Stephen Fry Attacks Victims of Child Sex Abuse

[Rum]

Fry is the victim of selective quote mining. The quote this whole thread is based on a comment taken out of context. He quit Twitter for that reason too. Liberals of the butt hurt variety take great joy in beating him with his own words.

Fry has done more than his fair share of being brave.

[Cunt]

Fry is the victim of selective quote mining. The quote this whole thread is based on a comment taken out of context. He quit Twitter for that reason too. Liberals of the butt hurt variety take great joy in beating him with his own words.

Fry has done more than his fair share of being brave.

Fry is one of my heroes. During that talk, he pissed me off because of my LOVE of superhero movies. I have seen every one I can (except the new Affleck abomination). Now that he poked me there, I have a new favourite superhero movie.

It's a 'good friend' movie, too, though the good friend in this one is as one-dimensional as any superhero. The movie is called 'Blue Ruin', and the main character strikes me as heroic, awful, and several things in between. I felt with him, and for him, knowing all the while that he is fictional.

I wish that one day I could be as manly, as brave as Stephen Fry. I admire him for being outspoken (though I don't always agree) in a world where that can be career suicide.

[devogue]

His apology is understandable but depressing. An explanation or clarification was all that was required. In saying that he is a very polite man so it doesn't surprise me.

[cronus]

They say every man has a shadow. Fry is both intellectualy gifted and highly erudite. If he dropped words for others to pick up then you need to ask why? I don't believe in a liberal conspiracy. We know how powerful the subconscious can be and also that some can home in on even trace insincerity. This is what might be happening here. The subconscious leaves a paper trail to the dark shadow of Fry's deeper personal issues and truth wizards in the audience, drawn by his cerebral display, then pick up on the paper trail to the dark heart.

[NineBerry]

Isn't leaving Twitter in a hissy fit very similar to the behaviour he is criticizing?

[Cunt]

That's not the way I took it. More like he didn't like it as much anymore, so he withdrew. Are you required to keep tweeting or something? I have twitter, but rarely read or post. Does that mean I am pitching a fit?

[Brian Peacock]

I didn't know one was morally obliged to keep on tweeting once you'd registered for Twitter, or to read and responded to vitriolic opprobrium directed at one's person thereon. Perhaps the world would be a better place if more people followd Mr Fry's example and dumped that emotionally stultifying TwitFace.

[pErvinalia]

Fry is the victim of selective quote mining. The quote this whole thread is based on a comment taken out of context.

His comment wasn't taken out of fucking context. He clearly said that child abuse victims need to grow up and that their suffering is "ugly". He's a total fuckwit for saying just that.

[Cunt]

You seem to have mis-heard, rEv. I listened twice to make sure. Try listening again, without your music playing. Maybe that's why you misheard him.

I heard him say that self-pity was ugly, but he certainly didn't say what you are claiming he said.

I know you are real smart and charming, but I JUST listened to it.

[pErvinalia]

...Fry launches into an extraordinary attack on victims of sexual abuse, saying: “It’s a great shame and we’re all very sorry that your uncle touched you in that nasty place – you get some of my sympathy – but your self-pity gets none of my sympathy.” It was a sustained attack. “Self-pity is the ugliest emotion in humanity,” he said. “Get rid of it, because no one’s going to like you if you feel sorry for yourself. The irony is, we’ll feel sorry for you if you stop feeling sorry for yourself. Grow up.”

[JimC]

...Fry launches into an extraordinary attack on victims of sexual abuse, saying: “It’s a great shame and we’re all very sorry that your uncle touched you in that nasty place – you get some of my sympathy – but your self-pity gets none of my sympathy.” It was a sustained attack. “Self-pity is the ugliest emotion in humanity,” he said. “Get rid of it, because no one’s going to like you if you feel sorry for yourself. The irony is, we’ll feel sorry for you if you stop feeling sorry for yourself. Grow up.”

Yes, but that's where he was selectively quoted. From what he had said earlier than "It's a great shame...", it is clear that he was only referring to those with very minor examples of abuse which they have traded on to bask in the pity of others. However, he would have been wise to make the distinction between them and those traumatised by serious abuse clearer...

[Cunt]

I would say that even if you are genuinely traumatized (by ANYTHING), self-pity will cause people to not feel sorry for you. I thought he was gentle and considerate before these statements. Nothing about them changed my mind.

[pErvinalia]

Yes, we must blame the victims.

How about the people who are offended by alleged "self pity" get over themselves and realise that child abuse is far more offensive?

[JimC]

Yes, we must blame the victims.

How about the people who are offended by alleged "self pity" get over themselves and realise that child abuse is far more offensive?

The many tragic cases of real child abuse are important, and do need better responses from society. That's why it is also important not to let real child abuse blur into the imaginary kind, which from all accounts is a real issue...

[Seth]

Yes, we must blame the victims.

How about the people who are offended by alleged "self pity" get over themselves and realise that child abuse is far more offensive?

It's not a binary thing. One can be offended by child abuse AND by those who wallow in self-pity, particularly those who use it as a tool to benefit themselves by playing victim.