The Education Secretary blasts the X Factor boss

[arista]

King Simon got Lucky
yes but back then, it was less Population




Don't go getting MP Gove Angry.

http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2013/11/15/270883/default/v1/overlay-1-522x293.jpg


[Education Secretary Michael Gove has
blasted X Factor boss Simon Cowell as
"irresponsible and stupid" for suggesting
that young people do not need to bother with education.
The Cabinet minister told the TV mogul he should
"encourage" teenagers at school, rather than "rubbish" learning.
Mr Gove made the comments after the talent
show boss advised that "the secret is to
be useless at school and then get lucky".

Cowell admitted that he did not work hard
at school, leaving at 16 without any qualifications.

"I was useless. The secret is to be useless at school and then get lucky,"
he told US radio station z100.
The remark appeared to be light-hearted and
an agent at Cowell's production company, Syco,
said: "This was quite clearly a joke made in a humorous
radio interview and has been taken completely out of context."

But Mr Gove warned that "only a fraction of kids get lucky".]


http://news.sky.com/story/1169226/simon-cowell-slammed-over-get-lucky-remark

[joeysteele]

I think Michael Gove is spot on in his response to Cowell. They were rather silly comments for Cowell to make.

[arista]

I think Michael Gove is spot on in his response to Cowell. They were rather silly comments for Cowell to make.


Bang On Right Joey

[armand.kay]

It was obviously a joke http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/2095c354.gif

[arista]

It was obviously a joke http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/2095c354.gif


Sure
but 1 its true
and 2 some kids will not see it as a joke




Life In The Fast Lane

[Kizzy]

It was an off the cuff remark on an American radio show, not a party political broadcast.
Gove is a rude obnoxious fool.

[Livia]

You'd have thought someone as media-savvy as Cowell would have learned by now when to keep his ridiculous remarks to himself.

[Apple202]

lmao

[user104658]

They're both right? Cowell is 100% correct - there are only three ways to end up with "serious" money. Being born into it, being brought into it by someone you know, or being entrepreneurial with a hefty dose of dumb luck (the vast majority of entrepreneurs amount to precisely zilch, and it has almost nothing to do with how hard they work or how good their ideas are). At the end of the day, all three amount to dumb luck. Lucky by birth, lucky by being in the right place at the right time, etc.

But Mr Gove warned that "only a fraction of kids get lucky".

Indeed. Also correct. Hence, the world? A fraction of kids "get lucky" and end up with the sort of money and influence that Cowell has. The rest of the world makes do with a relative pittance on different levels. Yes, you could abandon education completely and end up surviving on less than £15000 a year, or you could stick in and become a doctor on £60k... maybe more with a few decades experience... and live very comfortably. But let's face it - Cowell could piss 60k up the wall in 5 minutes and it would be like any of the rest of us dropping 10p in the street.

You don't get to be a Simon Cowell by "working hard at school, kids" or with good ol' fashioned grit and determination. You get there with simple luck. He's only being honest.

[joeysteele]

You'd have thought someone as media-savvy as Cowell would have learned by now when to keep his ridiculous remarks to himself.

Exactly, it was a ridiculous statement to make.

[Kizzy]

Does everyone have to be serious now, check every comment in case you incur the wrath of Gove?

[smeagol]

we busted out of class had to get away from those fools
we learnt more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school

no one needs school 90% you learn is a waste of time that your never need use or even remember. the other 10% could of been learnt in a few months not years.
all for a bit paper to say hey look at me arnt i clever lol but they cant walk down the street in straight line still lol

[Livia]

we busted out of class had to get away from those fools
we learnt more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school

no one needs school 90% you learn is a waste of time that your never need use or even remember. the other 10% could of been learnt in a few months not years.
all for a bit paper to say hey look at me arnt i clever lol but they cant walk down the street in straight line still lol

Or... you could study hard, get good qualifications and end up in a decently paid job that you like.

[Jack_]

Well at least we now know that this incompetent, unrepresentative, out of touch, near universally despised, systematically education destroying wanker has no concept of humour either. Perhaps he ought to you know, focus on reversing some of the catastrophic and detrimental measures he's put in place before he goes around acting as if he has any real authority and knowledge, not just an assigned job title, to talk about ****ing education. At least he can take pleasure in the fact that he's a Grade A *****.

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[Livia]

I'm not a fan of Gove, Jack... but I do see where he's coming from. Lots of young people look up to Simon Cowell because of X Factor and all that... he should have chosen his words more carefully, he's in the media, he knows what happens when thoughtless comments are made.

