[caprice]

On the wife beater thread I posted about the reply I had to a mail informing Derwentside Council that their Ambassador for Youth advertises himself as a wife beater.

(For those that missed the original webpage that was taken down this morning, the before and after pictures are here http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7.../new--page.jpg )

As mentioned on the other thread, I don't know whether I am allowed to post the mail in full, however, it opens with the remark that they want to "put the record straight, Derwentside District Council has not made any Civic Award to Anthony" and go on to explain that it was Derwentside Youth Forum, various schools and their young citizens that voted Anthony in.

Does that sound like backpeddling to you?

[Electra]

It does a bit.

[caprice]

My mail is from the councillor mentioned in this BBC article

"Council leader Councillor Alex Watson said: "Anthony has certainly put Consett on the map.

"We are pleased to be able to recognise Anthony's achievement by bestowing upon him the honour as ambassador for young people. We hope that he will help us motivate other young people in the district to achieve personal success." "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/4155920.stm

He is now telling me that the council didn't bestow it.

How odd.

[Parmesan]

still can't spell can he?

Puerto

[demorules]

Well my question that would be: when there was criticism from the opposition groups about that this was a waste of taxpayers money, etc., why didn't they just say "he's been voted in by various schools and young citizens so we had no real choice but to serve the interests and views of the youth of Derwentside" and that would've killed the argument dead, surely?

Sounds like they think they jumped into the water without checking the temperature first, to me.

[caprice]

Originally Posted by demorules

Well my question that would be: when there was criticism from the opposition groups about that this was a waste of taxpayers money, etc., why didn't they just say "he's been voted in by various schools and young citizens so we had no real choice but to serve the interests and views of the youth of Derwentside" and that would've killed the argument dead, surely?

Sounds like they think they jumped into the water without checking the temperature first, to me.

I know.

The mail also says, in answer to my question about the wife-beating image, that anyone "taking part (in Big Brother) is expected to play up and be controversial" and that "if you want to watch it you switch it on."

Presumably these patronising remarks have been used in reply to others' complaints about the Anthony's image in the programme (they are nothing to do with the wife beating) and they have just trotted out the same reply to me.

[demorules]

Originally Posted by caprice

I know.

The mail also says, in answer to my question about the wife-beating image, that anyone "taking part (in Big Brother) is expected to play up and be controversial" and that "if you want to watch it you switch it on."

Presumably these patronising remarks have been used in reply to others' complaints about the Anthony's image in the programme (they are nothing to do with the wife beating) and they have just trotted out the same reply to me.

That's quite unbelievable, really. Backtracking would be putting it mildly.

The point is is that not just Anthony, but in my eyes, any Big Brother contestant, is not someone who we should be using as an example to the youth. It sends out completely the wrong message but it now seems like the council are trying to justify it by telling you if you don't want to watch it, then don't.

That's not what the issue is at all. The issue is whether we should be making examples of these people and saying "this is what you, as a young person, should aspire to be".

And there is playing up and being controversial and then there's crossing the line, in my opinion. Anthony said some awful things about women (not just the wife beating thing, but some of the things he said in the house) and it would seem that he treats them as objects rather than human beings. I can't believe they're trying to justify their decision by basically telling you to switch off if you don't want to watch it, which isn't the argument at all.

[caprice]

Here is the email in full. I have taken out personal addresses etc. The paragraphing, grammar and bold text etc. is as I received it.

"Hi, Firstly can I put the record straight, Derwentside District Council has not made any Civic Award to Anthony, the award was made by Derwentside Youth Forum and represent various Schools in the District and indeed have their own polling day every two years. These young citizens are very responsible and come from good families and certainly know and appreciate that Big Brother is outrageous viewing and that anyone taking part is expected to play up and be controversial, like any soap opera its considered to be entertainment and if you want to watch it you switch it on.
Anthony is a local lad well known for his activities in sport and is well liked for his personality, by his family and friends that know him, indeed he does have family values.
The youth forum far from adopting a negative approach feel that young people relate to him and used in the right ways can do a lot of good as outside his Big Brother image he is considered to be a nice lad. "

My email addressed the wife beating issue. Theirs does not.

