[Livia]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Band Aid as a whole is just a patronising platform for Bob Geldof to get attention and to slate anyone who has the audacity to not want to stroke his ego. I'd rather donate directly to the charities and cut out the self obsessed middleman.

I agree. I give to Medecins Sans Frontieres regularly anyway, as well as contributing through tax to the massive effort the UK has put into helping alleviate this crisis. I'm sure lots of people have given to all kinds of charities for this cause. I don't need Harry Styles & Co warbling to remind me that there's a world outside my window. I know there is, and so do most people. And furthermore, Bob Geldof hasn't done too badly out of the whole Live Aid/Band Aid thing, without it he would just be the frontman of a pretty average band who had a couple of hits in the 80s and not the demigod he has become. There are plenty of people working their backsides off for charity for their whole lives without ever reaping the kind of rewards or getting the recognition Bob Geldof has enjoyed. If people want to buy the record, good for them. I won't be buying it though.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Band Aid as a whole is just a patronising platform for Bob Geldof to get attention and to slate anyone who has the audacity to not want to stroke his ego. I'd rather donate directly to the charities and cut out the self obsessed middleman.

Yet isn't that the point of these campaigns? To draw people's attention to these causes that wouldn't receive as many donations unless this "middleman" helped publicise them?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Yet isn't that the point of these campaigns? To draw people's attention to these causes that wouldn't receive as many donations unless this "middleman" helped publicise them?

Don't you find it a little patronising to have some pop stars remind people that there's a world outside your window? Before they bugger off back to their sprawling Hampstead pad or their penthouse, their limo swooping past elderly people eeking out a living, hospitals that are busy shaking tin cups for cash and homeless people living on the street, of course... but they're not quite so headline-grabbing right now. It's less Band Aid and more Band Waggon if you as me.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

Don't you find it a little patronising to have some pop stars remind people that there's a world outside your window? Before they bugger off back to their sprawling Hampstead pad or their penthouse, their limo swooping past elderly people eeking out a living, hospitals that are busy shaking tin cups for cash and homeless people living on the street, of course... but they're not quite so headline-grabbing right now. It's less Band Aid and more Band Waggon if you as me.

Of course it is to some degree.

But then it's all about perspective. Me doing things to raise money for one cause and then slinking back to my comfortable life in my house with heating, food, drink, clothes, luxuries etc whilst thousands of people are sleeping on the streets is also unfair. But that's life.

I don't see it as the pop stars preaching to us, but about "us" as in everyone. I'm sure many, if not all, of these participants do their own bit for charity.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Of course it is to some degree.

But then it's all about perspective. Me doing things to raise money for one cause and then slinking back to my comfortable life in my house with heating, food, drink, clothes, luxuries etc whilst thousands of people are sleeping on the streets is also unfair. But that's life.

I don't see it as the pop stars preaching to us, but about "us" as in everyone. I'm sure many, if not all, of these participants do their own bit for charity.

Well said Marsh - all poverty and hardship is relative, unfair, but a very real fact of life.

As to the emboldened bit - when I was younger, I cynically questioned why multi-millionaire 'stars' didn't just bung in a million each from their own pockets, but as I've read more things about just this subject over the years, I know that they do give a hell of a lot to good causes - most of it in private.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Of course it is to some degree.

But then it's all about perspective. Me doing things to raise money for one cause and then slinking back to my comfortable life in my house with heating, food, drink, clothes, luxuries etc whilst thousands of people are sleeping on the streets is also unfair. But that's life.

I don't see it as the pop stars preaching to us, but about "us" as in everyone. I'm sure many, if not all, of these participants do their own bit for charity.

I support several charities regularly, and I certainly don't "slink back" to my comfortable house. I'm proud of the charities I support, and if I didn't work hard I wouldn't be able to support them - most of them in the UK but not exclusively. And the UK gives billions in foreign aid. Look at what we've done for the ebola crisis already! bundles of cash in foreign aid, charitable donations, a Royal Navy ship, loads of medics, doctors and nurses... and yet every time I see Geldof he's insinuating - and sometimes just coming out and saying - that we're not doing enough. I guess it's not so much the song that gets on my pecs, it's the unrelenting self-righteousness of Saint Bob. Well, he's preaching to the converted in many cases. Make your record Bob, sell it and shut up.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Yet isn't that the point of these campaigns? To draw people's attention to these causes that wouldn't receive as many donations unless this "middleman" helped publicise them?

