Geldof on marriage - Grrr!

[Sheila]

Anyone see this appallingly unbalanced programme last night? Bob's solution to the current breakdown in marriage is:

1)Women (who initiate 70% of divorces) should learn to put up with men's emotional illiteracy.
2)Divorce should be made more difficult.
3) Single parents should be made less well off (hah!)

Clearly Bob's still smarting from being thrown over for Michael Hutchence ("Taj Mahal of crotches" - that must've hurt).

As for Germaine Greer's contribution - how that woman can call herself a feminist any more is beyond me!

Sorry for the rant but I'm still fuming that someone with such ill-thought out views is given air time. I also worry that his views might influence policy-makers. As if reducing benefits to low income families (single parent or not) is going to decrease the divorce rate!

errr...allegedly....mr g planted the drugs that were found by cleaner at paula and michael's pad...allegedly obviously

Absolutely Caligula - he clearly has an agenda that's entirely based on his own experience and he isn't prepared to consider another point of view (how unlike myself!). Where were the interviews with people who felt compelled to get divorced? Personally I don't think the break ups are easy at all - whether you're married or not. I don't think in reality there are very many people with kids who do it lightly.

Also find the man physically repulsive - get a haircut Bob!

Sorry our man who is covered in hair and can't look at you without sneering who cleans the loos here at work has more sex appeal than Bob Geldof!!

sounds like my dh twinkie, he's supposed to be at phsyio with ds2!

I've liked Bob Geldof throughout the last couple of decades, I particularly love his last album (although it is very melancholic) however last nights tv prog drove me insane. Firstly because he refused to wonder why women instigate 70% of divorces and refused to accept men are culpable and so much of it was reactionary secondly because, I hate to admit it but I have to agree with one or two points; this society does not make it easy for couples to raise families and remain together (my own personal experience tells me this as does the work I do). This does not mean I agree that benefits for lone parents should be decreased. How absolutely ridiculous. BG should try living off the meagre amount lone parents get. Furthermore, I do believe that we live in a society that does not necessarily prepare individuals for long term relationships and so, I do understand his point that relationships are sometimes gotten into with the idea that one can always get out of it. So I suppose I understand why he relates this to consumerism. However, women are not the only people touched by the concept of a throw away society. And on top of all that what does he suggest people do in relationships which involve abuse, betrayal... what happens when people realise that they did infact make a mistake?
And what was the point of Germaine Greers presence?

That's why I think Hutchence was evil - he introduced her to heroin and she was a hopeless smackhead by the end. But she was taking heroin with him well before he died. I don't think Geldof planted it for one second, and he sure as hell didn't make her take it. She was supposed to file copy etc but she was always too out of it. Very sad for her, but even sadder for her children and for their father, I think.
I think cutting benefits for lone parents is, however, a completely stupid idea, if that is what he was suggesting.

MrsDoolittle and Batters - are you for real? I pointed out to DH several times during programme that he is an ugly sonofabitch!

As for his views - I thought he had some valid points and some seriously demented ones.

And I never liked his music

aloha, i think at the end she was maybe weaning herself off, i remember the coroner saying the cause of death was a non-dependent heroin o/d. and then a friend gave her some. very very sad.

Winnie, I agree that he touched on some important issues - about how our society doesn't support family life, and about how horrendous it can be for children when parents split and how badly the courts sometimes handle it. What I can't accept is his conviction that this is all women's fault, and if only we could return to the good old days of women putting up and shutting up then everything would be rosy. I suppose I was also irritated by the way he seemed to think that this was all terribly original - fgs, he didn't say one thing that you can't hear every day in the pub or on the bus or in the press - and by his refusal to accept that there may be any complexity to the issue or to the solutions.

As for Germaine Greer - so clever but yep, also a pub bore

well, anyone who calls their children things like ' Fifi Trixiebelle' and ' Peaches' can't be that great a parent IMO! and also I seem to recall he was notoriously unfaithful while he was married to Paul,long before she met MH. He was a right little slag, actually - so he can shut the f**k up sbout marriage !!!!

wow! stand back!

I'm assuming Donnie's comments are tongue in cheek!

actually fifi was named after his much loved aunt fifi who was so kind to him when his mum died (when he was pretty young)
not sure about peaches though

well ladies - I'm shocked (again) I've just watched this prog (I taped it) and actually thought it was excellent! Seems to me he cares passionately about the institution of marriage and what's wrong with that - just because his didn't work out doesn't mean he can't hold these views does it? I don't think divorce should be harder - no, no there are some right bastards out there (and they're not all men either!) but I do think people should try a little harder before heading for the courts. I suppose I'm looking at this from my experience - suppose its the only way you can! I got married at 21, in a registry office and 4 months pregnant (she's beautiful) - but I loved the man and still do 32 years later. We've had some really bad times along the way but whenever I've felt like I'd be better off on my own I'd think of all the history we have together - that means something to me - not to mention the kids - although I do think having children is the wrong reason to stay together if the marriage really is doomed. Anyway I'll certainly be watching the fatherhood one!
by the by - he's looking a bit old and he's always looked like a tramp - but I think he's ok.

Misogynistic rant from selfish ageing ex-punk turned Daily Mail leader-writer, IMO. And I used to fancy him too!
I mean, where does he get off exactly claiming that the problem with the world is that women are just being damn selfish expecting to have lives of their own instead of merely existing to serve men? Would he be happy if his daughters ended up in the sort of relationship he appears to be arguing for?
Not sure Hutchence's family are entirely happy about him taking Tiger Lily either, was a big custody battle there I seem to remember.
I don't know, we've had five minutes of a slightly-more-equal relationship between men and women in this country (but women still come out worse on any measure you care to use, from pay to positions of power), and men can't stop bl**dy moaning that it's just not fair. Ah, poor loves, wasn't something like 2,000 years of patriarchy enough for them?

... and it's not that long ago that custody of children was automatically awarded to the man because wives and children were his property. Don't really think we want to go back there.

Hi. I know somone who used to work with Geldof in the early Channel 4 days when he and Paula were still an item. Apparently he had appalling personal hygeine habits and smelt terrible, even first thing in the morning. Never mind his Taj Mahal trousers, perhaps Hutchence was just a bit less whiffy??

edam, I agree with almost everything in your post - the only area we differ on is fancying Bob Geldof - Oh no, never, ever, ever!

Yup I know that Hutchence was a narcissistic smack-head, but he truly did just ooze sex appeal.....

Michael Hutchence was deffo a fox.

Bet he went like a rat up a drainpipe.....

Ta sis .

Unlike Geldoff I don't expect everyone else to live by my rules or public policy to be framed around my prejudices (although if I was dictator of the known universe it would be much better run, of course ).

Still can't help thinking fondly of the younger Geldoff though (swoon).

Girls, girls! he may be a scruffy old git - yes - smelly? well that's up for debate - I don't know him so can't comment - but let's not forget Live Aid - give the poor guy some credit

Message withdrawn

Mmmm....SMELLY BOB..... Think I'd rather have drainpipe Mike myself!