Comments on: The Star claims “thousands” offended by gay kiss

By: Stuart W

Stuart W — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:21:29 +0000

The Star says ‘thousands’ of complaints? Everywhere else says it was about 145-50.
Anybody else think that the Mediawatch comment is notably restrained? I expect Stephen Green will make up for them.

By: Bartholomew

Bartholomew — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:23:54 +0000

Together at last: Dirty Desmond and Media Watch!

By: marc

marc — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:14:18 +0000

“It’s notable that this Pauley, anyway (Coventry Pauley or not) cites these “thousands” of complaints, but can’t back it up, because the BBC won’t tell him how many. This is what today passes for journalism.”

At least the Star is a red top…

Consider the reporting in The Daily Mail is as bad and probably worse, then add its air of respectability and you have a lethal cocktail.

By: marc

marc — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:22:24 +0000

I consider one form of abuse to be when the fucking Xians turn up at my kids school and start proselytising.

ARGGGAHHHH. Wankers have been at it again. And do I get a chance to turn up and tell them to fuck off? Noooo….

(Sorry, will go calm down now.)

By: George

George — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:58:36 +0000

The sad thing is that these days it doesn’t even take “thousands” of complaints to force a public apology or the withdrawal of “offending” material from public view. Such repressive measures can be achieved with the number of whining voices barely breaking into double figures.

By: Stuart H.

Stuart H. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:55:26 +0000

‘child abuse’?
Someone finally complained about one of those school choirs whose members were told to turn up and get recorded for ‘Songs of Praise’, then.

By: Andy Armitage

Andy Armitage — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:11:00 +0000

It won’t have escaped the attention of anyone who’s been to the Star story and read to the end that, on the red link button, it says, “More ‘news’ here”. Note the quotes around the word “news”. I’m sure the Star‘s web people didn’t mean them to act as scare quotes, but that’s the effect. And quite right, too.

I’ve got a feeling the reporter, Nigel Pauley, used to work on the Coventry Evening Telegraph at the time I worked on its local radio station. If it’s the guy I’m thinking of, then he came over as the sort who would eventually write for a rag like the Star.

It’s notable that this Pauley, anyway (Coventry Pauley or not) cites these “thousands” of complaints, but can’t back it up, because the BBC won’t tell him how many. This is what today passes for journalism.