[Z]

They're both right? Cowell is 100% correct - there are only three ways to end up with "serious" money. Being born into it, being brought into it by someone you know, or being entrepreneurial with a hefty dose of dumb luck (the vast majority of entrepreneurs amount to precisely zilch, and it has almost nothing to do with how hard they work or how good their ideas are). At the end of the day, all three amount to dumb luck. Lucky by birth, lucky by being in the right place at the right time, etc.

But Mr Gove warned that "only a fraction of kids get lucky".

Indeed. Also correct. Hence, the world? A fraction of kids "get lucky" and end up with the sort of money and influence that Cowell has. The rest of the world makes do with a relative pittance on different levels. Yes, you could abandon education completely and end up surviving on less than £15000 a year, or you could stick in and become a doctor on £60k... maybe more with a few decades experience... and live very comfortably. But let's face it - Cowell could piss 60k up the wall in 5 minutes and it would be like any of the rest of us dropping 10p in the street.

You don't get to be a Simon Cowell by "working hard at school, kids" or with good ol' fashioned grit and determination. You get there with simple luck. He's only being honest.

Brilliant post, totally agree!

[Kizzy]

There are not a huge number of kids who are capable of the educational attainment to become a doctor though. By tripling uni fees ethically I think they should only take AAB students otherwise it feels like young people being funneled into debt.
Thinking long term how is that going to be beneficial?
Where are the alternatives for the less academically gifted children? It's not luck they need it's a flipping miracle!

[Shaun]

Or... you could study hard, get good qualifications and end up in a decently paid job that you like.

A little bit optimistic given the number of unemployed graduates...

but yeah, Cowell's a tit. Again.

[Kizzy]

Cowell is not a tit, he is as entitled to free speech as anyone, nobody in the media should have to feel they are a governmental mouthpeice.
Gove has no right to comment and abuse the personal opinions of anyone, in the media or otherwise....It's bad enough they exert so much control over what is broadcast and published without attempting to manipulate the views of individuals...
Let's see him try that with Brand :laugh:

[Livia]

A little bit optimistic given the number of unemployed graduates...

but yeah, Cowell's a tit. Again.

I said try to get good qualifications, that doesn't necessarily mean get a degree. It seems to be the norm now for people to be pushed toward university when so many would be better getting a trade. My builder doesn't have a degree and he makes more than I do.

Bill Gates dropped out of college, don't hear him recommending it as a career path.

Hey Shauny... haven't posted to you for aaaaaages.

[Livia]

If people advocate free speech, then I guess Cowell had every right to make his thoughtless comment. And by the very same token, Gove had every right to have his say too.

[Kizzy]

"I was useless, the secret is to be useless then get lucky"
That was a self depreciating remark on a radio show in the US, in no universe should it be harnessed and held up as gospel.
Why Mr Gove chose to flail aroud hysterically about this comment I don't know.
You would think he had enough on revamping the failing education system so the youth of today had faith in that for their future.

[Livia]

I wasn't aware of anyone "flailing around hysterically". That isn't what actually happened, is it. Obviously people who are against this government will take every opportunity to be mortally offended. The truth is, Cowell - supposed media mogul and PR expert - said something thoughtless. If he hadn't said it, Gove wouldn't have had anything to say in reply.

[Kizzy]

If people advocate free speech, then I guess Cowell had every right to make his thoughtless comment. And by the very same token, Gove had every right to have his say too.

Cowell made a general comment, Gove made a personal attack on an individual for their view.
There's a slight difference, but I see that you're getting at.

[Kizzy]

I wasn't aware of anyone "flailing around hysterically". That isn't what actually happened, is it. Obviously people who are against this government will take every opportunity to be mortally offended. The truth is, Cowell - supposed media mogul and PR expert - said something thoughtless. If he hadn't said it, Gove wouldn't have had anything to say in reply.

It's not Mr Cowells job to placate Mr Gove and to spout tory rhetoric is it?
We leave that to the likes of Gove et al, nobody in government would ever do or say anything remotely embarrassing or damage public perception in any way would they?

[arista]

Cowell made a general comment, Gove made a personal attack on an individual for their view.
There's a slight difference, but I see that you're getting at.


Yes and So he Bloody Should
he is in Charge of Education.


King Simon likes attacks
as it gets him top headlines on that day etc.

[Kizzy]

He's not in charge of Simon Cowell though is he? :laugh:

[Livia]

It's not Mr Cowells job to placate Mr Gove and to spout tory rhetoric is it?
We leave that to the likes of Gove et al, nobody in government would ever do or say anything remotely embarrassing or damage public perception in any way would they?

Whoever suggested that Cowell should be spouting Tory rhetoric? The suggestion was that a man with his background should have known better. And then Mr Gove wouldn't have had anything to say, would he.

