To wonder if Joey Essex Towie has learning difficulties?

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

Apologies if this is well known, I don't really follow it. Just watching Celebrity Juice (I know) and they're obviously taking the mickey out of this guy Joey. Now I don't know if he really is as dense as he's making out to be or whether its an act and he's know for pretending to be like that, or whether he genuinely has learning difficulties?

He just correctly answered the question 'how many sides has a rectangle got' and 'what country borders Wales' and he seemed genuinely thrilled that he got the answers right.

Is he really that daft or does he have learning problems? I genuinely don't know. And for some irrational reason am now concerned.

[SideshoBob]

It is possible to have a basic level of knowledge and be a nice person, the two things are independent of each other. If you are genuinely happy to answer how many sides has a rectangle got, then that is an extremely sad indictment of ignorance unless you have a severe learning disability. A bit like that thread about not knowing David Cameron was the prime minister a few weeks ago, just things you should know and its undoubtedly ignorant not too, regardless of how nice a person you are.

As it is its probably an act, acting the fool sells. Jade Goody pioneered it ( till her true colours eventually showed). If he goes on these shows and answers questions correctly, whilst also not having a comedian's wit, he's not going to be invited back is he? It's as sad a reflection of entertainment as it is him.

[towicymru]

I would guess that he is probably academically challenged but is playing up to being "think". In some respects, you have to think that he is quite savvy - he managed to get the gig on Towie & is using that to further his career.

Maybe he realised early on he wasn't going to have a high flying career & doesn't really have any talents and has made the most of an opportunity that has come his way.

Either he has a very good support network or is much more switched on than he acts. Personally I think a lot of it is an act but fair play to him, he has got people talking about him!

There will be OK deals and autobiographies galroe to explain it all in time to come. Rather media savvy!

Reminds me a bit of Katie Price. She plays dumb but is a very astute busines woman (although I personally can't stand her desire to have everything in the papers all the time!)

[TheToysAreALIVEITellThee]

I said to DP the other night that I think he seems quite innocent and as if he wouldn't have a nasty bone in his body. I do think he puts on a massive act though, no-one would seriously think that Richard and Judy created the world

[WTFisABooyhoo]

Mrsjay
Yes i would be happy if that was what my dcs were interested in and they were able to do it on a daily basis and be happy. My cousin i mentioned above has some very specific interests that i wont mention because she is very well known for them where i live and it would out me and her. What she is interested in simply bores me and most of our family to tears and part of her autism means that she struggles to sense when we are bored so she would talk all day if she could. Her interest is not in politics or world peace or anything you might consider worthy of being obsessed with but she ia never happier than when talking about them or taking part in them. She is a really happy inspirTional person because ahe gets to do what makes her happy. It doesnt matter that she wont change the world or ever wear clothes that are in fashion. If it doesnt matter for her then who Are you to decide that it should matter to others that have no interest in stuff that you think they should?

[Owllady]

wonderstuff Wed 17-Apr-13 22:45:09
It is weird - and it leads to having to label everyone who doesnt conform, because that seems to be the only way we can make allowances and accomadate difference. It would be good imo if we were able just accept that not everyone is the same and have some empathy with that.

oh i love you :)!

[BetteDavis01]

Nasty thread. He comes across as kind and sweet natured.

I do hate it when aspirational middle class types, look down their noses at working class people who have made a success of their lives.

[mrsjay]

Fair dos, they've not murdered anyone but they are also pretty nothingy and proud of it.

this well said I wonder if the people saying oh don't be mean would be happy for their childrens only interest in life was fake tan and vajazzles Anybody ?I am sure he is a lovely lad but...

[blueemerald]

Keith Lemon (shudder) once described another guy from TOWIE (Arg, apparently) as "playing someone with serious learning difficulties....but in real life you're all right." lol o lol o lol

episode about 3 mins in.

Horrible, horrible man.

[wonderstuff]

It is weird - and it leads to having to label everyone who doesnt conform, because that seems to be the only way we can make allowances and accomadate difference. It would be good imo if we were able just accept that not everyone is the same and have some empathy with that.

We are supposed to be a tolerant country - is it worse in other cultures, or is it that although we accept some difference there are others we are poor at undstanding?

[Bessie123]

The point is the lack of interest in the world, their limited horizons and their complete disinclination to learn anything that is not fake tanning, suspect fashion choices and vajazzling. They are shallow and ignorant and happy to be so. I do think that is fairly contemptible. Fair dos, they've not murdered anyone but they are also pretty nothingy and proud of it.

On the other hand, I hypocritically love towie watch towie religiously

[WTFisABooyhoo]

"Why is it ok to make fun of someone who is "just" thick, but not ok to make fun of someone with learning difficulties? Surely it's pretty unpleasant either way?"

i have always wondered this. i have heard people making fun of my cousin for things she says and more often wears when out in public. then when i have interupted them and said she is autistic, they say "sorry, i didn't know". well what the hell difference does knowing make? you shouldn't be making fun of people for not being as smart of you regardless!

why is it ok if she's 'thick' because she's autistic and not ok if she's 'thick' for no obvious reason (should she wear a sign on her back to let people know teh reason for her 'thickness'? )

[TheYoniKeeper]

But hey ho, if you get off on idiot-bashing and it makes you feel all big & clever then bash away

[wonderstuff]

It worries me that there is a trend to celebrate ignorance, which seems to have emerged since big brother (is it post-modern?) To live in a small world with limited knowledge seems to be a bad thing. I find the paralelle trend, to mock those who have limited talent/education/IQ equally disturbing - X factor seems to get huge ratings using this 'laugh at the mentally ill' technique.

Surely it would be better, more civilised to celebrate achievement and knowledge and sympathise rather than laugh at those who don't do well.

I did watch some of Celebratey Juice - it seemed he had leaning difficulties, it wasn't obvious if he was being laughed at or if he was laughing with the others. I switched over, I found it uncomfortable. Though I am happy to watch Karl Pilkington - I find that very funny, clearly there is a line, and I guess it lies in different places for different people.

I teach secondary pupils and am a bit sad at the people they hold up as role models - but maybe thats because I'm old and a bit of a geek?

[TheYoniKeeper]

Lovely thread

My mum is a social worker for learning disabled adults & usually they have an IQ of well under 60. (Basically, a low IQ affects your ability to learn, understand etc & if it's low enough you're classed as having a learning disability).

Being 'thick' if you want to word it horribly can actually translate to having mild learning difficulties, so it's a very derogatory way to describe someone who seems to have 'issues'...as you don't know how much it's put on & it's offensive in general.

Not that it matters in this case, poor bloke.

[KitNCaboodle]

I'm saying that I would rather my son be kind natured than clever. I don't want it for him but not do I want him to disrespect women.

[Bessie123]

And, tbh, I am a bit that you would be happy for your child to be so ignorant as that towie lot - why would anybody want that for someone they love?

[Bessie123]

But having a good education and wanting to learn doesn't mean you have to behave disgustingly. I don't understand why you would make that connection.

[KitNCaboodle]

I would rather my son have his lack of knowledge and, according to this thread poor education, but seemingly kind and caring nature than the education but disgusting attitude of someone like Spencer from MIC.
awaits bashing for watching such tripe

[lborolass]

I've never seen towie so can't comment but I have ofetn wondered if Essex is his real surname, how lucky is that?

[StorFetHamster]

Also he didn't go to the best school kr anything (I went there! Moved from Sweden to the area at secondary school age). And it's hardly Essex too, Chigwell is right on the border with London (literally...we lived in the house next to the welcome to Essex sign!)

[timidviper]

Absolutely agree with ComposHat. I am sick of the media portraying ignorance as glamorous and intelligence / education as uncool. Children are encouraged to learn by parents and schools (hopefully) but then get this constant media drip, drip, drip of it's cool to be ignorant.

I have science based qualifications and was endlessly exasperated by the "it's cool to be crap at maths, physics, etc" when DD was at school.

[mrsjay]

what compos hat said is what I think although they have much better words that I do I said he is a bit thick not mocking his intelligence mocking that he has no knowledge about anything outside his own world and tbh it gets on my wick

[Fargo86]

Why do people watch this programme? What is the appeal?

[Madeyemoodysmum]

Yabu. Joey is a sweetheart. He has a big heart, so what if he doesn't know everything. He has charm, looks and will do well if he carries on in the grounded manner he is in now, he is only young and lost his mother in tragic circumstances.

You lot are being mean mean mean.

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

If he is not acting then yes, he does come across as being of sub normal intelligence. I have no idea if he has any specific learning problems or difficulties. That is his private business. The 'character' he plays is entirely loveable though. He seems like a lovely, highly enertaining guy and I hope he continues to do very well for himself.