That nasty business on Friday
Who could have have foreseen, when Friday dawned, that by the end of the day I would have gained 400 Twitter followers and received eight times the average hits on my website, but at the expense of having been publicly called a cunt by a famous comedian and a good proportion of his many supporters? A strange old business indeed. Perhaps the strangest aspect for me was that it all stemmed from a blog written so long ago that I had to look back even to remember what I’d said in it. As you’re well aware, I’ve written another two hundred or so since then, and I would have considered the ‘taste in comedy’ debate pretty much put to bed for the time being. Also, as is pretty obvious, the original blog was (by its own admission) an unfocused ramble on an intractable subject – like most of what I write here – rather than being a personal dig at Frankie. Still, there you go.
I had to put the hastily written ‘update’ up on the blog as I was about to go away for the weekend (which proved to be a good decision, in the circumstances) and then I asked one of the Emergency Bloggers to weed out any really nasty abuse posted on the site. In the end, there wasn’t much, and there were lots of supportive comments both here and on Twitter. Thanks to everyone who wrote one of these. It made a big difference. Being attacked by someone considerably more famous and popular makes you feel a bit like a minor Middle Eastern state that has aroused the anger of the USA.
There is a lot more I’d like to say – on wrong-headed ideas about liberalism, on the idea of being a ‘sellout’, on the definition of ‘moral grandstanding’, and on the fact that Tramadol Nights is sponsored by Fosters, among other things, but my instinct is to let this whole thing lie now. If I’ve learned one thing from this, it’s that a tiny amount of anything written on the web can lead to a tremendous amount of trouble, and it would be a pity to inflame things all over again by making further remarks. And nearly all the points I would have made have been eloquently covered by other commenters. So let’s leave it there, shall we? Until I’m next on stage, anyway.
Enjoy alcohol responsibly.
Posted by Gabi on January 11, 2011
Well done there sir. Nice to take the moral high ground
Posted by ChrisP on January 11, 2011
Yes what a fine and lovely bunch we are, especially the web fairy (or elf) that swiftly removed my nasty comment about FB that was so scathing Malcolm Tucker would have blushed (which in hindsight was a big mistake to have posted anyway). So thank you to them.
I think the worst realistic thing I’ve heard about Mark recently is apparently he is a tad satanic and has hooves…
x
Posted by Laura-B on January 11, 2011
Moral high ground.
Nicely played.
Posted by Kate W on January 11, 2011
Thought you handled that in a very reasonable and dignified way. I hope your weekend away was lovely.
Posted by Liz on January 11, 2011
Glad this has all blown over – I found myself becoming irrationally indignant and outraged on your behalf on Friday!
I’ll definitely be coming to see you (for the third time
) to hear what you really thought about it all!
Re: JontyLarr’s post – interesting point – does anyone know for sure?
Posted by Rachael on January 11, 2011
More importantly, how was your weekend?
Posted by Rick Procter on January 10, 2011
You did great, dood – nuff said.
To all fellow Watsonians, I’d just like to say hats off to you too – what a fine and lovely breed we all are <3
Posted by Corry on January 10, 2011
I should point out just in case there any first time readers on this blog that my last post was a gentle joshing. Suddenly now realising this blog probably has a whole load of new readers that wouldn’t realise that I don’t think Mark is a cunt at all, unless we are doing the ‘describes a nice thing so is actually a compliment’ version of swearing.
Glad it has all blown over.
Posted by Corry on January 10, 2011
cunt
xxx
Posted by Ingrid on January 10, 2011
Mark, i just wanted to say that i think in no way you are a sell out. And people hurling unjustified abuse like frankie should just be ignored. I kind of missed that whole thing, but after looking at it thats all i really wanted to say. Looks like its dying down again now, which is good. xx
Posted by JontyLarr on January 10, 2011
Have you heard from Frankie via any other sort of medium? His Twitter account is actually unverified, and I remember him on Buzzcocks saying he doesn’t use it, though that’s months ago now. Always the possibility that it wasn’t actually him.
Posted by Anji on January 10, 2011
Ah it’s all old chip paper now! We all know what could be said and would support you, but your right, it really isn’t worth the time or effort! Wasn’t one of the half promises, or whatever they were, something like not letting negative people drain you? Well there you go, another tick in te box!
Hope you still had a wonderful weekend!
Posted by Hannah Mae on January 10, 2011
Sounds like you’ve got it all under control. Interested as I am to hear your opinions on the notion of moral grandstanding and the hypocrisy of sellout accusations, I think you’re right to leave it. As it is, you’ve come across a lot better – next to your sort of apologetic bafflement, he looks paranoid, belligerent and a bit embarrassing. The whole thing’s been rather odd – who’d have thought Frankie Boyle would be so easily offended?!
On an unrelated note, last night I dreamt that my kitchen had turned into a burlesque club, where you and Chris Addison were hanging out. We talked about cricket and ate toast, if I remember rightly. Definitely need to stop falling asleep watching Dave.
Posted by Glamlovinkitty on January 10, 2011
I found the whole business quite astonishing. If anyone is a sell out, it’s the man who not only has a column in the Sun, sells tickets at vastly inflated prices (and pays no attention when half his audience can’t get to his gig cos of the weather*) and then pisses away any shred of credibility he has left by foisting the disastrous Tramadol Nights on an unsuspecting public.
I’ve laughed at Frankie in the past – he can be funny – but I wouldn’t go to his full show. On the basis of Tramadol Nights, he should be silenced permanently until he can come up with something funny. (I don’t mind being offended, provided the material is actually funny – in this case, tragically it was not).
I thought his response to an actually very mild blog was completely out of proportion and sadly showed him up to be what I’d hoped was just a character he portrayed onstage.
He is a disgrace to the Glasgow I know and love. So is Kevin Bridges, but for different reasons.
*Last month, Glasgow – apparently about half the punters – about 3000 – couldn’t get there due to snow/no public transport whatsoever, but FB wasn’t interested and refused to either (a) offer refunds or (b) reschedule another date. Considering how much I expect the tickets cost, that’s pretty harsh.
Posted by Lydia on January 10, 2011
I think it’s probably better not to address anything that he said. Kind of difficult though, since he was being such a cock.
I suppose if there were more hits on your website then even Frankie’s fans must have realised he was getting upset about nothing.
Posted by amycool on January 10, 2011
Good idea not to reply to the original message as it can only provoke more nastiness. Besides, at least your fridge freezer hasn’t broken.
Posted by Misha on January 10, 2011
It seems to have all died back down again now, which is nice.
Huzzah for that!
Posted by Sam on January 10, 2011
Let’s just hope your mum didn’t see this one, you didn’t give her a link to the Twitter post like you did with that YouTube video did you?
Glad you weren’t too disheartened. I got my first criticism as a stand-up recently, its hard to take, the only bit of video of me performing has someone sat near the camera saying “I just don’t find him funny” which is saddening. I shall try and follow your example and not track them down and scream “cunt” in their face.