The Adam Buxton Podcast

[Thomas]

Horrified to discover that a pleasant and charming minor public figure does not share my exact political outlook

I think it's fair to discuss and respond to the politics of a public figure if he expresses those politics on his popular podcast. When I posted I was just highlighting the flimsy disconnect between a) his cosmetic concerns about language in old comedy routines and b) the justification of private schools - the latter an integral mechanism in the UK's class-and-inequality machine.

I agree that Adam is pleasant and charming, but politics are a relevant discussion point when he has astute, analytical figures like Zadie Smith on.

[Old Nehamkin]

I think it's fair to discuss and respond to the politics of a public figure if he expresses those politics on his popular podcast. When I posted I was just highlighting the flimsy disconnect between a) his cosmetic concerns about language in old comedy routines and b) the justification of private schools - the latter an integral mechanism in the UK's class-and-inequality machine.

I agree that Adam is pleasant and charming, but politics are a relevant discussion point when he has astute, analytical figures like Zadie Smith on.

oh

oh so you just want every person who's ever lived or ever will live to have all the same politics as you, do you

that's what you want, is it

oh

[Thomas]

'Why can't I have everything I want, all the time? Isn't that democracy?'

[Jerzy Bondov]

oh

oh so you just want every person who's ever lived or ever will live to have all the same politics as you, do you

that's what you want, is it

oh

Honestly that would be quite nice

[olliebean]

You know, "I want everyone who has ever lived or ever will to have all the same politics as me" is not at all the opposite of "I will never ever criticise anyone's politics, no matter how much I disagree with them."

[Johnboy]

His story about Paul Weller was amusing.

He qualified it by saying he thinks he's great but then there was some contempt when he said "he looked at me with his little mod eyes".

[AllisonSays]

I think he's a lovely, funny man but he's also pretty much the dictionary definition of a centrist dad.

[frajer]

Yes. I love Count Buckules but for me the disappointment comes that whenever these issues are raised he reveals that, although he's creative, intelligent and sympathetic to other people's problems (as well as being more than happy to discuss them), he's also upper-middle-class and wealthy so doesn't really want anything to change.

[Thomas]

He is a count after all.

Foreman Buckules.

[shiftwork2]

I would have been surprised had he not sent his children to private school, to the point where I had guessed which school it is.  Really not sure where the surprise comes from.  Generally those who received a private education feel obliged to do the same for their own children.  It seems to be fuelled by misplaced guilt and fear.  The wider picture doesn't seem to get much of a look-in.

Enjoyed the Zadie Smith.  I'm pretty in the dark regards her work but what a likeable, inspiring character.

[Thomas]

I've only read White Teeth and NW, and as well as recommending them I'd really encourage you to check out Channel 4's 2002 adaption of the former. Free on 4oD.

[thenoise]

Had he been a failure he might have reconsidered. But I dont think hes under any illusions about the fact that going to the right school (etc) created opportunities for him that wouldn't have existed otherwise. At the very least, it certainly hasn't held him back. So he wants the same for his kids I guess.

I'm not sure his politics has ever amounted to much more than 'feeling a bit (or very) guilty (but carrying on as normal anyway). That's still a lot more progressive than most...

[phes]

What now. Buxton on hiatus, Louis has ceased releasing podcasts now he's allowed out again to continue frittering away his wit making unfunny TV

[popcorn]

It's time for my podcast!

[Mister Six]

Repeatedly talking about George Floyd after she's just said she's fed up of being expected to have an opinion on it was also a howler.

That didn't happen though. She specifically said that she was sick of being asked to relive the horror she felt at watching the video. He didn't ask her about that, but about the wider context of protests and perception, and she seemed happy to talk about it.

[Twit 2]

Ah ok.

[Jack Shaftoe]

I should probably listen to the Zadie Smith one, I had a strong dislike for her for ages, then I remembered it's based solely on her and Dave Eggers signing each others' books in bookshops as a hilarious jape, which, from an ex-bookseller's point of view, just sounded smug and annoying.

[Mister Six]

I didn't like the first Zadie Smith pod, but this one is pretty great.

