Iom And Kershaw On Popbitch

[Dames Aflame]

So it looks like the Island has made it onto Popbitch. Those of you not familiar with popbitch --- its a weekly UK celebrity gossip e-mail that's sent out once a week. Here's what they're saying about the whole Kershaw situation:-

 

>> Viking trouser troubles <<

Vikings let Kershaw keep his trousers

 

Poor old Andy Kershaw, who announced after pleading guilty to breaching a restraining order and drink-driving this month that "I've lost my kids, I've lost the woman I love, I've lost everything." The DJ is now at the mercy of the Isle of Man's mediaeval legal system (the island's highest legal authority are the Deemsters, firstappointed by the Vikings), due to be sentencedon October 18. At least he won't face the birch - the beating of criminals on their bare buttocks with "four or five long and fairlystout hazel branches" was dropped from theirlawbooks in 1993. The same year theydecriminalized homosexuality. When the European Court of Human Rights ruled in 1978 that birchingshould be stopped, the Manx parliament tried to push a compromise whereby miscreants would beallowed to keep their trousers on.

 

www.popbitch.com

[keyboarder]

How embarrassing. For us that is, not Kershaw.

[Mr. Sausages]

Nobody should be allowed to keep their trousers on. Nobody.

[Albert Tatlock]

So it looks like the Island has made it onto Popbitch. Those of you not familiar with popbitch --- its a weekly UK celebrity gossip e-mail that's sent out once a week. Here's what they're saying about the whole Kershaw situation:-

Looking at the site - I wouldn't suspect it will be that well read. Too many big words for their audience I think, like 'decriminalized' and 'birch'.

[Ean]

popbitch reverts to stereotype at misguided attempt at humour shocker.

[sarahc]

It is true though. You could argue with the inference but not with the facts.

[cheeky boy]

I spoke with Andy Kershaw very recently and although he is clearly still traumatised with the whole business, he said that the locals had been very supportive and that he wouldn't want live anywhere else.

 

He does not read MF but was pleased to hear that the posts about his difficult situation were once again largely supportive, he said he was quite staggered at the level of interest from the UK press and didn't consider himself famous enough to warrant the attention

[Pat Ayres]

He doesn't read MF, what kind of a man is he?

Someone buy him a computer, stat.

[Celt]

miscreants would beallowed to keep their trousers on.

 

I was worried for a bit then but noticed it didn't mention the guy doing the birching was allowed to drop theres

[Declan]

I spoke with Andy Kershaw very recently and although he is clearly still traumatised with the whole business, he said that the locals had been very supportive and that he wouldn't want live anywhere else.

 

He does not read MF but was pleased to hear that the posts about his difficult situation were once again largely supportive, he said he was quite staggered at the level of interest from the UK press and didn't consider himself famous enough to warrant the attention

 

I think his timing was a bit unfortunate, not enough else going on.

 

I saw him in town today, looked a bit rough. Hope he comes through this dark period.

[Gladys]

Aye, time to leave him be.

[nipper]

Had the "Isle of Man" not been involved in this news item, I doubt it would have made other than a short 5 line column in newspapers anywhere. I also wonder if the "Isle of Man" connection has not helped Andy in his own BBC career.

 

True, it has done no harm for Jeremy Clarkson, although to illustrate my point, here is a quote from one of his articles today. Yes, yes I know Jeremy's style, but even so:

 

And then my wife came home. “Jesus H Christ,” she said. “What is that monstrosity doing here?” An argument ensued. She said it was vulgar. I said she was from the Isle of Man so she’d know. Some doors slammed. And I went for a drive.

 

Article here

 

My point being, is that we all see the Isle of Man as a place with lovely countryside and lovely friendly people (which it is and has) but others in the world and especially UK see us from a rather different angle.

 

 

 

Edited to add that I quite liked this review. All very Clarksonian, especially the final paragraph!

 

"Arriving anywhere here in such a thing is the same as arriving with a Rolex at an NUM reunion. But arriving in a Drophead at the Oscars or at the casino in Monte Carlo would be more impressive, I suspect, than arriving in Keira Knightley"

[don fugazi]

"Arriving anywhere here in such a thing is the same as arriving with a Rolex at an NUM reunion. But arriving in a Drophead at the Oscars or at the casino in Monte Carlo would be more impressive, I suspect, than arriving in Keira Knightley"

 

How desperate is he to impress? I know which one I would find more enjoyable.

[Albert Tatlock]

My point being, is that we all see the Isle of Man as a place with lovely countryside and lovely friendly people (which it is and has) but others in the world and especially UK see us from a rather different angle.

That's the same for everywhere e.g. people in Preston stick up for Preston and are often very indifferent to other parts of the country - except when England are playing. Also, many people in the UK would not consider the island's countryside to be 'as lovely' as the Lake District, much of Scotland and Wales etc.

 

On the subject of this thread: The real point to note is that when journalists create a story about a person (even if they've never visited the place where the story is happening) they need more than a couple of lines - so they usually expand it by comparing and contrasting where the 'subject' lives to other areas, discuss 'related' issues in that area, list the 'subjects' friends and associates (and any other possible wrongdoings), and list anything similar that's happened before (all the better if asylum seekers, immigrants or any other such 'nationally-hated' figures come into it). If it's a celebrity - and celebrity in a dumbed down culture sells - they'll do it all the more, so that every stage of proceedings (even if it's just a minor step like turning up to plead etc.) will be associated with as much 'related' crap they can get together as they can - otherwise they couldn't fill a page.

 

The fact is that breaching an order is breaching an order - whether you are in Doncaster, Preston, Lower Middle-Wallop, Douglas or Peel - you'll still end up in front of the local authorities.

 

The reporting of this, and many other stories, says more about the quality of our journalists, the quality of our newspapers and magazines, and the quality of the people that buy them - the island only get's dragged in because it happens to have the same geographical location as the subject.

 

That said, restraint orders have to be policed more carefully here, generally because of the limited size of the island. It's a strange place where you can e.g. bump into ex's nearly every Friday night, once a month at Tesco's, or not even see someone for even a year or two.

[nipper]

I see what you mean Albert, but to compare the good old Isle of Man with Preston or Doncaster or the Lake District as you have done is to miss the point.

 

We are a Tax Haven located bang in the middle of the British Isles, directing $billions upon $billions from various places in the world into our coffers. The Isle of Greed, and yet when it suits we prefer to depict ourselves as some quaint nation with a very old and trusting governmnet etc.

 

Stand back and look at what it really is the Isle of Man offers and where exactly do we stand within the global community.