to think Jon Snow shouldn't be hung out to dry

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

.. for commenting on the 'whiteness' of the pro Brexit march?

Or that Channel 4 shouldn't have apologised for it... it was an observation, not a judgement... and it was factual.

How is that racist?

Apparently he is having to wait and see how many complaints are received before the ASA will decide whther or not to act!

It was discusse, somewhat reasonably, on JV Radio2, a while ago. I'm cathing up so sorry if there is already a thread on it!

[Marchinupandownagain]

Of course it isn't racist to say that and the people claiming it is are 1) ignorant 2) defensive probably for a reason. Of course the pro-Brexit march is majority white. It's majority Little Englander xenophobic myopia. Not a view found too often in BME communities.

OTOH Jon Snow is a pillock for quite other reasons.

[YippeeKayakOtherBuckets]

Something something ‘white walkers’ pun.

[ooooohbetty]

He obviously lives in London so it was unusual for him. Not racist, just pointing out a fact.

[StealthPolarBear]

I can't put my finger on what's wrong with it but imagine if he'd made the same comment about black people on, say, an anti Brexit march.

[StealthPolarBear]

And I did think he's clearly never been to county Durham :o

[StarlingsEverywhere]

He'd obviously be troubled about White Walkers, even more so if they were from the North!

[StealthPolarBear]

White walkers sounds very sinister and zombie like, is it meant to?!

[StarlingsEverywhere]

On the other hand, it's often said that he knows nothing.

[teyem]

I don't think he should be hung out to dry either. It was just an observation. It's not racist to observe race.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

And I did think he's clearly never been to county Durham

I've moved a lot in my 53 years. I have been the only white child in a school and currently live in a very white, yet ethinically diverse, region, so have lived in very white and very BAME areas. I don't think it is odd to see many white or many black people in any one area... maybe it is 'odd' to some though!

Marchin not sure I can get on board with any one colour of skin having a monopoly on pleasant, clear sighted thinking!

[Limensoda]

People read things into what he said. Says more about them than about him.

[StealthPolarBear]

Just to be clear I live in Co Durham. It's lovely. However ethnically diverse (apart from the city centre /University) it is not

[Shadycorner]

Journalism 101

"If someone says it’s raining, and another person says it’s dry, it’s not your job to quote them both. Your job is to look out the fucking window and find out which is true."

[derxa]

He's a pain in the arse.

[Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus]

He knows nothing...

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

And does being a pain in the know nothing arse mean he deserves to be hung out to dry for this?

[SoupDragon]

What is wrong with saying "I've never seen so many white people in one place"? Usually a crowd of that size would be a mix of races.

[Bravelurker]

I was watching Channel 4 news when he said it and it did smart a bit, then I completely forgot about it.
Had no idea he was getting grilled over it but now I'm not surprised.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

and it did smart a bit Can you explain why?

I sometimes find mysefl wincing at comments and then realise it is the current PC 'offend nobody or else' reaction coming out. When I stop and consider the comment there is nothing to be upset about, it's just an opinion I don't agree with.

Sorry, I wasn' trying to challenge you, I am just being true to the curious part of my username

[loobyloo1234]

He knows nothing...

got in there before I did

[ContessaIsOnADietDammit]

I was thinking about this yesterday - I think the fact that he is actually white himself is relevant. White passing comment on 'all those white people' = not racist, white passing comment on 'all those black people' = possibly not racist but definitely suspect.

[colehawlins]

What is wrong with saying "I've never seen so many white people in one place"? Usually a crowd of that size would be a mix of races.

What strikes me about it - coming from a public school educated son of a bishop in his seventies - is that if can't possibly be true.

[RedToothBrush]

There is a problem with Jon Snow's comment. It is perfect for those who want to attack liberal media. I face palmed about it.

What Jon Snow wanted to say, was it was it had all the hallmarks of a white supremacist march.

However he a) couldn't actually say that cos it'd potentially be liablous and b) it's political bias without proper evidence it was, which as a broadcast journalist he really shouldn't be doing to this extent.

It made him look like a momentumal plonker in a thousand memes.

Everyone knows what he really means but the reality is it has backfired spectacularly.

It was very ill advised.

So yes I do think there is an issue with his comment and yes C4 were right to apologise for it. Even if the march was a lot like a EDL protest.

[DarlingNikita]

I've never seen so many white people in one place"

Is that what he said? I didn't see it and don't know. But if that's verbatim, then I do think it's problematic, yes. If he'd said 'I've never seen so many black/Asian/Chinese people in one place' I'd have felt very uneasy about it. Admittedly though I can't quite articulate why.

[Amongstthetallgrass]

Ow thought it was a GoT thread.