I always quite liked her, but the material she has been turning out for the last year or so has been of a higher order.
Have a read of this piece, for example.
Marina Hyde may be one of my favourite people in Britain!
Same here - she is superb.
No argument from me. A great polemicist piss taker who skewers anyone and everyone that needs it.
She's brilliant,always hits the mark,and then ...I remember...Piers Morgan and feel a little bit sick.
Why Marina,why?
When historians come to write the history of this period, they needn't bother. Just collect all Marina Hydes articles together and publish them. It'll stand up as the definitive commentary.
She's absolutely brilliant! I'm trying to think of my favourite turn of phrase of hers, but there are so many. Describing Boris as 'a fly-tipped sofa' was up there 😀
Isn't she Marina Ponsonby Cleft-Palette Huntingdon Symthe, or some such nonsense?, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Bumptonshire...Normal trajectory for some-one of her class, I guess; Posh school, Oxford, Writing gig...
Crikey - saw the thread and feared something bad had happened! Love her stuff.
Yep, she's great! Makes me literally LOL at times.
Combine her with Victoria Coren-Mitchell and I go a bit of a dither...
I would add John Crace to the list of those whose analysis of political life requires greater exposure.
I was about to post that John Crace is still slightly better than Marina, but only just.
His adding of poignant personal experience is brilliant on occasion. His skewering of the plastic patriots with their 'we won the war' bullshit, involving his uncle (or father, I can't quite recall) was superb.
Not hugely bothered by the ad hominem jabs at her background, her writing is on point and has been for years.
John Crace is another great writer. He's very funny, but I distinctly remember his description of him getting to grips with his heroin addiction really had an impact
Isn’t she Marina Ponsonby Cleft-Palette Huntingdon Symthe, or some such nonsense?, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Bumptonshire…Normal trajectory for some-one of her class, I guess; Posh school, Oxford, Writing gig…
Do go on.
She is excellent and has been for quite some time.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/15/reeva-steenkamp-body-on-front-page
She is as Establishment as it gets, i.e. has no skin in the game. and her trajectory is as exactly as one would expect given her connections...Yes she's a good writer, and I enjoy her stuff, but she's not hugely different to Mary Wakefield (daughter of a Baron and Journalist) Peregrine* Worsthorne, (Journalist and Aristocracy), Lord Cecil, etc etc so on and on...The press in this country has form for this sort of thing, and it's just another way of keeping power in a tightly controlled group of folk
*Yes, really.
She explains away the name change by suggesting that it couldn't fit on the Sun's header page when she started in journalism but I don't think that problem exists for her now, apart from, y'know, I doubt it'd do her reputation at the Guardian any good.
has no skin in the game
I agree. I don't think this weakens her writing though. Same goes for Tony Benn.
I am a bit meh about her type of journalism in general. It is humour, but when reading it I just find it a pain to keep having to disentangle the good jokes (plenty of them) from the good points (far fewer of those). A good joke is rarely a good point, and vice versa. John Crace is more succesful at blurring the distinction and I prefer his overall style, but the same applies.
So I think we're in agreement, they're both good regardless of background
So I think we’re in agreement, they’re both good regardless of background
Absolutely. It is a crying shame that more people won't read their stuff, but when so many people are happy being spoon-fed their existing prejudices back to them as 'news' via social media, then the message will only ever be heard by the same few...
She's brilliant. Her pieces on our current utter shambles are the only good thing about it (columnist writes about country being 'governed' by columnists. And fireplace salespeople.)
On jokes to points ratio: a columnist only ever needs one good point per article, and most barely manage that. She generally does have either a new or a sound take on a subject. I actually think someone has told Johnson to go easy on saying how bad it makes him feel to do the stuff he's doing, after she pointed out that his feelings are not really the issue for most of us. Not a huge win but still...
Well (typically) I stand alone in disliking her.
Why?
The sad thing is that the majority of the population instead of reading either crace or Hyde (both brilliant IMHO) believe the type of rubbish that you get in the Sun/daily Mail
(I'm literally just off the phone with my mum telling me how the French are going to make holidays hard because brexit)
Going balls deep in culture war guff really is a winning formula for the Tories
Yes, it’s extremely important to consider a journalist’s class. Give me Rod Liddell any day of the week. He’s properly working class. Great journalist, very, very witty.
Why?
To be honest I’ve stopped reading her pieces. But from what I recall (which may be pish), whilst she writes well and is rather witty, she’s far too smug. It’s easy enough to critique others, but she rarely offers a solution and if she does suggest one it is questionable. Also, she tends to rarely critique anything too controversial.
I thought I was quite chippy about class, but it would never cross my mind to devalue someone's contribution because of their upbringing.
Very poor show, old sport.