I don't think the Ebola epidemic needs any help when it comes to gaining attention or raising awareness, Bob's just using it as an excuse to lord it over everyone again.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

I don't think the Ebola epidemic needs any help when it comes to gaining attention or raising awareness, Bob's just using it as an excuse to lord it over everyone again.

So every decade he feels compelled to fight for a cause to inflate his ego?

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

So every decade he feels compelled to fight for a cause to inflate his ego?

Pretty much.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Band Aid as a whole is just a patronising platform for Bob Geldof to get attention and to slate anyone who has the audacity to not want to stroke his ego. I'd rather donate directly to the charities and cut out the self obsessed middleman.

I completely agree. I literally cannot stand Geldof, and he's only getting worse over time. Also, this is what he had to say of Adele for not playing along with his little celeb circle-wank:

“Adele is doing nothing,” said Geldof at the weekend. “She’s not answering the phone… she’s not writing. She’s not recording. She doesn’t want to be bothered by anyone. She won’t pick up the phone to her manager. She’s bringing up a family, you know.”

... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I completely agree. I literally cannot stand Geldof, and he's only getting worse over time. Also, this is what he had to say of Adele for not playing along with his little celeb circle-wank:



... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

Lovin' your work, TS.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

Comments taken out of context. In his TV interview he did for the news he spoke about how she wasn't even contacted by him.

It was the media twisting his words to sound like something else.

But you trying to demonise the man for his good causes whilst simultaneously coming out with that line in bold is amusing.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Comments taken out of context. In his TV interview he did for the news he spoke about how she wasn't even contacted by him.

It was the media twisting his words to sound like something else.

But you trying to demonise the man for his good causes whilst simultaneously coming out with that line in bold is amusing.

I want to vomit every time I see something like that written down, slurs about what happened to his daughter brought into a debate about raising funds to fight ebola... urgh.

Nobody want's ebola to spread but are not forward thinking enough to see this as a practical solution, as said nobody is twisting anyones arm to get them to buy it are they?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I completely agree. I literally cannot stand Geldof, and he's only getting worse over time. Also, this is what he had to say of Adele for not playing along with his little celeb circle-wank:







... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

Jeez what a rotten thing to say

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Jeez what a rotten thing to say

Yes. It is rotten. I'm not saying the man isn't in horrendous pain over the death of his daughter - you only have to look at him to know that.

But, anyone who believes that Peaches' heroin problem - and her mother's heroin problem, for that matter - was not at least partly (in reality, largely) a product of Mr Geldof's narcissism is not being pragmatic. It's obvious and typical. The children of SO MANY celebrities grow up to have serious personal issues. Are we supposed to simply put that down to coincidence? It isn't. And Bob's comments to Adele prove this. He sneeringly and sarcastically suggested that she was being irresponsible for putting "her family, don't you know" ahead of what the thinks is an all-important celebrity crusade. This confirms what anyone who has observed Band Aid over the last few decades must already suspect: that Mr Geldof has put his status, his celebrity, and his crusades in Africa ahead of his family and that there have been tragic consequences.

Ignore it if you please, call me disgusting for saying so if you will (I must have forgotten that he still has his "recently deceased family member" invincibility status buff active and is therefore immune to criticism for at least 5 years) but let it be known that I refuse to be patronized by a raging ****ing hypocrite. Or an entire group of them with microphones, for that matter.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

Come on T.S. - we can be the best parents in the world but we cannot 'police' our kids for the rest of our lives, to ensure that they only make 'good' choices once they have grown up.

Geldorf blaming himself for his daughter's drug overdose is the natural reaction of any grief-stricken parent who loses a child - 'I could have done more' 'I have failed as a parent' etc. In truth, his daughter was 25 and living her own life away from Bob, and on top of the fact that 'celebrity' lifestyles are often far-removed from those of 'ordinary' people, and crazy and decadent by comparison, is the very real fact, that to some degree, Peaches' fate was preordained because of her genetic inheritance from her mother Paula - herself a neurosis riddled, psychologically fragile, emotionally disturbed tragic character.

