

Anyway they have both been sacked and deserve whatever they get. Mystifies me why the police have not been involved.

[philipl]

I am with you Al.

[den]

"prank calls"? We can all laugh at a "prank"

I know plenty of grandads, who upon recieving that phone call, would have been round and knocked their head off.

More than a mere prank, surely?

[DingleBaiter]

Suspended, not sacked.

I'm just a bit unsure where the obscenity aspect is in this. The tone, the subject matter, or the F word? I'm not suggesting for one minute it's not serious, and it is still breaking the law to make an obscene call, so you've a fair point Al.

Think it's just a function of needing someone to making a complaint to police, they're well known for vacillating (look at the Sol Campbell song). It's more criminal we've a police force that will only work on 'easy hits' or paperwork.

Doesn't look like Manuel is that bothered any more, if he was would this whole affair not be better resolved through the appropriate channels and not the media?

I always think it's more perturbing when people are apparently so outraged, yet hid their principles to settle for some other aspect - for instance Spurs crying over Arnesen, Berbatov etc but suddenly changing their tune once someone coughs up some readies.

As said earlier, feel sure the editorial team will ultimately come off worse in this - and rightly so IMO. Everyone else arguably has benefitted to some degree; time will tell whether any perceived sleights will be offset by this. In terms of publicity, sales, fame/notoriety, hype, etc. it's hard to see where anyone has lost out in the cold light of day.

"prank calls"? We can all laugh at a "prank"

I know plenty of grandads, who upon recieving that phone call, would have been round and knocked their head off.

More than a mere prank, surely?

I'd suggest it's unlikely any of the grandads you know are likely to be as 'famous' as these four involved though, so isn't it a moot - albeit a fair - point. Do agree with your sentiments, though isn't it a hypothetical argument really? IF 'normal everday' folk behaved that way, it would be far less of a prank than this one is (or isn't).

[BuckyRover]

I don't think grandad would have a leg to stand on if said grandaughter is prancing around describing herself as a sl*t.

Does that have no bearing on this?

If she had been a 40 year old WI member, I think it would have been much worse. But it isn't, it is somebody who makes her money by describing herself in that way, a sl*t.

BTW she is now saying she did have sex with brand and it should have been kept secret. So all he did was tell a grandad that he had *** with his grandaughter.

Why do dad's always blame the other party? Never their little girl is it?

I'm outraged!!

[Al]

I'm outraged!!

Glad to hear it Bucky. So am I.

[Mc Love]

Its funny when it involves Americans, as anyone that has heard Elvis Durans morning phone taps!! Simply hilarious altogether:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAZeTo-oodQ

[den]

I don't think grandad would have a leg to stand on if said grandaughter is prancing around describing herself as a sl*t.

Does that have no bearing on this?

None whatsoever.

[BuckyRover]

The voice of reason and valid argument; Den.

I'm sure his agent is rubbing his/her fingers at the prospect of a serialisation in the Daily Mail.

"Manuel: Brand made my grand daughter into a promiscious tramp, now I want compensation"