[Arnostae's Mum]

Sounds as if the reply I received is similar to yours. I got the impression that he was trying the "It wasn't my fault" routine.


Editing to add... your email is exactly the same as mine, including strange sentence structure.

[caprice]

Originally Posted by Arnostae's Mum

Sounds as if the reply I received is similar to yours. I got the impression that he was trying the "It wasn't my fault" routine.

Right. Was your query about the wife beating also?

I don't live in that area. If the council (or whoever it really was ) want to choose a Big Brother contestant as a local ambassador, that is up to them and the people that he will represent.

My concern is that he is an ambassador for youth, yet was advertising himself as a wife beater.

The webpage has been taken down so maybe the complaints were heard but no one has addressed this issue with me. Instead, they have chosen to ignore it. My local council does not behave like that!

[Parmesan]

thanks caprice - not really interested are they? typical

[Arnostae's Mum]

Yes, I queried the reason for making someone, whose web page advertises him as being a wifebeater, an ambassador for young people. That is not the image I'd expect of an ambassador.

I bet they didn't expect the backlash they received.

[caprice]

Originally Posted by Parmesan

thanks caprice - not really interested are they? typical

Originally Posted by Arnostae's Mum

I bet they didn't expect the backlash they received.

Nope!

At least the abuse remarks have been removed from the page.

Perhaps the complaints will make the council think twice in future instead of getting carried away with the idea of a "local lad" representing them just because he may or may not have sh*gged some girl on the telly!

[grannyzee]

Originally Posted by caprice

I know.

The mail also says, in answer to my question about the wife-beating image, that anyone "taking part (in Big Brother) is expected to play up and be controversial" and that "if you want to watch it you switch it on."

Presumably these patronising remarks have been used in reply to others' complaints about the Anthony's image in the programme (they are nothing to do with the wife beating) and they have just trotted out the same reply to me.

I'll bet they've had to take on ten new staff, just to handle the complaints!

[brightlights]

That reply could make them look really bad, I think. If it was going to be played up in the press, then the dialogue looks like this:

Caprice: Your Ambassador for Youth thinks wifebeating is funny.
Derwentshire Council: Stop kicking up a fuss. Big Brother contestants are expected to be controversial!

Is it just me, or is that some truly terrible PR there? Anyway. Thanks for posting that, it's very interesting.

[caprice]

Originally Posted by brightlights

That reply could make them look really bad, I think. If it was going to be played up in the press, then the dialogue looks like this:

Caprice: Your Ambassador for Youth thinks wifebeating is funny.
Derwentshire Council: Stop kicking up a fuss. Big Brother contestants are expected to be controversial!

Is it just me, or is that some truly terrible PR there? Anyway. Thanks for posting that, it's very interesting.

Thanks. Unfortunately I've had a bit of stick overnight for "kicking up a fuss" . Some forum members think I should not be speaking out on this issue - I wonder why?

[glenshane]

Originally Posted by caprice

Thanks. Unfortunately I've had a bit of stick overnight for "kicking up a fuss" . Some forum members think I should not be speaking out on this issue - I wonder why?

I for one am delighted that you have brought this issue to our attention and taken the time to question Derwentside Council on it. Thank you caprice.

[roger rabbit]

Originally Posted by caprice

Anthony is a local lad well known for his activities in sport and is well liked for his personality, by his family and friends that know him, indeed he does have family values.
"

My email addressed the wife beating issue. Theirs does not.

Perhaps accepted family values in Consett consist in giving the wife or girlfriend a good slap when she does something serious - eg if she fails to pass the remote control quickly when asked.

I understand this is also a cultural norm in Hull and that in parts of Wales a woman is regarded as less valuable than a brace of sheep.

[brunobrookes]

Have the papers picked up on this yet? Since the page has changed, it might be too late. But there must be some mileage in the publicity-grabbing council response.