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Original poster

Andrew Marr says "abortion safer then birth, but obviously not for babies"

135 replies

darleneconnor · 27/02/2011 09:22

I'm Shock to have just heard this on his BBC1 show this morning.

He was reading out the newspaper headlines. One was "abortion safer than birth", which he quoted then quipped "but obviously not for babies".

Now I'm not what I'd call pro-abortion but I still think this was a very inappropriate thing for him to say. Firstly using the terminology 'baby' instead of 'foetus' or 'embryo' is very loaded. He is taking a very biased stance on a sensitive political topic- I thought the BBC were supposed to be neutral????

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/02/2011 23:40

WHO listens to this overblown wanker?

Therefore, who cares what he says except that he's overpaid by everyone who watches telly legally?

He's a goon and an eejit, you'd have to be an eejit yourself not to see it.

Oh, away with these fees for stupid, vapid people like this?

SpeedyGonzalez · 28/02/2011 00:01

I agree with Northernlurker et al. Dressing up abortion in muted terms doesn't change the fact that a life (and a potential for independent life) is being cut short.

Ironically it seems Mr Marr did his own 'dressing up to hide something' exercise on a baby as well!

Am shuddering at the thought of someone shagging him. Brings to mind the tongue-in-cheek poem about Marr (scroll down, it's the last item)

Grin
hymie · 28/02/2011 00:08

If someone doesn't have the same opinion as you on a given subject it doesn't make them "A Twat".

He has an opinion and he gave it.

BuzzLiteBeer · 28/02/2011 00:42

Thats your opinion Speedy, not a FACT. Since the debate over what constitutes life and where it begins has been going on for millennia by some of the greatest (and not so great) minds of countless generations, you can't say any more than it is your personal opinion that a life has been cut short.

There are no facts on that one.

nooka · 28/02/2011 01:01

I can't see that this is a big deal either way. Both the headline and the comment were a bit stupid, but I wouldn't assume that either were pro or anti abortion/choice. I've seen a few of those slots where they read the headlines and as so many of them are uninformed and stupid I imagine it must be rather irritating for the presenters, making them likely to make irritated comments.

PatientGriselda · 28/02/2011 06:33

Edam - sorry for misinterpreting, and thanks for explaining.

CheerfulYank · 28/02/2011 06:59

It does seem glib, but I think free speech should rule the day.

(If it matters, I'm [reluctantly] pro-choice)

Bucharest · 28/02/2011 07:03

He probably used the wrong terminology because he doesn't spend days at a time on parenting forums naval-gazing.

Glib comment, unscripted off the cuff reaction. Technically correct information.

I doubt AM is either pro-or anti-abortion.

There's more being said on the news every day to make a fuss about IMO.

SpeedyGonzalez · 28/02/2011 23:48

Buzz, I used to know far more information about that debate...it's been a jolly long time before I knew 'far more information' about anything not concerning my children . But the reason I added "a potential for an independent life" to my post was to incorporate all views on the matter as simply as possible.

BuzzLiteBeer · 28/02/2011 23:53

nothing personal, I was including myself in that group. Potential Life, yes. Life...not so simple.

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 00:03

i dont think this was a pro-life or pro-choice comment, just facts that preganancy and childbirth are more risky than terminations.

Him and that car I mean, they struggled didnt they..

SpeedyGonzalez · 01/03/2011 00:30

And indeed, what is life? If you take it as meaning simply an organism that is alive, then you can take a 'beating heart' embryo or foetus at any stage of its development (i.e. disregarding for the moment its ability to leave independently of its mother) and say that compared to an embryo or foetus whose heart has stopped, the 'beating heart' group are alive and the second group are not. Or is there some other set of definitions used within the debate?

(apologies for the crap wording here but I hope what I'm saying is relatively clear?!)

And then, of course, you get into the question over whether the baby in question is capable of existing independently.

Which brings to mind the Norwegian court ruling a few years ago that a man who threw his 9-months' pregnant wife off their yacht was only guilty of a single murder. That I find bizarre, however one defines a life. 9 months, fgs. Hmm

And it's past midnight, I'm way too tired and DS will be creeping into my room at any moment. The poor thing will be worried if I'm not there so I and my apparently alive brain Wink shall bid you goodnight! Grin

hellymelly · 01/03/2011 00:42

when I was at school we had pickled foetuses in jars in our biology lab.I think about 12 weeks gestation,from memory.We also had a much larger foetus (18 week) brought in by one of my friends ( doc parent) for us to draw. Clearly they were both babies in any sense that we would recognise,they were fully formed tiny people.Beautiful.There is no way anyone could look at them and say they were "a bundle of cells" unless you include all life in that statement.

amiheartless · 01/03/2011 00:47

pretty insensitive comment im am {shocked]IRL

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 00:48

helly that is preety fucking disgusting hope you are a troll - really Shock

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 00:53

OMG I don think you are [shocked] WTF schoo did you go to, you must be a liar.

Saltatrix · 01/03/2011 00:57

Insensitive but true

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 01:00

sal really? but even so was it relevant to post on this thread?

hellymelly · 01/03/2011 01:03

Of course I'm not lying,why would anyone lie about that?! If it counts I am as cheerfulyank,(reluctantly)pro-choice. But yes we did have foetuses in our biology lab.I'm sure they aren't there now,I am 47 and they had probably been there since the 20's.

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 01:06

OMG helly I never heard of that. How do you think that affects your view of what Andrew Mar said?

hellymelly · 01/03/2011 01:15

Well firstly i honestly didn't mean to be insensitive,and I am sorry to offend anyone.I'm tired so not very articulate.Just that to me,the word "baby" is a reasonable one to use,in that context.And also in the context that other posters have mentioned,of miscarriages,where women want their loss talked about as their "baby".
I also have a biologist DH and am used to being fairly frank about life and death,so that probably added to my post perhaps sounding insensitive.I should add that all the girls at the school did treat the foetuses with respect and the biology teacher showed us them in a thoughtful and interesting way.It has coloured my feelings though,I'm sure.

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 01:18

Hmm helly i do not think about my MC's as babys as such at time of happening but in mind ref what they could have become if not... however I am prochoice.

hellymelly · 01/03/2011 01:32

Sorry to hear you've had MCs.I've had one very early MC,and felt that it was a potential life rather than a baby lost,mainly because it was so early.Much later and I would have thought if it as a baby though.

lovenamechange100 · 01/03/2011 01:48

thanks helly but re this thread I stil think he was just sticking to facts, what say you scientist person?

Iwantpizza · 01/03/2011 09:05

I fail to see what's so offensive about hellus post. I went to school in the 80's and also had a preserved fetus in a jar (my mum went to the same school in the 50s and apparently it was there when she was there too so very old). I am pro choice but I think we do need to face the reality of what abortion is and what the procedure involves. Yes, maybe at 4 weeks lmp a fetus may well be just a 'bunch of cells' but I struggle to understand how by 8 weeks lmp it's just a bunch of cells, and anyone who has had an ultrasound at that gestation will know that the baby has limbs, facial features, moves etc.

This doesn't take away from the legitimacy of the reasons why some people have abortions - as I say I am v pro choice. I just object to the way some people get worked up by the realityof the situation. Saying abortion isn't safer for the baby isn't biased - it's true.