Malgré-nous

[perrykneeham]

An occasional thread for examples of self-serving apologists and blatant hypocrisy excused by commercial expedience and/or political necessity.

I've seen a couple of examples of this recently but, for a flavour, I give you Boy George's appearance on I'm a Celebrity. Now, had his victim been a woman ....

[perrykneeham]

Gabby "Holding my Nose" Logan.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63607874

[flatandy]

Oh, the entire World Cup Industrial Complex in the west is full of it. So many people taking Qatari dimes and suddenly forgetting they are “good allies”. A full gamut from David Beckham to Jon Hamm to Gabby Logan.

The only people I give a bit of a pass to are the actual footballers, because footballers are dumb as a box of rocks, and also this is the only World Cup in 8 years so for someone aged, say, 26 - who was 22 and too young in Russia and will be 30 and too old for the US - may have no better opportunity to showcase themselves for a very short career. That said, the Denmark and Australia teams have done a far better job than many others in pointing out that they object to the whole thing but are playing because it’s the World Cup.

The French are probably among the worst, which is no surprise when their biggest club is owned by Qatar and sponsored by Qatar Air. For that reason you also won’t hear their star forwards Messi and Neymar make any mention of Qatari atrocities.

[perrykneeham]

You're right about footballers, which is ironic, as most of them are one ACL injury away from a career as an unskilled labourer.

[moggyonspeed]

Never been impressed by "Boy" George O'Dowd. One of those types who talks nonsense very rapidly by way of trying to sound intelligent. An opinionated ego and little more.

Dumb as paint.

[mids]

It's particularly bad here with people (the BBC) acting as if it's all a recent discovery. Qtar? No, really? Well I never!

[perrykneeham]

I used to deal with his brother, Kevin. Space cadet.

[perrykneeham]

That would have been while George was <ahem> unavailable to discuss property matters.

[wetkingcanute]

I've always liked Joe Lycett - and this is outstanding:

This is a message to David Beckham. I consider you, along with Kim Woodburn and Monty Don, to be a gay icon. You were the first premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines like Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans, and you married a Spice Girl, which is the gayest thing a human being can do.

But now it's 2022 and you've signed a reported £10 million deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup. Qatar was voted as the one of the worst places in the world to be gay - homosexuality is illegal, punishable by imprisonment, and if you're Muslim, possibly even death.

You have always talked about the power of football as a force for good. Which suggests to me you have never seen West Brom. But generally I agree - so with that in mind I'm giving you a choice. If you end your relationship with Qatar I will donate ten grand of my own money (that's a grand for every million you're reportedly getting) to charities that support queer people in football.

However, if you do not I will throw the money into a shredder at midday next Sunday, just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it right here. Not just the money, but also your status as gay icon will be shredded.

Also you'll be forcing me to commit what might be a crime. Although even then, I reckon I'll get off more lightly than I would if I got caught whacking off a lad in Doha.

The choice is yours. I look forward to hearing from you.

Joe Lycett

[moggyonspeed]

Very harsh on The Baggies, but yeah.

[perrykneeham]

I expect that bumfoolery still goes on in Qatar. Maybe they should point that out in order to highlight the absurdity of criminalising sexuality.

[perrykneeham]

Nov 15, 2022 13:13:22 GMT moggyonspeed said:

Very harsh on The Baggies, but yeah.

I imagine that's an in-house dig at Frank Skinner.

[moggyonspeed]

I mean, Jeff Astle 'n' that. Come ON!

[wetkingcanute]

and you married a Spice Girl, which is the gayest thing a human being can do.

[flatandy]

I'll admit to not having the faintest idea what Boy George is up to. And have no shame in admitting that I haven't the faintest idea what's happened in any "I'm A Celeb..." in the last decade. George has always been a bit f**k*d up, though, since his massive heroin binge through the 80s, so it would be no surprise if he said or did something a bit moronic.

[perrykneeham]

I'm usually surprised by how down to earth he is (apart from the silly chanting). At heart he's a Dartford geezer that just likes a bit of cock.

[perrykneeham]

Where is OOTLG by the way?

[wetkingcanute]

I've got to be careful with opinions about the football in Qatar.

England Men are scheduled to play three Test matches in Pakistan this December after the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the tour dates.

Don't want to have to half apologise for my blatant hypocrisy!


"I realised the implications but then I read the cheque."

[flatandy]

Pakistan seems to have a more tolerant government than Qatar. Tens of thousands of workers haven't died building stadia in Pakistan. And the cricket in Pakistan isn't a sportswashing event designed to give a veneer of respectability to the Pakistani government. It's just a test series. I wouldn't be too nice about the Pakistani government, but it's not quite a true equivalence.

[ootlg]

Nov 15, 2022 14:24:52 GMT perrykneeham said:

Where is OOTLG by the way?

Ah - Dartford Heath man eh? I'll have to reconsider our relationship - bit rough for me. I'm more of a Russell Square man.