Summer on Radio 1

[Aled]

Hey guys

Hope you don't mind me posting this - it's just that out of all the Radio 1 related forums this one seems the warmest towards The Surgery

We're going to be having a debate style show this week to hear young people's opinions on a couple of topics.

This week we're discussing Nationality. What Nationality do you class yourself as and is it important to you?

Plus Celebrities. What makes a celebrity and who counts as one?

I'm going to need your support this week as it's a different style show!!!

Thank you

Aled

x

p.s. an Open Surgery will return the following week so don't fear!

[Jono]

It sounds interesting and something I'll be tuning in to. When I saw the term 'celebrities' used I was thinking 'oh goodness me, it's going all Heat' but then realised it was actually a debate about them, heh.

Quick thoughts on 'nationality'. It's not important to me plus I think at a time when we're supposed to be a multi-national society it's difficult to get excited about it. You always get the impression you're going to offend someone judging by what the newspapers write and the stories you hear.

Something I do enjoy doing is making sure I write 'English' as my nationality when I am given the option of 'British'. There's nothing wrong with writing 'British' but I just feel as I was born and raised in England I am 'English'.

[kitty]

Hmm I think that nationality is quite an important issue, especially here in Scotland with the SNP and all of their nationalist rubbish. I personally think of myself as British, as my mother was born in South Africa to Scottish parents and raised in Scotland, my father was born and raised in England, and I was born in Scotland but have also lived in England for 7 years.

I think that debates on nationality need to be conducted carefully, as people can easily be offended, particularly if stereoypes are discussed.

Celebrity/fame should also be an interetsing topic- the famous-for-five minutes culture we have today is quite worrying, and shows such as "I'm a Celebrity.." make people look pretty desperate... obviously these shows pay well, but is it worth sacrificing your dignity?

[KingTutsWWH]

Hey. Quit apologising for posting on here about the Surgery Aled. I think, or rather hope I can safely say plenty of people on UM are more than happy to read what you have to say.

Interesting topics. Whilst I realise as a virtual pensioner, my opinions might not count for much, I do believe age generally brings a certain amount of wisdom. I am finding Radio 1's attitude somewhat ageist at present by the way, especially considering most of the presenters/producers are in their 30s, so maybe you could pass that one on?

Anyhow. I literally don't have a drop of 'British' blood in my body. I'm half British, half Swedish on paper though. I also studied in Glasgow for four years (which I absolutely adored, despite being a sasanach!), and lived in Spain for over ten years. I genuinely do see myself as a citizen on the world, and will try my very best to get on with anyone, no matter what race or creed. I wish others would do so too.

On occasion though, I do suffer a bit of a crisis of internationality identity. So I can understand many other people will too. I think I feel more British than anything else, mainly because of my upbringing and the culture here. Having said that, I was always made to feel very welcome in Spain, especially once I had learned Spanish. 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'. Try to learn the language of, and accept and enjoy the culture of the country you are in, and with any luck you should be be able to lead a decent life.

I sense that this show might turn into one on racism. It's going to have to be tackled with a fair amount of caution I'm afraid. I also don't feel, with the quantity of people you're going to have calling/texting in, that you'll even have enough time for the 'Celebrity' feature. I might comment on that later, however.

[Guest CancerForTheCure]

Hey. Quit apologising for posting on here about the Surgery Aled. I think, or rather hope I can safely say plenty of people on UM are more than happy to read what you have to say.

I was going to comment on that

Good topic. Officially I'm Polish. I do however feel more British than Polish even though I have only been living here for a couple of years. I'm in fact considering applying for British citizenship (at some point in my life). I wouldn't want to give up on my nationality altogether but for some reason people look at you differently when you have a British passport (or rather when you don't) - or at least they used to. I remember when I was little every time we went abroad they used to spend ages checking our passports. Double nationality would be pretty cool though eh

[KingTutsWWH]

but for some reason people look at you differently when you have a British passport

Yeah, and unfortunately they also might well take you hostage/shoot you in Mumbai at present.

[The Stig]

In terms of nationality, to be truthful it's not that important to me. As Jono said I've been raised and grown up in England so I would class myself as English rather than British as I just feel it's right.

I think it's a shame that I don't feel all that patriotic and I almost envy the Americans who are proud of their country, but I've just never been given an excuse to be "Eng/British and proud and It's one thing I'd prefer British culture to be more like. A typical example is football. I know it's not your thing Aled but there's been a long standing debate on which team is more important, club or country. For whatever reason recently club is winning hands down and players have been reluctant at times to represent their country. I think it's a shame, but I can see why it's happening.

In terms of celebrities it's simply. You should be famous or a celeb for being particularly talented at something, or for doing something particularly well. I cannot stand people who are famous for being famous (Paris Hilton, Big Brother contestants...) but there is one thing worse than them, people who aspire to be like them. I think it's a tragedy that there's young people out there who can only aspire to be a footballers wife etc. I feel like grabbing them and saying "get out there and be you, a person, not a famous object".

And can I just say Aled I think you're an excellent on The Surgery. You've rejuvenated it and it's an excellent listen. You're the perfect choice for host well done. I've also sent you a PM, I'd love your help on something if possible.