Also, I tend not to read guardian opinion pieces because... Well they are guardian opinion pieces.
But that Zuckerberg thing is superbly funny and perceptive.
The Guardian itself doesn't had much skin in the game with regards party politics since Corbyn came along. That's why it's become a better paper these last few years. With Labour not really in the fight in recent years the paper has found itself without a party to back, so for the the columnists it's become less about fighting and more about writing.
I enjoy Marina Hyde's writing in the same way as I enjoyed AA Gill and still enjoy Jonathan Meades. Better smug than earnest.
Give me Rod Liddell any day of the week. He’s properly working class. Great journalist, very, very witty.
Absolute **** of the first order. Just Katie Hopkins packaged for the broadsheet market.
I would happily appoint Marina to the dual role of Prime Minister and manager of the England football team.
That’s why it’s become a better paper these last few years
I think this might be the most wrong thing I have ever read. The celebrity story to news ratio has become ridiculous.
Agree about Rod Liddle, he is a massive reason To Work Around The swear filter.
Rod Liddell
Doesn't mind dishing out a bit of domestic violence as I recall.
Lovely chap, salt of the earth, tells it like it is etc.....
I enjoy Marina Hyde’s writing in the same way as I enjoyed AA Gill and still enjoy Jonathan Meades. Better smug than earnest.
If you want to read the equivalent of a TV panel show, sure.
I would happily appoint Marina to the dual role of Prime Minister
I think she's already written somewhere that newspaper columnists, with their avoidance of hard work and ignoring looming deadlines shouldn't really be in positions on responsibility (expressed more funnily, in a piece about Johnson).
If you want to read the equivalent of a TV panel show, sure.
Perhaps you could instead direct us to your favourite Morning Star article, comrade?
I heard a certain regular celebrity columnist of theirs, a Mr J Corbyn, recently published an absolute barnstormer on the brave struggle of the Bolivian freedom fighters against their corporate American overlords, which even included his favourite quinoa recipe.
A terrible hack who appeals to centrists.
Daughter of a peer, married to a peer.
From private education to Oxford University to a job at the Sun.
Never had to worry about paying rent or bills.
Utterly comfortable in a world of Westminster and celebrity.
Completely London centric.
Writes the most puerile fluff that makes humourless people guffaw.
Perhaps you could instead direct us to your favourite Morning Star article, comrade?
Soz, didn't realise that you were her husband.
A terrible hack who appeals to centrists.
Daughter of a peer, married to a peer.
From private education to Oxford University to a job at the Sun.Never had to worry about paying rent or bills.
Utterly comfortable in a world of Westminster and celebrity.
Completely London centric.Writes the most puerile fluff that makes humourless people guffaw.
Tell us one of your jokes then pal.
A terrible hack who appeals to centrists.
Daughter of a peer, married to a peer.
From private education to Oxford University to a job at the Sun.Never had to worry about paying rent or bills.
Utterly comfortable in a world of Westminster and celebrity.
Completely London centric.Writes the most puerile fluff that makes humourless people guffaw.
"Well, that's just like... your opinion man".
(J Lebowski aka 'The Dude')
or the hottest spot north of Havana...
^^^my first thought and that tune is not now leaving my head. Anyway, moreover
A terrible hack who appeals to centrists.
Daughter of a peer, married to a peer.
From private education to Oxford University to a job at the Sun.Never had to worry about paying rent or bills.
Utterly comfortable in a world of Westminster and celebrity.
Completely London centric.Writes the most puerile fluff that makes humourless people guffaw.
,,,that's not even correct. I don't guffaw, I smile and stroke my chin knowingly as though I was part of her special in crowd. Or something. Also,
which even included his favourite quinoa recipe.
I think we should leave quinoa out of this, it's good food.
I smile and stroke my chin knowingly as though I was part of her special in crowd.
I think that might well be the thing that enrages 'the others' the most.
😆
I think we should leave quinoa out of this, it’s good food.
But in a stroke you have 'lost' the internet for the day.
I think we should leave quinoa out of this, it’s good food.
>But in a stroke you have ‘lost’ the internet for the day.
I think I can see why people troll. It's quite a buzz (by my standards of buzz).
I don’t guffaw, I smile and stroke my chin knowingly as though I was part of her special in crowd.
You might be at the window, but you'll never be invited in.
You might be at the window, but you’ll never be invited in.
I might be put up with if I slip in round the back.
But in a stroke you have ‘lost’ the internet for the day.
A stroke from the internet makes the day a win.
Well, I don't like her column, I stopped reading it ages ago. Why? Because it's just a rant. The use of overly clever insults all the time does nothing for me.
I read the OP's linked column and whilst I'd love to dig into the remarkable situation we find ourselves in with regards Zuckerberg and his company, we just get snide comments about his face and his clothes. It's essentially anti-intellectual and shallow. I don't know what I'm supposed to get out of reading this.