By all accounts Bob was not responsible for his daughter's heroin addiction, any more than he was for Paula's drug abuse, or promiscuity, and he did his utmost to try to get both to come off drugs.

I really don't think this poor guy deserves to be slated because two members of his family died so tragically, because both were linked, and both were not of his doing.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I completely agree. I literally cannot stand Geldof, and he's only getting worse over time. Also, this is what he had to say of Adele for not playing along with his little celeb circle-wank:



... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

Harsh

But Geldof was wrong to say that of Adele too mind. Not everyone needs to jump to his command. [Just read that thats false...] I appreciate the work he does for charity and such, but I really don't like the man himself. He came across as so ****ing arrogant and up his own arse on the x factor this week...trying to guilt trip us all almost.

[Jake.]

At the end of the day, it's raising a bit of money for a good cause. If you agree with it, buy the single.. And if you don't, donate elsewhere if you wish

[Shaun]

#TeamAdele

[Marsh.]

He does it for the exposure?

Proof?

If he was a fame-***** there are more immediate ways of gaining that as evidenced by the hundreds of tabloid/TV fodder the last few years.

But hey, how dare the guy try to use celebrity to raise money for positive things. Why doesn't he bugger off and spend his time partying or holidaying around the globe.

[Jake.]

Originally Posted by Marsh.

Why doesn't he bugger off and spend his time partying or holidaying around the globe.

me when I'm famous

[Cherie]

Some of the comments in this thread so Bob Geldof wanted to do use his contacts and his profile to raise money to stop an deadly disease, and he is demonised for it? Yes it is a bunch of celebs singing, but in the main a bunch of celebs who really don't need any extra publicity right now, Bono, Ed Sheeran, ID actually got out of their beds on a gloomy November afternoon to come together to record the song, yes we all give to charity in some way shape or form, but do we get off our arses to actually do anything, I don't, so I can't say I am in a position to criticise people who do whatever their status in life, and as for people dragging Peaches into the debate...really, people grief in different ways, maybe this is Bob's way, by throwing himself into a project? Buy the song don't buy the song, we are lucky we have a choice.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I completely agree. I literally cannot stand Geldof, and he's only getting worse over time. Also, this is what he had to say of Adele for not playing along with his little celeb circle-wank:



... Yes Bob. She's raising a family. Awful, isn't it? Who does she think she is?? Maybe she should spend a little less time raising her family and a little more time inflating her own ego to the point of overblown messiah complex, until said family ends up so miserable that they end up killing themselves with a massive heroin overdose. Like a PROPER celebrity family, goshdarnit!!

Disgusting comment.

[Josy]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Some of the comments in this thread so Bob Geldof wanted to do use his contacts and his profile to raise money to stop an deadly disease, and he is demonised for it? Yes it is a bunch of celebs singing, but in the main a bunch of celebs who really don't need any extra publicity right now, Bono, Ed Sheeran, ID actually got out of their beds on a gloomy November afternoon to come together to record the song, yes we all give to charity in some way shape or form, but do we get off our arses to actually do anything, I don't, so I can't say I am in a position to criticise people who do whatever their status in life, and as for people dragging Peaches into the debate...really, people grief in different ways, maybe this is Bob's way, by throwing himself into a project? Buy the song don't buy the song, we are lucky we have a choice.

Great post Cherie.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Some of the comments in this thread so Bob Geldof wanted to do use his contacts and his profile to raise money to stop an deadly disease, and he is demonised for it? Yes it is a bunch of celebs singing, but in the main a bunch of celebs who really don't need any extra publicity right now, Bono, Ed Sheeran, ID actually got out of their beds on a gloomy November afternoon to come together to record the song, yes we all give to charity in some way shape or form, but do we get off our arses to actually do anything, I don't, so I can't say I am in a position to criticise people who do whatever their status in life, and as for people dragging Peaches into the debate...really, people grief in different ways, maybe this is Bob's way, by throwing himself into a project? Buy the song don't buy the song, we are lucky we have a choice.