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Stupid footballer!

(97 Posts)
Greatnan Sat 04-May-13 08:38:41

This is hilarious:

www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2012/nov/26/joey-barton-english-french-accent-video

Sel Sat 04-May-13 23:56:00

Pot, black and kettle spring to mind

gillybob Sun 05-May-13 08:52:34

I "know him" Greatnan did you miss my post that said I swam with him in Majorca? Surely that qualifies as "knowing" someone . grin

Greatnan Sun 05-May-13 08:54:33

Quite right, Gilly, but I don't think you are amongst the people queueing up to have a go at me!

gillybob Sun 05-May-13 08:58:14

No way Greatnan just enjoying the silliness as usual. grin

By the way I was going to put this on the sayings thread but it may be more appropriate here;

Our family have a saying Stupid couldn't come so he sent Gillybob

Or nosy couldn't come so he sent Gillybob get the idea? grin

Greatnan Sun 05-May-13 08:59:59

And have you been traumatised, Gilly, or scarred for life? grin

whenim64 Sun 05-May-13 09:00:14

Turn the other cheek, Greatnan. It wasn't posted with malice but for fun. This clip has been aired on one of the comedy panel shows a month or two back, and the whole audience was in stitches. It's reminiscent of the French policeman in 'Allo, 'Allo grin

Greatnan Sun 05-May-13 09:15:41

No problem, when, I am inured to being the usual target for some people!
My three words would be water, duck's and back!

Nonu Sun 05-May-13 09:31:12

Morning Gilly, wasn"t available last night so missed this thread .

One question , does he wear speedo"s ??

remember on year in Mauritius , this German chap wore a thong , I can tell you ^ that^ put the cat among the pigeons . Laugh !!

gillybob Sun 05-May-13 09:34:07

No Greatnan of course not. Here in the North East we often use the word stupid in place of silly so telling someone that they were being stupid would not really be offensive at all. I think the way it is said and meant is the key and certainly nothing worth getting your knickers in a twist over. smile

gillybob Sun 05-May-13 09:36:29

Good morning Nonu Oh yuk speedos or to give them their other name Budgie smugglers grin

No he was wearing nice swim shorts with CALL ME STUPID printed across the bum ! grin

Nonu Sun 05-May-13 09:37:40

Gilly, LOL . CSL .

wink

absent Sun 05-May-13 09:37:51

I can't play the video so I haven't heard him, but if he is talking "Good moaning" English, then he really is a bit of a clot.

Petula Clark has, by now, lived in France for about 100 years, yet, apart from a slight nasal quality, her English remains impeccable.

Greatnan Sun 05-May-13 09:39:55

Yes, absent , exactly like 'Good moaning'!

Nelliemoser Sun 05-May-13 09:41:10

The word stupid seem to have a number of definitions as it is in popular usee.

www.thefreedictionary.com/stupid

stu·pid (stpd, sty-) adj. stu·pid·er, stu·pid·est

1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse.

2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.

3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake.

4. Dazed, stunned, or stupefied.

5. Pointless; worthless: a stupid job.

So to me, using the term as in definition no 2 seems perfectly reasonable. Particularly for someone who gets himself into a lot of fights.

Does anyone remember former PM Edward Heaths speech in French to the EU. I could have spoken with a better accent.

But then I am another one who after a day or so unconsciously starts using the accent of the person I am with.

gillybob Sun 05-May-13 09:41:43

Oh no Absent there as been a meeestake Mr Barton ( or just Joey as I call him, now that we are best friends) was the one taking the p*ss out of the press at the press conference! smile

granjura Sun 05-May-13 09:42:09

I've certainly never been one to 'hurl things at you' - au contraire, au contraire.

Yes, our sensibilities change depending on experience and even geographical location. Having been told by one teacher when I was 10, day in, day out - that I am stupid, I am very sensitive about that particular word. And as I do absorb accents like a sponge, and adopt them very quickly - I felt the word 'stupid' was inappropriate. So would the word 'misguided' - why would it be misguided to adopt and mix and match the accent of the area you live in. You didn't because you choose to live isolated and not really take part, which is absolutely fine, of course.

So 'hilarious' - fine - but 'stupid or misguided' - because of an accent that has rubbed- on- not in my book. And that's fine too - surely. Certainly not 'getting at you' - just saying how it feels from here. Fine too. Have a lovely day.

Ana Sun 05-May-13 09:47:38

Absolutely sopt-on, granjura. No need for personal offence to be taken - it was the use of the word 'stupid' to which I objected, as well.

Ana Sun 05-May-13 09:48:04

spot-on!

gillybob Sun 05-May-13 09:51:06

Blimey O'Reilly if I took offence every time I have been called stupid I would be under a bloomin' stone by now . As I said earlier it depends how the work was used/meant. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill . smile

granjura Sun 05-May-13 09:51:32

Petula Clark lives in Geneva, Switzerland, and not France.

Her French is quite good actually, but with a very strong English accent. Strange considering she's been here so long and has obviously a good ear for music, which means she has a good ear for languages. Possibly part of her artistic persona.

Those who live in a new community and choose to communicate daily and totally with the locals, rather than expats (like so many Brits in France for instance, some who have lived there for 20+ years and still do not speak the language beyond a few basic words and sentences)- do unconsciously change their own accent, even in their mother-tongue. Not to impress or show-off, but because it just 'happens'. I know - as people here used to laugh because I sounded English in French when I visited after a few years in UK, and now I can hear that the reverse is happening (as I've been back for nearly 4 years now). My grand-son said it the other day when we were looking after them in Surrey 'Oh Granny, you sound all French today'. He found it hilarious, but not stupid, nor misguided. smile. No problem.

The fact the guy is apparently stupid, and possibly misguided, is neither here nor there. Have a great week-end all.

Greatnan Sun 05-May-13 09:54:52

I have already said that I have lived in French speaking countries for the best part of twenty years and it is only in the last few years that I have lived in isolation from other English speakers. I had a very lively social life amongst British expats for many years and none of them spoke English with a French accent. Nor did any of the English people I met in Switzerland!
I would have thought that anybody listening to this video would find it amusing - perhaps I just have a different sense of humour from some people.
I don't call people stupid to their face, nor did I ever use it when I was teaching. As this man is highly unlikely to read my post, I still can't understand why it attracted so much criticism (well, apart from the fact that some people would criticise me if I said the sun rose this morning) grin.

Nonu Sun 05-May-13 09:57:05

Same to you Granjura .

smile

Greatnan Sun 05-May-13 10:17:05

Geneva is French speaking.

granjura Sun 05-May-13 10:20:03

In isolation from French-speakers, not expats. Some people who live abroad live and work every minute surrounded by local native speakers, and do tend change their own accent in their own language, over time, as it rubs off. This certainly happened to me when first in UK. I did not have ANY contact (by choice) with anybody who spoke French when I worked in London in 1970. By choice, as I wanted to learn fast - and certainly could not afford to attend a course or school, and became totally bi-lingual within 6 months that way. But when I returned to Switzerland for holidays, people did laugh and said I sounded English, and often I couldn't find my words in French anymore. Those who had travelled understood, but perhaps some of my old friends who'd never left home felt I was 'showing off' or try to be different. This of course does not happen if they tend to only mix with expats. This is not an argument, just a discussion.

Thank goodness the sun did rise this morning at last- it feels good. Off to work in the garden and feel that sun on my back.

annodomini Sun 05-May-13 10:27:23

I saw this item when the press conference first took place and I thought no more of it than that Joey Barton was taking the p...s. I am sure he is well capable of it. He may be a hothead but intellectually stunted he is not.