Stupid Woman

[UncleEbenezer]

... is surely an entirely valid thought, from time to time.

We've been brought up not to speak our thoughts when they'd be inappropriate. But the Thought Police who would penalise us for thinking them: that's surely a totalitarian concept associated with the Loony Left?

Does Corbyn have history supporting the Thought Police? As in, for example, denying a platform to anyone whose views they dislike? Or creating new taboos on certain words or phrases? If so it is perhaps poetic justice that he's now being hauled over the coals for (presumably inadvertently) mouthing a thought. But I confess I don't know his history well enough to say: I never even heard of him until his name popped up as a candidate for Labour leader.

Today's real stupid woman (I didn't catch her name) was talking on the World at One today, where she was spouting a very BBC-orthodox line about this being an example of misogynistic men shouting women down. Erm ... so now a mere unspoken thought can shout someone down??? Stupid woman, or stupid interviewer for letting the nonsense pass unchallenged? 'Cos the alternative to stupid is a real conspiracy: the one that persistently demonises men with - among other things - stories of how we shout down women.

[Mike88]

The only thing of interest is that Corbyn denies saying it. Instead he claims to have said "stupid people". Clearly Corbyn is a liar as it was evident to everyone what he mouthed.

[absolutezero]

The issue here is he is being hoisted by his own petard.
A Labour Party that claims to be all inclusive to every type of minority is now in a position of having to defend its leader against a charge of misogyny.
Delicious.

It doesn't matter whether he said it or not. What matters is what people think he said.

[Lootman]

The only thing of interest is that Corbyn denies saying it. Instead he claims to have said "stupid people". Clearly Corbyn is a liar as it was evident to everyone what he mouthed.

Yes, it's interesting because whilst young left-wingers are politically correct almost to the point of nausea, the old-school Lefties have no problem putting down women (and Jews). So in this case Corbyn let slip what he really thinks. We already knew, of course, that Corbyn thinks anyone who disagrees with him is stupid. He is notorious for only talking to like-minded souls, which is a major reason why he'd make such a bad PM. Can anyone really imagine him debating with Trump or Putin? He'd be eaten alive.

Rather the significance here is that, in his heart, he believes that politics is mens' work. Not unusual, perhaps, for a man of his vintage. But to lead a supposedly enlightened liberal party and harbour such dismissive attitudes is shameful. I'd actually have respected him more if he'd admitted to the comment, since he is so "principled" and "honest" and all.

He belongs in a museum.

[scotia]

Stupid Boy!
(I still enjoy the re-runs of Dad's Army)

[bungeejumper]

"A Bloody Difficult Woman", as she once proudly described herself, just before she started her doomed dealings with the European Commission. Having previously used her sex (sorry, gender) as part of the negotiating stall that she was setting up, it does seem a little perverse of her to object to somebody else using the same term of her now.

IIRC, the only thing you can't call a fellow MP in the House of Commons is a liar?

BJ

[absolutezero]

"A Bloody Difficult Woman", as she once proudly described herself, just before she started her doomed dealings with the European Commission. Having previously used her sex (sorry, gender) as part of the negotiating stall that she was setting up, it does seem a little perverse of her to object to somebody else using the same term of her now.

IIRC, the only thing you can't call a fellow MP in the House of Commons is a liar?

BJ

Insulting(?) yourself is different to insulting someone else.

[chas49]

... is surely an entirely valid thought, from time to time.

We've been brought up not to speak our thoughts when they'd be inappropriate. But the Thought Police who would penalise us for thinking them: that's surely a totalitarian concept associated with the Loony Left?

I certainly don't disagree with his thought. And if he had kept it entirely to himself we wouldn't be having this debate. But he didn't (and forgot that he was on camera as well, presumably). Probably makes him look a bit stupid as well.

It's all a distraction from the main issue though....

[Lootman]

"A Bloody Difficult Woman", as she once proudly described herself, just before she started her doomed dealings with the European Commission. Having previously used her sex (sorry, gender) as part of the negotiating stall that she was setting up, it does seem a little perverse of her to object to somebody else using the same term of her now.

IIRC, the only thing you can't call a fellow MP in the House of Commons is a liar?

No, I think it is different in much the same way that it's OK for black people to call each other by the N word, but it's not OK for white people to do that.

