I hate Comic Relief.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 06:28 AM

Oddly enough, I didn't see a single red nose all day on Friday, until I left the office at 5. Then it was the bloke who hands out free papers by the station. Everyone else seemed as miserable as buggery.

Nothing happened in our office - we're all too deep in the sh!t to respond to humourous attempts to get us to donate.

LTS

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 06:44 AM

It just goes to show you can never be too careful! (David Mitchell's Soapbox feature in the Guardian).

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 09:26 AM

Thank you for that Jeri - it always helps to have confirmation I am not wholly barking mad...

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: goatfell
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 10:19 AM

that is how they are millionares because they don't spend any money but the guillable British public will. I too hate Comic Relief. you get some famous person in Africa with Millions in their bank and they'll say "you know, only £100,000 will bring some relief to this village." well go to your bank lift out £100,000 and give it to them. you mean tight fisted people. Until the millionare celebs put their hands in their pockets I won't.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: Stu
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 11:19 AM

"The real problem with Comic Relief is that it is a mere palliative, so it relieves governments from doing what they ought to do and those who ought to rise in revolution from doing just that."

That's not Comic Relief's problem; it's the fact the British Public never hold their politicians to account for their lack of action, or their wilful ignorance.

We've become a nation of narcissistic, unquestioning goons, which is why Comic Relief, Children in Need, The Six O'Clock News etc are all so banal. That said, I contribute to the appeal because "Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little" as some burke said.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 02:51 PM

First they take the pressure off governments

Governments will never be able to hand over money to other governments with proper the strings attached. The receiving nation would find that too meddling/threatening.

Second they palliate and and thereby delay merited revolution

Difficult to imagine children in any country making a revolution. If you are under 15, and you are a carer, or abused, or orphaned or ill, what voice do you have save through those who will take up the banner on your behalf.

Until the millionare celebs put their hands in their pockets I won't

Which millionaire celeb did you mean? How do you know how much they gave or didn't give? How do you know that what they gave (if they did) was or wasn't proportionate to their earnings/worth as anyone else's?

You don't know. You can't know. If you don't want give to a cause, that's fine, that is your choice. I have no problem with that. But please don't base your reason for not giving on an unknown.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: kendall
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 03:13 PM

Shooting from the hip seldom hits the right target.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 03:58 PM

The £59 million raised, if paid for by the 26 million taxpayers would cost each one less than 5p a week. But of course that would not be a vote catcher.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: Anne Lister
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 04:18 PM

If it was paid for by the taxpayers it would be regarded, rightly, as government expenditure. It would be more difficult to target, it almost certainly wouldn't reach the groups Comic Relief have decided to help and it would cause a lot of people to feel snarky because they wouldn't have a choice about whether or not to contribute. This way, whether or not you like the comedy and the antics, each of us has a clear choice about whether or not to dip into our pockets and for how much if we do. And if you don't like the comedy on television or radio, for heaven's sake do what you would do normally and control the "off" buttons. There are other channels, after all.

As to the celebs - I very much doubt whether they take any pay for visiting the various places and spending time with the various projects, which means that quite apart from any monies they might contribute they're certainly giving their (expensive)time to help. The locations aren't exactly glamorous and you can see that the presenters go through an emotional wringer. Quite apart from Comic Relief, a lot of celebs do a huge amount of work for charities and it very rarely gets any attention because they very properly don't publicise it. But if you were to hear that Lenny Henry or Ricky Gervais or any of the others had contributed shedloads of money does that mean you WOULD contribute?

By all means choose not to give any of your money if you don't think it's worthwhile. But I'm not sure that means you're entitled to knock those people who are trying to raise funds or those who are wanting to contribute.

One day every two years ...is that too much of a strain on your smile muscles?

Anne

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 04:26 PM

Peace - the Leak joke works better if it's the bathroom SINK.

You're welcome.

Seamus

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: GUEST,Green Wellies
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 04:50 AM

Nobody forces anyone to join in/take part/spend money/smile. If you not interested stay away.

Stop moaning and trying to spoil it for the others who are having a laugh

Miserable buggers.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: Stu
Date: 16 Mar 09 - 09:08 AM

Too right.

And the Peter Kay video is still funny after all these years.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: GUEST,HarryIsFat
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 05:17 PM

I was sick to death of it last year. All the epic TV failures on the big comic relief show were enough to drive me insane. The radio presenters just wouldn't shut up about it so I just used my iPod to listento music at that time.

My school wasted the day on stupid jokes and stuff like dressing silly and tickling people's feet. I have never thought anything they do on comic relief funny at all, though I couldn't agree more with raising money for charity.

All in all I just support comic relief for the sake of Africa, not to burst out laughing at all the immature things that happen at the time.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 02:32 AM

Comic relief??You mean to tell me that we're having some more elections, coming up????

GfS

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 02:37 AM

There are other kinds of Relief that I certainly prefer!

~M~

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 03:17 AM

You mean Sports Relief, MtheGM?

DC

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 04:04 AM

Sports of a sort, DC.

Subject: RE: I hate Comic Relief.
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 05:24 AM

I just watched some 'news' on the elections...then went to the bathroom..I turned off the T.V...and flushed the toilet...What a RELIEF on both counts!!!
....Watching the shit going 'round in circles'....and that was BEFORE I went to the bathroom!!!

Now, I need more toilet paper...When do the voting polls open?...Could always use the ballots!!!

GfS