Recently, our director Inaya Folarin Iman participated in a lively discussion on BBC Radio 4's Antisocial, debating "The Coconut Trial" with author and journalist Nels Abbey.
I switched on the radio in my car one day and it must have been this show that was on. I heard Nels saying something about someone who was a professor and therefore we must take them (the professor) seriously. Nels didn’t seem to realise that you can have expert witnesses on both sides of an argument, or that professors aren't always right or that they can disagree with each other. Worse than this Nels seems to have an aristocratic disregard for the opinions of those of us whose educational qualifications do not meet his standards. This is the same Nels who on a previous interview with Inaya, proudly informed listeners that he had got a first for some dissertation or other when he was a student. I switched off as soon as I heard Nels so I didn't hear the rest of the show.
Some ridiculous people have put forward the view that calling someone a 'coconut' is satire - satire is supposed to be witty, intelligent and original - calling someone a 'coconut' is not satire, even if the professor says so – it’s name calling. Nels is a teacher's pet - that's not satire either.
I switched on the radio in my car one day and it must have been this show that was on. I heard Nels saying something about someone who was a professor and therefore we must take them (the professor) seriously. Nels didn’t seem to realise that you can have expert witnesses on both sides of an argument, or that professors aren't always right or that they can disagree with each other. Worse than this Nels seems to have an aristocratic disregard for the opinions of those of us whose educational qualifications do not meet his standards. This is the same Nels who on a previous interview with Inaya, proudly informed listeners that he had got a first for some dissertation or other when he was a student. I switched off as soon as I heard Nels so I didn't hear the rest of the show.
Some ridiculous people have put forward the view that calling someone a 'coconut' is satire - satire is supposed to be witty, intelligent and original - calling someone a 'coconut' is not satire, even if the professor says so – it’s name calling. Nels is a teacher's pet - that's not satire either.