A masked Russell Brand leads Anonymous march against austerity cuts: Funnyman-turned-activist joins

JayinAR

StoutBroux

Blister
This is the drug addict guy? The one who sees females as things for his pleasure? Who speaks like he went to Smackhead Caveman Special Academy...

No respect from me that's for sure.

For sure! He's a hypocrite to the nth degree. Can't figure out why people like him. The ones who do only live for the moment..... they don't research.

Yeah, I've always hated research. And I love Russell Brand.
Spot on assessment. I think I will continue to listen to what he says though. I think he is incredibly funny and incredibly smart.

Also, lord help me if I ever become "famous" for whatever reason. Lord knows I have done some ridiculous crap in my day. There would be a plethora of judgmental haters on the internet pulling up crap I did years ago no matter WHAT I was doing then.

Hope you do become famous, just don't be a Russell Brand type of guy

crazyewok
What a bucnh of grumpy old man torry BS

Grumpy? Old? I'm 31 and I've done my time homeless and in poverty, but unlike the eternal whingers who expect work to be 10 minutes from their front door, I got off my arse and found work. I used to get up at 0400, travel 3 hours to work and not get home till 8 at night - and that was when I was 18.. You won't find many 18 year olds willing to travel for more than 10 minutes these days to find a job, much less get up at 4 in the morning to do it.

Therein lies a large part of the problem, people expecting there to be something on their doorstep paying a fortune. If you want something in this world, don't sit around on your arse waiting for someone else (the Government in this case) to do something about it, go out and sort it yourself.

crazyewok
Tell that to my freinds who are still trying to find work year after year, applying to everything they can find or just sending CVs out, yet lucky if they even get a rejection letter.

Where abouts do they live?

crazyewok
And even more applicants.

As has always been the case - When I applied for my apprenticeship in 1998, there were 30 positions going and over 5,000 applicants. You have to sell yourself and stand out from the crowd. I am willing to bet a large portion of your friends CV's are shocking - many people's are and they don't realise it. I've seen CV's from "educated" people with appalling spelling and grammar, which is enough to get it thrown in the bin - then there is how you present the information in CV, few people realise (or bother to find out) how to make a CV look good.

crazyewok
Well here is a thought for ya? IT TAKES MONEY TO MOVE! My freinds cant even afford rent so are stuck with mum and dad. If they could afford to move they wouldnt have just moved areas they would have ditched the UK!

Not really. If you really wanted to, you could up sticks to a new town for a few hundred quid, max - just rent a room to start with and if you have a job sorted, what's the issue? Anyone can come by a few hundred squids if they had to - but most won't even consider it.

I also highly doubt your friends would leave the UK if they could, yet can't get a job here. If they could leave the UK for a better job, that would imply they are well educated - because other nations outside the EU won't let you in otherwise - which begs the question why can't they find work in the UK.

I have little time for grown ups still living with mum and dad bleeting about the poor state of their lives. I was kicked out of home at 16 and had to pull my socks up or starve - I have never once sought any help from the Government and did it all off my own back to get where I am today. Too many of the current crop of youngsters seem to think the world owes them something.

crazyewok
If you have some intelligance. Alot dont.

Then your point is moot, surely?

crazyewok
On paper in practice its bloody difficult, like wringing blood from a stone. Been there done that.

People don't give you money for nothing - You have to have a solid business case made up to get the cash, which stands to reason, but as we see from Dragons Den, even adults with good idea's seem to have a piss poor grasp of business and a shockingly blasé view on financial matters, yet the wonder why they didn't get backing.

crazyewok
What planet do you live on? Unless its a part time business like makeing cupcakes 99% require some serouis capital behind them. Unless you have a trade, but not everyone has a trade.

No, 99% doesn't require "serouis" capital and no, it doesn't require making "cupcakes". Either your being deliberately facetious or simply don't have a clue. Yes, if you wanted to start a factory, or a restaurant it would require a good amount of capital, but at the same time you could start a web based business of varying flavours for less than a weeks wages, or a consultancy if you have some professional experience, or whatever tickles your fancy.