Anyway, I've already answered this several times, it's pointless continuing to say the same in a different way.

[Kizzy]

Mr Gove did...
Mr Cowell commenting on his own background is neither 'irresponsible or stupid' as far as I can see.

[Tom4784]

I don't think they are bad remarks in all honesty considering the current climate. Most of my friends who have gone to Uni haven't even managed to get entry level jobs in the fields they want to work in. Only two spring to mind who have and I know a decent number of people that either dropped out of college or didn't even bother going and they've got decent jobs now. That's just a small example mind.

Neither extreme is entirely correct, you're not dooming yourself to a miserable life by not going to Uni and you aren't guaranteed your dream job if you do.

[Kizzy]

That's my thinking, education of some description is compulsory till 18 now too so why this one comment got Gove so rattled I don't know?

[arista]

He's not in charge of Simon Cowell though is he? :laugh:



No but Cowell
is a public bloke
so Gove is Right to attack him

[Kizzy]

What is a 'public bloke'?... he isn't owned by the public.
Does that make it right for Gove to personally attack him, lot's of people in the public eye say things that could be considered 'irresponsible and stupid' everyday.

[arista]

What is a 'public bloke'?... he isn't owned by the public.
Does that make it right for Gove to personally attack him, lot's of people in the public eye say things that could be considered 'irresponsible and stupid' everyday.


Yes but Cowell has TV Power
above any MP

[Kizzy]

No he doesn't, I doubt 1000s of 16yr olds would spontaneously drop out of school having heard this. If Gove hadn't made his inflammatory comments nobody would have even been aware of this at all would they?

[arista]

No he doesn't, I doubt 1000s of 16yr olds would spontaneously drop out of school having heard this. If Gove hadn't made his inflammatory comments nobody would have even been aware of this at all would they?



Yes but Gove has Every Right to
even Joey says he does, on here.

[Kizzy]

Gove can be as offensive as he likes, doesn't make it right. Joey is entitled to his opinion, we don't always have to agree :)

[Z]

Michael Gove is a pap

[Kizzy]

Is a pap same as a div? :laugh:

[Tom4784]

No. In his spare time Gove is actually a member of the Paparazzi.

[Z]

Is a pap same as a div? :laugh:

Yes!

[anne666]

Silly Cowell . Get lucky, how exactly? Line up for his show perhaps? Or pop into your local lucky store kids. :sleep: Cowell doesn't have a sense of humour so I doubt that he said this in jest.

[joeysteele]

Silly Cowell . Get lucky, how exactly? Line up for his show perhaps? Or pop into your local lucky store kids. :sleep: Cowell doesn't have a sense of humour so I doubt that he said this in jest.

I agree with you,I just think if someone is going to say something, be constructive and balanced.

Luck is not there for everyone as it clearly was for pompous Simon Cowell,who has been able to make his fortune from other peoples efforts and then when they are no further use to him, he just dumps them.

Education is not perfect in the UK, that is because,in my opinion, in the main, it is a political football and both parties once in Govt feel the need to change this and that and cause confusion all through a childs education.

However, when someone in the position Simon Cowell is, (and he knows he has influence, especially over younger people),then it is not only right but it is was Michael Gove's duty to wade in and argue the benefits of education and to also put down the comments as made by Cowell.
I applaud bigtime Gove doing that too.

Too many celebrities think their word should be law and that they know it all.
It is time Cowell stuck to the music business and talent shows and left the really serious things to those trying to build solid futures for the children in the UK, who are not just looking for a way to make likely vast amounts of money from young people to only then dump them once their earning level diminishes as Cowell does..

[Kizzy]

He replied to the criticism last night with a comment that within his organisation he still finds that people with ambition, perseverance, drive, confidence and talent over academic success are employable.
That's no doubt true in his industry, I don't think any student with a dream of becoming a doctor or an architect would take his advice.

[Z]

He replied to the criticism last night with a comment that within his organisation he still finds that people with ambition, perseverance, drive, confidence and talent over academic success are employable.
That's no doubt true in his industry, I don't think any student with a dream of becoming a doctor or an architect would take his advice.

That's true, but plenty of young people who aren't very academic might read what Simon said and think "that's a great idea, I'll drop out now and be signed by Simon Cowell" - when only a tiny fraction of the population of the world even has a remote chance at becoming a popstar, even fewer get a hit single and even fewer still manage to build a successful career out of that. Compare that with the number of 16 year olds who drop out of school in the UK alone and that's why I think Simon Cowell's comments are irresponsible. Obviously it wasn't his intention to cause a stir, but they have, because he's a person that young people are more likely to listen to than Michael Gove, and Gove making it a big deal is just going to make people think Cowell is to be believed.