The Foolish Behaviour of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross

I'm sure most people don't mind a bit of 'ribbing', or see the funny side after they've had a practical joke played on them.

Nevertheless the recent foolish behaviour of two of Britain's most well known TV personalities betrays a deeper more disconcerting phenomenon, which I'm sure on critical self reflection Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross will have the intellect to recognise.

Both guys have the creativity and wit to entertain without resorting to intrusion and offence. What they did is simply inconsiderate, intrusive and impolite. For some reason they have assumed that their celebrity status means they have no need for restraint or common courtesy.

Fundamentally as Russell will clearly recognise, his behaviour was an abusive deployment of his power. This is a disturbing replay of his life script. Lack of consideration for the feelings of others is certainly a symptom of Psychopathy

Are we witnessing here the dehumanising of others by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross? Have they reached a place where everybody 'out there' is merely a resource to be exploited? A source of entertainment 'raw material'. Like all abusers of power they de-humanise their prey. The Nazis classed people who weren't in 'their set' as untermensch, the 20th century Imperialist Japanese described non-Japanese subjects as 'logs', simply pieces of wood that could be used as they saw fit.

What Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross did was ill judged. Sadly like alot of talented people who do bad things they are protected in ways that you and I aren't. The BBC lacks the moral fibre and ethical standards to relieve them of their jobs because the financial and reputational loss would be too great to the Broadcaster should these prima donnas pick up a job at a competitor TV channel on some body's watch. That is of course unless the viewing and listening public make it clear that what was done in the name of entertainment is simply unacceptable.

A sarcastic apology is simply not enough, and yes Russell many of us a smart enough to read meta-message that pervaded your arrogant initial apology. Just because you were abused Russell doesn't mean you have the right to involve everyone else in your issues.

My Tarot Card

You are The Fool

The Fool is the card of infinite possibilities. The bag on the staff indicates that he has all he need to do or be anything he wants, he has only to stop and unpack. He is on his way to a brand new beginning. But the card carries a little bark of warning as well. Stop daydreaming and fantasising and watch your step, lest you fall and end up looking the fool.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

David Cameron's Foolish Move

image credit The Student Room

Like all apprentices sometimes they are over zealous and make rash judgements. David Cameron has made a foolish error of judgement in Attacking Gordon Brown over the economy.


When the man on main street now realises that the economic crisis is not exclusively UK made, and that a complicated interplay of factors are at work which are difficult to control and just as difficult to predict, David Cameron is still foolishly pointing the finger at Gordon Brown for the UKs woes.

He has also foolishly misjudged the impact of the kudos the Prime Minister has gained with his international peers. Most agree that the Gordon Brown has significantly influenced world leaders by devising an economic strategy that all except David The Over-Reacher respect. David Cameron is so keen to show just how expert he is as Leader of the Opposition that it is likely his expertise will ensure he remains just that!

Foolish move David!

Ringo : Fool On A Hill?

Ringo Starr's recent decision to stop signing autographs might be just the place you get to after decades of being a Beatle. Clearly the hassle factor is something most of us will never experience.

That said as a former Beatle Ringo might have thought that he had special social responsibilities to the people who have paid him his wages over the years?

In marketing parlance this foolish decision will do significant 'reputational risk' to his image.

This might be considered by some to be the act of the dummer not the drummer.

Social Networking Used to Fool Robbery Dummys

Is there something about Social Networking that causes use to lower our defences and ignore natural skepticism?

The guy that used Craiglist to get people to cover his robbery attempt certainly seems to have proved the point.

Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University recently described the internet as a 'dis-inhibiting' environment. One where we relax our normal rules of discretion, privacy, and self protection.

I'd call it a 'Foolishness Enhancing' environment.