It's this defeatist attitude that is the reason why the UK doesn't produce a Google or Apple (both started on no money in nothing more than a shed)

crazyewok
See above.

Quite....

crazyewok
To be far I have had little experiance with poverty, I come from a middle class family, got a good academic degree (no libral arts crap) that can be used and if all else fails can go into teaching , hell I have even got my own little FOREX tradeing business going at the moment, only cause im lucky to have some capital and a high IQ. My freinds not so lucky........

Not everyone can be rich, people have to be realistic. Are your friends being realistic and aiming for their level, or are they trying to get jobs they are simply not qualified or have the "intelligence" to do.

Also, for someone who professes to be well-educated and having a high IQ, you really need to sort your spelling, my page is full of red squigglies! This isn't a jab but a friendly critique which harks back to what I was saying about CV's earlier. If your friends don't have your brains but you're making simple spelling errors, I dread to think what their CV's look like and could explain why no-one even bothers to reply to them.

crazyewok
Yeah great, shame most seem to be minimum wage jobs which my freinds who have got struggle to live off of. Hell most still cant even afford to move out there parents house.

I'm currently looking for a job for my partner and I can tell you that there are very few jobs on the board for anything less than £17-18k and these are entry level Admin/Customer Service jobs. That is more than enough to get you out of the Hotel of Mum & Dad.

crazyewok
To hell with the tories and to hell with labour. The tories have there own self serving agenda, the same as labour. They can both rot and burn in hell.

On this, we agree - but as I said in my first post, Brand's advice of totally disengaging from the process only makes this problem worse - he moans a great deal but offers nothing in the way of an alternative- I think Menzies Campbell summed him up nicely as a "champagne anarchist".

Asktheanimals
Being worth $15 million wouldn't that make him part of the class he complains about?
Or is it only Billionaires that must learn to share?
Also what's the point of a masked march if you're going to take your mask off and have your picture taken?

Would you like him to give it all away and be a monk? Lol, get a grip. I guess his opinion is not valid unless he is under the poverty line.

litmus1212
New interview with Brand: Russell Brand In Conversation With HuffPost UK's Mehdi Hasan

*Apologies I'm new & don't know how to embed

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk...

Thank you soo very much for posting this link!! I just finished watching the whole thing and I highly recommend any and ALL of you who keep chastising and judging Russell so harshly take the time to watch it! You harp on those of us who like Russell to research and educate ourselves on issues and such, well take your own advice and research Mr. Brand's opinions, thoughts and perspectives. It is a long 98 minutes (however it goes by quickly), but I'm sure you've spent much more time than that researching the things that brought you to your current mindset. He covers virtually every topic you can imagine aside from the paranormal and he makes a hell of a lot of sense!

Thank you again litmus! It is now my bedtime, so I will retire for the night and meet up with you all again tomorrow.

Good night my cohabitants, I truly love you all.

This guy is a useful idiot.

He calling for a socialist revolution.
And we all know socialist revolutions work out great for humanity.

Remember the nazis?
Aka
"National socialist German workers party"

It's all governments fault everyone is poor, (which it is) yet he wants more government.
I wonder if this jackwagon realizes he is demanding government take his millions.

I bet he is the first on a plane out of country when the violence starts.

Blister
This is the drug addict guy? The one who sees females as things for his pleasure? Who speaks like he went to Smackhead Caveman Special Academy...

No respect from me that's for sure.

so you know the guy personally?? or are you spouting what you have heard about him through media....

Good for Russell.He has woken up and is now trying to wake others up as well.I'm all for bringing more attention to these issues he's sincere at least to me he is.

bjax9er
This guy is a useful idiot.

He calling for a socialist revolution.
And we all know socialist revolutions work out great for humanity.

Remember the nazis?
Aka
"National socialist German workers party"

It's all governments fault everyone is poor, (which it is) yet he wants more government.
I wonder if this jackwagon realizes he is demanding government take his millions.

I bet he is the first on a plane out of country when the violence starts.

