Anyone watching QT tonight?

[DebbieD78]

I have been, and I think David Starkey has been the star of the show. It's refreshing to hear someone say what they think, unlike the MPs on the programme, who just repeat bland soundbites.

I don't know what Clarke Carlisle is doing on there, he's embarassing.

Are you for real?? Starkey is obnoxious and soooo predictable.

I'd rather have someone obnoxious that speaks the truth, however unpalatable it might be for some, than people like the MPs who just mouth platitudes so as not to upset people.

Loved David Starkey. Hugely entertaining, spoke a lot of sense as well. I wish they'd get more non-politicians on.

Is this the guy who made some seriously stupid racist remarks at the time of the riots last year?

it's only the truth because you are racist too you agree with him

Starkey is what they call 'good telly' and also 'good radio' when he was a regular on the Moral Maze. I think he's a great example of why free speech is such a valuable thing. Whether you agree with him or not, it is genuinely interesting to hear an opinion that hasn't been sanitised through the PC-machine by someone trying to court popularity

Starkey's an arse. His comments abou thte liberation of Europe last night were offensive and laughable at the same time. The French hate us for liberating them? What about the Dutch, the Belgians, the Danes etc?

Likes the sound of his own voice to much

"too much"

"What about the Dutch, the Belgians, the Danes etc?"

They're not that fond of us either, trust me. In fact, I was in Belgium yesterday having a conversation over lunch about football. My Belgian colleague was delighted that England had lost to the Netherlands in a football match and took great pleasure telling me that he was supporting Wales in the Six Nations Rugby. I hazarded that even if it was a Taliban 1st XI against England, he still wouldn't support England. And I was right :)

Cogito So the Norwegians send a Christmas tree every year to show how much they don't like us?

There's 'liking' and there's 'being polite'. Do you like everyone you send a Christmas card to?.... be honest... :)

Starkey made some interesting points but spoils himself by going out of his way to offend people. For instance, in the debate about tax on which, I feel, he was correct (maximising the tax take even if it involves shelving the 50% tax rate is in the best interests of rich and poor alike), he managed to make a slur against the logical capabilities of women.

The point about the French was needlessly antagonistic but his point was correct (IMO) - liberators are often viewed by the host community as opressors. When he speaks like this his message is lost as his comments just evoke an emotional response from many listening.

Fanjo - that is ridiculous. Because you may agree with Starkey on tax rates or not invading Syria for instance then you are automatically a racist. Please explain your reasoning.

Starkey was spot on about GP's imo.

Yes Ben,
I find it completely wrong that many GPs earn more than hospital consultants. The negotiation for that one was a complete disaster.

I agree with Starkey on GPs they are fucking disgrace nothing more then an over paid barrier to treatment.

He was wrong about the divided communities, tho it's not about fear of speaking ones mind that has created such a mess it's governments and local councils bending over backwards to cater for those who don't speak the language, offering written work of all kinds in multiple languages, interpreters and community centres instead of ensuring that they can all speak the language, nothing like not being able to speak the language to keep people in their own little communities, look at the little Englanders in Spain.

People don't hate Starkey because he speaks his mind or isn't a trained politician. They hate him because he's a racist, misogynistic, patronising asshole with an overinflated opinion of himself and his own intelligence.

He is very intellegent and to me worth listening to. But this doesn't mean that I agree with everything he says. I'll bet that he gains great satisfaction from the fact that his slurs can cause such an emotional reaction in so many.

Yes, I'm sure he does. It's called being a troll; it's what young teenage boys do for kicks when they have nothing better to do.

What "slurs" did he use last night?

It's a sad state of affairs when people who just speak openly are regarded as "trolls". Do we really just want people like the politicians that were on that are just bland and tell people what they think they want to hear?

No, I called him a 'troll' because that's what people are when they amuse themselves by deliberately provoking people.

Insofar as David Starkey does this, as ElBurro suggested, then he is a troll.

People don't dislike him because he 'speaks freely', they dislike him because 'he's a racist, misogynistic, patronising asshole with an overinflated opinion of himself and his own intelligence.'

Hope this helps.