[bungeejumper]

Insulting(?) yourself is different to insulting someone else.

Agreed, but there's more of it about than some people might choose to recall. Geoffrey Howe was called a dead sheep. Dennis Skinner became the Beast of Bolsover. And so on.

Which reminds me. Skinner was reported to have said of the Tories sitting opposite him that half of them were crooks. Whereupon the Speaker told him to retract his unparliamentary language. "OK," said Skinner, "half the Tories opposite me are not crooks."

BJ

[absolutezero]

Insulting(?) yourself is different to insulting someone else.

Agreed, but there's more of it about than some people might choose to recall. Geoffrey Howe was called a dead sheep. Dennis Skinner became the Beast of Bolsover. And so on.

Which reminds me. Skinner was reported to have said of the Tories sitting opposite him that half of them were crooks. Whereupon the Speaker told him to retract his unparliamentary language. "OK," said Skinner, "half the Tories opposite me are not crooks."

BJ

But sheep and beast are not protected characteristics unlike sex/gender/whatever else the Labour Party seeks to virtue signal with.

[bungeejumper]

But sheep and beast are not protected characteristics unlike sex/gender/whatever else the Labour Party seeks to virtue signal with.

Methinks you're painting yourself into a corner there. What haven't you got against crooks?

BJ

[scrumpyjack]

Given that Mr C only got 2 E's at A level, it's a bit rich for him to call someone else stupid!

[jfgw]

But sheep and beast are not protected characteristics unlike sex/gender/whatever else the Labour Party seeks to virtue signal with.

Nor is stupidity.

Is there something wrong with calling a woman a woman?

Julian F. G. W.

[Mike88]

"A Bloody Difficult Woman", as she once proudly described herself, just before she started her doomed dealings with the European Commission. Having previously used her sex (sorry, gender) as part of the negotiating stall that she was setting up, it does seem a little perverse of her to object to somebody else using the same term of her now.

IIRC, the only thing you can't call a fellow MP in the House of Commons is a liar?

BJ

No offence intended but that is a ridiculous defence of Corbyn given that he has so obviously lied to the House. It is the fact that he defended the indefensible by saying he did not call may a stupid woman but stated he muttered "stupid people" (when every lip reader consulted confirmed he was not telling the truth) is the issue. In short Corbyn has been shown to have lied.

While this issue could have been forgotten about quickly had Corbyn apologised, his blatant lies have now brought his honesty into question. Tomorrow's papers will be all over this and his dishonesty will be raised in other contexts such as the semitism issue where Corbyn has attempted to defend his Party's dubious stance on this matter.

[swill453]

FFS I despair we're talking about how a couple of idiots name-called each other in what's supposed to be an institution that's running the country.

We're already a laughing stock, this just makes it worse.

Meanwhile we're calling the army in as if we've just declared war. On ourselves.

Bananas.

Scott.

[absolutezero]

But sheep and beast are not protected characteristics unlike sex/gender/whatever else the Labour Party seeks to virtue signal with.

Nor is stupidity.

Is there something wrong with calling a woman a woman?

Julian F. G. W.

Have you just assumed somene's gender?!?!?!?

[dionaeamuscipula]

But sheep and beast are not protected characteristics unlike sex/gender/whatever else the Labour Party seeks to virtue signal with.

Nor is stupidity.

Is there something wrong with calling a woman a woman?

Julian F. G. W.

Have you just assumed somene's gender?!?!?!?

Are you seriously suggesting May's gender is in question?

DM

[Lootman]

Nor is stupidity. Is there something wrong with calling a woman a woman?

Have you just assumed somene's gender?!?!?!?

Are you seriously suggesting May's gender is in question?

Surely the issue is that everyone knows that May is female so adding the word "woman" seems redundant and biased. Corbyn could just have said "You're stupid" or "Stupid person". To add the word "woman" implies that he thinks there is additional significance to the fact that she is female. Or worse, that there is a correlation between the two.

It would have been better if instead he had played the ball and not the (wo)man, merely indicated respectful disagreement and kept his sexism in his pocket.

[PinkDalek]

Late to this and not a fan of Corbyn but, despite what some experts appear to be saying, I see his lips moving to say "people", after the jeering starts. Am I the only one on here who doesn't see "woman"?