Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think comic relief is a manipulative millionaire sleb lovein?

251 replies

glasnost · 19/03/2011 08:12

After watching most of last night's nth comic relief can't help thinking it's ever more hypocritical in laying a guilt trip on us poor folk to get us to part with some of the dwindling cash we have whilst never getting to the root of the problem.

Political corruption, greedy pharmaceutical companies etc. Without addressing these core problems we'll keep on having comic relief as an annual salve to people's consciences while poverty and injustice continue.

Jonathan Ross et al who earn vast amounts have alot of front in standing there emotionally blackmailing us when the obscene wealth he and others like him earn is part of the problem. AIBU?

OP posts:
georgie22 · 20/03/2011 09:29

I work for a local charity as a nurse specialist so I have strong feelings about charitable donations as I am well aware that people donating to our organisation ensure we are able to give the care that you rarely,if ever, see in the NHS.

I donated to CR as I do regularly to other charities supporting people in the Third World - I think most educated people see it for what it is - overpaid celebs fronting a show which provides the opportunity to show how life in Africa etc. is for many people. I didn't think it was very funny this year but it at least highlights what some people choose not to see. There are huge problems in the world but they are not going to be fixed quickly - they are hugely complex. So what do we do about it? Sit back and leave them to it? I personally don't feel I can do that - there are projects funded by CR which have helped people living those hellish lives so that's good enough for me. As an individual there is nothing I can do to directly change the big problems in the world but I can help by giving to charity. The films shown on CR could not fail to move people and if that motivates them to think about how they might help on a more regular basis then it's done it's job in my opinion.

Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 10:01

Oh stop spouting shite northern gob I'm not racist. You cannot even have a reasoned debate about this. Let's just turn on, cry, laugh, donate and feel a bit better about ourselves for a few hours yeah? But the wheel keeps turning and nowt gets resolved. Hey bloody ho.

And WRT Lenny Henry being token black on CR bar the ones dying. Errr. That's true. How the fuck's that racist? I'm denouncing a racist situation in the first place. But as I said we mustn't let that get in the way of a knee jerk reaction must we?

OP posts:
noddyholder · 20/03/2011 10:08

Why is he teh 'token' black and not just a comedian who happens to be black?

Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 10:09

Bogeyface just seen your erudite post. Racist maggot? Jesus. The level of debate is way up there on here isn't it? I suggest you learn to differentiate between ideas intended to highlight racism and racism itself. And just coz your H's black doesn't make him an expert on detecting racism. Alot of blacks brought up in UK are as guilty as the next white man at having a distorted view on colonialism and its consequences.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 20/03/2011 10:11

How the F can he be a Token Black Person on something he co-founded?!

I stand by my maggot comment and would add "stupid and ill informed" to that too! :)

noddyholder · 20/03/2011 10:12

True bogeyface glasnost you are beginning to sound daft as your argument really has no legs unless you have some inside knowledge wrt to LH and his role within a movement he has been part of since day one!

Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 10:15

noddyholder as your namesake once said "It's Xmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!!" Ie: wake up and smell the coffee. Why are there so few black faces on TV? Barring the ones wilting in Africa on CR night? Why can't people from these countries present and divulge these situations with an African spin on what's happening over there and not this white, media, BBC whitewashed version.

There's a whole lot of truth to be told that gets witheld every bloody year. End of. However I never said not to give and I stated I've given but not anymore as I'm fed up of being preached to by white, rich slebs (with Lenny thrown in) when I've got barely enough for my family and the solution they impose on us of donating now seems part of the problem.

OP posts:
bemybebe · 20/03/2011 10:18

Wow, glasnost, you did take it to the next level didn't you?

Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 10:18

One Q for you noddy. Why is Lenny not allowed to present the prime time slot? Dippy Davina and quite frankly gross Graham Norton?? Oh please. Even more perplexing seeing as he's one of the co founders.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 20/03/2011 10:20

I have heard views like yours before and am not unaware of the ideology behind it but your reference to LH as token is based on what? Where have you garnered this piece of info you are presenting here as a fact? You sound racist and possibly a bit bitter about your own life to be so nasty about this. Yours is a POV that is not original or enlightening in any way as you base it on nothing

Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 10:21

Stupid and ill informed Bogey? Pot, kettle, black perchance?

OP posts:
noddyholder · 20/03/2011 10:23

This sort of presenter positioning on tv happens everywhere and he may have had no interest in carrying that part of the show.He may see his strengths elsewhere he may think Davina because of her profile is likely to attract more viewers?Why did they choose davina over claudia for that part of the show Is it because we can'r stomach a pregnant woman and want someone who looks good in a lycra dress or was it just that her profile is higher and claudia was knackered.

VirginMother · 20/03/2011 10:23

[rolls eyes and takes a deep breath...]
He used to present the prime time slot, he used to be the main presenter. Then they gradually started handing over to the next generation of comedians and presents who are more relevant to younger viewers. My kids dont know who LH is because he isnt of their generation.

Ok?!

VirginMother · 20/03/2011 10:24

Mixed race actually Glasnost :o

Oh you are funny!!

bronze · 20/03/2011 10:27

Okay- ignoring the later posts. I think the op has a point in the ..erm op
In 2009 CR raised just over 82m

This year we had (I think I heard) Paul McCartney doing his bit? by appearing on the show to beg us to give money. PM is worth over 700m. I'm sure the others between them are worth a lot too.
I know celebs probably give to charity but it does stick in the throat.

I saw a small part of the show and donated to a different charity.

Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 10:27

So no new generation of black presenters relevant to younger viewers then Virgin? Even if there were thety wouldn't be hosting CR prime time slot.

OP posts:
Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 10:29

noddy you're missing the point re. presenters though. Lenny Henry is a bloody good and talented TV personality. Davina is dippy and Claudia is frankly vapid.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 20/03/2011 10:31

In your opinion but many many people like them.

NorthernGobshite · 20/03/2011 10:45

glasnost, you really are an objectionable creature aren't you?

To call LH a "token black man" is offensive.

To assume people who watch and donate to CR are stupid is offensive.

To judge EVERYONE who disagrees with you or does not fit into your view of the world is offensive.

Get over yourself.

noddyholder · 20/03/2011 10:47

Northern if you read back over her posts you will feel sorry as she has admitted she is perplexed at something that the rest of us seem to see quite clearly Smile

NorthernGobshite · 20/03/2011 10:47

Lenny is "allowed". he co-runs the whole eveing. I suspect you are looking for a point to make that isn't there.

NorthernGobshite · 20/03/2011 10:50

noddy sorry, what do you mean?

bemybebe · 20/03/2011 10:58

bronze i did not get your point. you did not donate to CR (exercising your right as an independent agent), but you complain (or not, did not understand) that CR raised "only" over £74m - the highest figure ever to be reached on the night in Red Nose Day?s history; this number will rise as further donations will be counted and added to the total.

What is your grip with Paul M? He got what he got due to sheer talent as a musician. What exactly sticks in your throat??

noddyholder · 20/03/2011 10:58

I mean you will feel sorry for her as she is perplexed as to why LH is not on the prime time slot when all of teh rest of us seem to get it quite easily enough!

Original poster
glasnost · 20/03/2011 11:06

Northern you're quite champion at missing the point. I never said who donate are stupid. I've done so myself. Offensive is relegating the co founder of CR and only person whose heart is truly in it due to ethnic origin and coming from a poor background himself to presenting the later slot. He'd be the first to call himself the token black man in this instance.

Offensive is Paul bloody McCartney wheeling himself out to do his bit when he could quite easily dispense with a tiny proportion of his £70 squillion quid or whatever he's worth instead of browbeating us into doing so.

If objectionable is pointing out the glaring obvious and cutting throught the shite then cool. I am. But you should name change as you seem a bit too conformist to me to carry the moniker.

OP posts: