Daily Mail obsession!

Agree ninny. So easy to just ignore it if you don't like it.

Ignore the demonising of vulnerable people? No thanks.
What would the DM have to do before some people condemned it?

I was waiting for this thread to start - I actually think it matters to read views you don't agree with to try to understand ( and boy it's hard) how some people's minds tick. All of us who are complaining to the PCC ( but not holding our breath) think its important to do this - if people like us didn't read the DM it would just carry on unscathed. That article was a disgrace and I think anyone who believes otherwise is as well!! Meanwhile I'll read what I want and post what I want!! It's a pity more people don't read a proper paper like the Indie or the Guardian. I've also noticed that on GN left wingers with strong views are always accused of being obsessed or having a bee in their bonnet

There were a lot of people looking the other way in the 1930s when Hitler was starting to target the Jews. We have a duty to police the newspapers and complain when they are unfair or dishonest.
I can't understand how anybody could condone what the Daily Mail has done.

If it didn't get the advertising revenue which reflects the sales figures, it would go bust. Sadly, like the Sun and other exaples of the gutter press, people buy it and read it because they are in sympathy with its editorial policy. Did all those who have protested here write to the Editor and protest to him (her?) Did anybody attempt to put pressure on the major advertisers to dissociate themselves from this newspaper?
The very least you can do is boycott it, but I suspect there is a lot more even an individual could do.

grace talk has always been cheap.

Yes, several of us have complained to the PCC but with Paul Dacre at its head we are not holding our breath.
I don't subscribe to any newspapers but I read several every day on the internet.
Boycotting just allows it to continue in its campaigns against certain groups. It is like saying we should just ignore bullying.

I don't think we are barred from criticising any journal unless we write to the PCC and advertisers.

I am a regular reader of the DM, that doesn't mean I necessarily agree with everything they print and, in fact, disagree with the Phillpot articles. it is one of the most successful newspapers in the UK so must be doing something right.

I also read other newspapers and listen to news on various radio stations and TV stations each of which have their own agenda. Intelligent people take the information from each of these sources and try to get to the core of truth.

That is what we are all trying to do, Sunseeker.
I am afraid that the opinion of the multitude is not necessarily always right - I believe most people in the UK would like to bring back hanging.
The Sun is also widely read and that does not make it a good newspaper.

Sunseeker I'm not sure what the Daily Mail is doing right, other than trying to appeal to the basest of human instincts.
To imply that Mick Philpott is a product of the benefit system is like saying that Harold Shipman was a product medical education.

Well said, sunseeker. I trust no one is saying that DM readers (as opposed to Guardian or Indie readers, for example) are incapable of making reasoned judgements.

Ana is right, stick to your guns sunseeker (can you send me some sun?)

I don't believe "most people in the UK would like to bring back hanging." Certainly not my circle of friends.

No, nobody is saying that. We trust that every member is appalled by the way they have slanted this tragic tale.

Movedalot Nor amongst my circle of friends. I do sometimes feel that some members can come across as being morally superior (whether intentionally or not) because of the TV programmes they disapprove of or newspapers they read. (ducks below parapet looking for tin hat!!)

I am still seeking the sun

sunseeker let me know when you find it?

Agreed, some seem to know they are superior!

Movdalot -I took my statistics from an article in the Daily Mail (I googled 'Do most people in the Uk want the return of capital punishment'). Now surely you don't want to argue with anything published in that notoriously honest and accurate paper?
The fact that most people you know do not want it is hardly a sufficient basis to exrapolate to 60 million people - unless you have an extraordinarily large circle of friends.

Well, the figure was actually 53% want to bring back the death penalty, although the headline shouted 'Most'!

But why not Greatnan? You don't like the DM or trust what it says so why is it any more reliable than my firends?

I don't feel in the mood for levity, I am afraid.
I believe there have been many other surveys which all gave the same result.

I hope you cheer up soon Greatnan, perhaps a walk in your lovely countryside will make you feel better?

So if "many other surveys" report that a majority of people want to bring back hanging why demonise the DM for reporting that?

I personally don't trust surveys as they can be angled to give the result the questioner wants

Sunseeker -I was merely reporting an article. Did you read my post - I didn't say a word against the DM.
Thank you, Movedalot, I am indeed just off for a good walk in the sunshine . I am not unhappy, just feeling that some current threads are not suitable vehicles for levity.

Yes, sunseeker unless one knows what the survey asked it is always questionable whether to accept the findings.

Greatnan the subject of the thread is not a cause for levity but I think your post was.

O.K. For the sake of peace, let us accept that most people in the UK do not want to bring back capital punishment and every survey that reported the opposite was flawed.
It would be quite interesting to do a survey of GN members!