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Post by dit on Oct 28, 2009 23:05:01 GMT
I usually only read the Daily Fail for a good laugh, but clearly there are times when it can get a bit harsh, like this article by columnist Allison Pearson today:
"To confirm that the Beeb operates an ugly double standard when it comes to female presenters, please take a close look at the exhibit on the right (pic from Toy Stories). This King Edward potato in a Dulux-dog wig is James May. Amazingly, James, the nerdy one on Top Gear, was described recently as 'the most in-demand presenter on British television'.
Imagine a woman who was 46 and looked every one of those years, as James May does. Then imagine that woman was three stone overweight with tragic, undyed 1970s hair. Would the BBC give her a primetime series? Or would they put her behind the Brussels sprouts vat in the canteen?"
Erm...a bit unnecessarily personal? And she prints her e-mail address in the column - was this wise?
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Post by chariset on Oct 28, 2009 23:40:11 GMT
A "stone" is fourteen pounds, right? I don't think James is even one stone overweight. He's actually rather narrow, he just has a bit of a tummy.
If she thinks female presenters/tv hosts in England have it bad, she should see American tv.
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Post by Doofey on Oct 28, 2009 23:53:15 GMT
I agree with the gist of what she's trying to say but leave James alone you big bully.  She's the one with double standards! Imagine if someone described a woman in the way she describes James. There would be all hell to pay. If he's that overweight I'm 10 tonne Tessy! |
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Post by nobody on Oct 29, 2009 0:12:41 GMT
I can see what she is trying to say but she should have not started with the name calling.
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Post by dit on Oct 29, 2009 0:27:31 GMT
Summed up very precisely, nobody.
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Post by ladyblue on Oct 29, 2009 2:52:10 GMT
I can see her point, but there's a way to get your point across without sinking to insults
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Post by lindenchase on Oct 29, 2009 6:24:33 GMT
Well, she's right about different standards for men and women in television (and society in general). But she would be surprised to find out how many women fancy James...  Besides, the Daily Fail itself is absolutely obsessed with glamour and looks. You only have to check out it's Femail section. In Sister's Top Toys he mentions being nearly 13,5 stone. James is six feet, isn't he? That would make him a few pounds overweight at the most. |
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Post by lymaze on Oct 29, 2009 8:08:56 GMT
Once again a woman.  I get her point but pot and kettle comes to mind with this one. Why do some women think the only way to make their point is to slander and bitch about other people? Very sad, although as it's the Mail, hardly a surprise. Perhaps she has missed the point that James is in demand because he is good at what he does, rather than relies solely on his looks to get on in the world. |
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Post by jacqui on Oct 29, 2009 8:37:28 GMT
Summed up perfectly Ly  |
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gemmiejewel
Filthy Mayhemer
"Oh you utter clot!" - Credit to the gorgeous girls of the Matrix for the Avi! xxx
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Post by gemmiejewel on Oct 29, 2009 8:48:34 GMT
What a meany.
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Post by hypatia on Oct 29, 2009 8:49:38 GMT
I didn't read the article in question, frankly, I don't want to read it. What little is here ticked me off. To me, she sounds like a frustrated "want-to-be" presenter. She deserves to be ignored.
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Post by lew on Oct 29, 2009 9:29:06 GMT
I can see her point, but, there's no excuse to be rude.....as for James he's very good at what he does, I must admit there's really not that many interest females on the TV, without wanting to shoot anyone of them ;D I shall have a think.
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Post by brycegold on Oct 29, 2009 9:45:27 GMT
There are ways of putting one's point across in a constructive and well argumented way, to resort to slander just shows lack of talent in the area of constructive criticism. One of my roles is to critic work, I have to be careful with my choice of words and clearly demonstrate why I am saying something isn't worthy of top marks. If I were to write like the lady in question then I'd be shown the door faster than I could say 2 out 10. .......... Show her the door .............
Oh and James is NOT overweight, end of!
