Linkspam: Fairytale election results with rather large rodents

[matgb]

Right then, last year, you lot voted that Best Xmas song lyric ever is:

You scumbag, you maggot You cheap lousy faggot

Well, this morning, BBC Radio 1 decided this was offensive to some listeners but then later on in the day saw sense and backed down. I agree with pickwick, it's a damn shame that the BBC manages to tie itself into hoops as often as it does. Naturally, someone disagrees, and bagrec doesn't like the song and suggests alternatives. But he's a freaky morris dancing types so you don't want to listen to him ;-)

Elsewhere, it's the Arsehole of the year grand final over at publicansdecoy's place, and hullfire already covered the other main stories of the day:

So, Nick Clegg is the new Lib Dem leader and in a monstrous piece of stupidity the Government has lost more of our stuff, but in really important news, RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE ACTUALLY EXIST!

I do have to say I do share some of Jennie's concerns about the potential of Clegg's leadership but I'm nowhere near as cynical about it. He has at least hit the ground running, complete with YouTube appearance filmed on cheapskate handheld already. Although the town meeting idea does sound like it might have some legs.

What, you expected analysis? Don't be silly, I've been reading stuff about it all day, besides, I didn't end up voting, I couldn't make a decision between the two of them, they're both nice blokes. We'll be fine. Right? Someone tell me we'll be fine. Damnit, they need to do better, else the damn country's doomed FFS, that's why I joined them...

Calm. Now I tag this entry. Um, is there a limit to how many you can use? Appears not. Oh, wait, I forgot a link. Be very glad she's going to be a Doctor of paleontology not medical stuff, medical doctors play with gadgets much more scary than microwaves.

Comments

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

the town meeting idea does sound like it might have some legs.

Yeah, I commented on that on Charlotte's blog too. Said it was as good an idea now as it was when John Major did it. This was taken as an attack... Clearly I need to stop assuming my views on everything are well known.

I'm glad you're less cynical than me. I don't think the world could take the weight of such cynicism in two people.

* clings to the positive *

Still, I get my new laptop tomorrow!

[matgb]

Shiny shiny. But yeah, it is fairly common to assume comparisons to Major are meant insultingly, I've done it myself at times (conversation with he who tags himself Grammar Police in public on the LDV forum).

I'm still cynical y'know. Just not as cynical.

[insomnia.livejournal.com]

The BBC and/or The Pogues should consider taking the original version of the song and editing in audio from this version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmrUkB6UElY) performed on Top of the Pops by Shane and Kirsty back in 1992, which uses the lyrics "you're cheap and you're haggard" instead of the offending line.

(These are the same lyrics that Maire Brennan used herself a few years back.)

I love the song as originally recorded, but frankly, some people really don't want to hear "cheap lousy faggot" on their Christmas radio, much less have their kids sing along to it or think it's okay for them to call others that name.

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with being a tasty porky treat?

[matgb]

The thing is? In the US, I get that it might not go across so well, but in the UK, it's not a derogatory term. A cheap faggot would be poor quality meat. My copy of the Oxford Concise from around the same time has a long list of UK meanings, then at the bottom it has (US, often offensive: male homosexual) as the 6th meaning, there are 5 non-offensive meanings above it (and Oxford lists in usage order).

A cheap lousy faggot is literally, bad quality meat with lice in. I know they were probably playing a double meaning, but it's only very recently that the term has picked up the US meaning over here.

OTOH, I didn't know they'd done a radio edit or different version for ToTP, so thanks for that. Meh, I sleep now. Really.

[mdmnmdllr.livejournal.com]

"In the US, I get that it might not go across so well ..."

Heh. Um, yeah ... not well at all. Same goes for the right proper term (in the Kingdom, anyway) that is 'fag'.

Utter either of them in here in the States and it's a solid way to earn the 'bigot' term for oneself.

They'll suspect you even if you use it in the right context, too.

(If, by that, you take me to mean that I believe the politically correct set is run amok here in the States, you are correct, sir! As BtC would say - ACK thpbpht!!!)

[matgb]

Oh, agreed in many respects, on your side of the pond many words have different usages, and thus a US version may need differnt lyrics or would be taken in a different context. But the BBC is broadcasting to the UK.

