Maldives Crisis Escalates
Oh dear. The spoof story I wrote about the Maldives the other day has now escalated into a full blown diplomatic crisis.
Can it be long before the Maldives government sends its gunboats up the River Thames - there'll be no resistance: not now we've scrapped most of our Navy - and shells our Houses of Parliament until such time as my head is delivered on a spike in penance for my outrageous joke?
Here's something that puzzles me about the affair though. Perhaps an enlightened reader can explain.
We know that the Maldives government's claims that their islands are in imminent danger of being inundated due to "climate change" has no scientific basis whatsoever. It was to satirize this nonsense - which has been widely publicized across the world, notably thanks to a ludicrous photograph of the Maldives government pretending to have a cabinet meeting underwater - that I wrote my spoof.
So how come the Maldives government thinks it's acceptable for them to publish made-up stories about non-existent problems - but not OK for journalists to publish made-up stories mocking them for it?
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Comments :
Nov '10
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
Blow a con-man's con and, in his eyes, you've stolen his livelihood.
Feb '11
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
Because if YOU could get away with it, they'd have to give you a seat in the UN.
Jun '10
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
I suggest the BBC send you, all expenses paid, to the Maldives so you can teach a short course (1) on the history of satire and (2) how to recognize it in blog posts.
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
I hope you will wear this as a badge of honor. The spoof was hilarious -- I love the doctorate in "Climate Change and Sinking Islands Studies." I mean, that was a joke, wasn't it? It really is hard to tell sometimes.
Aug '10
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
Well perhaps the 17000 people who watched the Al Gore climate special on Currant TV. represent the population of that island. They've got a right to be mad . Let's send them 17000 pairs of wellies instead of the inevitable request for billions.
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
This saga is just too funny. Hilarious how the BBC article publishes this without even blinking:
And I love how your spoof was used as ammo for the political opposition.
It says the Maldives demands an apology. I think this "apology" should be the topic of your next spoof!
Mar '11
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
James Delingpole:
So how come the Maldives government thinks it's acceptable for them to publish made-up stories about non-existent problems - but not OK for journalists to publish made-up stories mocking them for it? ·
Well, to them it is not made-up and non-existent. It is very hard for us to understand how they (and Mr Gore et al) can be so deluded, but I think they really believe this, um, stuff.
Jun '10
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
James hold out, don't apologize (or would that be apologise in English). Hold out man! Who knows, they may want to get you out of London, as with your brother in satire Jonathan Swift, by conferring on you the chancellorship of Trinity College as a diplomatic means of cooling Maldivian ardour.
Oct '10
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
I thought the most hilarious part was that a spokesperson (not man or woman, of course) from HarperCollins had to confirm that the blog was bogus!
Feb '11
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
Progressives and environmentalists (pretty much the same thing) have no sense of humor. When not smugly congratulating themselves on their superior intellect or enlightening lesser beings with sneering condescension they are busy being concerned and angry. They wouldn't know satire if you hit them over the head with it in the guise of a rubber chicken.
Feb '11
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
James Delingpole:
Can it be long before the Maldives government sends its gunboats up the River Thames - there'll be no resistance: not now we've scrapped most of our Navy - and shells our Houses of Parliament until such time as my head is delivered on a spike in penance for my outrageous joke?
How about a joint European defense? Maybe the French could tow the Charles De Gaulle across the channel and park it cross wise in the river. The Belgian navy could also pitch in and hold a union rally. In no time flat those pesky Maldivians will be slinking back to the Indian Ocean.
Aug '10
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
Incoming coco de mer at 11oclock !
Re: Maldives Crisis Escalates
Incidentally, I don't know whether you were aware but Mark Lynas - the eco-activist the Maldives recruited to "raise awareness" of their "plight", and who staged that underwater photo - was also the guy who once ambushed Bjorn Lomborg and shoved a cream pie in his face for being environmentally incorrect.
Only connect.