[Jono]

In terms of nationality, to be truthful it's not that important to me. As Jono said I've been raised and grown up in England so I would class myself as English rather than British as I just feel it's right.

I don't know why I do it but I just feel strongly about that point. I was first asked by the home office in some survey that they made me do. They gave the option of British and English so I made sure I put English. I don't think I'd go to America and say I'm 'British' and I doubt Scots, Irish and Welsh would either.

I hate the way celebrities are used to tell the nation's females how they should look and what is the 'norm'. Some people really live their life by what celebrities are doing in 'Heat' and those magazines.

So what do we think defines a celebrity?

[The Stig]

I don't know why I do it but I just feel strongly about that point. I was first asked by the home office in some survey that they made me do. They gave the option of British and English so I made sure I put English. I don't think I'd go to America and say I'm 'British' and I doubt Scots, Irish and Welsh would either.

I hate the way celebrities are used to tell the nation's females how they should look and what is the 'norm'. Some people really live their life by what celebrities are doing in 'Heat' and those magazines.

So what do we think defines a celebrity?

I agree with you 100%. Welsh / Irish / Scottish people would be just as quick to point out we're different countries, so why should we not be classed as English or Welsh etc.

As for celebrities, I've told you what I think it should be, what it is however is anyone who can get themselves in to the public eye, for whatever reason. And I agree with you also on what I've underlined. For god sake be yourself, your own person, not a clone of someone else.

[E*F*4L]

Hi Aled :hi:

i class myself as English, being born in England as i don't buy into this "we are all British" since Blair & Brown decided to separate the union.

a celebrity can now be anyone with the likes of BB & X-factor, but they aren't really & i don't actually see anyone as a celebrity as they are just normal people, i know Edith said that she doesn't mind to give autographs & have pics taken with fans, but she doesn't understand why people would want them of her as she is just doing what she feels is a normal job, but if i actually met Edith i would probably be nervous of meeting her just in the same was as she was of meeting Angelina Jolie the other day.

do you Aled think you are a celebrity yourself ? if so why ?

lots of people think Chris Moyles is a celebrity but you know him as a actual real person & you see him just as i see the people i work with, we are all the same & the only difference between you & me is that you have a larger forum to get your views across.

lots of people love you & lots of people hate you, if anyone of us was on the Chris Moyles show it would be no different.

for the Surgery maybe you should get some quotes from some celebrities & see what they say about the way they feel when they meet another celebrity.

[Fraz- J]

Hey guys

This week we're discussing Nationality. What Nationality do you class yourself as and is it important to you?

Plus Celebrities. What makes a celebrity and who counts as one?

Hey Aled . Personally, I think that nationality is quite important is kinda important but, like Jono, I don't class myself as being British, I say that I'm English. But I always feels like there is some kind of stigma which comes with saying that, as if you're being awkward if you say that you class yourself like that. I think it's partly due to the government trying to band everyone together and whilst this is perfectly fine and we should accept that we are a 'multi-cultural' society, they should accept that the individual groups of people need their own breathing space too and I just always think of myself as English. I was born and raised in England so therefore I'm English. I agree that people from Scotland, Ireland or Wales would class themselves as Scottish, Irish or Welsh too.

As far as Celebrities are concerned, I think that if you're talented in whatever you're doing, then yes you should be classed as a celebrity. But the people who go on Big Brother or try and sleep with some footballer to get their names in the paper are NOT celebrities. This is a real problem with our culture today, everyone wants to be famous and the young girls who read magazines like Heat are using these phonies as grounds for their aspirations which I think is really wrong. They see these 'celebs' doing crazy things and goingon crash diets and they follow them and it is truly worrying that people need this source of junk to live their lives by.

You should be your own person and not aspire to be some air-headed model with big boobs, just so you'll get noticed.

I forgot to say Aled, You are doing an amazing job on The Surgery. I really think that you've made it your own and I always listen now. I just want to wish you all the best Aled and hope the show goes well on Sunday, You shall be getting a text from me saying Hi, no doubt

Thanks Aled

Fraser x

[Jono]

For god sake be yourself, your own person, not a clone of someone else.

I was thinking about it last night. I was first to belittle these celebrity magazines and how they tell females what to do, but I think we all experience something like this in our lives. I mean what we see them talking about make seem silly to outsiders, but I'm sure people would say the same about us. If Chris Moyles or Scott Mills told us to go out and buy The Hoff's new single, or take a picture of something you've written in some dirt, you'd probably do it. Just look at the amount of people who looked at my YouTube video of Scott on Big Brother Hijack when he rolled his eyes. It was something ridiculous, just because Chris mentioned it, and I didn't even think it was that amusing. And although there's a stark contrast between telling you to lose weight and do something immature, I think there's a similarity in how we do what celebrities and the media are telling us to do because it unites us.

[Viv]

This week we're discussing Nationality. What Nationality do you class yourself as and is it important to you?

Plus Celebrities. What makes a celebrity and who counts as one?

I hope older people's opinions may count too.

