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Dragons Den: Touker Suleyman

101 replies

ABoyCalledBasil · 09/03/2023 22:41

I start by saying that I don't really like Touker Suleyman so this isn't coming from a place of fandom - but it seems to me that his treatment by the other Dragons is coming very close to bullying. It seemed v much that way to me tonight - Jones has always picked on him and now the young tech guy is joining in too.

Apparently psychologists say that a common way for any group (work or social) to bond is to join together against a joint "enemy" - in other words find someone in common to slag off. It's why in any social group there is a 'weakest link' and if they leave, the next weakest one becomes the least popular. It's also why in work groups often everyone slags off the manager and actors slag off the director.

Seemed to me the young one was joining in with that as there is a precedent of picking on Touker as the least popular.

Like I said, I don't really warm to him but it seems more and more prevelant and I don't like seeing bullying or something moving towards bullying presented as entertainment or endorsed.

OP posts:
tallyhohohoho · 09/03/2023 22:59

It's funny, you have brilliantly described something that I have felt too.

Peter jones has always picked on him. And the young tech chap has been incredibly rude to him several times.

I'm surprised someone so high flying and wealthy would put up with it

RaininSummer · 09/03/2023 23:16

I agree that they were picking on him tonight. Not nice to see. I though Sarah looked a bit uncomfortable at one point maybe because of that vibe.

PoseyFlump · 09/03/2023 23:25

I've not seen tonight's episode yet but there have been times when Touker has been pretty rude to the entrepreneurs imo. Same goes for Peter (who always tries to break shit) The show is edited so we don't always know the full story. They can all sometimes be rude to each other when they feel like it!

JustMaggie · 09/03/2023 23:35

I'm sure he can take it. People like that don't make their millions without having to put on their big boy pants on every now and then.

ramonaquimby · 09/03/2023 23:37

He’s really really unkind to so many of the men and women that are pitching for investments. I find him unbearably smug and quite condescending, I don’t see bullying at all.

Topseyt123 · 09/03/2023 23:45

I often see Dragons Den. I don't see any bullying.

RiktheButler · 09/03/2023 23:48

Steven Bartlett (the young tech guy) was being an absolute arsehole tonight, to the point that I was wondering if he was drunk

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 09/03/2023 23:53

Not yet watched it. But possibly down to editing making things worse?

Youpillock · 09/03/2023 23:57

RiktheButler · 09/03/2023 23:48

Steven Bartlett (the young tech guy) was being an absolute arsehole tonight, to the point that I was wondering if he was drunk

He was pretty out of order tonight. Sara even snapped back at him at one point.

Rosula · 10/03/2023 00:35

Peter Jones quite often makes it clear that he values Touker's opinion and indeed he sometimes waits to hear from him before making his own decision. He's also done 50/50 arrangements with him for some investments. So I really can't agree with you about him.

Directmedirectyou · 10/03/2023 00:37

I didn’t notice anything directed to touker from Peter but I did notice Steven being rude/sharp to him a few times.

threeplusmum · 10/03/2023 00:50

Yes I've definitely noticed especially tonight's episode and I felt a bit uncomfortable if I'm being honest.. they could at least save their bickering for when the cameras aren't rolling tbh.

MintyCedric · 10/03/2023 01:13

I’ve not seen tonight’s episode, but TS is often really unpleasant to those pitching and has appeared to have a chip on his shoulder about Steven Bartlett from the outset and been really rude and arsey to him in virtually every episode.

Admittedly I’m somewhat biased as my DD reliably informs me Steven Bartlett is going to be my future son in law 🤣

NailsForBreakfastTacksForSnacks · 10/03/2023 13:29

What I couldn't get my head around with last nights episode, was how they all fawned over the mouldable glue when it's been around for at least 15 years under the brand 'Sugru'.
I was only half watching mind, did it get an investment?

TimeForMeToF1y · 10/03/2023 13:41

NailsForBreakfastTacksForSnacks · 10/03/2023 13:29

What I couldn't get my head around with last nights episode, was how they all fawned over the mouldable glue when it's been around for at least 15 years under the brand 'Sugru'.
I was only half watching mind, did it get an investment?

