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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

"they ate fast food and junk food but had splashed out of a plasma TV."

901 replies

ConfusedPixie · 27/08/2013 08:38

This comment just came up on the radio news, supposedly said by Jamie Oliver about one of the families he was working with in his new TV show.

AIBU to wonder how the fuck what you eat relates to what TV you have?

Surely this just reinforces stereotypes of the people likely to have bad diets through lack of education on the matter? What a bullshit statement.

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 27/08/2013 14:25

I haven't. And that really is such an arsey counter-argument.

PostBellumBugsy · 27/08/2013 14:25

Somerset, I'm vair posh but poor & my DCs have eaten chips in front of the TV quite often. Large chips from our local chippie is £2.00 and that does all 3 of us. Usually chase it down with a bowl of popcorn and a couple of mini pepperamis because we know how to live!!!! Wink

My point being that eating chips / pizza / pies etc is fine - as long as it isn't all you eat day in day out. That is why education is important & not from JO, who is signed up to Sainsburys and they want us to buy more of the products that they will make money from.

happybubblebrain · 27/08/2013 14:27

Fasterstronger - does the fact JO has made a lot of money make him not an idiot? Weird point of view.

He's made a fortune out of all of us, he should be giving something back. Not preaching to the poor about how they should spend 2 hours cooking expensive meals they can't afford every evening.

If someone makes idiot statements I will assume they are an idiot.

FasterStronger · 27/08/2013 14:30

happy -

He's made a fortune out of all of us no he hasn't. some people yes. but they wanted to buy his book etc.
he should be giving something back he gives much more than most people in time and money
Not preaching to the poor about how they should spend 2 hours cooking expensive meals they can't afford every evening. I will be surprised if anything he cooks takes 2 hours.

YouTheCat · 27/08/2013 14:31

Most people on the breadline will not be feeding their kids chips on a daily basis. Yes, there might be some that do but it'll be a tiny minority.

Most people struggling on benefits or on a low wage will be trying their damnest to serve up decent, nutritious food to their kids.

Maybe JO should campaign to Sainsburys to lower their ridiculous prices so everyone can afford to eat fresh fruit and veg on a budget?

FasterStronger · 27/08/2013 14:32

youthecat - its the argument you deserve.

YouTheCat · 27/08/2013 14:34

Why? Because I don't agree with you?

Empress77 · 27/08/2013 14:35

But he does give something back! alot! And he hasnt made a fortune out of me, ive not given him anything! (except I am going to 15 soon!)

Also - I didnt see the show where the said the quote from the OP, but I think the details of what was being eaten as they splashed out of a plasma TV isnt as important as the fact that they had just splashed out of a TV-maybe that was the point he was making - thats pretty amazing and perhaps the newest thing in virtual reality/that one with the 3d glasses.

FasterStronger · 27/08/2013 14:36

youthecat - I like an intelligent argument i disagree with.

Empress77 · 27/08/2013 14:36

(just trying to make it less of a fight ring and JO bashing frenzy)

ImATotJeSuisUneTot · 27/08/2013 14:37

happy Why such anger and vitriol to a man you've never met? As said already - he's making more of an effort than many to bring these issues to the forefront, despite repeatedly receiving a vile backlash for it.

And as for 'he should be giving something back', why not direct your energy towards the many MANY people in his position who dont.

YouTheCat · 27/08/2013 14:37

Really? Hmm

Empress77 · 27/08/2013 14:38

Shall we just slag off someone who actually deserves it now? Hitler was one mean bastard for instance?

Dahlen · 27/08/2013 14:38

I haven't bought a cookbook in years. If I need a recipe I tend to look it up online. For those who have JO's latest offering (or any of the preceding ones), or any other celebrity chef's work, is it all just full of fancy recipes? I seem to remember cookbooks from my first years of leaving home (including Delia Smith's) including basics such as boiling an egg, rubbing in pastry etc, as well as recipes for full meals. Is that now a thing of the past?

usualsuspect · 27/08/2013 14:40

Do you really think he doesn't profit from 'giving something back'

Of course he bloody does.

YouTheCat · 27/08/2013 14:40

I have the 30 minute meals one. It lies. Yes it takes 30 minutes if you have a minion to chop, peel and get all the equipment ready. It took me an hour. Most of the recipes are too fussy, with too many ingredients and rely on people having a fully equipped kitchen and wads of cash.

I prefer my Bero book. It cost a pound. Grin

Empress77 · 27/08/2013 14:41

yes my old skool cook books have simple things like eggs and stuff. I too have never bought a celebrity chef one - presumably everyone had a book on egg boiling so the modern chefs have to make new and more exciting recipes in order to sell books.

Empress77 · 27/08/2013 14:42

Go vegetarian-everything takes 20 mins absolute max!

YouTheCat · 27/08/2013 14:43

But I like meat.

usualsuspect · 27/08/2013 14:43

Even his new book will earn him a few quid.

I expect it's out now timed just right for all those Christmas stockings.

I bet his smug face will be all over WH Smiths Christmas window display .

ProphetOfDoom · 27/08/2013 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

happybubblebrain · 27/08/2013 14:45

ImATotJeSuisUneTot - because he seems to have some vitriol towards the poor. He's part of something that I don't like about this country - snobby elite trying to dictate to the rest of us how we should live.

I haven't met him, but I've certainly seen a lot of him and heard far too much from him. My friend met him and she thought he was arrogant and smug.

I do direct my energy towards the other snobby elite we hear too much of, not just JO.

FasterStronger · 27/08/2013 14:46

do you think someone worth £120M is really interested in selling a few thousand books?

say they make him £500k, which seems very unlikely. its not a lot in his terms.

usualsuspect · 27/08/2013 14:48

Of course his books make him money, you are incredibly naive if you think he writes them for the greater good.

Moln · 27/08/2013 14:49

He's not an idiot, he has done good, such as school dinners (and weren't there parent pushing through burgers and chips through the fence to their children or something?)

Also he is correct that as a whole the diet of the nation needs improving, the obesity problem is caused as a lot of oeople are eating too much and do not (and frequently don't care). it doesn't necessarily have to be chips and cheese out of a styrophone cup, it too big proportions, and too much alcohol along with the frequency of treats being far higher than occasionally.

However I do think he hasnt an idea of budgeting, he has no concept that what he considers a budget menu is not the case. He has no clue about the financial realities of a bug proportion of the population