Russell Brand on Revolution
- Thread starter Jean-Luc
- Start date
bmd
Island in the stream.
12 steppers can be evangelistic about their way but it's just one of many.
I once heard 12 steppers only have a 5% chance of success, Brands political adventure probably stands an even worse chance. Lydon on the other hand has a down to earth, fact based approach to drugs and has never had any problems. When it comes to young people they need to be knowledgeable about politics and drugs. long live punk rock.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
I don't like him - i think he's a bit of a dick, but that's not what worries me - we're all dicks - what worries me is the growth of celebrity culture and a star system around oppositional politics. We can do without that whether the stars are dicks, are right or not.
What does oppositional politics mean, thanks.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Politics that opposes the status quo. Or significant elements of it and its actions at least.
(Don't bother idris)
I thought it might be as opposed to collaborative politics. That's why I asked as then it didn't seem to make sense. But actually it's just a big word for a simple concept.
I'm still having problems with the word "concept"
why?
The account he gives in the book is that he's going to give up showbiz, having realized what a pathetic joke it all is, and devote himself to full-time activism and bonking Jemima Goldsmith. If he keeps to his word I really will be impressed.
Because in his position most people would just get on with being a showbiz star and "enjoying" their riches. Brand is different, and admirably so, for two reasons:
1. He has realized how sad and pathetic celebrity culture is.
2. He wants us all to understand this.
3. He wrote a book to try to make the world a better place.
You won't find Noel Edmunds doing that sort of thing.
Which of these are the two reasons?
Is he not still a celebrity or using his celebrity status?
Blagsta
Minimum cage, maximum cage
Too focused on 12 step as the only way and really critical of methadone maintenance (which has some good evidence behind it).
cantsin
Well-Known Member
how do you think we're going to judge "Brands political adventure" in terms of "success " or otherwise ?
Neither of course.
He claims, or at least implies, that he's going to stop being that kind of a celebrity now. I suppose the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
He is in the middle of a massive global tour, he has a book out, he has 500'000 twitter followers, not sure he is on the way out.
No great Brand fan, but no one turns up to support 50 or so occupy types on a rainy night with loads of pizza if you are not somewhat committed.
Buckaroo
Donkey piss and tractors
Yes but what Dwyer is trying to say is that he (Brand not Dwyer) has realised how sad and pathetic this is, wants us to understand things and wants to make the world a better place by writing books. And good luck to him
eta Christ, how does anyone take him seriously? (not Christ and not Brand)
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A success imo would be to end homelessness and food poverty. A success for Brand would be to replace Ike as chief shill. Neither will happen.
I'd really like to see him challenged on his public comments about drug treatment.
As with his "proper" politics, as others have said, I don't doubt his sincerity. And there is something to be said for a greater focus on abstinence, from the front line services (something happening with the "recovery agenda", tbf, although all seems a bit "Big Society" to me), but not at the expense of the harm reduction and prescribing interventions which evolved and improved massively, in my experience/opinion, throughout the noughties. Brand talks very much like he believes the latter are a "bad thing", doubtlessly influenced by his own recovery which was quite obviously 12 step, and which he still alludes to practising in the odd interview (not sure it he attends meetings, mind...).
Shame, as he could be a great champion of addiction issues, if he was just a bit more nuanced about the whole thing.
Can't argue with that.
cantsin
Well-Known Member
so you think we should judge Brand , in political terms, by whether he "end(s) homelessness and food poverty" ?
Buckaroo
Donkey piss and tractors
What if you don't like anchovies or pizza, what then? Noel Edmonds never turns up at occupy protests with the wrong junk food and no one could say he isn't committed. You can't argue with that.
I would like to see this done, and it's not going to be achieved by delivering pizza or watching youtube videos of Brand instead of voting
Noel Edmonds had a tv show where he pledged to mend Broken Britain. It featured carole Malone.
Clearly Noel wins
If you don't like anchovies/pizza then you should fuck off to north korea
cantsin
Well-Known Member
(or by chatting shite on forums) - Brand has never implied not voting would "end food poverty" (as you / Chris Martin etc put it - not sure what it actually means ? ) , or delivering pizza...meanwhile, that daft old contrary sod Lydon was calling for people not to vote less than a decade ago ( video in this thread ) .
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you asked
I said I thought he would be a success if he could
You seem to be as ignorant of peoples needs as he is.
Buckaroo
Donkey piss and tractors
Why should I go to North Korea just because I don't like anchovies/pizza? I could get something else. Like a kebab. Or chips. Anything really. Falafel. Anything.
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