Graham Linehan Interviewed on Triggernometry

[UtopiaPlanitia]

Hadn’t seen this interview posted as a thread so thought I’d post and link to it. It’s a great interview, Konstantin and Francis asked very insightful questions. The viewer comments are worth a read too.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=va6hXYTMBDI

Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.

That is so bloody true. I can think of various charities to which it applies.

And yes, Glinner is an utter legend. I'd happily chip into a Crowdfunder to keep him solvent.

I thought it was very emotional and sad.

But I think he was absolutely right when he said that he's been able to answer the question everyone wonders: what would I have done in that moment in history when the choice was speak out or save yourself?
He knows now who he is.

As do his cowardly colleagues.

I recently met someone who is heavily involved in environmental issues. She's having ethical conflicts at present because, for some time, before some high profile events, various organisations effectively ask for volunteers who are ready to be arrested.

She thinks she should volunteer, even if it costs her her job. But, like so many, she has extensive carer responsibilities. She's not got other friends or relatives with sufficient capacity to cover for her if she were arrested, detained overnight, taken to trial, or even imprisoned. (We're not just talking ordering an online shop or making sure bills are paid.)

[Kierkegaard's] contribution to ethics was to reveal our ethical evasions, that is, the ways in which we pull the wool over our own eyes by talking ourselves out of inconvenient moral truths. In a note to himself, Kierkegaard scribbles:

• "Aesthetically … admiration is the highest … Then along comes the ethical and says: as a matter of fact, wanting to imitate is decisive; admiration has no place or is an evasion."

Admiration that does not lead to action is one of the moral off-ramps Kierkegaard tries to dissuade us from taking…
Writing under the pseudonym Johannes Climacus, Kierkegaard drew an equivalence between the universal and the ethical, and in so doing hammered out an important distinction:

• "That one person can swim the channel, and a second person knows 24 languages, and a third person walks on his hands etc – one can admire that si placet [if you please]. But if the person presented is supposed to be great with regard to the universal because of his virtue, his faith, his nobility, his faithfulness, his perseverance, etc, then admiration is a deceptive relation …"

What is great with regard to the universal must therefore not be presented as an object for admiration, but as a requirement. Admiration for Kierkegaard is a carpet path to the easy chair. He reminds us: ‘there is an infinite difference between an admirer and an imitator, because an imitator is, or at least strives to be what he admires.’

https://psyche.co/ideas/why-kierkegaard-believed-its-lazy-to-admire-our-moral-heroes

This all makes me think of Glinner and what this self-knowledge has cost him. I recognise the admirer | imitator split in my life. I'm an imitator in some roles in my life and admirer in others. I'm not at ease with myself but that's my compromise.

His bravery and commitment to reminding people of the dangers of ignoring biological reality is impressive. And, like everyone, he’s got many aspects to his personality and has his good days/bad days. But he keeps going and that makes me respect him. I was hoping the sales of his book would help to keep him solvent but I think HMRC has different collection rules for the creative industries.

Society needs difficult, independently-minded people to point out, and go against, group think. These people aren’t always the most pleasant, or easy to get along with, but they are necessary.

Thanks@UtopiaPlanitia and @Nauticant for the book title.

I suppose the bottom line with most people is, can I personally afford to be an imitator ((or initiator or activist) or is my situation such, as in caring responsibilities/ main earner or mortgage maintainer, that I cannot fully embody my principles currently, but meantime I will admire and aspire away and take the small actions I can, until my life changes and I can act more in line with my beliefs.

Being a woman of a certain age, self employed or even arguably unemployed, grants certain freedoms.

Glinner, if you are reading this, Thank you for courage & integrity, for standing with women, for making the effort to come to Scotland , and doing your stand up outside Holyrood, which we enjoyed, and thank you and for never giving up.
You and we will prevail.

Got 'Tough Crowd' for Christmas! 🎅

On another note, 'Merry Terfmas' was trending on Twitter this morning. 🎅🎅

I have just watched the Spike interview with Glinner on YouTube. I think for anyone who doesn’t know about this, it is an excellent introduction to what he is about and I intend to share it with a few people.

I was so disappointed by a couple of the names he mentioned in the interview who haven't spoken up to support him, two comedy writers who are at the pinnacle of my list and who have the reputation for fearlessly addressing controversial issues. (CM and AI) Not any more, it seems.

Spiked did a good job with that mini documentary; they struck a nice balance. I do wish people would stop asking him if regrets 'ruining his life' tho, it can't be nice for him to know that’s what they think of his campaigning. The YouTube algorithm suggested I watch his 15 minute set at Comedy Unleashed, so I gave it a try and laughed out loud quite a few times. He really made me giggle; it’s such a shame his talent for comedy is being suppressed by his peers in the industry. I have lost respect for Jimmy Mulville, Arthur Matthews and Neil Hannon for how poorly they’ve treated him.

Watched his Triggernometry interview last night with DH. A brilliant insight into silencing by the mob.

My son got me his book for Christmas :)

I think you’re really going to enjoy reading it - it’s very interesting and well-written 👍

@RethinkingLife Thanks, What an interesting article, certainly something to think about in many areas of life, I'm guilty of just liking things on SM but am usually more inspired to do something when it comes to RL influences.

I'm turning it over in my head a lot because it's such a pinch point for me.

I read something a while back that distinguishes a social movement from social mobilisation. (I can't quote from the first part of it as that facility seems to be disabled there.) It also discusses infiltration and intentional community disruption (the Bunbury threads on FWR have some useful links about that).

https://marchudson.net/2019/01/13/infiltration-and-environmental-movements-what-is-to-be-done-extinctionrebellion-climatebreakdown-spycops/

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3438714-Bunbury-s-Public-Service-Announcement-2

I wonder if your RL experiences encourage relationship building and cohesion within a social movement and that makes a difference?

I just watched it all the way through and it was fascinating, so many similarities with Rosie Kay’s experience; the horrifying, slow-dawning realisation that people believe it of you, whatever ‘it’ is.

I didn’t really know much about him before but get the impression that he’s always been a bit ‘robust’ on social media - although that is the nature of being a comedian, especially on Twitter - but it is clear that he is one of the few men (Prof Winston another honourable exception) willing to stand up and speak out for women.

I wonder if your RL experiences encourage relationship building and cohesion within a social movement and that makes a difference?
Probably, yes.