Times journalist makes 'sick' joke; offends cyclists; apologises

[rutabowa]

I wrote a letter to the editor of the times about this editorial. He responded with this email. It seems that James Harding sees the funny side about decapating cyclists and that I'm doing myself no favours by not seeing the funny side of this piece...

Dear Mr ,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about Matthew Parris's article (My Week, December 7).

As someone who regularly rides to work and who likes to go on cycling holidays, I shared your alarm, initially fearing that Matthew had it in for me too. But I think it was immediately clear that he was exaggerating for effect - and for a good cause: cyclists, as much as anyone else, must share his determination to protect the natural world from litter and pollution.

I have received many similar e-mails and take note of the heartfelt indignation. You may also have seen the piece that ran in the paper on Monday in defence of the cyclist. While I admire the passion of the cycling lobby and count myself one of their number, I think we do ourselves no favours when we lose our sense of humour and I hope that you, like me, will continue to enjoy Matthew Parris’s excellent writing. That said, two wheels good etc.


Yours,



James Harding​

ha so you really think that that reply could be summed up by "CHOPPING CYCLISTS HEADS OFF IS FUNNY LOL!!". you should work as a tabloid subeditor!

 

[editor]

"cyclists, as much as anyone else, must share his determination to protect the natural world from litter and pollution."

Pass the sickbag.

 

[gentlegreen]

His Wikipedia entry has been changed already. :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Parris

 

[lunatrick]

I find black humour funny.....so it was a bit tasteless - who cares? get hot under the collar about something actually matters....

 

[nino_savatte]

There is no 'problem.' He's a dickhead.

Quite, if this is his idea of being ever-so-controversial, then he's shot himself in the foot. He's also given succour/legitimation to all those wee shites who tie piano wire/fishing line across cycle paths for a larf.

I would even go so far as to say that Parris is representative of the anti-cycling tendency in this country. The UK is quite probably the least cycle-friendly nation in Europe. This article serves as a reminder that we have a long way to go to get real recognition.

 

[rutabowa]

Quite, if this is his idea of being ever-so-controversial, then he's shot himself in the foot.

no he hasn't, he's got quite a few people a bit annoyed.

 

[fredfelt]

I find black humour funny.....so it was a bit tasteless - who cares? get hot under the collar about something actually matters....

I didn't get particularly hot under the collar about the story (the email I sent to James is below).

But I think this kind of story 'normalises' the idea that it's OK chastise cyclists. While out on my bike on more times than I care to think of I've had abuse of some kind from passing cars, abuse in terms of being shouted at, having things thrown at me and being run off the road.

This story alone does not really matter but I care as I've been on the receiving end of mindless abuse, which you could say this editorial was.

Dear Sir

Is Matthew Parris craving any attention he can get through his column or does he really want to see cyclists lynched and decapitated?

Your faithfully​

 

[rutabowa]

Dear Sir

Is Matthew Parris craving any attention he can get through his column or does he really want to see cyclists lynched and decapitated?

Your faithfully​

If you send a disingenuous message like that you've got to expect a sarcastic reply really.

 

[fredfelt]

If you send a disingenuous message like that you've got to expect a sarcastic reply really.

Point taken. But the same reply was sent to everyone who contacted the editor about this story.

 

[kyser_soze]

Storm in a teacup - worse is written on here and elsewhere. It was a stupid thing to say, but then journos say a lot of stupid things.

 

[Giles]

They appear to have locked-out that article.

Well, I just clicked on the link 2 mins ago and it worked fine.

Giles..

 

[gentlegreen]

At the end of the day, like Boris, he's a rich Tory with three houses and a NIMBY attitude.

Please, nobody tell me something nasty about Polly Toynbee or Yasmin Alibi-Brown.
That really would upset me.

(yes I know, they're wealthy too ..)

 

[fredfelt]

Storm in a teacup - worse is written on here and elsewhere. It was a stupid thing to say, but then journos say a lot of stupid things.

Tend to agree.

But but replace the word ‘cyclist’ with ‘homosexual’, and other choice edits...

A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire at the entrances to gay bars to decapitate homosexuals.
....
No, yet another homo-generated horror – and a new one – has come to my attention this Christmas. They’re chucking their empty moisturiser pots into hedgerows as they pass on the way to Hampstead Heath.​

A cut and paste from here

http://quickrelease.tv/

 

[nino_savatte]

no he hasn't, he's got quite a few people a bit annoyed.

He represents the anti-cycling tendency that dominates this country. As I said (in the unedited portions) in my post: Britain is the least cycle-friendly nation in Europe. Parris is merely saying the things that many people think...a little like the bigotry that was spouted by Alf Garnett: he voiced the things that many people were thinking.