You put a lot of words into his mouth there.
He never mentioned a socialist revolution. He's simply pointing out the need to find a better way than the system which keeps 1% in obscene wealth while the rest of the population are driven to the gutter. He's the first to admit that he doesn't have all the answers, he's opening a debate, and calling for new thinking, not old labels.
He's right about not voting too. Our "democracies" are now so corrupted by corporate lobbying and special interests, that to participate simply perpetuates the corruption and makes one complicit in it. If there were some politicians that were more like him instead of the dogmatic corrupt old fossils we have on both sides of the Atlantic, I'd be much more optimistic about the future.

Kantzveldt
reply to post by daaskapital

 

Why wear a mask when it is the same as your face...?

An effective double bluff...obviously.

If you wore a mask that looked a lot like you, the authorities are less likely to be looking for a face that looks a lot like the mask covering it.

MysterX

Kantzveldt
reply to post by daaskapital

 

Why wear a mask when it is the same as your face...?

An effective double bluff...obviously.

If you wore a mask that looked a lot like you, the authorities are less likely to be looking for a face that looks a lot like the mask covering it.

If he didn't wear a mask and then subsequently remove it in front of cameras he wouldn't get any publicity.

Which is the point of doing the march.

For Russell Brand.

I get creeped out by this attitude, that individuals are only responsible for themselves, and that we can starve, freeze to death, die from a disease, and that we shouldnt look for support from any government.
I think thats fine, if you want to live in a selfish cociety where everybody is out for themselves, and thats the pinnacle of what they want to achieve.
But there are people out there, who think a governemtns job, is to rpovide health care education, and support for those who are struggling financially.
People talk about there being 3000 applicants for 15 jobs, and then sneer at people who dont make the grade, like they are deficient in some way. There are not now and will never be enough jobs for people in an industrialised society.
We either cull people, or accept that we need some kind of social welfare.
makes me sick the number of people on here who would stand and watch others starve and spit on them for not being successful.

This is a very funny story.

Its another one that kinda demonstrates how dumb the public have become.

Its an 'anonymous' march. Yet the celebrity cannot remain anonymous. He craves attention. So now he is the spokesman for the event.

Look Russell Brand is here, I better lift my anonymous mask up so people can see me on telly and i was near him.

The event was ridiculous. Several hundred turned up? Then they ended up shouting chants at the police.

These people marching on Buckingham Palace while wearing a mask that was made famous by a WARNER BROS movie.

Good example of Doublethink in action methinks.

hopenotfeariswhatweneed

so you know the guy personally?? or are you spouting what you have heard about him through media....

"what you hear about him through the media? "

he is a celebrity. he had to tell us everything about himself www.amazon.com...=la_B0023VS0PQ_1_1/184-0017095-7545865?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383826524&sr=1-1

stumason
You won't find many 18 year olds willing to travel for more than 10 minutes these days to find a job, much less get up at 4 in the morning to do it.

Talking out your arse. One of my mates landed warehouse work with those hours. He was never happier to come of the dole.

stumason
Therein lies a large part of the problem, people expecting there to be something on their doorstep paying a fortune.

Again rubbish. Most I know would take tesco work just to get off the benifits and put something on there CV's.

stumason
Where abouts do they live?

Some Chatham, others up north. I have a very diverse netwrok of freinds.

crazyewok
And even more applicants.

stumason
As has always been the case - When I applied for my apprenticeship in 1998, there were 30 positions going and over 5,000 applicants.

So 4970 will still end up rejected. Maths is not in your favour with that volume of applicants to jobs.

stumason
You have to sell yourself and stand out from the crowd.

Agreed but takeing the above 4970 . There are going to be a majority that lose. With those sorts of odds its not hard to see it a while to find a job. I will have to work out the maths buts its pretty grim.

stumason
I am willing to bet a large portion of your friends CV's are shocking - many people's are and they don't realise it.

