Benedict Cumberbatch News

[J.P.]

Which is creepy in its own way.

[J.P.]

This photo took over internet today:

  <- click
 
Very well twisted and diffused... 

But I like this little cheeky smile in his eyes, as if he was up to something...

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Agreed on the creepy both ways.  There are a few people (actors & musicians) that I am a big fan of and can obsess over to a degree, but I'd never do anything that insane.

[Inge l-w]

The only three actors I have ever obsessed about are/were James Stewart, Alec Guinness and Harrison Ford (OK, Johnny Depp a close contender) but I would first and foremost respect their right to privacy!

[Arcadia]

My search engine likes to highlight the day's top internet searches, here's #2 on the list: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3296057/SEBASTIAN-SHAKESPEARE-Benedict-s-four-letter-rant-stuns-playgoers.html There's other links but none of them seem to be working for me. At any rate, I thought BC has ben urging action on behalf of the refugees all along, but I gather he's come on a little, uh, strong this time around.

[Slithytove]

He's very passionate about the refugee issue, bless him.  Won't make him any more popular with the Daily Mail types but he has a big heart and feels very strongly about the refugees' plight, so why shouldn't he express his views?  People are hardly going to faint at hearing him use a four-letter word.

[sfmpco]

It will all blow over in a few days.  

[Inge l-w]

It would be a laugh if said politicians decided to increase the VAT or any communal tax to pay for the thousands of refugees washing up on European shores, and everyone's pocket was affected! Then would BC feel like the original Sherlock in The Second Stain, and declare that he would help if it meant putting up the income tax, or would he delegate his financial advisors to secure his assets? In other words, would he put his money where his mouth is?

[J.P.]

Well, it will end with rising taxes or shortages in other sections - the money has to come from somewhere.

With the report of 20% of German population is living on the threshold of poverty - there is no wonder that people start to worry.

 

As for BC's appeal - it's actually two different issues. Save the Children helps in the lands of origin and (as it seems) has nothing to do with the refugees in Europe. (correct me if I'm wrong) What the politicians do - or don't do - is something else.

 

Anyway, Inge, I also ask the same question as you. Generally, not only in this one case.

[sfmpco]

With any charitable cause, however, I refuse to give any finances until I know how those donations are distributed.  Some charities are appallingly greedy and little goes to help those in need.  If BC said, "95% of all monies donated go directly to helping the children," that would be one thing, but I just have to know how the monies are used first.  I don't give blindly simply because an actor makes an appeal.

[J.P.]

It's actually 89% according to their website.

[Boswell]

I remember saying somewhere at some point that i'd prefer to hear sincerely-meant abuse from Ben's lips rather than a PR-manufactured statement - at this rate I ought to make some more substantial 'wishes' soon ;)

But seriously, it is not often I've seen a successful actor putting his image on the line for the sake of an international issue with such abandon. His PR team is probably in crisis prevention mode now.

[sfmpco]

I doubt his PR team is ever in crisis prevention mode.  It all blows over very quickly without any prevention.  They have bigger fish to fry.

[Boswell]

I do hope good sense prevails generally; people manage to take offence even in a vacuum. There was some noise made the last time he used a not-strictly-PC term in public, something about 'black' vs 'coloured' terminology.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I do hope good sense prevails generally; people manage to take offence even in a vacuum. There was some noise made the last time he used a not-strictly-PC term in public, something about 'black' vs 'coloured' terminology.

 

Speaking as someone who has lived through at least five different "proper" adjectives for "of sub-Saharan African descent," I can certainly sympathize with him on that one.  Even people of good will can absent-mindedly use a now-dated word that was perfectly correct during their formative years.

[Arcadia]

I'm not even sure what the proper adjective is these days.

[Boton]

 

I do hope good sense prevails generally; people manage to take offence even in a vacuum. There was some noise made the last time he used a not-strictly-PC term in public, something about 'black' vs 'coloured' terminology.

 

Speaking as someone who has lived through at least five different "proper" adjectives for "of sub-Saharan African descent," I can certainly sympathize with him on that one.  Even people of good will can absent-mindedly use a now-dated word that was perfectly correct during their formative years.

 

 

Just off the top of my head, I can think of four such terms, and I'm fairly sure I'm with you on living through five "proper" adjectives."  

 

One of my most humiliating experiences with this was in grad school, when I used not an adjective, but a phrase in a sentence that I did not know at one point had been something of an idiom used in, if not an oppressive context, certainly a belittling one. (I'm not going to repeat it; it wasn't particularly bad or profane, even in its historical context, but I'm just never repeating the phrase again just in case.)  

 

The problem was that this phrase hadn't been used in that way in decades, certainly not since before  my time, and the words themselves strung together gave no hint of a less savory past.  I was just using words in a sentence.

 

Unfortunately, I used them in front of someone who did know how they were used historically, and he reacted offended, and I had no idea why.  For like a year.  Finally, I encountered the phrase used as an idiom in a history I was reading, and I was horrified to realize that the person I was talking to thought I was using a historic put down, when really it had never occurred to me that the words could carry that meaning.

[Boswell]

Oh Boton you've got me really curious now!

As someone who's made a specialisation of 'offending' / conveying the wrong impression, despite my best intentions to the contrary, I can see how difficult a situation it must've been for you. Fate had her reasons for not making me an international celebrity :D

 

We've probably all been there at some point or other...

[Arcadia]

Ayup. Been there, done that, not repeating mine either but it was mortifying. Fortunately, the person who pointed out my faux pas was very kind about it.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Waks, I am sure non English Speaking natives would have a lot of accidental mistake. In fact, I think the world is so sensitive nowadays, unfortunately, it's too easy..too easy (Moriarty's whine) to say something politically or racially incorrect without knowing that.

 

I have limited knowledge about those, even so, when I walk in many other countries other than US and Europe, I believe you would be surprise to hear many things that said innocently but will offend or accused as racist or something else.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Waks, I am sure non English Speaking natives would have a lot of accidental mistake. In fact, I think the world is so sensitive nowadays, unfortunately, it's too easy..too easy (Moriarty's whine) to say something politically or racially incorrect without knowing that.

 

I have limited knowledge about those, even so, when I walk in many other countries other than US and Europe, I believe you would be surprise to hear many things that said innocently but will offend or accused as racist or something else.

 

No, I don't think I'd be surprised at all!  As you say, it's all too easy nowadays, because so darn many words have been moved to the politically-correct taboo list.

[Inge l-w]

In other words, PC is slowly but surely becoming the modern world's Roman Catholic Index of forbidden works, but in the form of speech! Lovely, as Mrs Hudson would exclaim!

[J.P.]

BC being in Nepal is now confirmed

https://twitter.com/Anythingbatch/status/662202295363493888

 

On 10th November he must be back in London to pick up his CBE. :o

[Carol the Dabbler]

BC being in Nepal is now confirmed

https://twitter.com/Anythingbatch/status/662202295363493888

 

On 10th November he must be back in London to pick up his CBE. :o

 

OK, that makes one more man who can wear facial hair very nicely!

[J.P.]

... as long as it isn't his own. :P

 

BTW, we have spies everywhere - I think I have seen 3 reports from people who run into him in Kathmandu. No pics were allowed though.