To think Stephen Fry is NOT a national treasure

[SnowWide]

Just listening to his English Delight on Radio4. Dire.

I've never understood all the adulation around him. He is accomplished, well-spoken, prolific. But so are many other actors and authors.

His TV documentaries, especially are really meh.. Dont get me wrong, they are very well made (the one where he travels America, another one on languages), but what exactly is the Stephen Fry touch? Any other knowledgeable presenter could fill his shoes and no one would know the difference...Only liked him as Melchett. Lost all respect for him when he started wittering away posting on Twitter, to be honest.

Ria - and here it is, straight from the horse's mouth -
Stephen Fry actually saying women don't like sex!

Wow! Just wow! Did he actually say"...guys fuck every minute of every hour..every day"? Did he say that on the clip? Who ARE these guys he is mouthing off about? Porn stars?

Get the bit where he says how to make a baby a.k.a sex should be shown on television. No biggie...And words like cunt shouldnt be taboo.

yeah Stephen, way to go...

I agree with him on the tabbos surrounding sex on tv, and use of the word cunt etc.

But as for his superior knowledge on what women's sexual appetites are . . . . . oh do fuck off you silly man.

He said that women don't hang around in parks looking for casual sex with strangers in the same way some gay men do.
I'm pretty sure thats true. I also agree with the taboo about cunt and sex and stuff.

Although since he was celibate for 15 years, so I think there is someting ironic in there.

He says that because women don't hang around in parks looking for sex with strangers it proves they don't have the same interest in sex as men. Personally I don't see why liking sex has to be equated with sex in parks with strangers. Anonymous hook ups are only one part of our sexual culture.

Why let the truth get in the way of righteous indignation.

I'm not.

Still not sure about the taboo stuff. Just because sex is natural, it doesnt need to be shown on TV. Leave aside the moral aspect for a bit- I just think making babies is a personal and private affair. And we are not alone. Have you seen those wildlife docs where the animals just separate from the herd for an hour or so for some..ahem nookie? (Except dogs, of course ). Just because sex is natural doesnt mean it has to be shown in its full-on glory.

And words like cunt ARE taboo for a reason. Usually I feel uneasy when hearing that because it comes with connotations of conflict or sexual violence. There is a perfectly serviceable word to use in public: vagina.

Stephen's arguments seem very facile...

I have no problem with sex being shown in it's full glory, violence doesn't seem to produce half as much hand wringing. And sex is a hell of a lot more natural than thumping someone.

As for 'cunt' have no time for the face blanching that this induces, it's a word like cock or prick or fanny. Why it's perceived as The Worst Word of All Time I've no idea.

Never did say it was The Worst Word. And its not JUST another word like cock or fanny.

Have you heard anyone say "Hair that grows on your cunt is pubic hair." No, its always sweary, "Fucking cunt" or something similar.

I'm not saying you said it's the Worst Word, but rather that that's its reputation.

The reason it's always used in a sweary context is beacuse it's such a taboo word, people save it up for when they want to be extra offensive. Personally I'm baffled that a word that describes a body part can be seen as so offensive. If it's no longer taboo then it can no longer carry the same offensiveness.

I said offensive waaaay too many times there.

Thats the point though, if it was used and stopped being so taboo, it would be just another word. And thats a good thing, thats what he was getting at.

And he's right in that since we seem to have no problem with gratuitous horrendous violence on our tv screens, its hypocritical get all clenchy knickers about a bit of fucking. Its stupid.

Exactly! It IS a taboo word- how it became one is lost in the mists of time. And Stephen saying, "Why oh why dont we say cunt anymore?" is being provocative for no good reason.

Maybe we shold reclaim Cunt. Nude march, anyone? Flag waving?

Cunty cunty cunty cunts. Cunticles.

I cycled into work today, my cunt is a little bit cold

I know that's what he was getting at WhatYouLookingAt, a lot of people think cunt is a much maligned word.

I was replying to OP.

sorry

I am sick of him, yanbu.

I think he is childishly obsessed with willies and bums. Like a 6 year old.

I challenge you to find an episode of QI where he does NOT go off on a tangent about willies (or phalusses or penii) and bums (or anuses) or stuffing things up your behind, or not so clever double entendres about stuffing things up your bum.

I mean, really, erudite? There is a serious lack of real erudite TV hosts in this country. Your expectations are too low.

I think the whole cuntology vagina word usage debate sums it up though.

I'm not saying I don't AGREE with his point. But Stephen Fry ISN'T the first person to have started the whole cuntology stuff, so it's not that original really. Hence why "national treasure", or all the "isn't he a CLEVER boy" gurgling ?

I mean its the kind of thing your slightly adventurous Uncle Jasper who spent his twenties in hippy camps, and now works in the local health food store, might come up with. Not that revolutionary.

Indeed, feminists have been making the point about cunt language for YEARS. You chant CUNT at the Vagina Monologues. But its like "oh its been said by someone tweedy and white and male with this accent who is on Radio 4 loads, so its got more impact". FOOK OFF YOU SYCOPHANTS.

...and about 100 more

YABU! I've met him (briefly). He's lovely.

Fact: he has a massive face. Bigger than my torso, I'd say.

I don't know about national treasure but I think he's great.

There.

YABU. I love him, completely and utterly.
Have you read Moab is my Washpot?
Read that and love him.
I met him once when I was a sixth former. He's wonderful.