...to start a thread about a Mumsnet thread? Russell Brand......

[Hakluyt]

...........why?

Yes, if you want to have a web chat with a pretty comedian, then go for it. It makes us all look a bit trivial, but hey ho.

But treating him like a serious social and political commentator? Really??????

"Yup. Because malicious phone calls are sooooo funny."

Not that this is on point - sorry OP - but I did raise it myself. Brand wasn't malicious; Ross was. Brand tried to remedy the situation within the remit of his position as a comedian in the driving seat of his own radio programme. I assume you listened to the whole thing and made your judgement accordingly, as the alternative is too depressing to contemplate.

Russell Brand makes politics entertaining and interesting . He speaks with such conviction and passion that you can't help but be pulled into whatever he's saying. Given a wider platform I truly believe he's the type of person that can get young people to vote.

Politics (or lack of) aside, I can't believe MN are giving such a nasty little misogynist airspace. That is all.

Just had to check that TheBogQueen wasn't a name change of mine, because I pretty much concur with their posts.

I do find it hard to take RB seriously. He doesn't have me longing for any sort of revolution. At best, his view simply make me want to nod and smile. No, they're not all entirely wrong. Heck, even Farage sometimes says something vaguely sensible. Like Farage, he has a rather grandiose, romanticised view of what he wants to achieve, though.

"Yup. Because malicious phone calls are sooooo funny."

Not that this is on point - sorry OP - but I did raise this myself. Brand wasn't malicious; Ross was. Russell Brand then had to try to rectify the situation within the remit of host of a comedic radio programme. I assume you did, in fact, listen - to the whole thing - before making your judgement, as the alternative is too depressing to contemplate.

I still don't see why his poor judgement (rather than malicious behaviour) six years ago negates the "validity" or "worthiness" of what he has to say now on a different subject. Everyone is entitled to an opinion - and his seems to be raising awareness of the plight of a lot of unfortunate people in this country.

the guy is a prick. this is all just a marketing ploy to sell a very very poor book.

I might ask a question though. I want to know if he takes his personal stylist with him when he goes out 'revolting' and what instruction he's given said stylist when it comes to dressing him for these demos: 'I'm thinking Che Guevara with a twist. I want modern, designer with a flourish. lots of khakis, lots of studs...'

The man is a tit
I object most strenuously - that is an insult to tits!!!

Sorry for double-post!

I don't see RB as being any more trivial than some of the other webchats. There are quite a few that focus on book-selling tbh.

Also (not to be the class pet) but I do agree with JustinMN that if you have a problem with RB and think he is unrepresentative, a misogynist or just simply ridiculous then you now have an opportunity to tell him or/and ask him a question.

I'm not a massive RB fan - I like his journalism, haven't read his books and hated all his TV and radio. I also think everyone should vote so politically I'm quite far removed from his stance but he does seem to be encouraging a young audience to have political discussions. And I also hate using 'Parklife' to shut him down. It smacks of some kind of snobbery that only RP accents can use big words .

I'll shut up in a minute, but first, Ladyrabbit:

"One can't help but wonder if his time with Jemima Khan has either radicalised him to hate certain powerful families or he has simply become a stooge."

Nope, he's been banging on about this ("revolution") for years. Certainly since he was doing his radio show: he interviewed all sorts of political thinkers (is that the right term?!) like Richard Dawkins and David Icke.

"It is politics for the X Factor generation, sound bites, blather and superficiality."

That's exactly the sort of exclusive attitude that prevails in politics (and other power arenas): it excludes the young (particularly) as being too stupid to understand anything worthy of attention, and discounts anything they do believe in. It's no wonder so many of them don't vote! Do you really think a whole book is full of sound bites?

*Note to self: if going to be a class pet at least get the name right: JustineMN (not JustinMN) obvs

Yes I listened. He was complicit.

editthis you really consider David Icke a political thinker?

editthis you really consider David Icke a political thinker?

"editthis you really consider David Icke a political thinker?"

Ha! I think he's a nutter!

David Icke a political thinker

Ah! Okay forgiven editthis ! I speak as someone who was unwittingly dragged to one of Icke's all dayers - always try to be open minded and all that - but good Lord it was six hours of my life I shall never get back again. And it was populated by a very particular kind of person - white male, around 25-40, lots of ponytails and whiff of patchouli. Conspiracy theorists' convention, essentially.

I have no problem with politics being explained in simple terms - in fact, I've often thought we need to have some kind of rudimentary test before people leave school so they at least fully understand how our voting system etc., works. What I intensely dislike about Brand's spouting is HE OFFERS NO IDEAS. No real manifesto, no real approaches. He's like a Strictly Come Voting presenter without a party or policy.

David Icke a political thinker

I have heard it all now! The man is a nutter!

Ladyrabbit !!!All day eeeeeek!!! I sat next to one of those in a bar once while waiting for a drink and that was LONG ENOUGH.

You put it beautifully. I am no radical and always vote, but I like him because he has, I feel, opened up the debate and has certainly made ME more aware of the people who don't share my political stance, and the reasons why that might be.

Editthis I'm assuming you don't think that his calling a police helpline about a series of rapes in Northampton as part of his onstage 'comedy' routine was just 'poor judgement'?

He has a horrible attitude to women. I used to find him quite amusing on BBBM and I enjoy his wordiness - I even think that his heart is probably in the right place on a lot of social issues (insofar as they affect men, that is), but let's not pretend he's some kind of messiah. He has no answers other than 'don't vote'. Perhaps it's all an elaborate subterfuge and he's on Nigel Farage's payroll, because not voting only benefits the loony fringe parties.

A lot of people have called him a misogynist. Is this because of the phone prank or am I missing some other info ?

Cameron et al were NOT given a proper mandate though Hak remember we have a coalition government!

If they had had a proper majority we would be being ruled by the Sun and News of the World. Yes a real democracy ; Cam. had 'full confidence ' in a lying journalist Coulson who is now in prison because they all got found out. Sadly not all of them.

I like Russell Brand because he makes people THINK and question the status quo, and it effing well needs questioning.

Would somebody quickly sum up Brand's political standpoint?

He did a very peculiar interview on Lorraine a few days ago, on which he appeared to be deeply uncomfortable about being questioned, was quite rude and abrupt in his answers (despite Lorraine flattering him lots and asking very positive, uncritical questions). It did make me wonder if it was just Lorraine in particular, women in positions of influence generally or having to get up in the morning that had put him in a bad mood.
He then borrowed a couple of small children and cuddled them on the sofa. I don't remember why.

Would somebody quickly sum up Brand's political standpoint?

Wants to be rich and famous!