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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should Sarah Smith be taken off air

245 replies

Opendraw · 19/05/2020 10:59

Aibu to think this kind of biased opinion has no place on the BBC

“It has been obvious that Nicola Sturgeon has enjoyed the opportunity to set her own lockdown rules and not have to follow what's happening in England and other parts of the UK”.

Sarah Smith, BBC News at 10 (18/5/20)

OP posts:
RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 19/05/2020 13:11

Brian Taylor is an SNP supporter (this is widely known) and that is detectable in his reporting. Do you see anyone here opposed to independence calling for him to be sacked?

RainMustFall · 19/05/2020 13:12

No, she shouldn't, she's absolutely right.

RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime · 19/05/2020 13:14

'Enjoy' has two meanings: take pleasure from, and benefit from. I am sure NS would agree that Scotland has benefitted from being able to set its own policy - as would most Scots.

Sarah Smith's only mistake was in over-estimating the intelligence of her audience. Some of you clearly need a more dumbed-down approach.

Exactly. There's a usage of 'enjoy' meaning making use of an opportunity. Obviously some people aren't aware of this, but there people who do understand it pretending not to in order to make political capital. It happens a lot on all sides.

Bluebird1234 · 19/05/2020 13:14

Sarah Smith was spot on.

Original poster
Opendraw · 19/05/2020 13:16

Yes wax but we are not on national telly expressing our opinion on a publically funded channel but different .

OP posts:
LagunaBubbles · 19/05/2020 13:20

LagunaBubbles That doesn’t annoy me confused It does make me pity you though

Oh it certainly annoys some people on social media. No amount of #SNPout or things to that effect will actually make it happen either.

otterturk · 19/05/2020 13:21

You are being absolutely ridiculous

Original poster
Opendraw · 19/05/2020 13:23

Too late someone else used ridiculous find a better insult :-)

OP posts:
ItsGoingTibiaK · 19/05/2020 13:24

There's a usage of 'enjoy' meaning making use of an opportunity. Obviously some people aren't aware of this, but there people who do understand it pretending not to in order to make political capital. It happens a lot on all sides.

Precisely. Which camp are you in, @opendraw? You’re conspicuously ignoring everyone who has pointed out the word “enjoy” has a perfectly Well-establishes, factual meaning that precisely fits this situation.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 13:26

Yes wax but we are not on national telly expressing our opinion on a publically funded channel but different .

I'm struggling with your point here. Folk on the BBC express their opinions all the time, they are just not usually expressed in a way that the SNP find insulting because the SNP jump down their throat at any hint of it. Whereas they report about bumbling Boris and stuff against them all the time and no-one gives a shit because it's free press. Hmm

As I said earlier, the SNP get the rub of the green at every point and get "the benefit of doubt" all the time. SS stated something that could actually be stated as a fact if you use the term "enjoyed" in the way intended so it's not even so much a personal opinion. SNP just don't happen to like it. Boo hoo....

LagunaBubbles · 19/05/2020 13:26

And I know exactly about the uses of the word enjoy to. Sarah Smith is a clever woman, she knew what she was saying and the impression she wanted to give.

Original poster
Opendraw · 19/05/2020 13:28

Not really I think she knew exactly what she was saying. There are 2 meanings but she meant the usual meaning of taking pleasure and was taking a swipe IMO . Also she then went on to say she meant embrace. Or she was clever enough to use it knowing that she could defended by the 2 meaning word and happily take the swipe. That good enough ?

OP posts:
ItsGoingTibiaK · 19/05/2020 13:34

Too late someone else used ridiculous find a better insult :-)

Ah. The last gasp of the unreasonable.

Original poster
Opendraw · 19/05/2020 13:35

Wax you are perfectly able to start a thread about Boris bashing too you know.

He kind of deserves it though he isn’t exactly a clear beacon in a sea of uncertainty. NS is regardless of her political bent. I said on another thread that I don’t think she has done anything much better in practical terms but she is clear she is consise and she is her own woman.

OP posts:
ItsGoingTibiaK · 19/05/2020 13:35

That good enough ?

Well, it wouldn’t be anywhere near good enough for an employment tribunal, so I think her job is safe.

Original poster
Opendraw · 19/05/2020 13:36

Injecting humour Itsgoing ..... personal insults are the last gasp of the unreasonable

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 13:38

I don't think the word enjoyed is wrong or insulting in either context tbh.

A Dr working in A&E on a busy night might well have enjoyed the night as it's stimulating and busy and what they have trained for, it doesn't mean that they don't feel sympathy with the patients or is glad that they have been admitted.

Nicola may well be enjoying the ability to set her own agenda in both meanings, doesn't mean that she wanted the pandemic and is glad that people are dying.

Original poster
Opendraw · 19/05/2020 13:39

On that we can agree Wax but it was not a great statement on SS part. So much so the NS felt the need to respond.

OP posts:
Nosenseofhumour · 19/05/2020 13:41

Why are the various threads on the different approaches across the UK always picking on Scotland? NI & Wales have been doing exactly the same, it's England that has been different. OK some changes in NI imminent i believe, but I';m genuinely interested in why all these posters feel they only need to criticise NS and Scotland??

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 13:42

Wax you are perfectly able to start a thread about Boris bashing too you know.

Well yes, I am. But I don't feel the need to. I am using that as an example that what NS gets is far less than others. She is a consummate politician and when she isn't banging on about independence she comes over very well. I don't agree with her politics in the same way as I don't agree with Boris'.

Do I think she is enjoying the opportunity? Yes I do. Is SS wrong to point it out? I don't think so.

Did you want everyone to agree with you? Probably.

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/05/2020 13:46

So much so the NS felt the need to respond.

But that is the impressive SNP machine, they will never not respond.

Again, I'll say it's impressive because it is, the machine and system they have is amazing even if I don't believe it's a good thing. It's all smoke and mirrors.

I get both angry and sad at the waste of energy that could be making scotland a better place. If that was concentrated on then there would be much more sway with folk who don't buy into English hating, flag waving nationalism.

LagunaBubbles · 19/05/2020 13:46

"Banging" on about independence is the reason for her parties existence. That is never going to change. If and when Scotland gets independence they might cease to exist to.

OllyBJolly · 19/05/2020 13:48

Yes, she should. That was a dreadful thing to say. I don't think Sarah Smith is a good journalist - but then I don't think many of them are. Gone are the days of incisive, intelligent interviewing and analysis. Now it's about goading and sensationalism. That was an outrageous claim to make and Sarah would have known exactly how that would have landed.

I am not an SNP supporter, I have many issues with NS politics, but she has navigated a difficult course well to international acclaim. She has also worked bloody hard and you can see the strain on her.

I've complained to the BBC.

LagunaBubbles · 19/05/2020 13:48

And I certainly don't hate the English. Disliking Westminster is not hating the English. Not said a bad word against "the English" on any of these threads, unlike the amount of anti Scottish crap you read.

jasjas1973 · 19/05/2020 13:48

All other countries are now starting to relax lockdowns - the ‘high UK death rate’ is a misnomer as we know that other countries aren’t reporting deaths in the community

....because they entered lockdown earlier and have far lower death rates & infection rates.
All european countries are now reporting community death rates, have been for several weeks.

Johnson relaxed lockdown 2 or 3 weeks too soon, Sturgeon is correct to continue her stance but time will tell.