Agreed but most have had to go on mandatory CV courses as part of the benifit schemes. I think the problem is not that they are written bad but they havent got much to put on it. I had that trouble 5 years back, after my first job the other jobs rolled in.

stumason
Not really. If you really wanted to, you could up sticks to a new town for a few hundred quid, max - just rent a room to start with and if you have a job sorted, what's the issue? Anyone can come by a few hundred squids if they had to - but most won't even consider it.

If yu say so. Hell after transport in this over priced country most are already broke.

stumason
I also highly doubt your friends would leave the UK if they could, yet can't get a job here.

I have 2 that did. Went to Australlia never been happier even though they are working on a farm. Again your makeing assumptions.

stumason
If they could leave the UK for a better job, that would imply they are well educated - because other nations outside the EU won't let you in otherwise -

Funny. Australia seem to want uneducated, so do a few other countrys. Its Ironic I have been makeing enquries about moving abroad myself for a change and my degree opens up most countrys, Australia isnt one. Diffrent countrys need diffrent things.

stumason
which begs the question why can't they find work in the UK.

Not enough entry level jobs I think. There seems to be plenty for you and I, but for the new starters its hard as everywere even burger flipers seem to want prior work experiance.

stumason
I have little time for grown ups still living with mum and dad bleeting about the poor state of their lives. I was kicked out of home at 16 and had to pull my socks up or starve - I have never once sought any help from the Government and did it all off my own back to get where I am today.

Sucks to be you. End of the day not my fault you didnt take goverment help.

stumason
Too many of the current crop of youngsters seem to think the world owes them something.

Again assumptions. Most just want work ,any work.

stumason
Then your point is moot, surely?

Whats your point? Surely everyone deserves work? Maybe not high paid work but work you can live off? Or do you like poverty and misery?

stumason
People don't give you money for nothing - You have to have a solid business case made up to get the cash, which stands to reason, but as we see from Dragons Den, even adults with good idea's seem to have a piss poor grasp of business and a shockingly blasé view on financial matters, yet the wonder why they didn't get backing.

Which makes my point. Starting a business is not easy and certainly not for everyone.

stumason
No, 99% doesn't require "serouis" capital and no, it doesn't require making "cupcakes". Either your being deliberately facetious or simply don't have a clue. Yes, if you wanted to start a factory, or a restaurant it would require a good amount of capital, but at the same time you could start a web based business of varying flavours for less than a weeks wages, or a consultancy if you have some professional experience, or whatever tickles your fancy.

It all comes down to who you are what your skills are. I could never start a business in web design as Im rubbish at art and cant program to save my life. On the other hand give me £1 Million and I could start up a good bio tec company.

stumason
It's this defeatist attitude that is the reason why the UK doesn't produce a Google or Apple (both started on no money in nothing more than a shed)

No but we have Richard Branson, Alan Suger ect.

stumason
Not everyone can be rich, people have to be realistic. Are your friends being realistic and aiming for their level, or are they trying to get jobs they are simply not qualified or have the "intelligence" to do.

Your reading comphension skills have to be worse than my spelling. I think I have stated 3 times most I know would take supermarket work if they could.

stumason
Also, for someone who professes to be well-educated and having a high IQ, you really need to sort your spelling, my page is full of red squigglies! This isn't a jab but a friendly critique which harks back to what I was saying about CV's earlier. If your friends don't have your brains but you're making simple spelling errors, I dread to think what their CV's look like and could explain why no-one even bothers to reply to them.

The curse of dyslexia and dysphraixa (coupled with a Iphone touch pad). Could a use a spell check? Yes. Do I have time no. Im a busu person I dont have time to care about my spelling on a internet forum.

Anyway if spelling and writting were the measure of intelligence then most Doctors are imbeciles.

stumason
I'm currently looking for a job for my partner and I can tell you that there are very few jobs on the board for anything less than £17-18k and these are entry level Admin/Customer Service jobs. That is more than enough to get you out of the Hotel of Mum & Dad.

Really? Is this her first job? Does she have a good degree? Cause most non degree entry level jobs seem to be 12-15K.

Blister
This is the drug addict guy? The one who sees females as things for his pleasure? Who speaks like he went to Smackhead Caveman Special Academy...

