Will Self destroys Jamie Oliver

[Greg Bobkin]

I can't stand Self and quite like Oliver especially his books. What I don't get is Self says he hates Oliver so much but he then goes and eats in his restaurant and then publicizing his restaurants, his shows, his books etc. on a piece that makes himself look a complete ****. I think Oliver may have owned Self without even doing anything!

How many people would go and eat in a restaurant when they despise the owner?

As I mentioned before, he probably did because it was on expenses/he was getting paid for it. Plus it helped give Self some ammunition in his character assassination of Oliver.

Like I say - personal attack and a restaurant review - a strange combination.

 

[Nibble]

I really used to like Will Self, a lot. I don't think he's breaking any new ground here. In fact I think he's picked a really rather easy target and not been particularly clever about it. Found the article slightly odd and beneath Self's usual standard. He's as much of a Guardianista, false socialist as Jamie Oliver is these days. Inoffensive, always spot on but not very challenging article.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I can't stand Self and quite like Oliver especially his books. What I don't get is Self says he hates Oliver so much but he then goes and eats in his restaurant and then publicizing his restaurants, his shows, his books etc. on a piece that makes himself look a complete ****. I think Oliver may have owned Self without even doing anything!

How many people would go and eat in a restaurant when they despise the owner?

I would if someone paid me to write about it afterwards. If one of your jobs is food writer you really don't get to pick and choose the venue. Besides, sending something up when you haven't tried it is a bit hard. I still remember a left leaning journo getting totally slammed on twitter for buying the first Sunday Sun after the News of the World ended. He got tonnes of spam asking how he could buy the Sun. His answer, quite reasonably was he wanted to review it.

 

[User removed 4]

Why don't you counter my opinion on the article with an opinion of your own which could articulate where I am wrong, rather than your consistent habit of simply asking questions. My posts are detailed enough for you to understand where I am coming from, my views on Self, and what I have taken from the piece.

I already have in my first post on this thread, ,ok if it pleases you , you are wrong that it doesnt attack jamie oliver , because he is the main focus of the piece AND BECAUSE HE SAID ' Needless to say, Oliver sticks in my craw and I’d walk a cunty mile to avoid him and all his works ' ?

 

[Nibble]

I don't understand the hatred for Oliver. Yes, he's a bit of a fake geezer but that's his brand. He doesn't do anything WRONG does he?

 

[Nibble]

4 books, £45m, she's clearly pretty much our current generation equivalent of John Locke!

Point of fact Katie Price has written 28 books. I know.

 

[Birdie Boy]

I would if someone paid me to write about it afterwards. If one of your jobs is food writer you really don't get to pick and choose the venue. Besides, sending something up when you haven't tried it is a bit hard. I still remember a left leaning journo getting totally slammed on twitter for buying the first Sunday Sun after the News of the World ended. He got tonnes of spam asking how he could buy the Sun. His answer, quite reasonably was he wanted to review it.

The thing is, he didn't really review it, did he? About 1 paragraph slagging off a bit of chicken in his salad and cardboard straws. All the rest was attacking Oliver and to be honest, with that review he could have pretended he went (which he might have) or sent someone on his behalf, which I would have done if I hated the owner that much!

 

[Birdie Boy]

I only found out about Save with Jamie from this thread so I am sure that may infuriate Self even more with me giving him more money. Unfortunately it will upset the wife as well cause I have run out of space of where to put all my cookery books!

 

[Guinness Boy]

The thing is, he didn't really review it, did he? About 1 paragraph slagging off a bit of chicken in his salad and cardboard straws. All the rest was attacking Oliver and to be honest, with that review he could have pretended he went (which he might have) or sent someone on his behalf, which I would have done if I hated the owner that much!

It's a good chance no one's ever going to ask me to review a One Direction gig because that's exactly what I'd do in that circumstance.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I don't understand the hatred for Oliver. Yes, he's a bit of a fake geezer but that's his brand. He doesn't do anything WRONG does he?

That's exactly the point Nibs. He's blander than unsalted pasta. He's a fake geezer. He's ALL about brand. The only difference he's made to the UK is more effing cookery shows. Even Tom Kerridge has one and he can't speak English.

 

[Hamilton]

I don't understand the hatred for Oliver. Yes, he's a bit of a fake geezer but that's his brand. He doesn't do anything WRONG does he?

This.

Really, if Will Self has time to turn his ire on Jamie Oliver of all people, then he really is running out of ideas. Sad and pathetic self promotion of the "self' brand. Exactly what this country doesn't need.

 

[jakarta]

I really used to like Will Self, a lot. I don't think he's breaking any new ground here. In fact I think he's picked a really rather easy target and not been particularly clever about it. Found the article slightly odd and beneath Self's usual standard. He's as much of a Guardianista, false socialist as Jamie Oliver is these days. Inoffensive, always spot on but not very challenging article.

Bit unfair to say Jamie Oliver is a Guardianista false socialist IMO.

