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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that Comic Relief is a bit crap?

121 replies

Trills · 11/03/2013 09:46

I know it's for charideeeee and a good caaaaause and everything.

The idea is all well and good, but the execution is crap.

I don't want a t-shirt with Marilyn Monroe's face partially covered by a red circle.

I don't want to wear my onesie to work.

I don't want to watch TV presenters perform crap sketches.

And I don't want to see or hear any more about it.

OP posts:
ilovecolinfirth · 13/03/2013 21:04

Oh, you are so not being unreasonable! For me...it's a reminder of the days when we only had 4 channels and bugger else all to watch all night!

stickingattwo · 15/03/2013 20:27

YABU. if you can think of a better way to raise the 100's of millions of poundS that Comic Relief has then actually GO and DO it then come back and tell us all about it. In the meantime, spare them a little cash or give to a charity of your choice. NOW though, right now. As much as you think you can afford and a bit more.

TheOneAndOnlyAlpha · 15/03/2013 20:33

So don't watch it. Don't post about it. Donate money if you wish. I love it. They have changed millions of lives.

Itsjustafleshwound · 15/03/2013 20:35

Why don't these celebs just do the right thing and pay the taxes that they should .... That would be a start ! And not use bankruptcy as a means of getting out of tax bills ...

My big issue with this whole charity thing is that if it doesn't have some angle or some kind of worthiness does it actually get a chance?

afussyphase · 15/03/2013 20:42

Damn red nose thing: picked DD up at play centre after school today, only to have her break down in tears because despite the fact that we remembered to put the 1£ in her bag, dressed her in the appropriate red backwards thing etc (can you tell I'm from a country where they don't do this?), she DIDN'T GET A RED NOSE! She was so disappointed, after looking forward to it all week. She is 4. Seems pretty poor of the school, really. Hmph. The 1£ isn't in her bag, anymore, either - and it was in an envelope; she says they definitely got it. I guess she just got lost in the shuffle.

BigRedBox · 15/03/2013 21:06

afussyphase at my dc's school you pay £1 for the privilege Hmm of dressing up. If they want a nose we had to get it ourselves from the school office. Just in case that was what happened at your dd's school too.

Sorry that she was upset.

SPBInDisguise · 15/03/2013 21:13

"i am getting more meh about it as time goes by.

Some of the projects are great, but some just don't seem very well thought out or the best use of money. One they are talking about this year involves trying to get every pregnant women to go to hospital to give birth. Maybe I'm a heartless bitch, but it's much more efficient to pick out the most high risk cases for hospital births."

Is that in the uk?

Whatdoiknowanyway · 15/03/2013 21:17

Sorry, this is news to you because?

afussyphase · 15/03/2013 21:19

thanks BigRedBox. She's never been so upset about something at school, so I'm going to have to ask them about it. No idea about the office, etc - I didn't drop her off and DH is usually just in the nick of time (or a minute late) so he wouldn't have found out either. Frankly I was pleased I'd remembered the clothing stuff!
Funny, the things you don't even know that you don't know, living somewhere far from home. Our school has loads of immigrants - someone really should write a guide to this stuff, or something.. And we don't even have a language barrier - many do, must be even more things that are hard to find out! I wouldn't know any of it if it weren't for MN, I don't think.

BigRedBox · 15/03/2013 21:23

Ah fussy I've spent all my 37 years here and I still miss things for my dc's! I wondered why there were so many children wearing sports gear on the school run one day and then only after realised it was sports relief... luckily their school has no uniform so they didn't stand out too much Grin

I now obsessively read the newsletter and have a pact with a friend to check and double check any things like this.

jellybeans · 15/03/2013 21:27

I like it and always donate/take part. All for a good cause even if the programme is a bit shit

Startail · 15/03/2013 21:32

I've just escaped PKay to find it's that absolute cunt RG, who I hate so much I can't begin to spell his name.

Startail · 15/03/2013 21:35

DD1(15) is looking total confused

Punkatheart · 15/03/2013 22:01

I think you'll find that the champagne and food is donated.

I loathe a lot of it but I also not want a world in which children die for lack of a fucking vaccine.

I also think it is important that our children know about the rest of the world. They also help carers and a lot of schemes which are invisible.

Raising awareness is important - even if we have to suffer Ricky Gervais.

Punkatheart · 15/03/2013 22:06

I do also think that John Bishop is a good presenter - quick-witted, sincere, natural in front of the cameras. Hard to go between horrible info and comedy so smoothly....

Still18atheart · 15/03/2013 22:06

I know that the world is on the whole a pretty depressing place. However, I don't like the depressing 2 min documentaries on comic relief night. I find it too depressing. Also I find it really hard to be on the brink of tears one minute and the next trying to laugh about comedian's sketch.

NotADragonOfSoup · 15/03/2013 22:07

However, I don't like the depressing 2 min documentaries on comic relief night

I can't help thinking you've missed the whole point.

Punkatheart · 15/03/2013 22:12

Depressing for you but the death of a some family's child (or more) that could have been preventable. Depressing in warm, your children tucked up in bed.

Yes, entirely missed the point.

NumericalMum · 15/03/2013 22:14

I know people who work for CR. like any charity they have paid employees to ensure money is raised and spent appropriately. I doubt many charities raise nearly as much money. I don't watch much of the program but I baked, dressed up, dressed DC up and bought some noses (and cakes!). It is a lot of fun and a good cause.

marjproops · 15/03/2013 22:15

Never have found Dawn french funny but sheslooking very nice with lighter hair, isnt she?

I know what you mean though, its good that the celebs go to Africa and all that but then back to their rich and pampered lives on private planes etc.

i never understand the bath of beans things.

People are starving in other countries and someones raising money by bathing in enough tims of beans to feed them all????

Punkatheart · 15/03/2013 22:21

But what does it matter if the celebrities are rich? Many people are rich and often they do (quietly) give a lot of their own money to charity. Also, they are needed to raise awareness - no one would watch Jane and Pete from the local takeaway, would they?

A celebrity works their way to the top - like 'em or loathe 'em - it's life.

Beans are cheap. Raising money from being in a bath of beans - if it raises a lot of money to give proper nutritious food or better still, seeds and tools to grow food - then so be it.

coatonarack · 15/03/2013 22:24

Its certainly mawkish. Oh look, another baby is dying. Agree with you teacher

Itsjustafleshwound · 15/03/2013 22:34

i don't question the intentions - giving to charity isn't the bug bear - it just seems like RND is a bit like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut and if you question this it just seems mean spirited.

For example - who can deny that they can't give a fiver to buy a mosquito net. But where is the follow-up or some kind of guarantee that giving up the 3 coffees is going to end up buying nets? Surely, the better way is to encourage research into malaria and finding a solution that will be a bit more permanent when the net gets torn/lost/abandoned because the family has to move quickly? A 2014 appeal will fo out next year where £7 will now buy a net to save a life.

SauvignonBlanche · 15/03/2013 22:36

So cracking world poverty is a 'nut' - how fucking ridiculous!

ouryve · 15/03/2013 22:37

Was that supposed to be a comedy version of Eastenders, then?

We turned it off at that point.

Jessie J looked gorgeous with her hair shaved, mind.