Yes, it’s extremely important to consider a journalist’s class. Give me Rod Liddell any day of the week. He’s properly working class. Great journalist, very, very witty.
I had the dubious pleasure of going to the same school as Rod Liddle and I assure you that his "working class" qualifications are just another part of his constructed image.
You might be at the window, but you’ll never be invited in.
Would sir like vinegar on his shoulder-mounted chips?
Liddle considered becoming a teacher, he decided against it on the grounds that he "could not remotely conceive of not trying to shag the kids". He would later go on to publicly defend paedophilia, and particularly the right of paedophiles to view child pornography.
Sounds like a stand up guy.
Would sir like vinegar on his shoulder-mounted chips?
I realise that anything other than fawning sycophancy goes against STW groupthink.
I realise that anything other than fawning sycophancy goes against STW groupthink.
Salt as well, sir?
Totally understand why you might not like her writing, but I'd dispute the "shallow" bit.
She's delivering some original insights wrapped up with the satire.
It’s essentially anti-intellectual and shallow. I don’t know what I’m supposed to get out of reading this.
It's designed to generate hits and revenue from people who still think that HIGNFY and Mock the Week are relevant and funny.
fawning sycophancy goes against STW groupthink
Salt as well, sir?
My case reclines on the divan.
Yes, it’s extremely important to consider a journalist’s class. Give me Rod Liddell any day of the week. He’s properly working class. Great journalist, very, very witty.
I'd assumed this was drive by irony? (Though Liddle was also a Guardian columnist 20 odd years ago and capable of self-deprecating humour. Found this whilst googling how he'd tried to pick up Madonna bitd when he was R4 Today Prog producer, to her incredulity. Didn't find it but the last para of this piece of his is what I'd say now: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/may/07/artsfeatures.popandrock2
On irony sure it's a defence but it's the sincere types who do damage.
At the end of the day Marina Hyde is doing exactly the same thing as we all try to do on here. Only she does it better...
EDIT:
To paraphrase an old AA Gill quote:
"Try not to epitomize what you despise".
I'm glad (I'm not sure why) that I'm not the only one - thanks to molgrips for expressing it better than I could.
I quite like her stuff, no she doesn't offer many potted solutions, but she is engaging with a good turn of phrase and often makes me think and question my assumptions, or raises my awareness of things that I probably should have known about if I paid attention more.
I'd rather be made to think than have solutions forced upon me, if more journalism reported the facts and made people think for themselves rather than offering up a canned idea, no independent thought required we may not be in the brexit/covid/etc shitshow that we are in today.
Puerile but none-the-less funny QOTD regarding facebook:
algorithm that promptly began pushing ........ a video of a man ****ing with a McChicken Sandwich.
At the end of the day Marina Hyde is doing exactly the same thing as we all try to do on here. Only she does it better…
If you're saying that her cheap repetition is often more articulate than commentary on here, then I agree. Not much of a recommendation though, is it.
If you’re saying that her cheap repetition is often more articulate than commentary on here, then I agree. Not much of a recommendation though, is it.
But writing amusing stuff is nearly impossible if you have to do it whilst wearing party-approved overalls.
If you’re saying that her cheap repetition is often more articulate than commentary on here, then I agree. Not much of a recommendation though, is it.
She gets paid for it though. We give it away for free.
I'd expect hers to better.
But writing amusing stuff is nearly impossible if you have to do it whilst wearing party-approved overalls.
Proof that Hyde is indeed better at the cheap insults.
She gets paid for it though. We give it away for free.
I’d expect hers to better.
That was my point really.
Theres a point?
Theres a point?
Of course there's a point.
If we get paid, we'll up our game considerably.
Proof that Hyde is indeed better at the cheap insults.
Bit po-faced at PFJ Central Office today, aren't we?
Cheer yourself up a bit, perhaps read some satire...
If we get paid, we’ll up our game considerably.
You've clearly never worked with me
My mistake.
If we get fed, we’ll up our game considerably.
Bit po-faced at PFJ Central Office today, aren’t we?
Cheer yourself up a bit, perhaps read some satire…
Proof that Hyde is indeed better at the cheap insults.
Otters noses to go with the chips?
C'mon, crack a smile...
It'll make you feel better, you know it will...
🙊
Otters noses to go with the chips?
C’mon, crack a smile…
It’ll make you feel better, you know it will…
🙊
You'll be pleased to learn that I find many, if not most of your posts amusing.
Like all our resident PFJ members, they're little rays of sunshine bringing fun and little light-hearted frivolity into all our lives. 😀
Right on cue.
You’ll be pleased to learn that I find many, if not most of your posts amusing.
More of a lark's tongues day, then...?
