What gives anyone the right to 'knock' a newspaper?

Alea, it's the way you say 'some people' that grates.

Oh - you mean you lied?

Sorry, you've got that wrong, Ana.

Thank you for your support Alea. I thought I was agreeing with granjura; heaven help those who disagree with her.

For the record, I am fluent in French and German, and read at least one edition of both the papers I mentioned every week. For years I worked in European financial and legislative circles, involving negotiations with the European Commission. I have lived in France.

And when I said 'criticise' the two foreign papers I was using the word in its widest sense, embracing positive as well as negative criticism. I was obviously being over-subtle, and for that I kneel humbly in the Edelweiss.

As far as I remember, grumppa is highly educated and from what he has said in the past, I have assumed that he is a linguist. But I know he can speak for himself, so I will desist.
Freedom of the press is taken for granted in this country, though this freedom has in recent years been abused, as in the 'bugging' scandal. Freedom of speech gives me the right to express my disagreement with any publication that presents views which I find counter to my own beliefs. In many places on this planet this would land me in jail or worse. If I think a newspaper article is rubbish, I'll say so, but also attempt to justify what I say. If this hurts some delicate feelings, all I can say is, 'grow up'.

^I sometimes wonder if some people have any idea of the educational, intellectual, cultural and professional background of the myriad members of
Gransnet^
" I know you do not have any idea of my educational, intellectual, cultural or professional background"

My point exactly, DJ, I imagine you are quite surprised to find we agree on that at least.

Alea, I never passed that 'joke' as genuine- it was clearly quoted from a well-known (and very funny) comedian.

Well, we do know that you ran a vegetarian café, had a bed and breakfast business and taught for the final 10 years of your working life, durhamjen, because you've told us on various threads.

Plus, your political views are obvious! Admittedly we don't know the rest - but neither do you about anyone else.

It was a very simple question Alea. If Grumpa has lived in either, or speaks either fluently, or is an MP, or whatever- then I would love to know. It would be very interesting to have a great exchange of views with him.
Really looking forward to hear from him.

Ana:

Well, you can't deny the Guardian is left-wing! grin

of course, can you deny the Daily Mail is right-wing?

And if that's not patronising, Alea, I do not know what is.
What do you know about anyone's background other than your own?
I know you do not have any idea about my educational, intellectual, cultural or professional background.

This whole thread convinces me that I would never criticise any newspaper at all 'on the forum', we are all free to make up our own minds , and I have.
What I think in private is another matter.

I can only think that those who feel hurt when a newspaper is criticised feel hurt because they support the views & opinions of said paper and therefore transfer the comment ' I think the Morning Bugle is rubbish' to be saying ' I think the Morning Bugle readers are rubbish' which is not the same thing at all!

I read various papers online but do get a preferred one delivered daily. If you only read one you do not get a balanced view or have your thinking challenged. Even in my preferred paper there are articles/opinions that I will disagree with but I like the 'tone/ style' of the paper better than the 'tone/style' of some others.

I have called off my search for the real Daily Mail headline.

If you are going to pass a "joke" off as genuine, make that clear, satire is one thing, slander another.
It was a feeble joke at best, racist, biased, prejudiced and did not bear repeating especially in the context of a "discussion" of the press.

Grumppa
But go ahead if you've ever read either
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How patronising can you get!! My gob is frankly smacked!
For all you know granjura , * grumppa* could be an MEP (retired or not), foreign correspondent for one of the major media organisations, unversity lecturer, journalist, French or German resident, diplomat, author, critic, polyglot or polymath!
Whatever, that "ever" is downright insulting!

I sometimes wonder if some people have any idea of the educational, intellectual, cultural and professional background of the myriad members of Gransnet?

Yes, what a mish-mash of quotes from left-wing sources that post was - such a pity people have to rely on 'satirical' sources rather than expressing their views in their own words.

I will certainly feel free to knock the Daily Mail- an appalling newspaper.

So not a Mail front page, but a quote from a comedian?

Haven't newspapers always been knocked since the early 1800s?

You do know who Russell Howard is, don't you? it was his 'quote' - he is very funny actually, one of my favourite comedians at the moment. In satire you often find an awful lot of truth- although that quote may have been a joke as an example of the kid of tosh that comes out of the Daily Wail, in your VERY OWN press.

Again, don't know whether to cry or laugh- again I will choose to laugh, and bid you good night.

Grumpa have you ever lived in FRance or Germany- do you speak both languages fluently?

Still no response to our questions about the DM front page, granjura?

Grumpa you are welcome- but only if you do have long-term experience of the country, culture and politics, etc, of Germany and France. I do think that if you lived in either for 39 years, and was a national of either, and studied and worked there for several decades, your comments would perhaps have more weight. But go ahead if you've ever read either.

Thank you Ana and Alea it certainly is proving difficult to find on the Daily Mail site itself at the moment.

In fact, it's pretty worrying if it's that sort of rubbish that's being taught to European youngsters as the 'truth' about the British press!

Well, I've already asked, but of course it was ignored...