Blog Rot

Esteemed BBC journalist Andrew Marr has told a packed auditorium of WI members and genteel ladies in Cheltenham that all bloggers are "..socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting. They are very angry people."

Of course, as evidence of these balanced and rational comments, only those in the employ of the BBC are qualified to publish ..anything ..at all ..ever.

Thing is Andy, mate, as a BBC journalist, you’re not supposed to espouse an opinion -- just report the facts. It’s OK to have all manner of idiotic opinions if you’re on a rag, but not from within Portland Place, dear boy. (You might want to remind your old mucker Jeremy Vine of this -– as he’s dragged the nation’s erstwhile flagship of journalistic integrity, Panorama, deeply into the gutter).

Your simplistic characterisation of everyone that blogs really is too rich coming from an objectionable jug-eared scarecrow like yourself. (..Hey you started it, big nose).

Should I read this as yet another example of the arrogance and elitism of the Beeb? Really, I’d expect a little more humility from someone on the licence fee-payer’s wage.

OK, I'm not being paid to address a bunch of blue-rinsed grannies in the interest of plugging my latest book or chat show, but to me blogging isn’t journalism. It’s whatever it want to be. Just normal people putting their stuff 'out there' for thousands, hundreds or a few to see. A democracy of voice -- whatever that be. (I notice you don't offer an opinion of Twitter, MySpace or Facebook etc. Isn't that just more virtual white noise from the inane -- and unfortunately, online -- chatting classes?) Any thoughts, Andy-poo?

But I accept and support the notion that journalism in or out of a democracy has an important purpose. But here the right of 'free' speech is co-opted and abused daily to sell newspapers or up the ratings, and promote racism, misogyny, selfishness and greed. And over 'there', where there's no democracy, blogging is possibly one of the only means of presenting the truth to the world. Isn't the BBC both a champion of, and user of the dissident voice? Don't you rely on it for source material, at the very least?

Of course, in the free world, we're all able to say what we want, how we want to and when -- regardless of our complexion, the amount of hair we have or marital and domestic status -- or indeed, the soundness of our opinion. Surely, you get that Mr. Marr?

..Erm, clearly not given you rather angry spa-town rant.

But Andrew, I bow, of course, to your evidently greater wisdom, experience and sense of professional efficacy -- in both the eminence of the journalistic art, and the metering of democratic expression.

I just hope your mother keeps her basement clean and tidy for her silly, spoilt son to play in. (Your brother's a great guitarist, BTW.)

Angry, abusive moi?

Poo off, poo face.

Oh, and where did I leave my Oxy10?