Benedict Cumberbatch

[Deleted member 16999]

Would you feel the same if he argued for something you disagreed with, and took up your time and your night out to argue for it, even though you paid to see Hamlet and looked forward to it for weeks or months? Would that annoy you more? Does your belief that he speaks a lot of sense rely on the fact that you agree with what he is saying? Are less well educated people less entitled to an opinion? There are a lot of well educated people on both sides of the political divide, so being well educated does not necessarily mean you are right. If it was some kid from One Direction who did this, would that make a difference?

The issue is freedom of choice and whether you sat and listened or got up and left, he is taking advantage of his job and it's this element I dislike, as you say what if he was an ISIS sympathiser or communist would the theatre owners let him get away with it.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Would you feel the same if he argued for something you disagreed with, and took up your time and your night out to argue for it, even though you paid to see Hamlet and looked forward to it for weeks or months? Would that annoy you more? Does your belief that he speaks a lot of sense rely on the fact that you agree with what he is saying? Are less well educated people less entitled to an opinion? There are a lot of well educated people on both sides of the political divide, so being well educated does not necessarily mean you are right. If it was some kid from One Direction who did this, would that make a difference?

As luck would have it I saw One Direction a couple of weeks ago with my daughter and before the concert started they showed a film encouraging their fans to get involved in their Action/1D charity, to raise awareness of global issues and to encourage their fans to let leaders know what future they wanted. I've linked to it if you want to help And I thoroughly approve as they are using their reach and influence as a force for good.

Of course less well educated people are entitled to an opinion, it's just that I find that being educated and taking an interest in what is going on generally means you can make a more educated assessment of the situation. He is talking about the refugee crisis, and I imagine no right thinking person (actually I am sure some will) will argue that something needs doing and the public need to be aware of it.

Of course we could tell celebs to but out of these matters and not to inform the public of these things or raise awareness. And leave it to the elected (or in some cases unelected) politicians who are in now way in cahoots with big businesses, donors and lobbyists and basically thinking in the short term of how they can get elected in the next election. Or leave it to our newspapers who are in no way mostly all pushing a specific political agenda.

[video=youtube;2XCdAOe-fbc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XCdAOe-fbc[/video]

 

[sawtooth]

It isn't a lecture just a couple of minutes to read a poem written by a Syrian refugee child.

Standard fair at theatres for this kind of thing and BC was obviously approached and asked to do this by save the children.

Would you prefer him to have said no?

I can't see why anyone would criticise this sort of thing, raising money for a good cause.

 

[Hacker Khan]

complete c*ck if you ask me, going to see a show only to be lectured at the end, gone way down in my estimation.

I imagine the vast majority of people there have gone along to see Benedict Cumberbatch as much as they have to see a Shakespeare play. So being asked by him to contribute to the refugee crisis fund I imagine was not the greatest hardship for them.

But if you do know anyone who was effected by the trauma of, after watching a world famous actor star in a play, then being asked by said world famous actor to contribute to the refugee crisis, then please ring the help line on 0898 856234. Also I hear the refugees themselves are very upset by people apparently being forced at gunpoint to give a few quid. So they have set up their own appeal, The 'Syrian Refugees Appeal for one or two people who get professionally upset upset about anything but can afford to shell out loads on a night out at the theatre in London, being made to feel slightly uneasy at the end of a play' appeal. One of the refugees said that although they have been forced out of their home and country and their family as been ripped apart, at least they did not have to suffer this horror. Please give generously

 

[MegaSteve]

Hopefully he is not passing the hat around on behalf of a charity that feels the need to support multiple executives on six figure salaries...

 

[Deleted member 15344]

complete c*ck if you ask me, going to see a show only to be lectured at the end, gone way down in my estimation.

There was me thinking it wasn't a lecture as opposed to a poem and a polite request for a donation to charity - nothing compulsory and no one is made to donate or even stay and listen

The guy has raised a good deal of money for a cause he is passionate about - goes up a lot on my estimation

 

[Deleted member 15344]

TBH I think it's more about making a political point than fund raising. The only reason this actually made the news was that he got carried away a little the other night and was forced to apologise for saying "f... the politicians".
He is entitled to his opinions like everyone else, but I just don't think it's the time or place and I don't see why "his" audience have to listen to his views when they have paid for a big night out.

His stock just gets better and better if that is what he said about the politicians

No one "has" to listen to his views - they have paid to watch the show and that's exactly what they did - once the show has finished then people are free to stand up and walk outside

 

[Tashyboy]

I think that everyone has there own favourite charity that is close to there heart, for what ever reason that may be. This is one that BC believes in and has not received a penny for "pushing/promoting it". The only thing it has cost him is his time. Anyone who is prepared to donate there time towards helping a cause can have a minute of my time.
Reading the other day about Adeles new single on here and one or two thought she was a miserable so and so. however on Wikipedia she insists that anyone who gets a freebie backstage pass for what ever reason pays a minimum fee towards a favourite charity of hers. She might be a miserable sos and so but she's thinking of others.
point is if celebs are using there status to raise money for others I am ok with that.