OTOH, assertions of bigotry based on word usage always bother me, if you censor what people are socially allowed to say too much, how do you sort out the genuine bigots from those that are merely ignorant? Hard to say.

[mdmnmdllr.livejournal.com]

Quick dirty answer: It's almost impossible to sort them out. That - of course - is why it's so crazy. Compound it with the set who like to use words normally considered bigoted vulgarities on and to each other ('nigger', anyone?).

Confusion is the rule.

And - since we're near to the topic - let's not get into when I try to actually (gasp) use the word 'niggardly'. It's as good as my rhetorical life when I do, sometimes even when I'm writing in a sympathetic forum. >rolleyes< Stupid, stupid, stupid ... I HATE it when MY language must be stilted by the biases and ignorances of fools - and that is every single day.

Somehow, I think you know what I mean.

[matgb]

Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean—we have similar issues over here: I have an intense dislike of people using the word "gay" as a synonym for "bad", but I also dislike that describing something weird as "queer" is effectively no longer an option, let alone misunderstood meanings.

Ignorant, for example, isn't technically an insult, and I'll use it where appropriate, but so many people think it means "stupid". Ah well.

the set who like to use words normally considered bigoted vulgarities on and to each other
See, I do support the idea of reclamation, take a term that's used as an insult and reclaim it, but if you do that, then it has to be acceptable use for everyone or it doesn't work. Ah well.

[bagrec.livejournal.com]

Oy! I never said I don't like the song! I thought I made it clear that I do, very much. I'm just bored with it continually being hailed as the G"reatest Christmas Record Ever". I don't think it is, that's all...and I think this is a piece of received wisdom that needs challenging....

[matgb]

Thing is that most people are subconsciously adding "released within my adult(ish) lifetime" when they say something like that. I remain a fan of the song, but it is overplayed. OTOH, compared to a lot of the other stuff, it remains better—it's certainly better than the sacharine crap that, for example, Sir Cliff regularly releases.

But, y'know, misrepresentation within links is fine in this sort of post, it's not like any of it's really that serious. I shall edit a bit ;-)

[bagrec.livejournal.com]

My rejoinder was not entirely serious either Mat!

[innerbrat]

Shut up.

[matgb]

Shant.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

I do have to say I do share some of Jennie's concerns about the potential of Clegg's leadership but I'm nowhere near as cynical about it.

I'm largely happy about it all, though I was probably only slightly more certain in my mind of who to vote for than the Lib Dem electorate apparently were. (I voted Clegg in the end.)

What I am slightly cynical about is whether the hardcore "Give me Huhne or give me death" fans will let Clegg lead, or spend every waking hour sucking in air through their teeth whenever he makes a mistake (as he inevitably will). With luck, the Parliamentary (including Lords, MEPs, MSPs, AMs etc.) Huhne fans won't do that, which should cover up the worst of any of that.

It would also be good, in my mind, if Huhne and Cable were both appointed to high profile roles, and were actively involved in debating policy with Clegg away from the watchful eye of cameras. In particular, I think Clegg (and, indeed, anyone) would be foolish not to use Cable for PMQs prep. Eye-catching but with substance.

[matgb]

What I am slightly cynical about is whether the hardcore "Give me Huhne or give me death" fans will let Clegg lead

Aye, some of them have been evident around the place today, some very weird comments on some public threads at LDV, strangely, the forums have been more reserved, we're taking the piss out of Clegg's lack of musical knowledge/taste...

I've heard on good authority that some of the summer briefing was coming form highups in the Huhne camp, but then I know some of it was coming from the Clegg camp, so there are idiots on both sides.

foolish not to use Cable for PMQs prep

Agreed, and I think that's obvious to the whole party.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

I've heard on good authority that some of the summer briefing was coming form highups in the Huhne camp, but then I know some of it was coming from the Clegg camp, so there are idiots on both sides.

Absolutely. On balance, it does feel like there were a few more vocal Huhne fans who wouldn't be happy with Clegg than there were the other way round - but given that Clegg was the favourite to win, it's likely that the Clegg fans who wouldn't be happy with Huhne didn't feel the need to grumble quite so much in public to whip up support.