A Certain Level of Crappiness

I really don't mean to sound like an elitist bore.

I was watching that Vincent Browne show on TV3 a while ago and Ivan Yates was on it. I might have talked about this before I'm getting deja vu. But I thought, he really belongs on this show. He's fairly rubbish and he's found his level. It's the same with Terry Prone and David MacWilliams. They're like pigs in muck on that programme.

It's the same with the Irish Independent. I used to read the Indo frequently. But in the past few years I think it's really gone downhill. And not in a faded dame kind of way, looking back on better days. They really seem to like being shite, you get the feeling they're all saying "why didn't we try this before?" They ran a series of articles based around the Bridget Jones film, then they started a column entitled the Diary of a thirty something divorcee. I had enough by then.

It's the contented nature that really gets me. Oh, why aren't they ashamed of themselves for being lightweights? The Indo and TV3 in general (though their sports coverage isn't as bad as Montrose would like us to believe), David MacWilliams and his godawful books and Eddie Hobbs. All should be ashamed and should try harder. I'm giving myself a headache now.

But the Indo far outsells the Times and the Examiner. And you don't need me to tell you that.

I disagree about Ivan Yates though. I think he can fit in anywhere, he's very clever and able and has the common touch. In fact, I'd venture that if he was still with FG, he'd be leader and they'd be in power.

Oh this is where we really get snotty.

I know the Indo and MacWilliams sell well. Who in God name is their target audience? I always get this impression of some idiot office worker in Dublin (I'm sure MacWilliams has a handy stereotype) thinking "look at me, I'm reading about important stuff".

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

905 wrote:

Oh this is where we really get snotty.

I know the Indo and MacWilliams sell well. Who in God name is their target audience? I always get this impression of some idiot office worker in Dublin (I'm sure MacWilliams has a handy stereotype) thinking "look at me, I'm reading about important stuff".

I'm not sure McWilliams has a target audience. The Irish media is a curious beast. The pool is so small that various outlets continue to place their faith and advertising revenue in the hands of vacuous tossers like David McWilliams. In what other country would a person like Brendan O'Connor be permitted to call himself a journalist?

The reporting in the Independent is alright. It is certainly no worse than the times. It is the quality of analysis that has descended to previously unforseen depths of awfulness. The op-ed section is hilariously bad.

There, there 905.

I don't know who the target audience is - but I know there are umpteen shops I call in to and can't get the Times in after eleven o'clock because they only order a couple for regular readers but the Indo is stacked high because everyone - and I mean everyone reads it.

The reporting is subtly different in the Times and Indo, who will always look for the sexier angle whereas the Times want the news without the frills.

David McWilliams is a purveyor of come all ye economics. He's the modern equivalent of the guy who says, 'now that one is your typical such and such...;' a kind of Swiss Tony for the economy. I saw him speak at a literary lunch just before Christmas and he was blown out of the water by Anne Enright (obviously more intelligent and subtle) and Paul Howard, aka Ross O'Carroll Kelly who presented a hilarious and obviously well prepared speech; Mc Williams winged it and was funny but utterly lazy. I Was Not Impressed.

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

Hmm. Irish Times, I think. I'm not sure you should underline things though. It suggests you're hard of reading.

ibis wrote:

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

Hmm. Irish Times, I think. I'm not sure you should underline things though. It suggests you're hard of reading.

Depends on the pub though. The Indo is well posh enough for most pubs.
Bearing in mind the competition are carrying a rolled up copy of The Star in the arse pocket with potential 4:30 Doncaster winners marked in spit.

ibis wrote:

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

Hmm. Irish Times, I think. I'm not sure you should underline things though. It suggests you're hard of reading.

Just do the crossword. Avoid Sudoku.

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

The Irish Catholic.

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

Le Monde, obviously.

Quote :

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

The International Herald Tribune?

Kate P wrote:

Quote :

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

The International Herald Tribune?

The IHT, Kate? Posh? Really? I would never consider it posh, read as it is mainly by travelling Anerican business men on a tight budget. Hardly posh. That is also the view I would have of the WTJ.

They are both posher, however, than the Evening Herald.

What's that crazy one called, Alive? There was a woman used to give me that every week in a previous job I did.

Quote :

The IHT, Kate? Posh? Really? I would never consider it posh, read as it is mainly by travelling Anerican business men on a tight budget. Hardly posh. That is also the view I would have of the WTJ.

I was looking at the criteria rather than the publication; a French man, in an Irish pub, alone and trying hard to appear posh (in an Irish pub, alone) and willing to underline (with a highlighter?)...

Kate P wrote:

Quote :

The IHT, Kate? Posh? Really? I would never consider it posh, read as it is mainly by travelling Anerican business men on a tight budget. Hardly posh. That is also the view I would have of the WTJ.

I was looking at the criteria rather than the publication; a French man, in an Irish pub, alone and trying hard to appear posh (in an Irish pub, alone) and willing to underline (with a highlighter?)...

Maybe you are right I am finding that I require a certain willing suspension of disbelief to imagine a Frenchman reading/holding/underlining an American newspaper believing he looks "posh". But maybe he would.

I'm finding I require a degree of suspended disbelief to imagine a Frenchman who thinks he requires any external accoutrements to appear 'posh'.

Arnaud, defend yourself!!

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

The Irish Arts magazine, it's pretty intimidating to the great unwashed uncultured plebs. It's like kryptonite to the Heat-reading classes. Also, read it with a haughty pout, it'll be a great portrait.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

The Irish Arts magazine, it's pretty intimidating to the great unwashed uncultured plebs. It's like kryptonite to the Heat-reading classes. Also, read it with a haughty pout, it'll be a great portrait.

Wouldn't you need a vintage Brandy to go with that?

johnfás wrote:

What's that crazy one called, Alive? There was a woman used to give me that every week in a previous job I did.

And it didn't turn you Catholic? Damnit, we've programmed it to convert all errants to the One True Faith. We'll have to recall it for refitting, it just ain't strong enough. We'll have to knock a few heads together at the Primate's palace.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

arnaudherve wrote:

What should I read if I sit alone in a pub in Dublin, and want to appear too posh for everybody?

I'm not interested in reading I just want to look important. I can even hold a pen in my hand and underline things if necessary.

The Irish Arts magazine, it's pretty intimidating to the great unwashed uncultured plebs. It's like kryptonite to the Heat-reading classes. Also, read it with a haughty pout, it'll be a great portrait.

Wouldn't you need a vintage Brandy to go with that?

Oh, for sure. And arnaud will have to get a Bach ringtone for his mobile.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

We'll have to knock a few heads together at the Primate's palace.

I was under the impression that there was a particular disdain on the part of the clergy towards that particular publication.

johnfás wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

We'll have to knock a few heads together at the Primate's palace.

I was under the impression that there was a particular disdain on the part of the clergy towards that particular publication.

Oh, that's just for PR. We can't be seen to be too closely linked to the publication. It wouldn't suit our agenda to be associated publicly. But it is the Irish Catholic Trojan Horse. It's all part of a Catholic plot, COIboy!

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

COIboy!

I am not! I'll hold you in contempt for that!

johnfás wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

COIboy!

I am not! I'll hold you in contempt for that!

Oh, are you one of them Methodonists then?