sootyj
Monday 16th April 2012 3:49pm
51,287 posts
Quote: Lee Henman @ April 16 2012, 3:49 PM BST
Interesting article here where a journalist with an autistic son slams the show for taking the piss. The readers' comments sum it up I think...top-rated comment with 840 likes is
"Personally, I loved Derek. I thought that the show focused more on the way old people are treated in Britain than people with "apparent" disabilities. The character of Derek was never supposed to be disabled, just perhaps a little slower than the norm. He was awkward, rather dim and enjoyed the simple things in life. None of that means he's mentally handicapped. The character showed no signs of autism, down's syndrome or any other mental problems. People just love bashing Ricky Gervais because he's outspoken and quite old-fashioned. Yes, he's made mistakes in the past, but Derek certainly isn't one. I think it was a tremendous piece of television and I wish whole-heartedly that it's made into a full series."
For your average bandwagon-jumping reactionary Mail reader that's quite something.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130277/Ricky-Gervais-new-comedy-Derek-criticised.html
That's a wonderful article and what a horrible comment.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 16 2012, 4:42 PM BST
With a head like a f**king orange.
Some of us like oranges.
Quote: Lee Henman @ April 16 2012, 4:04 PM BST
Talking of f**king idiots, one comment on that Daily mail article I posted reads
"Don't worry no-one watches him. He isn't funny whatever he does. On the other hand very few of us have not had close contact with a child, different from the rest, who we didn't learn to appreciate had other things to offer in us in friendship. That completely new way of viewing our shared world made me feel pretty stupid before I got the hang of it. It's a two-way street. He had to learn about me too and I had to stop assuming. Priceless.
- Yve, UK, 16/4/2012 0:58
What the Hell? I've re-read it twice and still have no idea what it means.
I think it just means that some disabilities offer a diferent take on the world, which if you learn to appreciate it can be quite special.