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Post by tangent on Jul 18, 2013 11:55:42 GMT
British press is, in my mind, gutter work. No offense, but they permanently go too far. I agree completely.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 18, 2013 13:09:36 GMT
The Americans seem pretty into it too. I saw a bit of CNN the other day and they were asking mothers to give advice to Kate about what baby products she should have in her royal nursery.
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Post by ProdigalAlan on Jul 18, 2013 15:05:26 GMT
To be honest, without the publicity, no matter how bad it is or how prurient, the UK monarchy would cease to have any purpose at all. They have no constitutional powers as such. They exist as figureheads for a variety of organisations and for the purpose of publicity only. I don't put this out as criticism but as a statement of facts as I see them. The royals do much good when it comes to being the public face of many charities, but if they actually had to run those charities on a day to day basis they would be no better than you or I. OTOH the press has been quite kindly to the royals, much of Princess Margaret's excesses were not reported during her lifetime, they have also soft peddled on Edward, Anne, Andrew and Charles from time to time.
You live by the sword you die by the sword.
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Post by Moose on Jul 18, 2013 15:22:02 GMT
Yuck. Yeah the media is horrible. I can understand how this is a news story and obviously will be reported on but at the same time they could give her some privacy in the last few days of her pregnancy rather than waiting at the hospital like a pack of wolves (says the person who's running a sweepstake )
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Post by tangent on Jul 18, 2013 15:56:05 GMT
(says the person who's running a sweepstake ) Do you have a mug ready for the winner?
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Post by Moose on Jul 18, 2013 16:09:46 GMT
Yes. It has my face on it and is hand signed. it will be priceless.
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Post by Fr. Gruesome on Jul 18, 2013 17:08:03 GMT
... er, maybe, don't punish yourself by reading it .... ? ...
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Post by Moose on Jul 18, 2013 17:16:51 GMT
it's impossible NOT to read it
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 18, 2013 20:28:48 GMT
We have to read the British press, or the immigrant, benefit seekers will take the newspapers over!
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Post by Mari on Jul 18, 2013 20:51:35 GMT
It's really silly for them to wait there though. Here the royal media intermediator thingy will tell the press the kid is born and that there will be a press conference and then the dad comes in with the baby, tells us its name and answers questions about the pregnancy etc. Then after a bit he goes away again and all the press has been able to shoot pics, ask questions and film. Done, nice and easy. No waiting on a doorstep for 2 weeks.
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Post by tangent on Jul 18, 2013 21:08:08 GMT
It's their choice. *shrugs shoulders*
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 18, 2013 21:08:24 GMT
How about releasing smoke? Most hospitals have an incinerator, so just chuck in a load of plastic and medical waste!
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 20, 2013 10:11:29 GMT
Like for the pope. They could do a different colour every day depending on when the baby comes.
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Post by ProdigalAlan on Jul 20, 2013 10:42:35 GMT
Pardon me for stating the obvious. I don't mean to be cruel or insensitive but these people are public property. They make their living by being one thing and one thing only, they are taxpayer paid royalty, and as such if the taxpayers of this country demanded that Kate be wheeled down to Trafalgar Square and had the whole childbirth filmed for a DVD then that is their obligation.
If the Windsors don't enjoy it they can abdicate and get a proper job.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 20, 2013 10:47:14 GMT
They used to watch the French queen give birth in Versaille. Her bedroom was public property.
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Post by ProdigalAlan on Jul 20, 2013 11:05:38 GMT
TBH it's the conception that should be done publicly. I mean do we really believe that the Windsors are all actually Windsors, because there is doubt out there.
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Post by tangent on Jul 20, 2013 12:48:56 GMT
Does that mean the ambassador to Peru is also public property?
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Post by Mari on Jul 20, 2013 14:46:19 GMT
The wedding night always used to be public property in ye olden times. Gotta check if the girl actually bleeds was the reason. If you ask me they just wanted an orgy.
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Post by tangent on Jul 20, 2013 17:46:54 GMT
People used to be hung in public too because there was a demand for violence and gore.
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Post by JoeP on Jul 20, 2013 19:02:10 GMT
- which is now met by Hollywood.
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 20, 2013 20:58:29 GMT
I watched an episode of CSI last night when they warned that it contained bloody scenes and flashing lights... surely it'd be easier to point out when it doesn't!
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Post by JoeP on Jul 20, 2013 21:36:00 GMT
They should follow the same principle before the news and before any programme including politicians .. "may contain statements that disgust sensible viewers"
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Post by ProdigalAlan on Jul 21, 2013 10:50:24 GMT
Does that mean the ambassador to Peru is also public property? I don't know ? Do the British public pay for him? Is his only function to be a public figurine? And yes certain sections of the public do have lurid tastes, or even repulsive ones but if you willingly take their coin you are beholden to do their bidding. What other purpose do you have?
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Post by tangent on Jul 21, 2013 14:01:14 GMT
Do the British public pay for him? Is his only function to be a public figurine? And yes certain sections of the public do have lurid tastes, or even repulsive ones but if you willingly take their coin you are beholden to do their bidding. What other purpose do you have? The British public pays the ambassador to Peru via the government in the same way that royalty are paid from government funds. If you're arguing that royalty have to dress up as clowns and jump through hoops just because we pay them then the same applies to the ambassador of Peru.
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Post by Miisa on Jul 22, 2013 7:43:39 GMT
By all this logic, if the royals have to be in the public eye all the time because they are paid for it, then what do their holidays mean? Do they then get to take a break from it all for a while? Because it doesn't seem that way. What about maternity leave, or William's two-week paternity leave?
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Post by Fr. Gruesome on Jul 22, 2013 8:03:34 GMT
Pardon me for stating the obvious. I don't mean to be cruel or insensitive but these people are public property. They make their living by being one thing and one thing only, they are taxpayer paid royalty .... The cost of the French Presidency per citizen is noticeably higher than the British monarchy, the BBC had some figures on it when last year's royal accounts were published, will try to find them. The US presidency is immeasurably more expensive. One other point: the costs of the monarchy, 'the sovereign grant' are paid from the profits on the royal estate - 15% of them - the other 85% goes to reduce taxation so it is not really accurate to say that the British royals are paid by taxation, it's the reverse.
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Post by JoeP on Jul 22, 2013 8:49:11 GMT
By all this logic, if the royals have to be in the public eye all the time because they are paid for it, then what do their holidays mean? Do they then get to take a break from it all for a while? Because it doesn't seem that way. What about maternity leave, or William's two-week paternity leave? Get your penguin logic out of here or I'll set the Daily Mail on you!
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 22, 2013 11:18:31 GMT
I heard this morning she has gone to hospital and that when the baby is born the official will travel from the hospital to Buckingham Palace to make the annoucement so presumably in the next day or so we'll be hearing about the birth. Do they reveal the name before the baptising ceremony or is that only when we get to find out as public? I'm assuming they'll be forced into baptising. I wouldn't marry into the royal family for that reason alone.
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Post by Miisa on Jul 22, 2013 11:22:53 GMT
My kids were baptised, I don't think it has left any ill effects. Though sometimes I blame their occasional truancy on it.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 22, 2013 11:25:32 GMT
Yeah but she had to go through a religious marriage ceremony. *shudders*
In Bratislava they have an outside church. That was kinda funny. Much nicer though than an indoor church.
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