Open letter to Russell Brand from RBS worker

[Schoolaroundthecorner]

So apparently Russell Brand stormed into RBS London headquarters and decided to hassle employees about their pay and bonuses. Now I know Russell is on a crusade at the moment against capitalism and bankers might have seemed an obvious target but he's really getting annoying now (I know plenty of people found him irritating already....). I'm not a banker, not working in a job with big bonuses but I have sympathy with these workers, many of whom are probably not the fat cats he paints them as. In particular I thought this open letter made it clear how self-aggrandising the whole stunt was and effectively punctured Russell's new 'man of the people' persona.

thedailyedge.thejournal.ie/russell-brand-open-letter-1839456-Dec2014/

[Schoolaroundthecorner]

The full letter is here

www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/unauthorised-people-arent-allowed-in-thats-not-a-global-conspiracy-its-basic-security-irish-worker-writes-open-letter-to-russell-brand-after-bank-protest-30844354.html

[mrsfarquhar]

God that man is such a pratt.

[MrsCakesPrecognition]

That letter is brilliant.

[ArcheryAnnie]

It's an entertaining letter, and I am always pleased to see Russell Brand outed as the stupid, hypocritical, preening idiot that he is - but it would have been nice if this guy hadn't squeezed in a pop at "celebrity bikes" in his own piece. No woman is a "bike".

[KatherinaMinola]

Was about to say the same - he had me until "celebrity bikes".

[Schoolaroundthecorner]

That's a fair point ArcheryAnnie and one I missed on my earlier reading. Not good. Shame as the rest of the letter was on point!

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Me too

[NewEraNewMindset]

I laughed and quite liked the bike comment

[howtodrainyourflagon]

Good letter but celebrity bikes is a shitty bit of misogyny. I like the guy apart from that. But on balance I'm glad his lunch went cold.

[professornangnang]

A banker going without his lunch. My heart bleeds.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

How can anyone like someone referring to women as bikes?

[NewEraNewMindset]

Dunno. Just amused me. I quite like the word cunt and twat though and i guess they can be derogatory words for women too.

[OddFodd]

I thought it was a great letter until I got to the word bike. I use the words cunt and twat liberally - I just don't describe women who deign to have sex with men as bikes. What a terrible shame this bloke has turned out to be a total turd.

It's like when someone who you think is funny makes a racist crack. Suddenly bang goes any respect or fondness you've ever had for them.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

For me, bike is a derogatory term because it refers to a woman who has had sex with 'too many' men - ie. it is synonymous with tart or slag, and that doesn't apply to cunt or twat.

[MassaAttack]

He's a bellend.

To give him the benefit of the doubt, I suspect he's unwell. Delusional at least.

[NewEraNewMindset]

Oh I totally agree, it's definitely used as an offensive term in the same way as slut or slag would be. The thing is I think RB is a total slut and is well known to be so anyone who chooses to sleep with him is just a dirtbag really, so bike doesn't seem unfitting really.

[ClartyYakker]

I don't think he is necessarily being gender specific when he refers to celebrity bikes. I didn't pick up on it because in my part of the world 'bike' refers to promiscuous men and women not just women.

[MarjorieMelon]

I think he is heading for some sort of breakdown. He isn't my cup of tea anyway but just recently he seems really odd. His performance on question time was embarrassing. I think his heart is in the right place but his head is all over the shop.

[stripeysettee]

Yes, bike ruined it for me too.

[MassaAttack]

My thoughts exactly, Marjorie. His behaviour reminds me of a friend of mine, in the run up to a colossal episode.

[Greengrow]

A wonderful letter. Most people who work in banks work very very hard and plenty do not get very high salaries. We have had a very warped view of "bankers" in the UK. They have been a very convenient whipping boy.

[sherbetpips]

Sorry got bored half way through, the letter writer is as indulgent as Brand himself.

[Ijustworemytrenchcoat]

I actually love him, he really makes me laugh but I hate this earnest 6th former who's just discovered No Logo persona.

[fivepounds]

The author of that letter is as vainglorious and imperious as Brand. Thinks he's hilarious. 'Bike' is appallingly misogynistic.

Newera, what is the criteria you use when you judge people as bikes?

[mrsfarquhar]

ijustworemy...i was just saying to a friend that he comes across as self indulgent sixth formers criticizing their 'capitalist' parents whilst helping themselves to the spoils of mum and dads lifestyle!