 

[rutabowa]

Tend to agree.

But but replace the word ‘cyclist’ with ‘homosexual’, and other choice edits...

A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire at the entrances to gay bars to decapitate homosexuals.
....
No, yet another homo-generated horror – and a new one – has come to my attention this Christmas. They’re chucking their empty moisturiser pots into hedgerows as they pass on the way to Hampstead Heath.​

A cut and paste from here

http://quickrelease.tv/

er the guy who wrote that "parody" seemed to be enjoying himself a bit too much. the day when cyclists have lived through centuries of systematic, violent abuse, from church and state, and still live in daily fear of violence and murder in many place in the world (and to a certain extent here still), taht will be the day when i am offended by an article taking the piss out of them.

 

[_angel_]

My ex boyfriend knows Matthew Parris quite well.

This attention seeking article doesn't surprise me much, more surprising is that people have bitten!

 

[Lock&Light]

but anyone who was gay and a member of the Thatcher govt

Mathew Parris was never a member of Thatcher's government, as far as I can remember.

 

[fredfelt]

er the guy who wrote that "parody" seemed to be enjoying himself a bit too much. the day when cyclists have lived through centuries of systematic, violent abuse, from church and state, and still live in daily fear of violence and murder in many place in the world (and to a certain extent here still), taht will be the day when i am offended by an article taking the piss out of them.

That chap was just another guy writing an editorial. It was not meant to be taken seriously.

 

[rutabowa]

That chap was just another guy writing an editorial. It was not meant to be taken seriously.

do you not see a difference between homophobia and disliking cyclists?

 

[kyser_soze]

1. There are plenty of threads on here where urbanites call for the nasty deaths of a wide range of different people that would likely create as much offence as the Parris article did. The fact that it's not in a national newpaper is moot - if someone can remind me of how many unique page views this site gets a day?

2. I nominate this for the first 'Perenially Indignant' thread on Urban in 2008...pretty good going...

get over yourselves people.

 

[Herbsman.]

Name one homosexual who has 'lived through centuries of systematic, violent abuse'

And if he/she exists, I want to know the secret of how they lived that long.

 

[_angel_]

1. There are plenty of threads on here where urbanites call for the nasty deaths of a wide range of different people that would likely create as much offence as the Parris article did. The fact that it's not in a national newpaper is moot - if someone can remind me of how many unique page views this site gets a day?

2. I nominate this for the first 'Perenially Indignant' thread on Urban in 2008...pretty good going...

get over yourselves people.

If I erupted with righteous anger the number of times newspaper 'journalists' have slagged single mums/ benefit claimants I wouldn't make it out the door !!

 

[lunatrick]

I know - get a grip.......'cyclists are being persecuted...etc' wtf

 

[rutabowa]

Name one homosexual who has 'lived through centuries of systematic, violent abuse'

And if he/she exists, I want to know the secret of how they lived that long.

that is a pretty stupid thing to say.

 

[nino_savatte]

1. There are plenty of threads on here where urbanites call for the nasty deaths of a wide range of different people that would likely create as much offence as the Parris article did. The fact that it's not in a national newpaper is moot - if someone can remind me of how many unique page views this site gets a day?

2. I nominate this for the first 'Perenially Indignant' thread on Urban in 2008...pretty good going...

get over yourselves people.

While there may be some truth to what you say, Britain is still the least cycle-friendly nation in Europe and most local authorities can't be arsed to make life safer for cyclists. Parris said what a lot of people were already thinking.

 

[Herbsman.]

that is a pretty stupid thing to say.

So people do live for centuries? Right, ok...

 

[Herbsman.]

I know - get a grip.......'cyclists are being persecuted...etc' wtf

You might find this interesting

 

[beeboo]

1. There are plenty of threads on here where urbanites call for the nasty deaths of a wide range of different people that would likely create as much offence as the Parris article did.

I think there is a difference between casual hyperbole of the "I hope they drop dead" and actually leading an article with such a brazen statement, admittedly not one that is intended to be taken seriously.

I've got no problem with the rest of the article (typical coloumnist sound-off) and in context the excerpts don't actually sound so bad. But it is still misjudged.

The fact that it's not in a national newpaper is moot - if someone can remind me of how many unique page views this site gets a day?

I think it's pretty ludicrous to suggest I have the same responsibilities when I post here to if I was paid journalist writing in a national newspaper.

 

[nino_savatte]

You might find this interesting

An inconvenient truth for motorists and those who bat for them.

 

[rutabowa]

So people do live for centuries? Right, ok...

so is your point that there can't be such a thing as historical homophobia? because as every person is born all of preceding history is wiped out? or what is your point?