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Original poster

I'm feeling sensitive and was not impressed by this article in Radio Times

36 replies

Saker · 28/08/2006 23:18

TV at its worst (it's a list of the worst programs made)

"Number 8 Thomas the tank engine and friends

Arguably the single most important factor in Britain's postwar industrial decline is the fact that generations of children have been exposed to Rev W Awdry's insidious stories set on the Island of Sodor, which portray a workplace riven by class envy and where bitching, brown-nosing and backstabbing are the norm. The initial run was narrated by a catatonically depressed-sounding Ringo Starr. And forget MMR - a 2001 study by the National Autistic Society confirmed that children with autism associate with Thomas before any other character. Seriously."

Now I'm not about to defend Ringo Starr or Thomas the tank engine (although I think the actual books are a good deal better than the TV) but I do think that last part is really ignorant and cheap.

OP posts:
nearlythree · 28/08/2006 23:21

I am soooooooooo shocked.

Saturn74 · 28/08/2006 23:23

What a stupid and hurtful comment! Does the RT say who wrote the article?

Blossomhill · 28/08/2006 23:23

Sorry but I don't get it?

SecurMummy · 28/08/2006 23:24

what a cheap and nasty line to use

nearlythree · 28/08/2006 23:25

Sounds to me that it was written by a smart-arsed junior trying to be funny.

Original poster
Saker · 28/08/2006 23:38

BH - well to me it is saying that the final proof that Thomas is a load of crap is that children with autism like it - and they can't possibly have a valid opinion. Alternatively that watching Thomas caused their autism ha ha.

OP posts:
Original poster
Saker · 28/08/2006 23:39

written by John Naughton - don't know who he is?

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 28/08/2006 23:40

That's pretty bad isn't it? OK post the RT editors email address (or do they have a letters section). I think they need some emails of complaint.

aitch71 · 28/08/2006 23:42

he's been around for aaaaages, he should know better. i bet you i've got his email address somewhere if you want to pull him up about it. very surprised that the RT didn't sub that out, i'm sure he just meant it as a flippant comment but it wasn't actually funny.

fattiemumma · 28/08/2006 23:42

OMFG! that is horrendous.

yes please do let me know where i can adress my emails.

I'll let JJ do it nicely then i'll go in for the kill lol

Saturn74 · 28/08/2006 23:42

Let's track down John Naughton and show him how to write an impressive piece of constructive criticism of his offensive and lazy 'journalism'.

Original poster
Saker · 28/08/2006 23:43

They do have a letters section although most of the letters are pretty trite and you might not wish to be co-published with them . Write to:
The Letters Editor, Radio Times, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0TT, email [email protected], tel - 0870 608 4455, fax 020 8433 3923.

OP posts:
Marina · 28/08/2006 23:44

I saw that too and was disgusted. I could not agree with you more about the cheapness of the article. Plenty of NT children of my acquaintance are obsessed with the odious little engine including ds in his time and currently dd.
Thanks for reminding me saker, I had the copy of the RT in question and have lost it somewhere, so I am certainly going to mail them about this.
Didn't think it would be Alison Graham. Shame on John Naughton. Not a junior - he's an established writer.

KristinaM · 28/08/2006 23:44

I have Nt kids and I find it offensive too

Saturn74 · 28/08/2006 23:45

Sorry for x posts - using dial up as probs with BB, and my posts take about two minutes to be uploaded!

PinkTulips · 29/08/2006 00:01

i'm not defending him but i think what he meant was that it caused autism actually... hence the mmr comment. could be wrong and i don't think autism should have been mentioned at all but i think thats what he meant.

fattiemumma · 29/08/2006 00:06

I think it is just as, if not more offencive to attempt to link thomas the sodding tank engine and Autism.

how dare anyone so bloody ignorant even raise the issue of a serious condition as a way of criticising a long standing childrens tv show? its a pathetic cheap shot whichever way you choose to interpret it

Socci · 29/08/2006 00:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Saturn74 · 29/08/2006 00:54

Will email RT tomorrow to complain.

Californifrau · 29/08/2006 00:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RnB · 29/08/2006 07:30

Message withdrawn

coppertop · 29/08/2006 08:01

A cheap shot. Nasty too.

nearlythree · 29/08/2006 08:20

It's bad on so many levels, isn't it?

MrsFio · 29/08/2006 08:23

well we all liked thomas in our house and none of us are on the austistic spectrum (well I am not entirely sure)!

stupid radio times

nearlythree · 29/08/2006 08:52

I think the worse thing is that he is using autism to get a laugh.