[dogscoff]

The Young Ones and Spitting Image and these were simply relying on satire to provide the comical element.

These 2 shows were completely different. The Young Ones was contemporary but wasn't really satire. the only objective was laughter. Spitting Image actively commented on and attacked issues in current affairs. They were both brilliant though=-)

IMHO, Brass Eye was appalling - be satirical, be comical, dont make a joke in any which way or form about something as sick as paedophilia.

*GRRRR!*
It *wasn't* a joke about paedophilia. It was an attempt to highlight the b*****ds who trivialise it for the sake of profit and glory. The "joke" was on *them*, not on the peadophiles or their victims. Did you even watch it? Most of the uproar came from people who hadn't even seen the show (including certain very vocal politicians), which demonstrates further the fact that the issue of paedophilia in Britain is now so distorted that a person isn't even expected to know any facts whatsoever before making judgemnts.

On a related point, I was in a karate competetion Last night ... the other team were drawing lots about who got to fight {the alleged paedophile}. Draw your own conclusions

The conclusion I will draw is that paedophilia has been turned by the media into witch-hunt that has nothing to do with real justice. For example, had that guy in the karate competition been an alleged murderer or alleged (adult) rapist would those competitors still have been so eager to dispense a vigilante beating? I doubt it. In that case they probably would rather have seen the legal system deal with it properly.

Just because the guy may (or may not) be a child abuser, and because it's currently open- season on them, our ancient and venerable justice system goes out the window. No trial, no defence, and (worst of all) no rational debate on what the best way to stop these people really is. All that's left is a witch hunt where the only acceptable opinion is the most radical one. This is an extremely dangerous situation and will do *absolutely nothing* to actually resolve or reduce the problem of child molesters.
As a lawyer, I would really expect you to understand the gravity of this Last paragraph.

This is why the media's approach to this issue has been so irresponsible , and why Morris was right to highlight it. He used strong satire- the only medium he knows- and in my opinion did a very good job of showing the media up for what they really are.

BTW, what style of Karate do you practise?