This is the News!

[Definitely Not Mister Pops]

Look, the important thing is we focus on demonizing an English national hero*, instead of the policies he is criticizing.

A few years ago Nana Munchetty was admonished by the BBC for calling Trump out on his racism. A demonstably factual opinion. Now, ostensibly, the BBC employs it's news reporters and analysts to not have opinions and coldly present the facts of a story. The word ostensibly is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. So taken with a pinch boulder of salt, you could see why the BBC took issue with that. She made a statement on the BBC as a BBC reporter

Gary Lineker is not a news reporter/analyst. He's not even a sports reporter/analyst. He presents a Saturday evening show where they whinge about referees in a sport that is played so cynically that it has become nigh impossible to referee.

He tweeted an opinion on an account the BBC don't own. They could have released a statement along the lines of "Mr Lineker's tweet does not represent the views and values** of the BBC"

But then we might be talking about how Brexit Britain's getting a bit shitty and backwards. To be fair, I don't think the Tories are Nazi's. They didn't originate in Bavaria, so it's just Sparkling Fascism.

Yeah, it's really bad when people get demonized for having opinions. Thank Grud that never happens here.

I don't think I have ever full on demonized your opinions Shark, I just think you talk a load of bollocks sometimes.

*if you're a soccerite
**HAH!

[The Legendary Shark]

I don't think I've ever been demonized on the boards but I have had my leg pulled a time or two, to put it kindly. Anyhoo, if I couldn't cope or had a thin skin, I wouldn't be here.

[Tjm86]

... comparing Tory rhetoric to Nazi rhetoric (where your enemies are dehumanized in the name of a fictional nationalist ideal) is an apt comparison.

It might be unhelpful to the debate to point out that Mr Linekar only observed that the language was similar to that of 1930's Germany.  At no point did he reference that nice Mr Hitler's National Socialist Workers Party who were doing all that wonderful work rebuilding Germany's industry, infrastructure and national pride.

He could just as easily have been alluding to the German Communist Party who were involved in all sorts of dastardly deeds, nefarious activities and totally amoral practices.

I really don't understand why so many Tories have automatically assumed that he was comparing them to a group of racist, xenophobic fruitcakes ...

[IndigoPrime]

Fun to see all the other presenters say "well, if he's not welcome, I'm not rocking up either".

[Funt Solo]

First time I've ever wanted to watch Match of the Day.

[JayzusB.Christ]

I don't think I've ever been demonized on the boards but I have had my leg pulled a time or two, to put it kindly. Anyhoo, if I couldn't cope or had a thin skin, I wouldn't be here.

Which kind of raises the question as to whether your previous post was sarcasm or not.  I don't remember anyone being demonised, at least without the demoniser being subsequently banned or at least warned.

[JayzusB.Christ]

Sorry.  I've done exactly what I've complained about others doing in the past, and derailed a thread about current affairs.

Back on topic,I have no interest in soccer at all but I'm shocked to see Gary Lineker has been forced off Match of the Day. I thought it was the woke leftists who cancelled people whose opinions offended them.

[The Legendary Shark]

Sorry.  I've done exactly what I've complained about others doing in the past, and derailed a thread about current affairs.

Honestly, I think that was me. I'm still a bit sore about the last ban and general grief I got for questioning the political you-know-what narrative.

The apologies* should, and indeed do, come from me.

*for whingeing, not for questioning.

[JayzusB.Christ]

No problem. I've been banned too, i missed the memo where I couldn't call people a certain word, even if it was Nigel Farage.

Not being sarky there - there genuinely was a memo, and I missed it. So fair enough

Back on topic, I see the BBC are also not showing an episode of a David Attenborough documentary on ecological destruction, for fear of upsetting the right.  But again, no, it's the left who are snowflakes and want to cancel everyone.

[Funt Solo]

Nigel Farage is a real King Cnut, though. From Scunthorpe. What a cockatoo!

But, aye, the gammons love a bit of canceling. Mind, that prick Piers Mungo came out in support of Lineker's right to air his opinions.

[JayzusB.Christ]

Nigel Farage is a real King Cnut, though. From Scunthorpe. What a cockatoo!

But, aye, the gammons love a bit of canceling. Mind, that prick Piers Mungo came out in support of Lineker's right to air his opinions.

Now there's a conundrum. I occasionally find myself cheering Piers on, but soon default to my usual position of wanting to knee him hard in the nads.  Even a stopped clock, I suppose

[Richmond Clements]

Nigel Farage is a real King Cnut, though. From Scunthorpe. What a cockatoo!

But, aye, the gammons love a bit of canceling. Mind, that prick Piers Mungo came out in support of Lineker's right to air his opinions.

Now there's a conundrum. I occasionally find myself cheering Piers on, but soon default to my usual position of wanting to knee him hard in the nads.  Even a stopped clock, I suppose

Morgan doesn't believe a word he says though. If he thought he'd get more clicks with the opposite opinion he'd change his view in a heartbeat.

[Funt Solo]

Ah - it's the (frustrated, angry, vitriolic) voice of reason - it's Jonathan Pie:

Lineker V Braverman

[The Legendary Shark]

Not sure if this image has been Photoshopped or not (the sign does look a bit dodgy to me), but it's amusing nonetheless.

[The Legendary Shark]