A sensible reply to a TV complaint!

[grim_tales]

This made me laugh You know how sometimes people complain about the slightest thing on TV, here's a response from the writer of "Benidorm" on ITV when a viewer complained:

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sund ... -20395932/

Brilliant.
WTF was she expecting from an adult comedy shown after 9pm?

[bradavon]

Sue, who works in family planning and sees pregnant girls as young as 12, said the show's portrayal of teen mum Chantelle encouraged youngsters to have sex.

Bollocks! Bad parenting and peer pressure encourages youngsters to have sex. Kids don't get their advice from a TV show.

If a parent lets their 12 year old watch such a TV show then it's the parents fault not the writer if she get pregnant. While a 12 year is probably old enough to still be watching TV after 9pm she shouldn't be watching material designed for adults.

[Markgway]

Whether the complaint was reasonable or not the writer of the show (which I have no intention of watching) showed himself to be an immature moron by firing off such a vulgar response. But then ITV is mostly shit.

[bradavon]

I wouldn't say that.

If I spent hours writing a show I'd be angry someone belittled it so easily. What was wrong was that the private e-mail was made public.

[grim_tales]

I agree with Brad. The guy shouldn't have sent the email, but it was funny

[Markgway]

I wouldn't say that. If I spent hours writing a show I'd be angry someone belittled it so easily. What was wrong was that the private e-mail was made public.

I'm not saying he should be ecstatic about getting criticism but the woman is entitled to voice her opinion without being textually abused (to tell a woman to "go fuck themselves with a pineapple" is uncessarily crude - and unprofessional). Even for a joke it shouldn't have been put into an e-mail. It wasn't even funny or creative just vulgar - like his show I suspect.

[bradavon]

I definitely agree it was wrong to put it so bluntly. We've all said things over e-mail we later regret though. It was worse IMO that someone leaked it though.

[gasteropod]

I'm not saying he should be ecstatic about getting criticism but the woman is entitled to voice her opinion without being textually abused (to tell a woman to "go fuck themselves with a pineapple" is uncessarily crude - and unprofessional).

Yeah, but she wasn't abused was she, that e-mail wasn't sent to her.

[bradavon]

That is a good point. He wasn't directing it at her.

It's like saying a sexist comment when no women are about, then someone later telling a woman. The guy didn't say it in front of any women.

[Markgway]

So it would be OK if I went around referring to 'paki bastards' as long as they're aren't any asians around to hear it? Just because the writer got caught mailing his crude remarks isn't the issue - he shouldn't have mailed them to anyone in the first place. And ITV should have reprimanded him for using company e-mail to insult a viewer. What he does in his own time is his business. But it's symptomatic about Britain's don't give a fuck culture where manners and professionalism no longer seem to be required.

[bradavon]

So it would be OK if I went around referring to 'paki bastards' as long as they're aren't any asians around to hear it?

Please. That's not remotely the same.

Just because the writer got caught mailing his crude remarks isn't the issue - he shouldn't have mailed them to anyone in the first place.

Like you've never said anything OTT in anger. Oh wait you have.

And ITV should have reprimanded him for using company e-mail to insult a viewer.

Maybe they did but again it was a private e-mail, context Mr Gway.

But it's symptomatic about Britain's don't give a fuck culture where manners and professionalism no longer seem to be required.

He was being professional, a polite e-mail was sent to the woman.

As it happens I think what he said was completely OTT but that's really the point. People are allowed to vent their anger in private. I'm sure even you have swore about someone when you didn't think anyone was listening.

[Markgway]

Please. That's not remotely the same.

Why? You're saying it's OK to say or write something about a person as long as they don't hear it. Or is it that sexism is OK but not racism? Just checking...

Like you've never said anything OTT in anger. Oh wait you have.

Not using a work's e-mail and not in a professional capacity.

Maybe they did but again it was a private e-mail, context Mr Gway.

Past the point of private reprimand since that e-mail was leaked. ITV should have him make a personal public apology.

He was being professional, a polite e-mail was sent to the woman.

And a vulgar one behind her back... There's people I work with that I can't stand but I wouldn't send work e-mails to colleagues recording the fact. A lot of women will find that pineapple remark sexually offensive.

[bradavon]

Why? You're saying it's OK to say or write something about a person as long as they don't hear it. Or is it that sexism is OK but not racism? Just checking...

The former.

Not using a work's e-mail and not in a professional capacity.

Do you walk around with a halo above your head?

ITV should have him make a personal public apology.

Good idea. ITV should issue a front page apology in The Sun or maybe get the Prime Minister to raise it in parliament.

[Shingster]

Indeed, in fact I think they should bring back the death sentence and allow romero to personally shoot the man in the face. To think someone would be so callous and cruel to make such a vulgar comment about a member of the general public in the privacy of his own work environment to his close colleagues. It really is symptomatic of the downfall of society imo.

I have now completely lost my faith in humanity. The only thing that can alleviate my malaise is if the government issues a law making it illegal for anyone to say any insult about any person in any kind of capacity regardless of personal discretion.

We must stop this rot!!!!

[bradavon]

Classic , particularly the first sentence .

[grim_tales]

The guy shouldnt have sent the email to the public, but the response to the complaint was clearly A JOKE, and from the tone of her complaint, the woman sounds like Mary Whitehouse. Oh yes, lets ban/blame an adult TV show because some young girls have the IQ of a carpet
Mark you can't equate what that guy did with saying "Paki's are bastards", racism is much worse than that guy's jokey, if rude response.