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Post by lucyintheskies on Oct 29, 2009 11:35:00 GMT
It was a ridiculous piece in her ridiculous newspaper column. I understand what she's trying to say, but James is the wrong example to give. I'll say it again - ridiculous.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2009 11:47:01 GMT
www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1223416/Hate-crime-batty-old-lady-freedom.htmlThat isn't very nice. If there was a woman presenter who equalled James in the same field then she'd be doing his job. But as there isn't, let him get on with it. If he gets people interested in sciences and other stuff then that is only a good thing. I'd like to see her do his job, snotty upstart. She's the one that looks like a potato in a wig.
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Post by Wyvern on Oct 29, 2009 12:05:56 GMT
So she doesn't like James. Big deal, quite a lot of people do - which is why he is 'in demand'. It's nothing to do with whether he's a man or a woman, really, just that he got a lucky break in being able to establish himself through Top Gear. If James (or Jeremy, for that matter) was to break into television without Top Gear, how much of a chance does she think they'd have, looking the way they do and with the 'un-PC' attitudes they have? Success in the media is entirely down to being in the right place at the right time, and I'm sure it rankles with some people that a white, middle-aged, middle class man (the biggest PC bogeyman) can do well. She'd be fine if James was a differently-abled woman of non-British origin with an alternative sexuality. Interesting that she brings up Sandi Toksvig...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2009 12:59:52 GMT
If Jeremy was breaking the TV business now, there would be far more of a to do.
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Post by crumbs on Oct 29, 2009 17:58:39 GMT
I'll be blunt: she's a cow/bitch/harpie.
There are much better ways of making valid points than this kind of savage bitchery. I've just written a rant on another thread about this kind of nonsense. But I fear there's going to be more of this for James....that's the British papers for you.
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Post by othercheryl on Oct 29, 2009 18:05:00 GMT
Delurking briefly (hello there!):
I read that article and thought, “Wow…did it get cranky in here or is it just me?”
The writer of that article seems to be enjoying a very large bunch of sour grapes.
I understand her point – yes, there is a double-standard, however, she chose the wrong brunt for her ire. The abuse and insults she metered out were cruel, bitter and far too personal to be taken seriously.
Personally, I like seeing normal people on television – James fits that bill. He’s not overly-tanned, overly-thin, overly-blond and overly botoxed. He’s engaging, intelligent, quirky, charming, and funny (among other adjectives). James also seems to have done something the writer of the article hasn’t succeeded in – cultivating good working relationships with people who support his projects and are in a position to see them come to fruition.
That should be embraced and celebrated, not derided and looked down upon. It proves there’s hope for us all! If you work hard enough, are good at what you do and have a likable personality, people will notice and you’ll be successful.
In five, ten years, people will still be playing their Toy Stories DVD’s. They won’t remember the bitter critic or her harsh words. Success and happiness are always the best revenge of all.
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Post by crumbs on Oct 29, 2009 18:35:05 GMT
Quite right othercheryl! Spot on! We do need some female equivalents - if only, if only. I don't normally throw around such insults, but it does make me v v cross!
Mr Crumbs is home - byee
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Post by Maid of Astolat on Oct 29, 2009 18:42:04 GMT
How rude! and way, way too personal. That's not justifiable at all. I'd take her critic's badge and stamp on it very hard, perhaps I should rip it off first |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2009 19:20:42 GMT
Welcome othercheryl. I hope you like the board and your comment is spot on |
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Post by Wyvern on Oct 29, 2009 20:30:40 GMT
*applauds*
Very well said, othercheryl!
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She's the one with double standards! Imagine if someone described a woman in the way she describes James. There would be all hell to pay. If he's that overweight I'm 10 tonne Tessy! 
I get her point but pot and kettle comes to mind with this one. Why do some women think the only way to make their point is to slander and bitch about other people? Very sad, although as it's the Mail, hardly a surprise. Perhaps she has missed the point that James is in demand because he is good at what he does, rather than relies solely on his looks to get on in the world. 
I love a man who can handle a gun 
