Webchat with Russell Brand - Weds 12 Nov - 1 o'clock

[JustineMumsnet]

We're very pleased to say that Russell Brand is joining us on Wednesday 12 November between 1 and 2pm.

For those who don't know, Russell Brand is a comedian, actor and author.

His latest book, Revolution, sets out his views for political change - because, he says, "democracy has been taken away from us".

You might have caught his recent interview on Newsnight, which was widely discussed on the boards.

This is his third book, following My Booky Wook and Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal and has just published the first in a new series of children's books Russell Brand's Trickster Tales: The Pied Piper of Hamelin, written by Russell and illustrated by Chris Riddell.

Please do join us on Wednesday - or if you can't, feel free to post questions in advance, here.

(Reminder that we only allow one question and one follow-up per user, so make sure to use yours wisely )

"I will support other people"

Russell, will you support the women who have accused Julian Assange of raping them?

Hi Russel I'm planning to travel this country on the power of love and generosity ( bad spelling but I'm a idiot and writing quickly ;) i'm planning to make weekly video's and show everyone the best of this amazing country, show the people, the places and true community.
my question is what would you say the best way to get seen and capture the attention of a audience without having celebrity name and face like yours :) i know random question
Joey Britain ( travel name)

@MuddyBootsAndPinkCoats

Russell. ( second question ) I'm a big believer in love as a force for good and the compassion that goes with it. And humility..

Do you think all those Eton boys in government have been stunted in this respect due to being carted off to boarding school at an early age ?

Yes I think that's really significant and an overlooked aspect of it. We are being governed by people who have been brought up in compassionless paddocks and inculcated in solipsism.

I completely agree! We're all equals. Wearing a shiny hat doesn't give anybody the right to look down their nose at us...
Any chance of a cyber kiss...? ;)

KatherineMinola.
Bang on.

We are all a bit fucked up, we all have complex needs....

@muminthecity

Russell, my 9 year old daughter and I met you in Hamleys last weekend, thank you for being so sweet to her, and for taking the time to talk to her. She has read the pied piper of Hamelin, and loved it. She has a question for you:

Are you planning on writing any more children's books? If so, have you thought about what the next one will be?

(Oh, and did you like the drawing of Despicable Me that she gave to you?)

Yes I am planning on writing some more children's books, including Rumpelstiltskin.

That drawing was fucking brilliant! I love it! It was really really good. That child had a really good drawing style. Tell that kid to keep drawing. I'm keeping it!

I hope I was never a misogynist.

I would argue that you still are, even though you don't seem able to admit it.

Using prostituted women is not "a bit sexist" It has real and sometimes fatal implications for women in the society you live in

Supporting men who are in hiding from rape trials is not "a bit sexist" but has real and devastating implications for women in the society you live in

Your use of casual misogynistic language both on and off air are not "a bit sexist" but have real and devastating implications for women in the society you live in.

The fact that you have a high media profile and a following amongst impressionable youth makes it even more important that you consider the implications of your throwaway lines have. These young men think you are funny and they think your lines are funny. Believe me it's not fun to walk down the road and have young men shout "I'd have a go on that" (note: reducing women to an object and removing her humanity completely) or "I fucked your grandaughter" for the amusement of themselves and their mates.

@zerotolerancezone

Russell, could you please have a word with MNHQ and get web chats to display better on the app!!! I can't easily see the difference between Q and A. It's a pain. Ta.

Yes - many apologies - we are working as we speak on an improved Talk app - early testing is happening right now - if you'd like to be part of the testing group, do let us know.

@hanbanthankyouhan

Do you agree with over half of Scots polled will vote SNP in general election next year? Is this sort of protest vote, giving Scotland a voice in Westminster, going to be what changes our parliament?

As I said at the time, the Scottish Referendum was an example of voting having some relevance, that's why I supported the yes vote.

ArcheryAnnie you can easily leave the webchat if you're that miserable about it. I think you're being inflammatory to try and get noticed. Just shout at him directly or do one!

Politics is shaped by the wealthy, and the influential - and now it seems the famous. What makes you so different from Cameron, Gove, Clegg, Farage and all the other wealthy politicians who pretend to be men of the people?

It is all very well calling for a revolution, when you aren't struggling to survive till the next paycheck.

In a way, we all only have our own instincts, impulses and influences. I will support other people, but as Krishna Murti said, 'truth is a pathless land'

As a response to the question about the pivotal role of feminism in any successful meaningful fair revolution, that's terribly revealing.

A man's instincts trump women's rights?

MNer: "What about feminism?"

RB: "In a way, we all only have our own instincts, impulses and influences"

What a car crash.

xpost

'In a way, we all only have our own instincts, impulses and influences'

In a way, we all have the ability to inform ourselves.

I've been addressing questions to Russell in the approved manner, Tinywinx, so I don't know what your problem is.

a HUGE rainbow just appeard outside the widow- rainbow revolution!

@MagratsHair

You believe in a God?!

Yes I believe in God. As Joseph Campbell said, 'all religions are true', in that the metaphor is true. Consciousness is inexplicable in the roles of science. There is no science about how consciousness rose from matter. Consciousness, in essence, is the awakness of the universe within us.

joeduckman I think there's an echo in here.

Russell, what do you believe is the biggest problem for the Great British public; misinformation by the media or misrepresentation by those who purport to represent us?

(Loling at the idea that asking actual questions - as opposed to long "I wuv you Russell" screeds, is me trying to "get noticed".)

LineRunner, be fair, women aren't actually, you know... people

@however

Russell, your answers here are really succinct and not so convoluted. I'm finding them surprisingly easy to follow.

When I watch you on TV, because your method of delivery is so long winded and flowery sometimes by the time you've gotten to the end of it, I've forgotten the beginning. It's maddening. Why do you do that? Is it nervousness?

I like talking like that... I think it's pretty.

Mr Brand - you espouse some pretty anarchic views regarding capitalism and consumerism. Just wondering, which, of your multi-million pound (or dollar) homes, is your favourite venue for dreaming of such things?

(Oh, and 'spinster' - does any sensible person in this century still use such a derogatory term)? Oh, yes - apparently there is one

Also looking forward to seeing a reply to Annie's question.