His Dad owned a pub, he started to learn to cook there, went off to carry on learning elsewhere until he ended up being a good enough chef to open his own restaurant.

Sounds like Working Class Boy made good to me?

 

[Bold Seagull]

This.

Really, if Will Self has time to turn his ire on Jamie Oliver of all people, then he really is running out of ideas. Sad and pathetic self promotion of the "self' brand. Exactly what this country doesn't need.

Will Self could easily self promote himself beyond what he currently does, and had he cosied up to various editors in the past could be far more mainstream than he is. One thing you couldn't accuse Self of is not giving his own personal opinion with honesty, even if it is cutting and brutal, it is afterall just his opinion, and certainly not motivated by seeking fame or fortune - he could have had a lot more of both had he wanted it.

 

[Hamilton]

Will Self could easily self promote himself beyond what he currently does, and had he cosied up to various editors in the past could be far more mainstream than he is. One thing you couldn't accuse Self of is not giving his own personal opinion with honesty, even if it is cutting and brutal, it is afterall just his opinion, and certainly not motivated by seeking fame or fortune - he could have had a lot more of both had he wanted it.

I tend to think that he loves his brand image and will do whatever to maintain that image. This is where I think he stops being honest and starts being dishonest. He is clearly incredibly intelligent and we need that type of brain taking on the establishment. With this piece against Jamie Oliver I think he's been sloppy and lazy and just gone for the easy 'Will Self' line. Really, he should have said he has nothing to say about him.

 

[Mr Blobby]

Will Self is such a bore IMHO and I am sure that Jamie Oliver will hardly lose any sleep over this article.

However much you hate Jamie Oliver the campaign he did around School meals was pretty good stuff. At least Oliver tries to use his TV status to the good, bores like Self just wallow in aiming his bile at others, what has he ever actually achieved in his life? He is another "famous" person having done **** all to deserve it, but as you say its all about opinions and the world would be very boring if we all had the same opinions!

Anyway IMHO give me Oliver over Self any day.

 

[Marshy]

Will Self is such a bore IMHO and I am sure that Jamie Oliver will hardly lose any sleep over this article.

However much you hate Jamie Oliver the campaign he did around School meals was pretty good stuff. At least Oliver tries to use his TV status to the good, bores like Self just wallow in aiming his bile at others, what has he ever actually achieved in his life? He is another "famous" person having done **** all to deserve it, but as you say its all about opinions and the world would be very boring if we all had the same opinions!

Anyway IMHO give me Oliver over Self any day.

Seconded

 

[Bold Seagull]

Seconded

Will Self is such a bore IMHO and I am sure that Jamie Oliver will hardly lose any sleep over this article.

However much you hate Jamie Oliver the campaign he did around School meals was pretty good stuff. At least Oliver tries to use his TV status to the good, bores like Self just wallow in aiming his bile at others, what has he ever actually achieved in his life? He is another "famous" person having done **** all to deserve it, but as you say its all about opinions and the world would be very boring if we all had the same opinions!

Anyway IMHO give me Oliver over Self any day.

Other than 9 critically acclaimed novels, short listed Man Booker Prize, award winning short stories, journalist for the Guardian, Observer, The New York Times, London Review of Books, The Evening Standard, The Times, The New Statesmen.

Not bad for having done 'f*** all to deserve it'....

 

[albion534]

i dont who who this man is, 1 look at his picture was enough to know that i wont read his article, he looks like a cock, therefore, he is a cock

 

[Badger]

Other than 9 critically acclaimed novels, short listed Man Booker Prize, award winning short stories, journalist for the Guardian, Observer, The New York Times, London Review of Books, The Evening Standard, The Times, The New Statesmen.

Not bad for having done 'f*** all to deserve it'....

The Man Booker Prize is just based on who is cool and quirky to like at the time, decided by a group of people who probably aren't that dissimilar to Will Self. It's up there with the Turner Prize and Mercury Music Award for bullshit "let's be a bit different and crazy" type awards.




Having said that, I do work for Man so maybe I shouldn't slag it off....

 

[MattBackHome]

thank god for robert webb.

badfish has it right who gives a shit about these people. some bloke who says ooh dinky winky gets told off by someone who says numberwang. mr wordy druggy moans about someone who cooks your tea. alan partridge slags off mark from peep show. all very entertaining in a depressing for the future of our society way.

being in footlights or voting labour only makes them the slightly more palatable celebrities spouting nonsense or at least relatively ill informed opinions (except in the case of coogan who knows loads about the ethics of the press due to taking loads of gear and shagging about).

all these open letters from middle aged entertainers about politics or our society currently flying about are amazing in their vanity. its as deluded as me thinking anything i say on here is relevant or insightful.

This.

I like Self, Oliver, Webb, Mitchell, Coogan and Brand on the whole - and am happy for them to campaign about whatever they want however they choose, but their open letters to each other make me sick.