Danny Baker

[Cyril Haearn]

It seems a queer way to spend one's Saturday, with 70 000 other fans, sitting high up and far from the action, often there is no action (goalless draw), costs a lot, travel and waiting takes hours, I should rather play football than watch it, or even go cycling

There is a lot of work for the cops at some derby games, but many years ago towns waged war, I guess football is less bad

I did attend a couple of football matches many years ago, want to go to one again soon (a quiet one) so I know what I am talking about

[Ben@Forest]

It seems a queer way to spend one's Saturday, with 70 000 other fans, sitting high up and far from the action, often there is no action (goalless draw)....

I did attend a couple of football matches many years ago, want to go to one again soon (a quiet one) so I know what I am talking about

In all professional European leagues the average of no score draws is 8%. You're right, you need to find out what you're talking about!

[Cyril Haearn]

It seems a queer way to spend one's Saturday, with 70 000 other fans, sitting high up and far from the action, often there is no action (goalless draw)....

I did attend a couple of football matches many years ago, want to go to one again soon (a quiet one) so I know what I am talking about

In all professional European leagues the average of no score draws is 8%. You're right, you need to find out what you're talking about!

Right again, often there are two or even three events in 90 minutes

[pwa]

I think, Cugel, you underestimate the ability of normal people to make elementary mistakes. I find it very plausible indeed that Baker was not thinking of Megan's racial mix and was not working with the black person = monkey thing. I have myself made daft mistakes that nine times out of ten I would have avoided but due to a moment of tunnel vision I failed to look up and appreciate why what i was doing was not appropriate. You think he meant the chimp thing the way it came over, but even if he thinks that way in private (which I doubt) he is a clever man and knows he cannot give voice to an attitude like that in public while working in his industry. It doesn't make sense unless it is as a catastrophic mistake.

[reohn2]

...... You think he meant the chimp thing the way it came over,

Whatever cause was in his mind at the time of posting,the effect was obvious to all and sundry.

but even if he thinks that way in private (which I doubt) he is a clever man and knows he cannot give voice to an attitude like that in public while working in his industry. It doesn't make sense unless it is as a catastrophic mistake.

You're right it doesn't make sense and a clever man would've noted that before posting it.
It seems OK to say sorry after the event but the house is still on fire,as a result the one who lit it suffers the consequences.

[pwa]

...... You think he meant the chimp thing the way it came over,

Whatever cause was in his mind at the time of posting,the effect was obvious to all and sundry.

but even if he thinks that way in private (which I doubt) he is a clever man and knows he cannot give voice to an attitude like that in public while working in his industry. It doesn't make sense unless it is as a catastrophic mistake.

You're right it doesn't make sense and a clever man would've noted that before posting it.
It seems OK to say sorry after the event but the house is still on fire,as a result the one who lit it suffers the consequences.

I think clever people can have tunnel vision sometimes, and not see how a joke will come over. The problem is the instant nature of the web and when he pressed that button his gaff was out there and could not be reeled back in for editing. But he is a professional broadcaster and knows what happens if you lose concentration while walking that tightrope.

[thirdcrank]

I wonder what combination of search terms brought the pic up?

[reohn2]

You're right it doesn't make sense and a clever man would've noted that before posting it.
It seems OK to say sorry after the event but the house is still on fire,as a result the one who lit it suffers the consequences.

I think clever people can have tunnel vision sometimes, and not see how a joke will come over. The problem is the instant nature of the web and when he pressed that button his gaff was out there and could not be reeled back in for editing. But he is a professional broadcaster and knows what happens if you lose concentration while walking that tightrope.

I think clever people aren't necessarily wise people

[reohn2]

I wonder what combination of search terms brought the pic up?

I don't know and I'm not about thpo look but Danny Baker must've had an idea in his head to search for something like that.

[Psamathe]

....
I think he is genuine enough when he said that he didn't see 'that' connotation of his posted image but after that he was toast and it's for the best.

I've not seen this image that caused all the problems (not too interested in it) and I'm certainly not defending Danny Baker (never really listened to his show and I've no idea what he's like).

But I can see situations where people become very focused on one aspect of what they are doing that they fail to see other aspects. It may be that his focus of a dislike of royalty (something I can sympathise with) was his strong focus and that he failed to see other aspects and interpretations. However, I guess part of the responsibility when employed and paid by the BBC is that you think twice before pressing "Post" on Social Media (so you have the opportunity to see other aspects).

Are people suggesting that Danny Baker holds racist views or just that he made a mistake (pressing "Post" before thinking twice about how his post might be interpreted)?

Ian

[reohn2]

Are people suggesting that Danny Baker holds racist views or just that he made a mistake (pressing "Post" before thinking twice about how his post might be interpreted)?

Ian

Whether the motivation behind him posting what he did was to illustrate the royal circus act or was racist,is impossible to tell,but if we take the man at his word,it's the former.
Whatever,the the racist conotations,whether he was aware of them or not has cost him his job.

[Lance Dopestrong]

And now someone has reported him to the Feds over the matter.

[Ben@Forest]

Are people suggesting that Danny Baker holds racist views or just that he made a mistake (pressing "Post" before thinking twice about how his post might be interpreted)?

He's had a funny old CV if he holds racist views, he's been an NME journo, a sports journo and has hosted a lot of radio programmes. All those jobs would have brought him into contact with/working with a wide ethnic mix. I'd say it was it was a joke with unthought connatations; but we may never know.

[mattheus]

Even if the intent was only to liken a royal child to a circus act like he said, that's obviously going to offend some monarchists, isn't it?

Er ... so you're saying that a bit of mild satire about the royals is "trolling"? Golly, you _are_ easily offended.

I am not a monarchist. And that wasn't satire and I don't remember Danny Baker claiming it was.

Eh?? What do you think "satire" is?? Here is the very first google hit, no editing on my part:

satire
/ˈsatʌɪə/
noun
the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

How does that not match his explanation of the tweet??

Hang on, I'll copy the text from his twitter feed for you (as I rather enjoy reading his stuff anyway ):

In attempting to lampoon privilege & the news cycle I went to a file of goofy pictures & saw the chimp dressed as a Lord and thought, "That's the one!" Had I kept searching I might have chosen General Tom Thumb or even a a baby in a crown. But I didn't. God knows I wish had.

[mattheus]

I wonder what combination of search terms brought the pic up?

That's not how it happened. Have you actually read his comments of which you are so critical?

To save you some time, read my previous post.

Glad to be of help.