sheldrake

Well, I think we might have to agree to disagree about JR's feelings on the matter, but we can never really know what goes on inside people's heads. I'm aware he's not everyone's cup of tea, and I do understand why. I do think what he did was stupid. I just -- personally, I really do think the important thing is that he made that public apology. Carol Thatcher didn't, and it's like saying 'I don't really care that I hurt you. It's your fault you were hurt.' If she'd apologised, properly, and secretly continued to think racist thoughts, she'd still have been an idiot. But that apology would have done some real good.

It seems a bit unclear what actually happened in that green room. Some people are saying Jo Brand did call her on it (I agree, it's what I'd have done, I hope), others that nobody did. But in my opinion, the workplace is a public space. If you say things where people can hear them, you have to be prepared to take the consequences. These people weren't her friends, she wasn't at home. It's not surprising that someone might have left that room and said to someone else, "You'll never guess what that Carol Thatcher said!" Things have a habit of getting out.

And while I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt and say that she'd have apologised if someone had called her on it, I really don't believe she would have done. I think her reaction would have been exactly the same. The reason I think this is because I've been in this situation at work, I was person who pointed it out (I did it quite nicely, I'm not great at being confrontational!), and that was the exact reaction I got. "It was just a joke, I'm not a racist, I haven't done anything wrong". No apology. And unfortunately I've seen that same thing happen over and over again.

As I say, it's hard to be really clear on what exactly happened and why (and yeah, it's hardly news that Carol Thatcher's a bit of an idiot), but (given that it did get out) what really bothers me is all the people who've now crawled out of the woodwork and revealed themselves to be just as insensitive and racist and idiotic. Just makes me sad, that's all. :(