I think we've upset someone Page 3

Quote: sootyj @ October 7 2008, 7:58 PM BST

Maybe the beautiful homoeroticism of your feud with Seefacts could melt his heart?

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Could make a great story arc for a sitcom.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ October 7 2008, 7:59 PM BST

To be fair isn't MJ just complaining about the posts that slag off new shows without giving any reasons why they don't like it? (and there aren't really that many on here like that, I'm sure). Surely he isn't saying that our views just aren't valid and we should say something nice or not at all? Or have I misunderstood his blog?

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I kind of misunderstood it as well. Is he saying that a negative opinion isn't valid as long as a show pulls in the punters?

I will really never understand the view that because someone may be an aspiring writer, that they will therefore damn a show because of jealosy. I have never, not once, taken that into consideration when saying what I thought of a programme; my only criteria is whether I actually enjoyed it or not. I don't slag it off more just beacuse no ones bought my script and I think I can do better! Maybe some on here do, but I would find that a frankly bizarre way of behaving.

Quote: Perry Nium @ October 7 2008, 7:58 PM BST

For some bizarre reason, comedy brings out the worst in some people. Maybe it's because - at some level - comedy IS at it's very heart a nasty thing. Basically it's laughing at other people's misfortunes isn't it? I mean I know that's oversimplifying it but the oldest joke in the world is someone slipping on a banana skin. The first comedy movies were people falling off high buildings, getting slapped, punched, ran over, squashed by pianos etc. So maybe that's what brings the mean-spirited part out in us.

What I don't agree with though, is attacking specific writers / creators of shows with such venom as has been demonstrated on Chortle (and to a slightly lesser extent, BSG). They say you have to have a thick skin to be a comedy writer but nobody's impervious to the kind of poison barbs I've read - and usually they're untrue or at the very least, unfair.

But, as I say, comedy can bring out the worst in people and perhaps that'll never change. Maybe it's just part of the deal.

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Comedy is so subjective that there's no way everyone will like the same thing. Making comedy you have to accept that - like in life - not everyone is going to like you.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 7 2008, 8:00 PM BST

my only criteria is whether I actually enjoyed it or not.

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Me too. You either like it or you don't.

The people that do that probably have no idea that's why they're doing it.

(Not that I'm suggesting that describes you Stott.)

Maybe I'd be less bitter if the BBC hadn't so blatantly kicked the ladder away for new writers.

I don't pay Babycow a couple of hundred squids a year, but they read scripts

Yet they read and offer feedback.

I know there's writers room, a Dickensian broom cupboard with out a printer.

A once a year slot on BBC7 is not any way to encourage new talent.

Quote: Winterlight @ October 7 2008, 7:53 PM BST

I'm sure there's been a few specific posts aimed at MJ when he's popped up in threads.

I do wonder why people expect him to say "You're right, Two Pints is a heap of shit, but it pays the bills".

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Does he write that then?

If that's correct he can hardly moan about us. Christ! I even heard Ralf Little saying 'It wasn't his sort of thing' on something the other day. And he's in it!!!

Quote: Matthew Stott @ October 7 2008, 8:00 PM BST

I have never, not once, consciously taken that into consideration when saying what I thought of a programme

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Quote: Nil Putters @ October 7 2008, 8:03 PM BST

Does he write that then?

If that's correct he can hardly moan about us. Christ! I even heard Ralf Little saying 'It wasn't his sort of thing' on something the other day. And he's in it!!!

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*sigh*

For some bizarre reason, comedy brings out the worst in some people.

There are lots of psychological surveys about the social effects of telling bad jokes. People secretly go into workplaces as "new starters", say something really unfunny in a group meeting, and record the results. They are always spectacularly bad - those people are completely ostracised by the group far more than people who offend against the social norm in other ways. There's something inherently offensive about bad jokes. I don't know if it's in some way offending other people's intelligence, or demanding their attention and then not delivering, or what, but people really don't like it. As anyone who reads Critique should know.

Quote: Aaron @ October 7 2008, 8:03 PM BST

*sigh*

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Did your butt plug slip out?

Quote: Griff @ October 7 2008, 8:04 PM BST

There are lots of psychological surveys about the social effects of telling bad jokes. People secretly go into workplaces as "new starters", say something really unfunny in a group meeting, and record the results. They are always spectacularly bad - those people are completely ostracised by the group far more than people who offend against the social norm in other ways. There's something inherently offensive about bad jokes. I don't know if it's in some way offending other people's intelligence, or demanding their attention and then not delivering, or what, but people really don't like it. As anyone who reads Critique should know.

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Must be why sooty turns to the internet...

Quote: Griff @ October 7 2008, 8:04 PM BST

There's something inherently offensive about bad jokes. I don't know if it's in some way offending other people's intelligence, or demanding their attention and then not delivering, or what, but people really don't like it.

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How do you explain Jim Davidson's success then?

Maybe I'd be less bitter if the BBC hadn't so blatantly kicked the ladder away for new writers.

I don't pay Babycow a couple of hundred squids a year, but they read scripts

Yet they read and offer feedback.

I know there's writers room, a Dickensian broom cupboard with out a printer.

A once a year slot on BBC7 is not any way to encourage new talent.

It is not the BBC's job to encourage new talent, or to create job opportunities for wannabe writers.

It's their job to create TV shows that people like. How they go about it is up to them. If they decide that they've got all the writers they need for a while, that's their business, surely.

Quote: Aaron @ October 7 2008, 8:02 PM BST

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Aaron, please, you ARE WRONG!!!!! Maybe others do, but I DO NOT! I feel no jealosy whatsoever, why would I? Unless I knew the writer personally, then I might feel a little jealous and backbite. And I've really no reason to be jealous anyway; I seem to be heading quite nicely in the right direction. I only judge on what I think of the actual show. You may not be able to believe that; but you are wrongy, wrong, wrong.