This Harvey Weinstein fellow; he's clearly something of a knob.

[Peter]

If I thought you were being serious, the logical outcome of this would be that those women who submit to sleaze-bags and screw their way to the top will do so at the expense of those who don't. A system which seems to ecapsulate and reward prostitution and sexual predatism.

I am being serious. We are not talking about a job in the civil service here. Its Hollywood, it happens.

And can we please not indulge the fantasy that it is only women who suffer from this. There are plenty of stories of similar things happening to young boys, far younger than these women. Nobody seems to give a **** about that but they want me to get all bent out of shape because a few grossly ambitious young models and actresses were asked to suck a cock to get ahead (pun intended).

I heard one of the secretly recorded incidents on the radio and yes, its creepy, pretty gross. But the hacks on radio 5 falling over themselves in their gushing condemnation (oh my word, isn't it disgusting/appalling/horrifying/simply the worst thing ever) was arguably worse.

**** all this ****. I am not falling for it again.

Bloody women

[Burney]

I am being serious. We are not talking about a job in the civil service here. Its Hollywood, it happens.

And can we please not indulge the fantasy that it is only women who suffer from this. There are plenty of stories of similar things happening to young boys, far younger than these women. Nobody seems to give a **** about that but they want me to get all bent out of shape because a few grossly ambitious young models and actresses were asked to suck a cock to get ahead (pun intended).

I heard one of the secretly recorded incidents on the radio and yes, its creepy, pretty gross. But the hacks on radio 5 falling over themselves in their gushing condemnation (oh my word, isn't it disgusting/appalling/horrifying/simply the worst thing ever) was arguably worse.

**** all this ****. I am not falling for it again.

Bloody women

There was a great twitter exchange involving Jessica Chastain that summed up the hypocrisy rather nicely, I thought.

She tweeted 'I was warned from the beginning. The stories were everywhere.'. Someone asked her why she hadn't said anything and she said 'It wasn't my story to tell. That was up to the victims.'

Righto, love.

[Peter]

There was a great twitter exchange involving Jessica Chastain that summed up the hypocrisy rather nicely, I thought.

She tweeted 'I was warned from the beginning. The stories were everywhere.'. Someone asked her why she hadn't said anything and she said 'It wasn't my story to tell. That was up to the victims.'

Righto, love.

On the recording she has a hundred opportunities to say '**** off you old pervert, touch me and I will kill you'. she doesn't because she is secretly recording him.

I am not defending the chap, he is clearly a tosser. However.... if they were very clear in their minds that they weren't willing to do any that in return for the help he was offering it would be a simple parting of the ways. The tragedy is many of them would be willing and many others would at least consider it.

That doesn't make it right but it tells you something.....

[Burney]

On the recording she has a hundred opportunities to say '**** off you old pervert, touch me and I will kill you'. she doesn't because she is secretly recording him.

I am not defending the chap, he is clearly a tosser. However.... if they were very clear in their minds that they weren't willing to do any that in return for the help he was offering it would be a simple parting of the ways. The tragedy is many of them would be willing and many others would at least consider it.

That doesn't make it right but it tells you something.....

It sounds to me like a lot of those who knowingly and consensually took the horizontal route to stardom are now using this to rewirite history by talking tearfully of how they were 'abused' as opposed to having entered into a mutually-beneficial compact with their eyes (and legs) open.

See Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie's 'confessions' for examples of this.

[Peter]

It sounds to me like a lot of those who knowingly and consensually took the horizontal route to stardom are now using this to rewirite history by talking tearfully of how they were 'abused' as opposed to having entered into a mutually-beneficial compact with their eyes (and legs) open.

See Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie's 'confessions' for examples of this.

One small part of a growing trend of modern women showing a preference for playing the victim over embracing the notion of accountability. One can accept that one 'did what it took to get to the top' or that one was a victim of a man abusing his power. Both are arguably true.

I am afraid I see this at work all the time. Scores of women ruthlessly and shamelessly forcing their way into management roles. Once there they demonstrate a thoroughly one-dimensional view of 'responsibility' ...they embrace the power but are seemingly incapable of accepting the fact that being responsible for something entails being accountable for it going wrong. THe minute is goes wrong the finger pointing starts, the blame shifting and, inevitably, the accusations of sexism/racism/take your pick.

Accountability is a thing of the past eplaced by the idea that by definition a victim can never be to blame.

Rant over

[redgunamo]

One small part of a growing trend of modern women showing a preference for playing the victim over embracing the notion of accountability. One can accept that one 'did what it took to get to the top' or that one was a victim of a man abusing his power. Both are arguably true.

I am afraid I see this at work all the time. Scores of women ruthlessly and shamelessly forcing their way into management roles. Once there they demonstrate a thoroughly one-dimensional view of 'responsibility' ...they embrace the power but are seemingly incapable of accepting the fact that being responsible for something entails being accountable for it going wrong. THe minute is goes wrong the finger pointing starts, the blame shifting and, inevitably, the accusations of sexism/racism/take your pick.

Accountability is a thing of the past eplaced by the idea that by definition a victim can never be to blame.

Rant over

My word, P. Have you ever considered becoming a Lefty?

[Peter]

My word, P. Have you ever considered becoming a Lefty?

THis has nothing to do with high politics. Its the creeping social politics that Sir C is always blithering on about.

In my day only the weak willed allowed themselves to be viewed as victims. These days its a badge of honour.

In fact, it is merely an excuse.

[redgunamo]

It sounds to me like a lot of those who knowingly and consensually took the horizontal route to stardom are now using this to rewirite history by talking tearfully of how they were 'abused' as opposed to having entered into a mutually-beneficial compact with their eyes (and legs) open.

See Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie's 'confessions' for examples of this.

You want them to give their Oscars back?

Seriously, all this sort of thing doesn't really do anybody any good, does it.

[Burney]

You want them to give their Oscars back?

Seriously, all this sort of thing doesn't really do anybody any good, does it.

Well they largely got them because Weinstein was infamously zealous in the Oscar campaigns on behalf of his films, so if they’re being consistent and not utterly hypocritical...yes.

[redgunamo]

Well they largely got them because Weinstein was infamously zealous in the Oscar campaigns on behalf of his films, so if they’re being consistent and not utterly hypocritical...yes.

Of course, but if it's been traditional to qualify for awards that way, going back decades, where will it all end.

As I said, this sort of thing doesn't really do anybody any good.