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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really, really hate Toby Young

232 replies

MargaretCavendish · 04/01/2018 13:24

So, yes, I'm an academic and I think Toby Young was a crap choice for his new job (as does just about anybody who knows anything about it). But it has also just reminded me of the depth of my hatred for him - I think he is the person who I most hate in the world, which is unreasonable really, given he isn't actually a mass murderer or genocidal dictator. But... is it? IABU to think that Toby Young is the world's most odious twat?

OP posts:
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6
noblegiraffe · 06/01/2018 15:46

I remember when Carol Vorderman was appointed by Gove to lead an investigation into maths education in England. Everyone went 'FFS, she's famous for doing the numbers game on Countdown, what are they thinking?'. And then she went on to do a brilliant job and maths teachers across the country were impressed.

This situation is entirely unlike that one. Even if Toby Young went on to do a brilliant job, it is still highly inappropriate for the government to hire someone who is famous (moderately well-known?) for being an obnoxious dickhead who deliberately strives to make himself even less-liked with every public utterance.

He hasn't written a book called 'How to lose friends and alienate people' full of repugnant anecdotes and whines about how his career never progressed at Vanity Fair by accident. Or accidentally written an article about why he is in favour of eugenics. Or accidentally called his twitter account 'Toadmeister'. Or been a boor. Or been a misogynist. Or disablist. Or posed naked. Or said teachers have an easy job. Or any number of twatty and obnoxious things he has published or said. He is the human equivalent of trolly clickbait and it's deliberate.

What's extraordinary is that we're supposed to overlook all that and suppose that it is a different Toby Young who is running schools and now overseeing universities.

deviceNotRecognised · 06/01/2018 16:00

PiggywasPushed

You seem like you're playing 'take-offence Top Trumps'. Very strange - as is your comment about which areas I should be read or up-to-date in. Primary head in a selective school, FWIW.

theCat

I do think it's fascinating how often parents with AEN children train to be teachers. It seems to be abnormally large. Perhaps the career fits with their responsibilities well or perhaps because there's a necessity for them to have more than a passing understanding of 'the system' so that they can ensure the best for their children. I have no idea why this is hilarious. I'm equally intrigued as your swapping of gender-specific pronouns.

I have no idea which ex-BNP leader was on MN.

I didn't advocate free-speech. I said that I agree with some of Young's arguements which you may find even more offensive.

Do you believe in inclusivity at all costs? I certainly don't. It's failing all stakeholders.

Do you believe we shouldn't use science to try to eliminate genetic problems or other illnesses? Do you think that anyone other than an extreme theist could argue we shouldn't?

Toby Young is a gobshite but hating him is OTT and he actually makes some good points.

noblegiraffe · 06/01/2018 16:14

A stopped clock with Toby Young tweets painted on it is right twice a day, that doesn’t mean it is acceptable to put it on the mantelpiece.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 16:59

I should imagine of you are a headteacher you have occasionally had to discipline staff : perhaps because they have spoken or written out of turn. But perhaps in a selective school you don't have wheelchair ramps or students with munchausens by proxy...

Anyway, a headteacher should be a specialist in everything!!

Wasn't aware we were playing Top trumps. I love Top Trumps. Who's winning?

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 17:00

Oh and you must be a lovely head and really kind since you think your staff are so not overworked.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 17:03

And please do read Young's views on eugenics : it isn't about illnesses. It's about grooming low IQs out from the 'working classes' (not form the upper middle class elite, one notes.

I also note you haven't bitten on the actual root of my offence which is you calling Down Syndrome an illness.

deviceNotRecognized · 06/01/2018 17:17

Piggy

I've never had to discipline staff for writing or speaking out of turn. It's one of the benefits of hiring intelligent people. Each one of which is at least educated to Masters level.

We do have ramps. Our prep school is 100& wheelchair accessible.

"a headteacher should be a specialist in everything!"

I guess you've never heard of the phrase jack of all trades, master of none?

You're right, I didn't bite at your petty, insignificant and very personal comment. You ignored my impersonal question about why you decided I was male. Ho hum.

