David Bullard causes a ‘blog site’ storm

David Bullard’s rant in the Sunday Times caused a storm of protest from bloggers. See, for example:

(UPDATE – see the Amatomu and Afrigator results for more)

Being a bit otherwise, I have a slightly different take. I’m not sure most bloggers responding really understand his column. Of course what he writes is crap – it’s crap every week, and it’s not meant to be serious! He’s there to be controversial and funny.

For example, when discussing a feast in view of the poor of Maputo, he says This was real conspicuous consumption, and you could feel the envy and hatred coming through the fence. That’s the problem with the poor. Like pit bull terriers, they are unreliable. One minute they’re licking your face and telling you what a nice car you drive, and the next they have a knife at your throat and want the car keys and the contents of your wallet.

Surely that’s just as insulting? I’m amused by some bloggers saying things along the lines of I respected him before, but now….

Either you’re insulted every week, and think he writes drivel, or you find him funny. By only getting annoyed when he attacks something close to home, bloggers are falling right into his trap, and providing him some choice quotes for next week’s column.

Which, for a change, I look forward to reading 🙂

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9 comments

  1. To be fair I don’t read his crap but when I have I’ve enjoyed it. This however is the end for me. It’s just stupid and un-researched and the biggest problem with it is it’s going out to people who don’t understand blogging.

    Now half of South Africa thinks we’re all Axe murderers and I simply don’t agree with this logic.

  3. Yes, Ian, you might be correct but I think the difference in the case is that where in the past when Bullard wrote something crap about something, that commuinity normally did not had the means to respond. In this case each and everyone of us has a medium to use to respond and we are doing so. It is easy for him to ridicule the poor in Maputo since they have no way in responding … in all likelyhood they do not even know about the things he wrote.

  4. I agree with you, Bullard always tries to be funny, humourous, ironic and dig at certain people/groups. I think, however, this week he has picked on and attacked the wrong group of people. We have a voice, it is not pointless and it’s time that Bullard found that out.

    He also chose some very offensive and strange comparisons that sunk him in the end.

  6. Well, I think he is BRILLIANT! He has a great take on things and if you get all emotional about what he writes, you are working yourself up for nothing.

    And he is an even better Friend! It’s a pity you don’t have the opportunity to really know Mr. B; You may be surprised at just how warm and funny he is in person.
    Keep reading his stuff, it’s not at all bad…

  7. The thing about really good satire the clear ring of truth that seems to surround it….Everyone can think of a good example of parody that tickled them, right?

    THATS the reason David hit a home-run with his “Uncolonialised Africa” Skit. The Sunday Times says “We cant PRINT this stuff”…etc etc…but hang on…they DID print it, THEn they thought “Oops”…and fired the guy because African people were offended? whatever happened to free speech? I dont detect any malice in his article, just, clear satire.

  8. I have followed Mr. Bullard’s columns with interes the years. I’ve always enjoyed his unique point of view and sly wit. However, his rhetoric has changed in recent times. I don’t blame him – his ordeal and those of his friends are enough to turn even the most naive optimist into an irreverent cynic.

    Having read his ‘controversial’ article I must say that I did not find it to be racist other than being a tad condescending. I must admit that I was not offended. Racial slurs, both white and black often take more sinister forms and the question really is when does one draw the line between racism and jocularity or more to the point; truth and racism.

    I for one feel that some quarters are overly sensitive and as a result other are forced to hold their tongues and thus deprive all of us of discourse that will help us along the path of building a new, vibrant and diverse South Africa.

  9. At least he takes full responsibility for his actions. Which some “people” in our country struggle to do.

    BEE honest …open your eyes and look at whats going on around us. Practically everything build up from scratch is being broken down. Without the intellectual look at tomorrow where are we going to?

    I’ve recently discovered a math theory which explains exactly where we started (economy, crime, health, education, time, use your imagination) and where we’re going to end up. This could help the so called government in a way, but if I go and publish something like this…Well I’ll be tagged a racist.

    Its just applied mathematics related to my own personal observations and some powerful facts and statistics regarding South Africa.

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