Oh God, here we go again, two bloody months away yet still the stupid red noses keep coming and bloody Islands In The Stream has been revived for a joke single...

Then there's bloody Children In Need...

Meanwhile, not worrying about polluting our culture and destroying our minds with rubbish, the BBC bans appeals to save dying innocents in Gaza.

Unless, of course, bloody Geldof endorses it by a career saving swearword.

It really is beyond a joke.

For me, Comic Relief is a big turn off, and CIN has become too artificial and celebrity based.

As for the Gaza appeal. I'm sure the BBC must turn down lots of appeals. The media have turned this one into a major issue. What a load of hype. As a result I'm now resolved to boycott the appeal myself.

Oh no... not again... another day to stay at home since everywhere you go, people will be dressed up and acting like dickheads all in the name of "charity".

You would think that after what - 25 years of Geldofs' charitable nonsense and millions and millions of pounds that the problems would had been eradicated by now. It's like throwing money into a black hole.

And don't get me started on Children In Need.

As for the recent row about the BBC, for once, I'm actually on the BBC's side to not screen that appeal. Call me heartless and insensitive but why oh why is it virtually every time there is a disaster, calamity or famine in the world it is us Brits who get blitzed and guilt tripped to "give" to charities to help when half the time we never even know if the money raised actually reaches the targets? Of course the people of Gaza get my sympathy - it is terrible what's happening there, but things aren't exactly that wonderful here in Britain are they?

Given the way things now are, can we REALLY afford to be giving money to such charities? We can't even look after our own people let alone be giving away money we don't really have especially the way food and fuel costs keep rising.

Charity begins at home. If we all started just looking after and out for our neighbours just to start with, maybe we'd all be a lot richer.

The only appeals which are a matter of life and death are the DEC appeals.

This is for only major disasters where life is at immediate risk.

Yes Children in Need and Comic Relief are annoyng to most people over 25. But kids and schools really create a sense of help and community rallying around them.

I always go out and dont watch them until the end - no one forces anyone to watch them. Just get some DVDs in for the night.

St Bob Geldof and St Bono are well meaning but they basically have supported evil regimes in their pursuit of trying to help thus undermining their work. They annoy me - because both of them have/had very decent bands which they have neglected. In addition the G8 in Scotland was totally undermined by LIVE 8 which was a fiasco and did far more harm than good - and did not raise ONE penny for the World. It was a self congratulatory New Labour moment - like the Millenium Dome event which Blair conned the Queen into attending.

Real aid is important. It is important. We are really lucky in the UK - and much of our money and wealth has been created by ripping off Africa and Third World during the previous centuries. Therefore we do have a responsibility to put something back into those areas. If the whole world was fed properly and was educated properly then War and Terror would be a thing of the past. Europe has come to that place - only the poor countries of the World still wage war ( USA apart )

The GAZA appeal is important - your £5 could save a young life and make them realise that we in the UK are on their side - and we dont want them to die.

I would far rather BROWN gave the BILLIONS to starving people than to rich fat and greedy bankers. The rich are FAT and DISGUSTING on ripping off the majority of people. Energy companies make obscene profits out of heating - and cause untold misery to poor old people.

Some of us are lucky on here that we have had University educations and have been able to create opportunites for ourselves but not everyone has that flair or ability. They do rely on the rest of us to help them.

The BBC should have run the appeal because it was a DEC appeal. They should run every DEC appeal. I do hope that the people of GAZA are aware that the majority of UK people wish them well and many tens of thousands of people will be donating to them.

BR - largely EXCELLENT comment, thank YOU.

It's a shame that it takes ignorance from the BBC (like not screening the DEC appeal) to make people question the BBC. Regardless of BBC behaviour it is WRONG that every citizen has to pay a licence fee even if they only watch advert showing channels. My grandfather paid the licence yet only watched ITV and spent the last few pennies of his savings on the treats sold to him in the breaks of Heartbeat (and usually treats for others, not himself). The BBC MUST become a sunscription service because if I want to watch a DVD I have to pay an electricity bill, a DVD hire/purchase fee AND a TV licence - even though I generally avoid BBC radio and television.

