Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 26, 2010 11:43:09 GMT
Dictionary.com defines 'Reverse Snobbery' in the following way
To understand why it's so endemic at the BBC, then we need to look at what purpose it serves.
For the BBC hierarchy, it fosters the belief that the BBC cares and nurtures the 'common people', the majority of citizens - "We're one of you".
Also, since 'upper-class' schools are traditionally conservative, this would also create a divide against the left liberal leaning of the desired BBC viewpoint.
For the run of the mill BBC media staff, it's a 'philosophy' that has been nurtured first within the 'media-study' college they came from, then within the organisation itself, and as we can surmise, low level REAL intelligence is a requirement to make you want to work for such a company.
reverse snob
–noun
a person overly proud of being one of or sympathetic to the common people, and who denigrates or shuns those of superior ability, education, social standing, etc.
To understand why it's so endemic at the BBC, then we need to look at what purpose it serves.
For the BBC hierarchy, it fosters the belief that the BBC cares and nurtures the 'common people', the majority of citizens - "We're one of you".
Also, since 'upper-class' schools are traditionally conservative, this would also create a divide against the left liberal leaning of the desired BBC viewpoint.
For the run of the mill BBC media staff, it's a 'philosophy' that has been nurtured first within the 'media-study' college they came from, then within the organisation itself, and as we can surmise, low level REAL intelligence is a requirement to make you want to work for such a company.
BBC 'turns Oxbridge into a term of abuse'... Shows accused of 'bigotry and coining a lexicon of abuse'
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 7:50 AM on 26th August 2010
For most of us, condemning someone for where they went to school reeks of the class envy politics of much of the last century.
No one, however, seems to have told the BBC where the terms Old Etonian, public school and Oxbridge appear to have become insults.
The broadcaster has been accused of coining a ‘lexicon of abuse’ against those from ‘posh’ backgrounds.
An editorial in the magazine Country Life has suggested the broadcaster is prejudiced against perceived ‘toffs’.
It claimed that the BBC had a ‘family size bucket of chips’ on its shoulder and claimed that this type of ‘bigotry’ would be regarded as unacceptable in any other area of British life.
It singled out shows such as Radio 4’s The News Quiz, whose panellists include Mark Steel, Jeremy Hardy and Jo Brand, pointing to the hostile way the words were used.
Parts of the broadcaster also came under fire for focusing on David Cameron’s background during the election.
Country Life published the piece in response to a Channel 4 News item which interviewed state school pupils who wanted to go to Cambridge.
The students suggested Coalition leaders had not experienced enough hardship to understand the issues facing the public.
The magazine said: ‘These students were merely repeating the mantra of the moment.
‘The BBC, for example, has acquired a new lexicon of abuse, the only one it still permits itself. Milder terms include “Old Etonian”, “Oxbridge”, “public school”, “upper-class”, “toff”, “aristo”, and the unspeakable “posh”.
These look harmless enough, but listen to the animus with which they’re used.
‘Even in lighter contexts, such as Radio 4’s The News Quiz, “toff” is a cue for bigotry of a kind no longer acceptable in any other area of British life.
The gags are usually delivered in a parody of received pronunciation and involve scenarios such as having one’s fag stuff a fox with caviar.
‘They might almost be funny if they weren’t so clearly motivated by insecurity, by the family-size bucket of chips on the broadcaster’s shoulder.
‘Why so is a mystery: more of these satirists earned their spurs with the Footlights than on the working men’s club circuit.’
The BBC said: ‘British comedy has a long history of satirising all sections of society and this kind of comedy is instantly recognisable to audiences.’
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 7:50 AM on 26th August 2010
For most of us, condemning someone for where they went to school reeks of the class envy politics of much of the last century.
No one, however, seems to have told the BBC where the terms Old Etonian, public school and Oxbridge appear to have become insults.
The broadcaster has been accused of coining a ‘lexicon of abuse’ against those from ‘posh’ backgrounds.
An editorial in the magazine Country Life has suggested the broadcaster is prejudiced against perceived ‘toffs’.
It claimed that the BBC had a ‘family size bucket of chips’ on its shoulder and claimed that this type of ‘bigotry’ would be regarded as unacceptable in any other area of British life.
It singled out shows such as Radio 4’s The News Quiz, whose panellists include Mark Steel, Jeremy Hardy and Jo Brand, pointing to the hostile way the words were used.
Parts of the broadcaster also came under fire for focusing on David Cameron’s background during the election.
Country Life published the piece in response to a Channel 4 News item which interviewed state school pupils who wanted to go to Cambridge.
The students suggested Coalition leaders had not experienced enough hardship to understand the issues facing the public.
The magazine said: ‘These students were merely repeating the mantra of the moment.
‘The BBC, for example, has acquired a new lexicon of abuse, the only one it still permits itself. Milder terms include “Old Etonian”, “Oxbridge”, “public school”, “upper-class”, “toff”, “aristo”, and the unspeakable “posh”.
These look harmless enough, but listen to the animus with which they’re used.
‘Even in lighter contexts, such as Radio 4’s The News Quiz, “toff” is a cue for bigotry of a kind no longer acceptable in any other area of British life.
The gags are usually delivered in a parody of received pronunciation and involve scenarios such as having one’s fag stuff a fox with caviar.
‘They might almost be funny if they weren’t so clearly motivated by insecurity, by the family-size bucket of chips on the broadcaster’s shoulder.
‘Why so is a mystery: more of these satirists earned their spurs with the Footlights than on the working men’s club circuit.’
The BBC said: ‘British comedy has a long history of satirising all sections of society and this kind of comedy is instantly recognisable to audiences.’