Matthew Parris apologizes

cntl

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wale ... 168530.stm

cntl

Quote: "He said that, based on last year's figures, 200 protests would place the article among the commission's three most complained-about stories."

Good to know for the future--if the whole forum complains about some idiotic article (or maybe other things as well), we can make a real difference.

Shadowduck

Can't see it doing much good, but it's something I suppose.

Clarkson next?

prj45

Does he really think that its the cyclists chucking energy drink bottles in the hedges?

prj45

It was meant humorously but so many cyclists have taken it seriously that I plainly misjudged. I am sorry

Yeah right!

He's not even honest enough on the matter to not lie in his apology.

prj45

Shadowduck wrote:

Can't see it doing much good, but it's something I suppose.

Clarkson next?

I'd still like to see some response from Clarkson regarding his comment that cycle helmets were actually useful on the back of research that showed that people wearing them were more likely to be struck by vehcles.

We can all laugh at the 'stop in front of my car and I'll run you over' type comment, but linking demonstrable cause and effect and saying the results are a positive thing is beyond pale.

That said, Clarkson's not said people should go out of their way to injure cyclists like wot Parris did.

cntl

>>Clarkson regarding his comment that cycle helmets were actually useful on the back of
>>research that showed that people wearing them were more likely to be struck by
>>vehcles.

Did he really say that? :shock: Where was that???

prj45

cntl wrote:

Did he really say that? :shock: Where was that???

It was in The Sun a couple of years ago.

There was quite a long thread on the C+ forums about it, I think its been lost now though.

Professorlandslide

Clarkson's always having a go at cyclists, more as a way of taking the pee out of Hammond and May (who both cycle) i suspect. Plus Top Gear has a habit of doing 'car vs bike' challenges where the car loses pathetically. Actually thats quite subversive...

Mapman

what about "well done to Parris for at least apologising " Even if his comments were irresponsible in the first place Because of course none of us have ever said anything stupid ourselves

pjh

Ermmm ... was it an apology?

What he said was ... "so many cyclists took what I said seriously ... that I must have misjudged it!" ... or words to that effect!

What he should have said was "It was a completely unacceptable thing to say, and I deeply regret it".

THAT would have been an apology, but THAT would have resulted in him losing his job and he just doesn't have the courage.

Gambatte

and his 'apology' was hidden away at the end of his latest article. Hardly given similar prominence

donnie murdo

Mapman wrote:
what about "well done to Parris for at least apologising " Even if his comments were irresponsible in the first place Because of course none of us have ever said anything stupid ourselves

I am sure that we all have but I doubt many of us have agreed to have our blatantly stupid and bilous words published in a national newspaper.

Mathew Pariss is quite obviously a complete idiot that has all the journalistic integrity and ability of his colleagues that write for the red topped rags.

helz

I don't think he's sorry at all - he was probably forced to apologise by his bosses at the Times because of the amount of complaints. His "I was only joking" excuse is typical behaviour of a bully. He hasn't withdrawn any of his comments - it seems the only thing he's willing to apologise for is the fact that his article got him in to a bit of trouble.

dirk_van_gently

How can you advocate violence, and then claim it was only a joke?

Would it have worked for Hitler? "Sorry Poland, only joking." :?

The "apology" is fankly very thin, he doesn't so much as apologise, as claim it's everyone elses fault for misunderstanding him.