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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that many of the people shouting about Gary Lineker's "freedom of speech" are happy to shut women down?

106 replies

Qbish · 13/03/2023 16:36

It's marvelous, isn't it, "freedom of speech". It's marvelous when it's something nice and progressive that you agree with.

But if it's something you deem to be unacceptable... then shut it down! Cancel her! No platform her! Burn her books! Get her sacked! Picket anywhere she's booked to speak! Many of the same types who support Gary wouldn't hesitate to tell a woman to keep quiet, sit down, shut up. And they can't even see that.

OP posts:
Shulk · 13/03/2023 21:52

Florenz · 13/03/2023 21:19

In general I'm sick of non politicians sticking their oar into stuff that doesn't concern them. It's all very easy for Lineker to say the government are wrong for trying to stop illegal immigration. He doesn't have to back it up with any kind of alternative plan and make it all work.

That’s odd, you seem to be in a lot of threads expressing your opinion on political matters but, so far as I know, you’re not a politician?

RedToothBrush · 13/03/2023 21:57

twelly · 13/03/2023 20:07

I don't agree with what Gary Lineker said and am not entirely sure of whether he broke the contract/agreement he had with the BBC, now that it has been decided he is entitled to make comment I hope the same right is afforded to all those who are free lance workers who appear on the BBC. There has to be consistency.

I think the thing that pisses me off most is the lack of consistency. Not what Lineaker said.

He's just in a position to make a point that's all.

It took a hell of a lot for female journalists to do actual journalism and show an unbiased side to the BBC and tbh there seems to be a long way to go on that one still.

I'm sure a number of high profile female presenters have left because of the lack of ability to speak the truth to power.

Florenz · 13/03/2023 22:16

Hobbi · 13/03/2023 21:25

...and should Zelenskyy have stuck to stand up comedy and not 'stuck his oar in' politics?

Show quote history

He didn't "stick his oar into politics" he became a politician and ran for office. I'd have a lot more respect for Lineker if he did the same instead of shouting from the sidelines.

TooBigForMyBoots · 13/03/2023 22:18

Citizens of a country should be allowed to comment freely about their government @Florenz.

Hobbi · 13/03/2023 22:29

@Florenz

Your ill-informed comments about 'illegal' immigration and studious avoidance of the facts suggest to me that it's Linekar's opinions that you don't like, and not the fact he isn't a politician.

smileladiesplease · 13/03/2023 22:35

I think he's done society a massive favour to be honest though he's too stupid to realise it.

Firstly the bbc licence fee will die a lot sooner than expected. Secondly women speaking out will not now be so easily silenced.

Both women candidates for SNP leader SUPPORTED JKRowling in the sky debate tonight!!!!!!!!

Gary has done us all a favour

Hobbi · 13/03/2023 22:36

@smileladiesplease
What makes you think he's stupid?

XanaduKira · 13/03/2023 22:41

lieselotte · 13/03/2023 16:43

Yes of course. It's one of the reasons Liz Truss was so pilloried. Do you really think the markets would have reacted in quite the same way if Johnson had done the same thing? Her policies were very stupid, but women are assumed incompetent until proven otherwise; it's the opposite with (white) men.

Completely agree.

YANBU Op.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 13/03/2023 22:51

TooBigForMyBoots · 13/03/2023 22:18

Citizens of a country should be allowed to comment freely about their government @Florenz.

Yes. Exactly. This is what horrified me, that someone lost his job over (to me) fairly innocuous comments that criticised government policy.

Florenz · 13/03/2023 23:03

Hobbi · 13/03/2023 22:29

@Florenz

Your ill-informed comments about 'illegal' immigration and studious avoidance of the facts suggest to me that it's Linekar's opinions that you don't like, and not the fact he isn't a politician.

I don't like his opinion, and I don't like the fact that his opinions somehow carry weight because he used to be good at football.

passthegingordon · 13/03/2023 23:19

Florenz · 13/03/2023 21:19

In general I'm sick of non politicians sticking their oar into stuff that doesn't concern them. It's all very easy for Lineker to say the government are wrong for trying to stop illegal immigration. He doesn't have to back it up with any kind of alternative plan and make it all work.

Odd, who do think it is that pay's the wages of politicians? The Govt are accountable to us, and I'm sure GL pays his taxes, so as a citizen of the United Kingdom he's as entitled as the next person to speak his mind. It's not like he interrupted Match of the Day to call Suella Braverman a cunt is it?

He doesn't have to back it up with any kind of alternative plan and make it all work.

Well, that's because he's not a politician.

Florenz · 13/03/2023 23:44

I'm not so sure Lineker does pay his taxes.