I was half watching too and said exactly the same, I didn't see the end but the beginning of the pitch wasn't a new product as far as I could see

A lot of what we see in the editing, it's not like they show them in the order they actually happened the arsiness could have taken place at different times

NailsForBreakfastTacksForSnacks · 10/03/2023 13:42

TimeForMeToF1y · 10/03/2023 13:41

I was half watching too and said exactly the same, I didn't see the end but the beginning of the pitch wasn't a new product as far as I could see

A lot of what we see in the editing, it's not like they show them in the order they actually happened the arsiness could have taken place at different times

Show quote history

I remember moulding a surge handle to distinguish the dogs food fork and he died in 2010!

JMSA · 10/03/2023 14:16

I don't like Touker at all. He's the last dragon I'd choose, were I ever in the den. He's pompous and rude.

Rosula · 10/03/2023 16:05

NailsForBreakfastTacksForSnacks · 10/03/2023 13:29

What I couldn't get my head around with last nights episode, was how they all fawned over the mouldable glue when it's been around for at least 15 years under the brand 'Sugru'.
I was only half watching mind, did it get an investment?

Is it? When I've had Sugrue I've never seen anything about putting it in hot water?

Bluebottomedsheep · 10/03/2023 16:23

I actually thought it was Peter Jones doing the bullying last night.

Nothing new there? I think he incredibly arrogant and utterly dismissive of Steven. He also regularly has a pop at Touker.

Nasty man !!

JMSA · 10/03/2023 16:26

Bluebottomedsheep · 10/03/2023 16:23

I actually thought it was Peter Jones doing the bullying last night.

Nothing new there? I think he incredibly arrogant and utterly dismissive of Steven. He also regularly has a pop at Touker.

Nasty man !!

I like Peter. I also find him very attractive Blush

Original poster
ABoyCalledBasil · 10/03/2023 18:15

Is it? When I've had Sugru I've never seen anything about putting it in hot water?

Sugru is absolutely brilliant to mend stuff if you've never used it. It is better than the Dragon's Den product because as you say it doesn't even need heating. It's like blue tak or modelling clay in a sealed pack and after you've moulded it, it sets as it dries just in normal air. It's great for phone cable splits and any plastic stuff. I love it.

I couldn't believe no one of the Dragons asked about the competition or other products.

*To the people saying Touker himself is rude and he can deal with it, that's not the point. I object to bullying in this sort of form being put forward by the BBC as entertainment. It legitimises this sort of behaviour. To me it was the combination of people having a go at him repeatedly. It is like it's all ok because they all treat Touker like an arse so let's just have one more pile onto him. Although the other do disagree, there isn't this same nasty tone that gets directed to Touker. They all treat him as a bit of a joke. I've noticed in in vary degrees before but the tech guys behaviour in last nights episode + Peter made it very obvious. I felt it was endorsing behaviour that I would object to if I saw it at work or kids behaving like that - banding together to pick on one and that escalating over time so more people join in.

OP posts:
PoseyFlump · 10/03/2023 21:55

I've now watched the episode and I don't agree about bullying. There have been numerous times when Touker has dismissed Stephen's point of view and insinuated he knows nothing of business because he is young and as a pp said, we don't know what order they are filmed in. Presumably that's why they all wear the same clothes all the time!

threeplusmum · 10/03/2023 22:00

Do they film everything in one day? as I noticed very early on they are always wearing the same clothes. For the amount of businesses and time needed for each pitch, I doubt they can film everything in one day.Bit strange.

NailsForBreakfastTacksForSnacks · 10/03/2023 23:09

Rosula · 10/03/2023 16:05

Is it? When I've had Sugrue I've never seen anything about putting it in hot water?

Show quote history

You did with early incarnations of it. You put it into hot water to make it malleable and the. Moulded it to shape. It then dried solid. Unless you were daft enough to chuck it in the dishwasher, in which case it made a mess…..

Tinner01 · 10/03/2023 23:34

Not sure about Peter/Touker but Steven is an arse, hugely big headed.

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