tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820278.post487248623430715949..comments2023-09-23T15:05:48.320+00:00Comments on FaithInSociety: Simon Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366440538616508935noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820278.post-65593422627569277412007-10-03T21:28:00.000+00:002007-10-03T21:28:00.000+00:00No problem, Dave. Drop me an email (simon DOT barr...No problem, Dave. Drop me an email (simon DOT barrow AT ekklesia DOT co DOT uk). It would be good to be in touch again.Simon Barrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366440538616508935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820278.post-47634402340746773272007-10-03T18:38:00.000+00:002007-10-03T18:38:00.000+00:00thanks for your reply and for speaking to CA abou...thanks for your reply and for speaking to CA about it. I think you're spot on about the parallel with the 'bit gay' debate. Without the 'mentalist' part in the caption, I would naturally have interpreted this as a quixotic, over-the-top character -- though chainsawing an SUV or destroying an airplane's engines might also conjure up associations with extremists. <BR/><BR/>As you say, context is vital, so intra-group jokes permit what would not be tolerated from an outsider.David Mackinderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01418303910448201961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820278.post-21334496139989033212007-10-03T16:47:00.000+00:002007-10-03T16:47:00.000+00:00Just had a word with Christian Aid. They say they ...Just had a word with Christian Aid. They say they did try to make the character as non-humanoid as possible, and they deliberately didn't use the word 'mental'. They are monitoring response.Simon Barrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366440538616508935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820278.post-17763184685728359722007-10-03T14:51:00.000+00:002007-10-03T14:51:00.000+00:00Hello Dave. Good to hear from you. Yes, this thoug...Hello Dave. Good to hear from you. Yes, this thought crossed my mind too. But I think it's fairly clearly about surreally eccentric behaviour; certainly not having a go at people with either mental health problems or learning difficulties. The argument over "mentalist" as a piece of street slang has parallels with the "a bit gay" debate, I guess. Some say that this is an insult which presupposes acceptance of what it parodies, others that it has the capacity to reinforce stereotypes and prejudice. The difficulty is that both are probably true, depending on context. Context is vital. Though I don't say this to dismiss the issue. It will be interesting to see if a debate emerges about this. I'll mention it to CA.Simon Barrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05366440538616508935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5820278.post-56808419057085898452007-10-03T11:08:00.000+00:002007-10-03T11:08:00.000+00:00at the risk of seeming entirely humourless, I have...at the risk of seeming entirely humourless, I have misgivings about the 'mentalist' part of this. A major Christian organisation (unwittingly/unintentionally) reinforcing stereotypes about mental illness?David Mackinderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01418303910448201961noreply@blogger.com