SEXIST?
Written by Gareth Cliff Monday, 12 September 2011 08:30
My official response to my alleged sexism in newspapers today
This whole story is preposterous. It is spurious and seems a deliberate attempt by a minor politician and newspapers to make a mountain out of a molehill.
BCCSA complaints are filed for any number of reasons and most are dismissed. In order to be valid, a complaint must be found, quite specifically to be offensive, amount to hate speech and/or instigation to violence. Here's what happened:
I interviewed (because I think she's doing amazing work, and represents the best of what young people are doing in SA) a woman called Angela Larkan. She's now 27, but at age 19 began a non-profit organization called the Thanda Project in rural KZN. This organization was founded to lend assistance in the form of support, food, education and basic needs to AIDS orphans. It impressed me enormously that a girl of 19 could do such wonderful work. I might add that I had to motivate to my Station manager why I was so keen to have her on and to support her cause, which I did with great gusto.
At the start of the interview, and by way of illustrating the contrast between those who do and those who do not, I made the comment that either "so many" or "most" 22 year olds are more interested in lying with their legs open. Hyperbole for sure, but certainly not aimed at offending anyone. I accept that some sensitive people may have felt the comment offensive, but who (unless they were described by it) would consider themselves so described if there were no truth to the insult? It appears a male minor politician took offense on behalf of all the world's virgin youth and decided to lay a complaint with the BCCSA, as is his right. This does not mean I am guilty of anything. The charge may even be dismissed.
I refute the allegation and consider it insulting in turn to be called sexist. The reason I had Angela on my show is because she is precisely the opposite of the kind of girl I am alleged to have offended. It is unfortunate in the extreme that an interview about a terrific cause and effort by a philanthropist should be turned into a controversy about Gareth Cliff. This is a ruinous reflection of the depth to which public discourse has sunk. If my obviously outrageous and laughable comment makes more news than the good work of Angela Larkan, then sexism is the least of our concerns.
This whole story is preposterous. It is spurious and seems a deliberate attempt by a minor politician and newspapers to make a mountain out of a molehill.
BCCSA complaints are filed for any number of reasons and most are dismissed. In order to be valid, a complaint must be found, quite specifically to be offensive, amount to hate speech and/or instigation to violence. Here's what happened:
I interviewed (because I think she's doing amazing work, and represents the best of what young people are doing in SA) a woman called Angela Larkan. She's now 27, but at age 19 began a non-profit organization called the Thanda Project in rural KZN. This organization was founded to lend assistance in the form of support, food, education and basic needs to AIDS orphans. It impressed me enormously that a girl of 19 could do such wonderful work. I might add that I had to motivate to my Station manager why I was so keen to have her on and to support her cause, which I did with great gusto.
At the start of the interview, and by way of illustrating the contrast between those who do and those who do not, I made the comment that either "so many" or "most" 22 year olds are more interested in lying with their legs open. Hyperbole for sure, but certainly not aimed at offending anyone. I accept that some sensitive people may have felt the comment offensive, but who (unless they were described by it) would consider themselves so described if there were no truth to the insult? It appears a male minor politician took offense on behalf of all the world's virgin youth and decided to lay a complaint with the BCCSA, as is his right. This does not mean I am guilty of anything. The charge may even be dismissed.
I refute the allegation and consider it insulting in turn to be called sexist. The reason I had Angela on my show is because she is precisely the opposite of the kind of girl I am alleged to have offended. It is unfortunate in the extreme that an interview about a terrific cause and effort by a philanthropist should be turned into a controversy about Gareth Cliff. This is a ruinous reflection of the depth to which public discourse has sunk. If my obviously outrageous and laughable comment makes more news than the good work of Angela Larkan, then sexism is the least of our concerns.
Offence is taken, I do not give it. I wish Angela luck with her wonderful project and the great contribution it is making to empower orphans in KZN. The councillor who complained might do well to do the same, rather than attempt this clear gamble for ill-deserved publicity at my and Angela's expense. Please visit www.thanda.org for more information on their project.
Comments (146)
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well put Gareth, I think this has been blown out of proportion completely. You make a valid comment about only those to whom the comment applies would take offense. The rest of us understood the context and tongue in cheek manner in which you delivered it.
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September 12, 2011
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Well said Gareth. Some people are far to sensitive and to be honest, looking for a reason to get their 5 seconds of fame. I completely agree that most people - male or female, at the age of twenty are not bothered about much more than having fun.
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September 12, 2011
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This has defiantly been blown out of proportion! People need to get over them self's... as they say if the shoe fits.... WEAR IT !
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September 12, 2011
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Don't waste too much time on this Gareth, you know who you are - you don't need anyone else to tell you otherwise
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September 12, 2011
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Some people will never see the good side of anything and yess most 22 year old are out there on their backs with their legs open.
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September 12, 2011
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As you so brilliantly stated Gareth, Offence is taken. Only those with something to feel guilty about would take offence to such a statement. As a 24 year old female, I couldn't agree more that MOST 22 year olds are far less interested in helping others and would sooner ensure that their own "needs" are met first.
So tired of having to see how many people are becoming more and more sensitive about ridiculous things and as a result tend to blow it way out of proportion.
So tired of having to see how many people are becoming more and more sensitive about ridiculous things and as a result tend to blow it way out of proportion.
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September 12, 2011
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I have always believed that people take offence to something like this if they are guilty themselves and if there is no truth in the facts then I say apologise but the fact of the matter is this is the truth. What's sad is the fact they they miss the whole point of the interview and that I think just shows the mentality of who ever laid the complaint. Thank you Gareth for sharing a little light in a very world consisting of very sad realities.
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September 12, 2011
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