[MK Chris]

Of course, but I decided to get my pedantic hat on. I do that sometimes. On a slightly related note, I was surprised to read that Ricky Tomlinson was a member of the National Front prior to his union days, although he now regrets that part of his life immensely, apparently.

[Yudster]

Doesn't surprise me. Once a dick, always a dick - although Ricky Tomlinson has clearly proved that it is possibly to be more than one kind of dick in a lifetime.

[Ed Pummelon]

Dick my arse.


Oops....

[Johnny 1989]

Of course, but I decided to get my pedantic hat on. I do that sometimes. On a slightly related note, I was surprised to read that Ricky Tomlinson was a member of the National Front prior to his union days, although he now regrets that part of his life immensely, apparently.

At least he realises his mistake and regrets being part of the National Front, one bloke that used to work in our office said that he used to be a skinhead & was proud to say it, he no longer works in our office but not for that reason (he was made redundant due to our office cutting back a huge amount of staff in our office).

[Munki Bhoy]

But the news is right - they are reporting what has happened. As we are in Britain, then it makes perfect sense to put more emphasis on news which is relevant to Britain and British people. Are you suggesting that if there were no British people involved the crash wouldn't have been reported at all? Of course it would. The fact that there were British people on board is a fact, and it is specifically reported here because it is relevant here.

When there are disasters such as crashes, earthquakes and floods in other countries, which have nothing whatsoever to do with anyone British, it is thoroughly reported and the PM usually makes a comment (in exactly the same way as he did here), and sometimes even the royals have their say. If this didn't happen you might have a point - but it does, and you don't. Well you possibly do, but I have a feeling that it is part of a different agenda.

And what agenda do you think I have?

I don't have a problem with the news reporting it - they did before they knew who was on the plane. I don't have a problem with the PM or anyone else commenting on it. I just have a problem with them continually placing emphasis on the fact that there's British folk on it. We're in Europe - part of the EU and all - so why haven't the twenty six Germans been mentioned specifically as much as the Brits? They're European too, and that's five times the number of Brits on board. Or how about the nine Italians? What about the six Swiss? * them, they're not in the EU? What about the three Irish? I'm fairly sure I know more Irish folk than British folk! Why isn't their loss relevant to me? What about the immigrant population of the UK? Do they not get a say? Who's important to them?

By all means, tell us there's Brits on board. But lets put this in context here. There were five among two hundred plus. I'm sure to their friends and family they are the most important people on the plane. But that's the case with all the people on board. To me, they are five people. I don't care where they're from. It's just a very sad day that all those people won't be returning to those countries.

Relevance is a very subjective thing.

[Yudster]

Relevance is a very subjective thing.

i completely agree, but you're the one who is objectifying it.

[jocky85]

By all means, tell us there's Brits on board. But lets put this in context here. There were five among two hundred plus. I'm sure to their friends and family they are the most important people on the plane. But that's the case with all the people on board. To me, they are five people. I don't care where they're from. It's just a very sad day that all those people won't be returning to those countries.

Well I think Radio 1 have covered it well, from what I recall they were stating it as exactly that '200+ on the plane, among them 5 Brits'

[Munki Bhoy]

Relevance is a very subjective thing.

i completely agree, but you're the one who is objectifying it.

No, I'm questioning why they are objectifying it.

[Yudster]

I don't know about the French plane, but I'm definitely lost. My own fault I expect.

[Munki Bhoy]

I was going to say it could be mine, but I'm getting kinda bored with this debate to be honest and I'd rather not take the opposing opinion from your own again.

So yeah, your fault.

[Yudster]

Most things are at the moment, I can take this on too!

[S4B]

Munki, Yuds is right it's to do with local relevance. If you listen to the local news or speak to a journalist in your home town they will tell you that the first thing they will do in any reporting situation is to find a local angle to hang it on. For instance, if something happens in London the journalists at "Look East" (for argument's sake) will immediately try and find information on the people involved. If someone involved in the incident is from their region they will report that in the first line or so of the report. 200 people could be dead but if even one of them has a distant cousin living in their region that will be mentioned. It adds a local interest story to the news. All the National Press are doing is scaling that up. So something has happened a very long way away but it does involve someone from this country.

I genuinely don't think it's intentional bigotry/racism or whatever it was you're implying. It is purely a way to put a local context onto an international story. No one is saying it is "ok about the rest of them because they're not from here". Get off your moral high horse and look at it from a different point of view.

[Quincy]

its a shame them irish birds died they looked alright in the pictures. not so sad about the smelly hairy french people tho