Aside from fee issues the BBC is terribly out of touch and frankly quite ridiculous, Channel Four news is far more trustworthy than BBC efforts and MOST BBC programmes are on DVD for a fiver as soon as they are on so actually this works out far cheaper than the licence fee to see the FEW quality things they make.

Lastly, I have a degree from Oxford University yet can't get a job - that is the bit of your comment I was not so fond of

You have a degree from Oxford - my feeling is this about that - getting any job at the moment is very difficult. In fact some people are too qualified for the way in which our system works.

But I have found that because of a decent degree then many people can think outside the box.

Setting up as self employed in some area is not very difficult and can even lead to full time employment elsewhere.

Anyone with an Oxford degree must be very very very good at their subject area - and therefore must be able to use that to set up something that other people would want - even in a recession.

Anyhow - whatever you decide to do - I am sure you will find a suitable job and all the best in finding it.

BR I don't often say this in response to one of your posts, but I agreed with almost every word of that one!

well said

I have one charity that I regularly contribute to, which works worldwide and which I can trust. Not responding to a DEC appeal doesn't mean people don't care and give in other ways.

I was pleased that Russian TV broadcast interviews with ordinary Gaza civilians who blamed Hamas for their plight more than they blamed Israel. Some told how they were prevented by Hamas from evacuating certain civilian areas after Israel had warned them of air strikes. Life would be much better for the Gaza civilians if Hamas would stop lobbing missiles into Israel. We can only hope the ceasefire will last, but if they start it all off again, no amount of money can prevent further devastation.

oops, I actually meant that I agree with BR's previous post, the long one.

Wonder why it is that Geldof and Bono jumped on the political bandwagon? They are supposed 'rock stars'? Lennon's protests for world peace were fun, and rattled the Whitehouse. Geldof and Bono have somehow managed to bore the pants off the world, and at the same time mismanaged their efforts in a spectacular fashion. ALL of the money raised through Live Aid never ever reached the intended recipients.

Best joke ever: BONO: "Every time I clap my hands a child dies"

Then stop bloody clapping then!!

The Fat Controller wrote:

Best joke ever: BONO: "Every time I clap my hands a child dies"

Then stop bloody clapping then!!

I have read that this actually happened onstage in Scotland in 2006 with Bono insisting on total silence from the audience during which he clapped his hands and made his statement only for a fan in the audience to rebuff him wittily and showing him up for the pretentious boring tw*t (choose the vowel that suits you) that he truly is.

I'm actually wondering if this really happened or whether it's one of those "urban myths"!

And actually Bono, who I've only met a couple of times, is a nice, genuine chap who really does want to do good... trouble is, images often kick in... Geldof is also delightful company but my God his Saint Bob persona stinks... and I have to tell you Sting is a lovely, unpretentious guy too.

And let's not forget Sir Cliff who has been raising funds for charity long before these other guys came on the scene, and never made a big noise about it.

"Real aid is important. It is important. We are really lucky in the UK - and much of our money and wealth has been created by ripping off Africa and Third World during the previous centuries. Therefore we do have a responsibility to put something back into those areas. If the whole world was fed properly and was educated properly then War and Terror would be a thing of the past. Europe has come to that place - only the poor countries of the World still wage war ( USA apart )

I would far rather BROWN gave the BILLIONS to starving people than to rich fat and greedy bankers.

Some of us are lucky on here that we have had University educations and have been able to create opportunites for ourselves but not everyone has that flair or ability. They do rely on the rest of us to help them."

Agreed BR!

So can anyone reply why Brown, or any other European politician for that matter, gives taxpayers´ billions to rich greedy bankers? While the same bank managers still refuse to accept limits/ reduce bonuses/ pay back?

Ah you got it- because they´re criminals stuffing each others pockets, while laughing about the poor!