I class myself as British, but I don't feel proud to be British at the moment. This country isn't well run, and I don't really like being part of it at the moment. I think I'd rather be French.

Re: celebs. A celeb must have earned the position. I see someone like Madonna as a celeb., because she earned the right to be there: struggled, went through hard times, etc. Nowadays, the term "celebrity" is just simply handed to anyone and everyone. Take a look at shows like, "I'm a celebrity" - you don't even know who half of them are, which says a lot right there, I feel.

[Jono]

Do you really think Madonna is a role model these days? Divorcing, catty remarks, thinking she's above everyone else, her crazy religions, adopting kids like they're fashion statements, etc?

[augusta92]

Its strange to define a nationality. Technically I suppose I am English, but that isnt usually an option on the official forms that need to be filled in. I usually tick white british! Nationality usually seems to want to define a racial group!

In actually fact though Id like to be able to class myself as European because of my mixed European heritage, French , Polish and German as well as English, for instance. I feel much closer ties to Europe than I have ever done to the USA.

Celebrity is used to define someone well known that most people would recognise. and some minor celebrities I admire like this year's olympic medal winners. But others constantly in the pages of heat etc can be really irritating. I think it depends why they have become well known. Is it for somthing we can admire or just because they are someone who has taken their clothes off or slept with someone famous?

[Viv]

Do you really think Madonna is a role model these days? Divorcing, catty remarks, thinking she's above everyone else, her crazy religions, adopting kids like they're fashion statements, etc?

** head begins to fizz**

Re: MADONNA

1. She's human, makes mistakes, gets back up, tries something else - 1 star.

2. Divorce happens: she was married to a dickhead after all. Apparently, he didn't even like her going on tours, because it "turned the house upside down". So, what was she supposed to do? Just stay at home and vegitate. - 2 stars.

3. Many people might say she has done great good in saving a child from a deprived area - 3 stars.

4. Crazy religions? Is Kabbalah "crazy"? There's quite a lot of sense in it when you bother to do a bit of research. - 4 stars.

5. Yep, a definite role model for me!! Anyone who can stay at the top, through all the changes in music, fashion, and everything else for all these years is just the best!! - 5 stars!!

**long may she reign**

** bows greatfully at the feet of Her Majesty **

[Jono]

Celebrity is used to define someone well known that most people would recognise.

How about Boris Johnson. Should he be a celebrity? Should politicians be seen as a celebrity? If Boris hadn't become such a celebrity maybe he wouldn't have been in power today, and is that such a good thing that has happened?

[Jaybrook]

Sounds like an interesting show Aled (I much prefer you hosting it!).

With regards nationality, I'm British. I live in Scotland, my parents were born in Scotland (my dads mum was born in England) but call me Scottish at your peril :*. I'm not sure why I feel the way I do but I can't bear even hearing a scottish accent - it makes me cringe. I thank the lord every day that I don't have one .

On the celebrity issue, I'm a bit of a celeb junkie (I buy all the mags - same stories in them all but sometimes you get a different picture ). I do think that anyone these days gets labelled as a celebrity but in my mind, a true celebrity should have an art and a bit of longevity with their career.

[The Stig]

I see no reason why Aled should not be classed as a celebrity. He is amazing at what he does and therefore gets to do it on one of the biggest radio shows in the country if not the world. He is a regular contributor to the show because of that and therefore is well known. Why should he not be a "celebrity" not that I think it's that important.

[KingTutsWWH]

I can't bear even hearing a scottish accent - it makes me cringe. I thank the lord every day that I don't have one .

Must be a bit of a bummer living in Dundee then. Do you ever go out?

Very immature, I know, but part of the reason I chose to go to Glasgow Uni was that I loved Scottish accents so much. Hmmm. Each to his/her own I suppose.

[Jono]

Here's some of the front covers from the newspapers this week for the guys who've never seen such 'celebrity' magazines Charlotte from Reveal magazine is Aled's guest this week too. Will be interesting to see whether she gets off lightly or not!

[Jaybrook]

Must be a bit of a bummer living in Dundee then. Do you ever go out?

Lol only when I have to! Now the cockney accent.....music to my ears!

[Aled]

Here's some of the front covers from the newspapers this week for the guys who've never seen such 'celebrity' magazines Charlotte from Reveal magazine is Aled's guest this week too. Will be interesting to see whether she gets off lightly or not!

Although that's a very good idea unfortunately the Charlotte we've got on isn't from the magazine, she's from the BBC2 TV show: http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/revealed/biog.shtml

[Nik B.]

Looking forward to it Aled, sounds like an interesting new direction for the surgery

Also, we're always happy to hear from you on surgery related things

[Jono]

Although that's a very good idea unfortunately the Charlotte we've got on isn't from the magazine, she's from the BBC2 TV show: http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/revealed/biog.shtml

There was me thinking it was a typo

*Loses images of trashy magazine editors feeling uncomfortable*

Interestingly Dave just said on the Lie-In that he'd brand himself as British because his mum originated from the Isle of Man and he is English. Of course he also has links back to Hong Kong, but it's interesting how everyone takes different approaches to their nationality.