Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First to be on CBB in 2017

[hotmail124]

AIBU to hope we could have a polite and compassionate mums net discussion about whether it's OK to have some one like this on mainstream TV? If we can't have a polite and compassionate discussion on both sides, why would that be?

[FizzBombBathTime]

She's a cunt

That is all.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Is it a philosophical question? Can one have a compassionate and polite discussion with a fascist, who is the antithesis of everything right and good? Probably not.

[FlyingElbows]

Any word on who's being lined up in the polar opposite to eat her alive role?

[Lottapianos]

Very interesting question OP. I saw a program about Fransen and Britain First last year and it was not what I was expecting. I don't agree with a single thing she said, but she seemed like an intelligent young woman who is a very engaging speaker. It's a shame that her talents are not being used for a less revolting cause.

It will be interesting to see how she interacts with others in the house.

[nocake]

She holds extreme views that shouldn't be treated as normal or acceptable. If the purpose of having her on TV is to expose her views as repulsive and demonstrate why they're wrong then I don't see why not. If she's on for any other purpose then no, absolutely not as it normalises her views.

[MadameDePomPom]

What are they thinking? They're basically lauding her as a celebrity. It was bad enough that Jim Davidson went on CBB (and won! because he's such a nice guy doncha know) but this is way beyond that. But seeing as mainstream American news are portraying neo-Nazi alt-right groups as some kind of subset of hipsterdom I can't say I'm overly shocked. The world is a very fucking depressing place at the moment.

[hotmail124]

Thanks Lottapianos for this. My response to this was horror, and that it's normalising fascism. I'm prejudiced against fascism, so, wonder if it can be civilised, respectful to our children ( whose teachers and workers have to go through so much Child Protection stuff) to think that no matter how personable and telegenic some one is, (Marine Le Pen seems to come over really well too) isn't it morally just plain wrong, that Channel 5 will be doing this?
Thanks everyone in advance for compassion!

[KrissyKringlefromCandyCaneLane]

What fizz said.

[wasonthelist]

CBB os hardly mainstream TV, it's a low rent exploitative Victorian freak show.

[hotmail124]

At least we can rest assured the Daily Mail won't be nicking this thread.

[MadameDePomPom]

It's as mainstream as Strictly or I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

[MadameDePomPom]

I mean I agree it's low rent and all the rest of it but a prime time Channel 5 show is definitely mainstream.

[badtime]

When you think of the public outcry when Jade Goody and co were making racist comments towards Shilpa Shetty on CBB, it really does make it clear how far and fast we have travelled backwards in the last few years.

[wasonthelist]

Hardly, Jade Goody was immensely popular

[hotmail124]

But up till now BF have been grooming on line. Teens have had them popping up on FB etc for years, and they were in one way a laughing stock, in another way a brand that has become well known. I think this is another clever step on their journey. Even the fact that CBB is so awful anyway could add to its kudos for them?
Part of Child Protection training in social care settings and schools is extremist grooming, teachers have to sign an agreement to abide by British values. This seems to be political grooming, or maybe that's far fetched.
But, social services tell us to equate child abuse grooming with extremist. BF is extremist. So it's abuse.

[wasonthelist]

This news just in CBB is optional. There has never been any real excuse for it - now there's even more reason not to watch. If nobody watches they will stop making it.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

It's an utterly cynical move on the part of CBB, to ensure controversy and therefore column inches and therefore ratings. Car crash TV. It's been stretching it a bit to call them 'celebrities' for quite a few years now.

[badtime]

Huh, was?

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Jade Goody fell over herself apologising for 'appearing racist'. The scandal made her much less popular, she lost all her advertising deals etc.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

Who is it abusing?

[hotmail124]

I loved Jade Goody. I thought that was a horrendous set up. The dynamic with her mum being there too, seemed very weird. What she said was terrible absolutely awful and wrong and she apologised. I think that was a classist set up. If she'd been posh, I think they would have hid any racist comments. And the inter face between class and race is not really something that those promoting racism want to be honest about. Most working class people are far more likely to work with and know a much wider ethnic range than people of Farage and Trump's class.

[MadameDePomPom]

This news just in; It’s possible to have no intention of watching this programme and still be appalled that Britain First’s deputy leader is being touted as a contestant.

[BiscuitMillionaire]

To get back to your original AIBU question: is it OK to have someone like this on mainstream tv. If I was a CBB producer I wouldn't choose her. But who gets to police who is and isn't allowed to appear on tv? That sounds a bit fascist in itself.

[hotmail124]

On these training courses teachers are taught that manipulating children's innocence for sexual or political favours should be equated. Teachers are supposed to monitor and report concerns about sexual abuse, physical abuse or whether kids are being radicalised; assuming it's for religious radicalisation, but these groups are radicalising, aren't they?

[hotmail124]

Fair point biscuit

[wasonthelist]

What I mean is, Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty and the outrage was hardly a highpoint in inclusive multicultural harmony from which we've slipped backwards. I wonder how likey it is that Frandsen will say anything racist?