I can not believe how unbalanced and bullish Richard was on the interview with the protestor and woman from Greenpeace. I have always been a big fan of the show but after that ego boosting display from Richard, which given the situation the planet is currently in, smacked of Geoge Bush levels of arrogance and ignorance.
I just posted a comment on this subject too, i'm absolutely horrified! I completely agree with you and Judy was obviously also feeling uncomfortable urging Richard to be quiet. It's disgusting!
R&J and their climate change/flying views (i.e they don't give a stuff) has become a running joke with me and my friends but the pro flying/anti climate change things seem to be all the time now and it's annoying.
Perhaps, apropos another Thread, the Heathrow protesters and trouble-makers could be rounded up by the Police or Army and slung into jail for a very long time.
i agree he is very arrogant! he just live for the moment. I wander what kind of world will leave for our grandchildren if people like him are running the planet.
Disgusting. Cheers to the interviewees for keeping their heads after not getting to talk on a show they've been invited on.
What the protesters said made a load of sense. Do we need holidays abroad anyway? Wouldn't holidays over here revitalise our seaside resorts and help our economy?
The interview was a sham. Serious views were not allowed to be aired. These protestors are fighting against expanding heathrow and other airports not the complete abolition of air travel. I fly occasionally but we've all got to pay a bit more, face disruption or change our habits soon or we'll be in a mess. Richard - you let yourself down, and I think you are way off the mark with what the majority of people think.
It wasn't even about the subject matter, it was more a case that he took it upon himself to bully two guests on the show. There was nothing balanced about the item and in his role as host, that is what he should have done. If Richard fancies himself as a sofa Jeremy Paxman, then he at leasts need to be less biased.
Richard has a tendency to air his (often inadequately informed) opinions with such excessive zeal, which in an interview situation is totally misplaced - the views of the interviewees become overshadowed, or are simply dismissed, thereby leading to bias. He seemed to be claiming that all airline passengers are innocent 'once-a-year' holiday makers, and that the protesters' sole intent was to maliciously deny these poor people their holiday, despite Jenny Jones' point that a third of all air passengers are in fact frequent flyers, which he ignored. Richard's over-indignation proved to be fairly tame however compared to Kevin O'Sullivan's insufferable ranting. And his hypocrisy was astounding. While objecting to the campaigners' "righteous", morally superior position, he then went on to propound the views of a kind of middle-aged chauvinism - that "young" (how old?) people should be neither seen nor heard, that "their" views are invalid. How unbearably superior and patronizing can you get?? What a wally. x
I have finally been logged on, after watching that disgraceful so-called interview by Richard, on that poor woman & guy. I was cringing so much at his bullish arrogant attitude, & couldn't believe Judy let him get away with it. Richard is the interviewer, and should of at least let the poor guy answer his questions. I WILL NOT BE WATCHING THIS DISGRACEFUL PROGRAMME AGAIN, I just about put up with Richard but this time he just went to far.
I hope he reads this forum & takes on board the comments & opinions of people, but he is so arrogant I doubt he will even be bothered. Poor Judy, how does she put up with him.
I also watched the discussion and found it disturbing. It was clear that Richard wasn't going to get detailed information about the proposed protest, so it was obvious that he was just trying to goad the guest protester into reacting.
Richards knowledge of environmental issues is not something to be proud of. I got the impression that Richard and Kevin O Sullivan were particularly angry because the protesters are highlighting a life style that Richard and Kevin are loath to give up, even if they endanger other peoples lives by not doing so.
Even someone like Richard can do a simple risk analysis of the climate change issue, taking into account both courses of action (reducing CO2 emissions or not) and work out that reducing emissions is logically the least risky path, no matter which side of the argument you take.
If the best that R&J could do was to invite a Mirror entertainment columnist into the discussion as an 'educated' opponent then it really sums up the level of discussion.
Both the protestor and Green party member showed a lot tolerance when confronted by the Richard and Kevin self centred rants. In many respects i'm pleased Kevin and Richard were angry, they are obviously worried about the inevitable changes that will occur in the future.
The above post refers to a post which for some reason has been deleted. It contained a reference to past-their-sell-by-date comedy duos. I read it earlier in the day. It was a well-reasoned and perfectly justified critique of Richard and Judy. Can't think why it was deleted.
I have never put a comment on a forum before but like others I have read, I felt compelled to after watching Richard Madeley's arrogant and rude attitude to the protesters of the Heathrow expansion. He completely missed another point too. That of the quality of life for the local residents who do not want extra noise, pollution and loss of land and homes. As someone who lives near Stansted Airport to which BAA want to add another runway they have my sympathies. Why should we all be railroaded into decisions without complaining? Good for the protesters and you can bet your life Richard does not live near an airport!
I did live for a couple a months under the flight path of aircraft landing and taking off at Gatwick. The point about those that want to fly is that they don't have to put up with this. Businesses and government can push through these plans knowing that most people don't care and are hooked on flying. The likes of Richard and Judy are addicted to an unsustainable life, thats why they get angry when some protesters threaten to take it away.
Perhaps if Richard and Judy didn't lead such an unsustainable life, they wouldn't look so haggared from all the sun... It's not the environment it's only destroying...
I live under the flight path and year on year it has got worse thanks to cheap flights and some of us don't have the option to move anywhere they wish to.
Originally posted by Charlie-bois: Perhaps if Richard and Judy didn't lead such an unsustainable life, they wouldn't look so haggared from all the sun... It's not the environment it's only destroying...
I live under the flight path and year on year it has got worse thanks to cheap flights and some of us don't have the option to move anywhere they wish to.
The trouble is that once you are caught in a trap like that, it can be quite difficult to get out because no one would be interested to buy the house.
I mean i once went to look at renting a property under the flight path near an airport and i didn't even want to rent it, the idea of buying such a place would be even worse.
I have often stayed in Richmond. The jumbo jets barely clear the roofttops, one every few minutes. Yet property remains the dearest in England. Odd that.
Originally posted by rothgar: I have often stayed in Richmond. The jumbo jets barely clear the roofttops, one every few minutes. Yet property remains the dearest in England. Odd that.
Well people do stupid things with their money, like buying black tulips as an investment.