[bradavon]

Mark was comparing sexism to racism, which he took my comment out of context.

[Markgway]

Why? You're saying it's OK to say or write something about a person as long as they don't hear it. Or is it that sexism is OK but not racism? Just checking...

The former.

Really? So if I hurled racial abuse at LD that would be fine according to you because he's no longer around to read it? Glad that's sorted.

Do you walk around with a halo above your head?

Why because I don't send colleagues vulgar e-mails? Is that your definition of saint?

Good idea. ITV should issue a front page apology in The Sun or maybe get the Prime Minister to raise it in parliament.

Obviously I didn't mean public in that OTT sense. Mind you, knowing Gordon Brown, he'd grab any chance at a headline.

[Markgway]

Indeed, in fact I think they should bring back the death sentence and allow romero to personally shoot the man in the face.

Hilarious and everything... but why does it have to be either total conformity to fascist ideals or irresponsible slander? How about just being professional in the workplace? If he said it to a colleague in private that would be different, but to place those potentially offensive remarks in an e-mail, which can be easily passed on to or read by the wrong person, is both stupid and in most offices a sackable offence. Brad and Shingster try e-mailing a colleague tomorrow with a dirty joke about your boss' wife and see what happens?

[Markgway]

The guy shouldnt have sent the email to the public

He didn't send it to the general public, but he did use a work e-mail, and he must've known something like that COULD slip out causing him and ITV embarrassment.

from the tone of her complaint, the woman sounds like Mary Whitehouse.

That's not really the point. It's her opinion and she's entitled to it. Whether you or I agree is irrelevent.

because some young girls have the IQ of a carpet

Well they do... 8)

Mark you can't equate what that guy did with saying "Paki's are bastards", racism is much worse than that guy's jokey, if rude response.

Would it be OK if the racism was "jokey" then? Maybe a Jim Davidson-style gag about the size of black man's dick? I wonder how many women you know would find being told to shove a pineapple up their vagina funny?

[bradavon]

Really? So if I hurled racial abuse at LD that would be fine according to you because he's no longer around to read it? Glad that's sorted.

I said the former not the latter, learn to read.

Why because I don't send colleagues vulgar e-mails? Is that your definition of saint?

No it is not but you are unbelievably pompous at times. I notice you've ignored the part where I said "'I'm sure even you have swore about someone when you didn't think anyone was listening."

If he said it to a colleague in private that would be different, but to place those potentially offensive remarks in an e-mail, which can be easily passed on to or read by the wrong person, is both stupid and in most offices a sackable offence.

Oh right, so it's different when the words used are the same and it's said to the same person? Okay, right. Thanks for clarifying that.

Brad and Shingster try e-mailing a colleague tomorrow with a dirty joke about your boss' wife and see what happens?

My boss is female and married to a man.

That's not really the point. It's her opinion and she's entitled to it.

Of course and Grim is entitled to say she sounded like Mary Whitehouse .

Would it be OK if the racism was "jokey" then? Maybe a Jim Davidson-style gag about the size of black man's dick?

It depends how it's said and if it's funny. Political Correctness can go so far, potentially funny jokes don't dare be said. Ben Elton has even spoke out again the BBC for allowing jokes at the expense of Christians but not allowing any sort of joke against Muslims.

Besides we've no idea the man wasn't told off in private anyway.

[grim_tales]

As Brad says, it depends how the joke is said, I dont think the guy actually intended to cause offence. The woman's husband's reply is pretty bad as well, saying he will "rip his head off", unless he was also joking.
The email shouldnt have been leaked to the public after it was forwarded to colleagues.

[Markgway]

I said the former not the latter, learn to read.

And the former was that you said it's OK to say something about someone as long as they don't hear it... therefore I said is it OK in that case to be racist if the victim doesn't hear it?

I can read just fine. How about you?

No it is not but you are unbelievably pompous at times. I notice you've ignored the part where I said "'I'm sure even you have swore about someone when you didn't think anyone was listening."

Kettle. Pot. Black.

Of course I've said rude things about people behind their back. What I haven't done is written an e-mail in work which slags of a client (ie. a viewer). You'd have to be stupid to think there's no way that might leak out.

Oh right, so it's different when the words used are the same and it's said to the same person? Okay, right. Thanks for clarifying that.

You can't stop people from talking in private. And if he used his home e-mail that would be different. But this was in the workplace therefore he was wrong. It's simple really.

My boss is female and married to a man.

Use your imagination.

Of course and Grim is entitled to say she sounded like Mary Whitehouse .

Yes, he is. But that's not the point.

It depends how it's said and if it's funny.

Is the level of humour an acceptable arbiter of taste? A lot of people found Bernard Manning funny? I hate political correctness. What I'm talking about is appropriate behaviour from an employee. I only used the racism example to make a point about how "we" condemn racism but seem to have no problem with sexism, ageism, and I'm sure many other isms.

Besides we've no idea the man wasn't told off in private anyway.

Possible, but I doubt it. Common courtesy is long dead.

[bradavon]

I only used the racism example to make a point about how "we" condemn racism but seem to have no problem with sexism, ageism, and I'm sure many other isms.

I've no idea what gave you that idea. The original disagreement had nothing to do with sexism or ageism.

And to think people wondered why I used to lock dead threads. This one has gone well beyond the point of being useful.

[Markgway]

Was it ever useful?