 

[Hobbit]

I go out to be entertained, and to escape the woes of the world. He can crack on and do his poem/speech etc but don't mind me as I get up and leave. And before anyone jumps up and lambasts me for choosing to do my own thing, I spend a huge amount of time every month doing a huge amount for a great number of charities/foodbanks etc.

Good luck to him, but pardon me if I don't agree with him using peer pressure to a captured audience.

 

[SatchFan]

I go out to be entertained, and to escape the woes of the world. He can crack on and do his poem/speech etc but don't mind me as I get up and leave. And before anyone jumps up and lambasts me for choosing to do my own thing, I spend a huge amount of time every month doing a huge amount for a great number of charities/foodbanks etc.

Good luck to him, but pardon me if I don't agree with him using peer pressure to a captured audience.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I go out to be entertained, and to escape the woes of the world. He can crack on and do his poem/speech etc but don't mind me as I get up and leave. And before anyone jumps up and lambasts me for choosing to do my own thing, I spend a huge amount of time every month doing a huge amount for a great number of charities/foodbanks etc.

Good luck to him, but pardon me if I don't agree with him using peer pressure to a captured audience.

Which is perfectly acceptable

He has entertained you with his play which is what you have paid for and then people can choose what they do next

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Which is perfectly acceptable

He has entertained you with his play which is what you have paid for and then people can choose what they do next

Nobody is saying anything different Phil, the point you are not addressing is the weak minded or those in the front row who haven't the balls or think it would be rude to get up and leave, do we know if he announces what he's going to say and invites people to leave?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Nobody is saying anything different Phil, the point you are not addressing is the weak minded or those in the front row who haven't the balls or think it would be rude to get up and leave, do we know if he announces what he's going to say and invites people to leave?

Weak minded ?

Why do I need to address something that i don't see as a problem - people have choices , people sitting there listening to what he has to say or think it's rude to stand up also made a choice to stay there - that doesn't make them "weak minded"

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Weak minded ?

Why do I need to address something that i don't see as a problem - people have choices , people sitting there listening to what he has to say or think it's rude to stand up also made a choice to stay there - that doesn't make them "weak minded"

If they choose to sit and listen that's a choice, nobody is saying it's not, believe it not Phil, there are people who are not strong willed or decisive or give in to peer pressure, to ignore these people because he is doing good is no excuse.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If they choose to sit and listen that's a choice, nobody is saying it's not, believe it not Phil, there are people who are not strong willed or decisive or give in to peer pressure, to ignore these people because he is doing good is no excuse.

No excuse for what ?

Was he pressuring them into anything ?

Are people now supposed to stop asking for donations because some people can't say no ?!

 

[Deleted member 16999]

No excuse for what ?

Was he pressuring them into anything ?

Are people now supposed to stop asking for donations because some people can't say no ?!

Last post then I'm out.
What he's doing in my opinion is good. It was mentioned that some people in the audience, may, may have felt pressured into donating or pressured to sit and listen and the fact they had gone to see him in the play not listen to his speach etc.
Not everything can be explained away as easy as you are doing, life isn't always that simple.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Last post then I'm out.
What he's doing in my opinion is good. It was mentioned that some people in the audience, may, may have felt pressured into donating or pressured to sit and listen and the fact they had gone to see him in the play not listen to his speach etc.
Not everything can be explained away as easy as you are doing, life isn't always that simple.

It really is that simple though

Buy ticket - watch show enjoy it then you have a choice when he talks about a charity - you either stand up and walk out as Brian suggested or walk out and donate later or sit and listen and then don't donate or sit and listen and donate

It's all peoples own choices - they aren't forced into making any choice they don't want to do, people should take more responsibility of their own actions and choices in the world.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

It really is that simple though

Buy ticket - watch show enjoy it then you have a choice when he talks about a charity - you either stand up and walk out as Brian suggested or walk out and donate later or sit and listen and then don't donate or sit and listen and donate

It's all peoples own choices - they aren't forced into making any choice they don't want to do, people should take more responsibility of their own actions and choices in the world.

But he can crack on without giving them choices, which he may or may not, just because it's simple to you doesn't mean you're correct,

 

[Deleted member 15344]

But he can crack on without giving them choices, which he may or may not, just because it's simple to you doesn't mean you're correct,

Did he not give them a choice ? Was anyone forced to do anything ?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Did he not give them a choice ? Was anyone forced to do anything ?

Whatever, sick of the passive aggressive questioning, like you I wasn't there, unlike you I am able to see both sides.