Brand/Ross affair

Gavin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:17:42 +0000

No, they’re not having an affair (though it might be nice to spread such a rumour, so they get a taste of their own medicine), but here is a good article on this latest mistake by the BBC.

This is all part of the embrace of decadence.

The particular incident can be distilled into these points:

These two broke the law under the Telecommunications Act (”[a person who] sends, by means of a public telecommunication system, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character”).
There is no need for an “enquiry” (the tactic the BBC uses simply to create a delay in the hope people will forget about things). They should simply have been sacked.
It was disgraceful of both Brand and Ross to betray confidence.
Brand’s “apology” was obviously insincere and he has callously pre-empted his own sacking by resigning.
Ross does not deserve £16,000 per day simply for providing “witty banter”. No doubt he often reflects on this himself and wonders how he gets away with it.
These words “edgy”, “risky”, “pushing the boundary” etc., just mean puerile and juvenile and as close to needlessly offensive as possible. Let’s call them what they are.
The BBC thinks it is hostage to an ignorant public who love and demand puerile, immature, bullying smut in the same way as commoners loved public lynchings in the past. They do, but it isn’t. It should set high standards, not lower itself to meet inferior ones.
The BBC needs to have a complete overhaul of its licencing system - especially as it is now putting much of its content on the Internet and radio for free.

Gavin Orland

The Neo-Enlightenment

Brand/Ross affair