[Retinend]

Cannot imagine giving a shit whether he sends his kids to private school.

Horrified to discover that a pleasant and charming minor public figure does not share my exact political outlook

What's more, friends of mine who, unlike myself, did go to fee-paying schools, a)., are far from being cunts or snobs of any description, and b)., all agree about them being mostly a scam. None were given the keys to the establishment upon leaving school - they just went through UCAS, got their degree, and got a job afterwards in exactly the same way all of us did. Perhaps you fellows are generalising a bit, based on your notions of Eton etc.?

edit: removed erroneous use of the word "matriculation"

[Puce Moment]

Phew.

[Old Nehamkin]

Very relieved to learn that class privilege does not in fact exist.

[turnstyle]

Not listened to the Zadie Smith one yet. Any CLASSIC BANTZ to be had, or is it all like, brainy shit about books and that?

[Bernice]

What's more, friends of mine who, unlike myself, did go to fee-paying schools, a)., are far from being cunts or snobs of any description, and b)., all agree about them being mostly a scam. None were given the keys to the establishment upon matriculation - they just went through UCAS, got their degree, and got a job afterwards in exactly the same way all of us did. Perhaps you fellows are generalising a bit, based on your notions of Eton etc.?

Yes people do this sort of generalising all the time with no respect for the anecdotal. For instance, friends of mine in the police are actually avowedly non-racist. My uncle was rich - a millionair, in fact - and he died of suicide at 38. In two of the last three places I've worked, the bosses of have been majority women, actually.

[Retinend]

Point being: just because there's something wrong with Eton and that sort of privilege, it doesn't mean that every fee-paying school in the country is ensconced in/confers the same privilege.

[Thomas]

Point being: just because there's something wrong with Eton and that sort of privilege, it doesn't mean that every fee-paying school in the country is ensconced in/confers the same privilege.

This wasn't my opinion. I'd only echo what Zadie put so well herself in the podcast. Private schools exist as an integral part of the Inequality Machine. It was and is their historical purpose. Whether or not every individual private school catapults its graduates into Downing Street - and whether or not some of their denizens turn out to be nice and compassionate - is irrelevant.

I don't know if anybody was generalising about the personalities of all private school attendees. Only that private education exists in the UK with a built-in class mission to maintain the status quo. Like mass incarceration in the US and its racialised aims. Doesn't mean there aren't nice private schooloes and friendly coppers.

[turnstyle]

I'm guessing that's a no on the bantz then.

[popcorn]

Yes people do this sort of generalising all the time with no respect for the anecdotal. For instance, friends of mine in the police are actually avowedly non-racist. My uncle was rich - a millionair, in fact - and he died of suicide at 38.

What is the millionaire generalising? That millionaires have no mental health problems?

[turnstyle]

Shame really cos I love me some corking bantz.

[PlanktonSideburns]

What's more, friends of mine who, unlike myself, did go to fee-paying schools, a)., are far from being cunts or snobs of any description, and b)., all agree about them being mostly a scam. None were given the keys to the establishment upon matriculation - they just went through UCAS, got their degree, and got a job afterwards in exactly the same way all of us did. Perhaps you fellows are generalising a bit, based on your notions of Eton etc.?

nah, you were just really shit at posho school mate

all your old friends behind your back are all like

'why isn't that guy doing comedy with us on the bbc now? weird guy'

[Retinend]

Good bantz, but I think you're presuming I went to a fee-paying* school, as they did?

*at this point I may as well just ask: is the phrase "public school" reserved for only the big hitters (which is my gut feeling about the phrase), or is any fee-paying school automatically a "public" school? I'm sure if I had been to posho school I would know this...

This wasn't my opinion. I'd only echo what Zadie put so well herself in the podcast. Private schools exist as an integral part of the Inequality Machine. It was and is their historical purpose. Whether or not every individual private school catapults its graduates into Downing Street is irrelevant.

In which case I hardly think my formulation "fee-paying schools confer and are ensconced in privilege" was an misrepresentation of this opinion of yours/hers. If anything it's a milder rendering.