Hobbi · 13/03/2023 23:46

@Florenz
"I don't like his opinion, and I don't like the fact that his opinions somehow carry weight because he used to be good at football."
So do you agree that Andrew Neil, Michael Portillo and Alan Sugar should be sacked from the BBC for having obvious links to a political party and often voicing their views? Or that the DG shouldn't be a former Tory candidate, or that the Chair shouldn't be a significant donor to a political party or help with a disgraced prime ministers finances? Or that Nick Gibb's brother shouldn't be on the board while being an active Tory agent? Or that the self proclaimed anti-woke new head of news is an entirely inappropriate selection? Or are they ok because they may share your hateful beliefs?

DeeCeeCherry · 13/03/2023 23:56

What you really mean is, Gary Lineker wasn't shut down so why should Fiona Bruce be?

Just say that, dont tiptoe around words.

I'll never be the kind of woman that agrees with "yeah but his mates said he didnt" interjection when talking of a woman being hit so hard in the face that her nose broke. If youre happy to die on that abhorrent hill then cool for you, but no need to rage at women for not being the same as you.

Women aren't a homogenous mass and I dont want to shock you here but some do find domestic violence repulsive

Hawkins003 · 13/03/2023 23:58

@Qbish freedom of speech only relates to the gov't directly, all other organisations ect can shut down any speech they want

Hawkins003 · 13/03/2023 23:59

That said, I don't understand no platforming at university especially when that's part of uni, to learn different sides to a debate ect

smileladiesplease · 14/03/2023 00:10

Hobbi

Because he went to quatar and took money to commentate in stadiums literally built on modern day slave Labour where thousands of migrant workers died.

Ok swop stupid for hypocritically idiotic?

smileladiesplease · 14/03/2023 00:11

Fiona Bruce was reading a statement that she had to as a reply to allegations as her duty as a question time host.

This was not her personal opinion on Johnson but a legal reply.

Christ!

Sshiamreading · 14/03/2023 00:12

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/03/2023 16:56

This had occurred to me.

However you’ve also got the right wing wanting to shut down Lineker and being quite fine with their supporters saying what they like (not saying the women OP has in mind are part of this group, I’m just saying it’s more complex than that!)

So there’s quite a lot of hypocrisy all around really.

I’m also 100% behind both GL and, for example, gender critical women being allowed their say - and also the less progressive people who I don’t agree with!

This. So many of the Jeremy Clarkson defenders are calling for Linekers head.

dcbc1234 · 14/03/2023 00:33

MarshaBradyo · 13/03/2023 18:46

Good point and very depressing

Show quote history

Very true and the first time I realised how captured by Stonewall the BBC were.

Turtletumy · 14/03/2023 06:03

Hobbi · 13/03/2023 22:36

@smileladiesplease
What makes you think he's stupid?

When they have nothing of value to say they resort to insults.

ohfook · 14/03/2023 06:10

I don't think so. I see this argument a lot 'I bet some of the people who believe X also believe Y'.

Yes lots of people believe GL should be able to express his opinions freely and yes lots of people shut women down when they try to do the same, but I see no evidence that it's the same people.

Pinacalola · 14/03/2023 06:17

I'm glad that FB has stepped down from being refuge ambassador. A lot of women fleeing Domestic violence and abuse have only been hit once, but are the victims of coercive control, emotional abuse etc. and that is a really good thing, because they get out before it escalates. Minimising what Stanley Johnson is part of the narrative that keeps abused women trapped. And it wasn't a minor thing, he broke the woman's nose and traumatised her. That's massive. It sometimes only takes one punch to kill somebody, especially when the person has considerably more physical strength on account of the sex difference. FB spoke out against marginalised people, GL spoke for marginalised people. These things are not the same, and FB is free to spout whatever verbatim she wants so long as she isn't hypocritically claiming to be an ambassador for the marginalised group she is speaking out against

Turtletumy · 14/03/2023 06:25

smileladiesplease · 14/03/2023 00:11

Fiona Bruce was reading a statement that she had to as a reply to allegations as her duty as a question time host.

This was not her personal opinion on Johnson but a legal reply.

Christ!

She should have insisted the ‘One off’ comment was removed.
Question Time has over 3 million viewers a very public platform.
She had a responsibly to call that comment out and refuse to say it.
She didn’t.
Its sad, but the idea of being an Ambassador is to use your high profile platform to stand up for the people you represent.
She failed in her responsibility.

Pinacalola · 14/03/2023 08:31

100% agree @Turtletumy

She did her bit fine as a scripted Tv personality, but in doing so she failed in her role as ambassador, because ambassadors aren't meant to do what is good for their profile, but use the profile they have in order to represent the people they are ambassador for. She had a choice to stick to the script, or to speak out against what she was being asked to say. She chose to do what was in her own interest only, and that is not the right person to be in the position as an ambassador