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 06/01/2018 17:21

Janice turner in the Times today says everything that needs to be said about the walking inferiority complex that is Toby young.
He should be returned to the obscurity of his spectator column.

durgha · 06/01/2018 17:21

Rather than hating Young, who I find repulsive, I'm more disturbed by the fact that he's been eased into a job he shouldn't be allowed to hold.

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 06/01/2018 17:30

Young, coren, gove and Johnsons together amount to irrefutable proof that Oxford university is a third rate institution. No university with a commitment to academic excellence would get it that wrong.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 17:33

Ermmmmm ... that wasn't me who called you male!

Intelligent people can be offensive you know. Young went to Oxford. (well, daddy got him in at least). Obviously because you teach youngsters you have never had to discipline students for social media outpourings, or deal with vitriol from parents aimed at your staff?? Seriously!! you are most lucky.

Of course I have heard of the phrase jack of all trades. I am wondering what you are a master of, frankly. It certainly isn't humility.

Happy to hear about the ramps. You see, Young would sneer at that.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 17:34

Every one of your staff has a Masters???

Pull the other one.

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 06/01/2018 17:44

Devicnotrecognised is a bullshitter. No one can seriously claim that hiring intelligent well educated staff protects you from disciplinary problems. Spend an hour in the average investment bank or law firm for God’s sake.

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 17:47

... or the Tory Party indeed...

Quite sure the recent sackees are highly educated.

(Disclaimer: also undoubtedly true of other political parties but I cite the one in power at present)

deviceNotRecognized · 06/01/2018 17:49

Piggywaspushed

Sorry. You're right. It was thecatfromjapan who leapt to the 'male' conclusion.

"I am wondering what you are a master of". None. Do keep up dear. Technically I'm a Master of Studies but that's of no bearing.

Perhaps I should have said post-graduate education; also oft-called Masters Equivalent.

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 06/01/2018 17:52

I am not sure the Tory party is doing that w

Piggywaspushed · 06/01/2018 17:53

Please don't call me dear.

No one in all my years has called my Postgraduate qualification in education a master equivalent. I shall start putting that on job applications and see how far that gets me. Thanks for the tip.

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 06/01/2018 17:54

Posted too early. Not sure the Tory party is doing that well attracting intelligent people. I say that as a card carrying Tory party member, until last year.
“Master of studies”? Grin

jooger · 06/01/2018 17:59

perhaps I should have said post-graduate education; also oft-called Masters Equivalent.

that's bollocks

titchy · 06/01/2018 18:06

Perhaps I should have said post-graduate education; also oft-called Masters Equivalent.

Oh do you mean a PGCE? The big standard teaching qualification? PG does not equal Masters, nor is it oft-called such. Not that it's remotely relevant to the thread.

deviceNotRecognized · 06/01/2018 18:15

Piggy

You're welcome. PGCEs are usually referred to as Masters equivalent. It probably won't get you any further than calling it a PGCE will unless you're applying for further education.

KarlosKKrinkelbeim

Yes, M.St.

Excuse the wikipedia link but hopefully it helps you with your lack of understanding.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Studies

In case you were wondering, mine was awarded by Oxford.

titchy · 06/01/2018 18:27

PGCEs are usually referred to as Masters equivalent.

No, they're really not - no-one refers to them that way, and anyone who does so professionally is misleading their audience at best, lying, cheating.

And they're nowhere near equivalent to a Masters - they're a third the equivalence. It's like saying you've done the first year of a degree and then saying it's degree equivalent.

How peculiar that an educational professional thinks that's ok....

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 06/01/2018 18:32

You're welcome. PGCEs are usually referred to as Masters equivalent.

No they aren't!

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 06/01/2018 18:36

“ mine was awarded by Oxford”.
If you see my post above, you’ll gather that’s not something I find especially admirable. Oxford spits out way more than it’s fair share of fuckwits.
I’m still calling bullshit tho

deviceNotRecognized · 06/01/2018 18:39

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