Kylie Minogue in Secret Teddy Sex Romp Shame

I recently added a picture to my Facebook page. I found it mildly amusing and thought others might enjoy it.

As you can see, the picture shows Kylie Minogue holding a teddy with, what I assume to be, a microphone between its legs.

I know not if this pose was struck deliberately or by accident. I prefer to think it's unintentional, as that's funnier.

I was surprised a few hours later to see that the image had disappeared from my page. I was even more surprised, the next day, to receive an email from Facebook telling me I'd uploaded an image that had violated their user policy.

"Facebook does not allow photos that attack an individual or group, or that contain nudity, drug use, violence or other violations of the Terms of Use."

Perhaps the censor thought I was actually suggesting Kylie wanked off a real bear and the image was of his real engorged member throbbing in Kylie's expert grip? Seems unlikely, so I'm not sure what violation I am guilty of. I wasn't attacking anyone, the bear isn't real and even if it was I don't think it would count as nudity (although bestiality is probably frowned upon as well), there's no violence or drug taking featured (unless you choose to imagine that the bear has been drugged with Rohypnol), so what's the problem?

The only other thing may be that a follower (or friend as Facebook calls them; which doesn't quite provide the same Messiah like feeling as Twitter's followers does, so I refuse to use it), may have complained.

If that's the case, the poor sod who was in charge of reviewing reported abuse on Facebook that night would have been more reasonable if he'd filed the complaint in the over sensitive kill joy file (which is also the bin).

To be honest, it wouldn't have bothered me if it hadn't been for the fact that, on the same day, Facebook had refused to take down a page dedicated to the 'legend' Raoul Moat following a request from 10 Downing St. A page that, apart from aggrandising the callous, rapist, kid beating, murderer, apparently attracted a lot of unsavoury comments about the police and his victims. The owner of the group finally took it down after realising it was exposing her as a massive fuckwit.

My own personal opinion is that both my silly little post and the Moat group should not have been taken down. Not that I equate the offensiveness of my post with that vile group, but the principle should be the same. We all have the right to express our opinions and humour (or in this case share a picture that made me chuckle), even if that means we make cocks of ourselves. The Moat group exposed its creator, and members, as half wits and opened them up to ridicule. My post may have offended one or two teddy bear rights activists but they can be protected from my evil teddy bear abuse pictures by simply unfriending me, sorted, everyone is happy (apart from the poor East European teddy bears being systematically abused by celebrities... but that's another story).

Made Me Want To Poke The Other Eye Out...

I missed most of the Bafta award ceremony tonight. I'm glad to hear that Rebecca Front and Peter Capaldi won for their parts in The Thick Of It, along with the series itself as "Best Situation Comedy"; disappointed to hear that Britain's Got Talent won over Newswipe with Charlie Brooker though. And I'd have liked to see Steward Lee's Comedy Vehicle win the "Best Comedy Programme" category.

However, I tuned in just in time to hear Shiela Hancock say that "..the budgets are getting lower and lower and people are having to work harder. But somehow everbody always delivers. As an example of that, let's have a look at the nominees for best actor".

I wouldn't have a problem if that last sentence ended "..let's have a look at the nominees for best cameraman" or "..best runner". I'm sure people in those roles are working harder than ever, much like many others in this recession hit country. But actors??? Are they really working that much harder than they ever had too? Especially the ones that appeared in the nominations list - established actors who can, no doubt, pick and choose what work they undertake. I doubt it.

Even if they did have to work more to earn the same kind of money, it's hardly a situation of having to make ends meet. The truth is that many actors, comedians, singers, artists etc. live in a different world to the vast majority of people. A world that knows nothing of the stresses and strains that an understaffed office or building site worker has to deal with, or a small businessman facing bankruptcy unless he can do more for less feels. 

Then there's the idea that smaller budgets might affect the quality of an actors performance. What possible difference could being paid less to act out a role have on your "delivery" anyway? If John Hurt was only paid 75% of his normal fee for acting in An Englishman In New York, would it result in him "delivering" 25% less campness in his portrayal of Quentin Crisp, thus rendering it unconvincing to the viewing public? Probably not.

I've no gripe with Sheila Hancock personally, I'm sure she's a wonderful person. But, this comment does illustrate, for me, the kind of out of touch view of the world that many in the entertainment industry have. And as a user of Twitter and follower of a few "celeb" types, it is this kind of Celeb world view that leads me to become irritated when I hear them spout off about politics. The issue for me is that these people are often in a position of being able to influence many fans, while at the same time being utterly unqualified to comment on issues affecting their fans lives, as they reside outside the rarefied world of luvvies, comedy clubs, groupies, art houses or television studios.

You may be thinking that celebrities have a right to their opinion the same as anyone else. Of course they do, and I'm not suggestion they should be censored from expressing them. Not all Celebs are ignorant of real life politics and it would be wrong to dismiss them all out of hand. But, I do wish we'd all take a little less notice of what celebrities think and a little more notice of what our paid politicians are saying and, more importantly, doing. Perhaps, if that had been the case over the past 13 years, we woudn't be in the mess we are now.