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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this 'comedian' on Radio 4 shouldn't have said this at 11.30am?

211 replies

Imchangingmyname · 19/10/2015 18:37

In the car earlier with DD 3.5 and baby DS. Radio 4 is on, with a comedy-type show presented by Sue Perkins (who I love by the way), when some silly bint announces that all 5-year-old's should be told that Santa doesn't exist?!? All said very seriously, given it was supposed to be a 'comedy' show. DD didn't say anything but is the type of child who stores things up and mentions it later. Didn't want to say anything at the time as didn't want to draw attention to it.
AIBU to think she shouldn't have said it??

OP posts:
GloGirl · 19/10/2015 19:11

Radio 4 stealth boast Grin I love MN sometimes!

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 19/10/2015 19:12

limitedperiodonly GrinGrinGrin

OP, YABU. I tend to mute the news if I have small children in the car if I know (as so often is the case sadly) there are awful stories about.

KatharineClifton · 19/10/2015 19:14

Both. It used to really piss me off when DC were small as the times I'd have to lunge for the radio were quite often painful - I don't do things quickly as a rule. I used to have the radio on all the time in the background, could tell the time of day as to what was on. But, as pp have said and R4 continually say when swearing and these things come up, it's an adult station.

sltorres9 · 19/10/2015 19:23

Yabu. My ds is only 16 months but will never be told about Santa, I really don't see the point in making a child believe

Elendon · 19/10/2015 19:26

Radio 4 Stealth Boast? Confused

Oh for heaven sakes. Get over yourself. Your child will have some other child whispering in their ear this year that Santa doesn't exist, yes even at the so tender age of 5. And if your daughter has any sense, she will understand the science behind this ridiculous assumption that a fat bloke with reindeers flies around the world in 24 hours to deliver presents to each and every child on the planet.

Original poster
Imchangingmyname · 19/10/2015 19:37

OK, maybe I'm being a bit precious, accepted. I have Radio 4 on a lot in the car, I do turn it off sometimes but I don't want my DC's to live sheltered lives. They're still too little to really understand any of it and all the 'big' words. However, I do think what was said and, more in the delivery really, was just really...off. Apologies, I haven't heard of Josie Long (maybe that does say more about me) but I just think a lot of comedians at the moment think they are being clever but the way she said it made me cringe.

Also preschoolers could easily hear this despite it being an adult show. Background radio, at grandparents, our local newsagent plays this in his shop! Lots of people these days don't 'do' the Santa thing these days but surely lots do?!

OP posts:
Snossidge · 19/10/2015 19:38

If you do Santa, then just come up with your own lie/story to cover for non-believers, surely you don't need anyone else to lie for you?

lemonade30 · 19/10/2015 19:40

(Off to Google the word bint.......)

BitOutOfPractice · 19/10/2015 19:42

There is no watershed on radio. They can and do swear on R4 before 9pm. Not really hardcore stuff but 2nd level words if you know what I mean

I have the radio on 24/7 here, often on R4 and I've been caught out before too. It's the nature of the beast

MagicalMrsMistoffelees · 19/10/2015 19:53

How is listening to Radio 4 a stealth boast? Funniest thing I've heard all day!!

MrsDeVere · 19/10/2015 19:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/10/2015 19:59

MagicalMrsMistoffelees it's the second funniest thing I've heard. Funniest was the poster who bought herself a new fridge magnet every time she was cross with her husband - that learned him!

BitOutOfPractice · 19/10/2015 20:00

And yes, being a R4 listener Wink I know that's not grammatically correct. It's a WKPOS

HeteronormativeHaybales · 19/10/2015 20:07

'Weeks of Santa work'? WTF? Or have I missed some sarcasm there?

I will never understand the mindset of those parents who are so intensely invested in the Santa pretence, revolving Christmas around it and wanting their children to believe at all costs nor the outrage at those who refuse to collude. I 'do' it with mine, but always as a nice story rather than The Truth (and I never use him as some kind of omniscient good-behaviour monitor - yuk). I don't think either of them ever really believed.

ForChina · 19/10/2015 20:07

YANBU - most people I know are careful not to say stuff like that when there is any chance a child could be listening. It's just kind - which I know is not a much-appreciated quality on Mumsnet.

borntobequiet · 19/10/2015 20:09

Never mind Santa Claus, you were being unreasonable if you thought the show was funny.
R4 comedy has gone right down the pan lately.

OwlDoll · 19/10/2015 20:10

If you had listened to the end OP, you would have heard Andrew Maxwell state categorically for the benefit of young children that Santa Claus is in fact real.

CheekyMaleekey · 19/10/2015 20:11

YABU and very, very silly.

unlucky83 · 19/10/2015 20:14

YAB slightly U but I've found Radio 4 isn't always the most appropriate material for listening to with DC.
I always listen to it in the car - so it is on even when I'm not really listening - and have been shocked at the stuff DD2 has asked me (usually do to with horrific news Sad).
The worst was a Sat afternoon play - again I wasn't really listening, DD1 (then 11) and DD2 (then 5) were talking. They went quiet just as the play went quiet for a second then one of the characters said 'shit'. DD1 collapsed into giggles and DD2 wanted to know what was so funny - I pretended I'd missed it and DD1 wouldn't dare to tell me what it was etc but it did make for an awkward 15 mins Blush...

borntobequiet · 19/10/2015 20:19

Apart from the economist, the policeman and the Pakistani guy. They are funny. The panel shows are all the usual boring suspects, Clue excepted.

lexigrey · 19/10/2015 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

665TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 19/10/2015 20:23

There was a programme on there last year about them not understanding why they couldnt attract new listeners, and this - and some of the other reasons mentioned here are why...
Any women at home with children cant listen to - well womans hour for instance..so there’s most of your target market - and yes I do know how to use iplayer - but don’t for the radio -as its not really focused listening as there’s not enough content.
At the weekend some of the comedy programmes are positively puerile and not fit for broadcast to the usual pre 9 pm crowd which might include the very young and also teenage kids - so...lets not have that on as you potter on a Sunday morning with the family - and I haven’t the energy to hover with my hand over the off switch...and I'm not even middle aged - or Mary Whitehouse or anything !
I just get to listen to the odd bit - when I'm driving about in my car - on my own...
and the sad thing is ..its sooooo close to being brilliant, but all those little steps over the line
unnecessary steps -
just stop it being accessible.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 19/10/2015 20:31

I had both children around today and they heard this. We just said "oh well, Josie won't be getting any presents this year then will she?!" and then another comedian said he did believe and, well, it was all over in seconds.

To be honest there is more questionable content in Dilemma than that and I think your job as a parent is to control the off switch or change to another channel. If you want bland and asinine have you tried Magic op?

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 19/10/2015 20:33

I bloody love Josie Long. I love her show that I cannot remember the name of and I'm a bit sad it's on at school pick up time and I don't always get a chance to catch up. Possibly because I can't remember the name of the show...

Tangoandcreditcards · 19/10/2015 20:38

YA ALL BU

It's Father Christmas, not Santa.

Some people, honestly.