Anyone else sick of Victoria Coren Michell slagging off Roald Dahl on ONLY CONNECT?

[Pottingplants]

Just that - anytime a question has anything to do with Roald Dahl Victoria is doing her best to put the boot in (it has happened at least 4 times now). I think if she dislikes him so much she should not have any questions which are to do with Dahl. I am surprised she is allowed to do this TBH.

(realised I misspelt Mitchell but can't edit it!)

Thanks, TorroFerney
I want to like VCM but she rubs me up the wrong way.

She’s right though - he was a very complex (and in some ways highly toxic) character, and she’s entitled to point that out. We need people pointing these things out more than ever right now, anti-semitism is so rife at the moment.

Also, I think she’s awesome in every way.

Is this what a PP meant by “defending Polanski”?

Because I don’t read it that way.

https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/29/roman-polanski-samantha-geimer

Anyone who has read or listened to anything VC has written or said about herself could never believe she thinks of herself as part of the cool gang!

Interesting article. But while the victim has a right to feel however she feels, it doesn't change that she is a victim of an awful crime and the man responsible has evaded justice. The victim isn't going to have an impartial view, as can be seen from how she feels responsible for drinking that day. She was 13! Nothing that happened to her was her responsibility.

VCM says in that article that she's not making excuses, while simultaneously making excuses.

That Polanski article is interesting. Need to think more before forming an opinion.

A person can be a talented writer and a horrible person - the two are not mutually exclusive.

I also find I don't care much about nuance when talking about about a man who an anally raped a child.

i wonder how the roald dhal marvellous children charity explain it all

editApology for antisemitic comments made by Roald DahlThe Dahl family and the Roald Dahl Story Company deeply apologise for the lasting and understandable hurt caused by Roald Dahl's antisemitic statements. Those prejudiced remarks are incomprehensible to us and stand in marked contrast to the man we knew and to the values at the heart of Roald Dahl's stories, which have positively impacted young people for generations. We hope that, just as he did at his best, at his absolute worst, Roald Dahl can help remind us of the lasting impact of words.

I think that's fair enough to be voicing her opinion on Dahl. He was unpleasant man by all accounts.

Though I haven't heard of her defending Polanski before. Is that true?

I admire VCM for calling out RD. As people have said, she's not calling for him to be "cancelled". He's an important part of British cultural history so OC questions that involve him make sense. He was an amazing author for children and adults alike. He did wonderful work for the measles vaccination. But he was indeed a well known vocal antisemite and I have no sympathy for those who don't like to hear that.. VCM is not saying anything that is untrue. She is a Jewish woman using her platform to inform and educate. Good for her.

But VCM doesn't disagree that she's a victim?

@SheilaFentiman absolutely agree. However at least Victoria is intelligent - serious poker player at international tournaments Giles is basically, a tosser. Both nepotism appointments. However, most famous one has to be India Knight. Delivered in hectoring tones - 'obviously, I live in Hackney- it's brilliant! Fuck that, Primrose Hill is the best! Fuck that East Anglia is the best and you're all Peasants because you don't live here with your resident ex MP paedophile which means you can't live with your youngest kid!'

Anti-semitism should always be called out, just as any other form of racism should be. Generally the only people I’ve come across who can’t cope with anti-semitism being called our are people who are anti-semitic.

How can you call out somone who is dead? by seance?

You don't have to be dead to be called out.
Dictionaries are your friend.

@Twonewcats VCM talks about the victim's statement that the investigation was worse than the assault, and how she blames herself for being 'stupid'. VCM refers to the victim having emailed RP over the years. I don't think I said it very well, but what I was getting at is why is it relevant? How the victim had managed to process her trauma, should not have any bearing on how the rest of us view him and his being held accountable for
what he did. She was a child and society owes that child justice.
The inference I get from the article is that if the victim is in communication with him, and says to judge his work not the man, then we should too. Er, no! Her communication and self blame just says to me that the victim has found a way to mentally cope with what happened to her. But society has to be impartial and hold people accountable for their crimes based^ on objective criteria.^

She also talks about RP's parents and wife as if these are mitigating circumstances. No one disputes that awful things happened in his life. But again the inference is that we should keep these in mind when deciding how he should be treated. I disagree with that.^^ He did what he did and has never been punished for it. There are no excuses or mitigating circumstances. Implying otherwise does make a person an apologist imo.

Personally I don't want to hear entertainers using their privileged media platform to air their personal views. See Gary Lineker et al. Someone up thread pointed out that an artist's views do not cancel the merit of their work.

Yes, Giles is drainpipe sludge in terms of talent compared to VCM.

it just amused me that the poster picked the remote by a couple of marriages connection vs that one!

I never knew he was antisemitic. We read the books with DS and thoroughly enjoy them!

It’s not a “personal view” that RD was anti-Semitic - it’s a well documented fact.

The work of any contentious person should always be contextualised, because so many people are still ignorant.

It’s not a “personal view” that RD was anti-Semitic - it’s a well documented fact.
Bond films are misogynistic. So why didn't she throw that analysis into the show last night?
Nobody is disputing that RD was a bad sort. They are wondering why VCM keeps going on about him. If she's that fussed, stop including RD questions in the show - there are a bajillion other subjects to choose from.

@Bunionbabe "Personally I don't want to hear entertainers using their privileged media platform to air their personal views. See Gary Lineker et al."

Why not? If they're prepared to take the risk , then good for them.

I don't think VCM writes/selects the questions!

@senua "They are wondering why VCM keeps going on about him."

She has mentioned him 4 times. In 300 episodes.