Why is Richard Littlejohn raining on our collective parade???

[sp1814]

So, it's the middle of the London Olympics, and our young atheletes from various backgrounds and races are performing marvellously (our best medal haul in OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS!!!), our transport system is holding up well, the weather is lovely, the games exciting, the opening ceremony a delight...

...and what does Mr Littlejohn choose to focus on?

Last year's riots!!!

What gives?

Is it not possible for those to the political right of Genghis Khan to show a little bit of patriotism and support for Team GB?

Is Littlejohn voicing what we feel as a nation?

http://www.dailymail....nce-saw-year-ago.html

[Duncer]

That's the style of his column so I'm very suprised that anyone is surprised by this.

[sp1814]

Duncer

I know...but even so - it seems so very much against how we feel at the moment.

Why be so negative, when we have so much to feel positive about.

I mean...we're third in the medal table.

I keep looking at the BBC news feed and grinning.

I don't get why someone would want to drag us back to a state of...miserablism.

[sir.prize]

It is fantastic to have the feel good factor. Our athletes are all doing us proud. But as usual, in the background, I see for instance there are the morons defacing the gold letter boxes. I suppose Littlejohn is just reminding us that when the Olympics are over, we will all have to revert to the gloom and doom.

Pathetic isn't it?

[Duncer]

Miserabilism is his job.

[sir.prize]

“I hate Richard Littlejohn. I hate what he says. And most of all, I hate that he makes me laugh and that, more often than not, he’s right.”
– Paddy Ashdown

[anotheoldgit]

Some of us may all be focusing on the Olympics but that does not mean that we should forget all other issues, just because for some they are not nice to bring up.

This is the anniversary of the riots and Littlejohn as a newspaper columnist is perfectly within his right to address whatever subject he feels is topical.

[Kromovaracun]

I despise Littlejohn - I think he's one of the worst journalists who writes in the English language. He actively falsifies, distorts and misleads.

But ignoring the fact that it's him for a minute, I actually really dislike the argument that sp1814 is putting forward. The idea that we should all buy into national identity and 'get behind' Team GB is actually in a lot of ways a little oppressive and rude. Particularly so when you're going to attack someone for essentially talking about something that isn't how great the Olympics is. As an issue, the riots are far more important and the questions they raise deserve to be discussed.

Richard Littlejohn's opinions on them are incredibly badly-supported and don't really warrant any serious attention. But if you want to attack his article, then what's wrong with it is his argument - not the fact that he isn't going on about the Olympics. To suggest that he (or anyone else) is somehow obliged to is really quite ugly, sp.

[anotheoldgit]

Kromovaracun

You put up a good argument regarding SP's views on the Olympics, but it was spoilt by your rthe following ranting against Littlejohn.

I despise Littlejohn - I think he's one of the worst journalists who writes in the English language. He actively falsifies, distorts and misleads.

I have read through his article and cannot see any falsifies, distortions or anything misleading, but I would be interested to see where your accusations are coming from.

Can you point them out to me?

[Zeuhl]

^
just a point of order: kromo didn't actually claim RL was doing any of that in that particular article

just that it is a trait of his - as indeed it is a regrettable trait of The Daily Mail's overall editorial policy

[sir.prize]

''Richard Littlejohn is the patron saint of all good citizens and taxpayers who are against absolutely anybody trying to tell them what to do.''

Particularly if they are not from these islands.

[sp1814]

I think (and Kromovaracun can answer for himself) that Richard Littlejohn lies quite a lot...not necessarily in this piece, but over a time:

http://www.butireadit...ut-motability-scheme/

http://liberalconspir...-regular-bullshitter/

http://tabloid-watch....n-lies-about-cat.html

[emmie]

He wouldn't be the only one, i have read numerous articles from different papers, and listened to news reports about last years riots. They were making the point of how different one year can make, but one recent piece suggested that there will be more riots to come.

[sp1814]

Kromovaracun

I'm not trying to strongarm anyone into 'fake patriotism', but at the same time, vast swathes of the country are feeling the very opposite of what we felt last August.

What he is doing is turning up to a fantastic Christmas party where every has swapped great presents and is drinking eggnog - and shouting at the top of his voice, "Yeah, but just wait until you see your credit card statement in January...oh, and your pipes are frozen and you're probably going to fall over on the ice outside".

I feel like we've wallowed in enough negativity over the past twelve months (banking crisis, newspapers spying on us, the riots etc) - is it not nice to wallow in a bit of positive British news, even if it just lasts a matter of weeks, before returning to the gloom?

[sp1814]

Kromovaracun

You know what - I've just re-read my original question in light of your post, and I now get your point.

Yes - no-one should feel obliged to be part of the whole 'Olympic thing', but at the same time, I don't think they should use it as a launching off point (as Mr Littlejohnn has done) to, once again, slate the UK.

[emmie]

Sp, there is no need to read his article or the paper, if he or it upsets you so much, just ignore it.

[EDDIE51]

It must really P**s off the Daily Wail that the Olympics are going so well , with nothing to moan about !

[sp1814]

em10

I know what you mean, but when a website has such a vast reach, it not only affects those who log onto it, but also those who don't.

For instance, you might never watch Channel Four, but if it broadcast sexist, misogynist films which celebrated the abuse of women, or even worse, children - you would have a right to speak about it, if you felt such programming was bad for society (and by extension) you.

Not saying that Mr Littlejohn is a sexist, misogy...

...oh...

[emmie]

Eddie, perhaps you hadn't noticed that almost every page since the gmaes started, has been dedicated to the Athletes, winners, losers and anyone inbetween. Lot's of great pictures of Hoy, Pendleton, the male, female rowers, equestrian teams, one could go on, but why bother.

[emmie]

well i am not an apologist for anyone, but i like him, and his articles usually make me laugh.

[sir.prize]

Now if you want to have a go at a really terrible columnist - try handling Frankie Boyle.