No respect from me that's for sure.

maybe 15 years ago...Hes not that person anymore. if you took your head out your @ss for a minute you'd know that.

you dont have to like him...but you have to respect what hes doing unless you're either pro government or missing the point of it completely...regardless of who he was well over a decade ago his mind is pretty much in tune with mine right now, and probably most others here

It says a lot about society when the court jester speaks more truth than those elected to run the country. Look at what Cameron and Co. have done in their time in charge, all to benefit the rich and make the poor look like the enemy.

People need to look through the Murdoch propaganda BS and see the whole thing is rigged to keep the 1% in power, money and control.

JayinAR

LiberLegit
Since when did ATS become a complete mouthpiece for anonymous? Talk about replacing one illusion with another. Brand is a clown, hes for the same jacked up collectivist progressive bull# that these brain dead anonymous goofballs are for. Seriously uninformed, seriously whiny people. Brand complains about the system fostering his old drug addiction, the system for holding people down, etc. The only person we all have to blame, including Brand, is OURSELVES. These anonymous children will never realize that.

You haven't seen the movie V for Vendetta, have ya?
Anonymous piggy backs off that story.
This march was no more about anonymous than it was about an idea penned in ink in a comic book.

I have seen the movie, that's what makes the entire movement even more of a complete joke to me. As well it should to everyone else.

I find the whole idea of the Fawkes mask ironic.

These 'Fawksers' will tell you not to become one of the 'sheeple' but yet they'll all don the same mask, share the same sentiments, and march all at once in the same place, just like sheep.

And If anything these masks reinforce the idea that the 99 percent are just faceless drones, and that's exactly what TPTB want.

So lose the masks and let the world know what you're fighting for. It may be your job, your kids, your wife, your future, let TPTB know that there is a face to the crises that they've created.

Sorry, I got a little sidetracked. What did Russell Crowe do this time?

reply to post by lacrimaererum


Brand's movie company is distributed through Warner bros.

I'm not trying to bash Brand here. I think he's extremely funny at times and occasionally insightful. Probably a likeable chap in person if you don't take offense easily.

That said, I think people should ask themselves a few questions:
While his lifestyle and occupation demand he participate in the very "evils" of consumption he decries. How often does he jump on a plane? Why buy a multi-million $ mansion complete with housekeeper and gardener?

For someone who is constantly appearing on MSM how much can he really be "against" the same system that has given him everything in life most people never attain?

How many of us can not only fail at a job but tell the boss to go eff themselves and end up getting hired again? This is essentially what happens every time he does his act like at the GQ awards. Was anyone really offended or does this just create buzz and ratings and for the same things he slagging off?

I hear many people compliment his intelligence. Fair enough, it takes that to be a comedian in many ways. Yet his accent is atrocious and nearly unintelligible especially when he's speaking fast.

Compare what he says in interviews against what he has supposedly written for New Statesmen - it's not the same person. His written pieces are so full of historical extrapolations and sesquipedalian overtures one would think a PhD had written them. For a man who is supposedly of humble origins with no education beyond acting school his vocabulary would be quite remarkable. Did he pick up all these words while spending time as a heroin addict or drinking? Perhaps from spending time in bed with all the women he's philandered?

Many things don't add up in the bigger picture about Brand. We might agree with many of his sentiments and ideas but my concern is that he is being construed as a leader, either by those who admire him or by those who would hold him in a negative light to discredit genuine change.

If he truly is "one of us" all I'm asking is treat him as one of us and hold him in the same regard. If he really is a leader he will have to get in the front and put his butt on the line. Whether Brand's sentiments are genuine or not my fear is that he will be used to discredit any movement to change the status quo.

Real leaders are out there who are far more deserving.
Too bad they're not getting the same time and attention would be my lament.

15 million in the bank? Comedian and actor? Why did he bother with the mask anyway? Surely one of his friends could have painted one on to his face, that way he would have been reconised. I like what he says, but I just have this nagging doubt about controlled opposition. How come he gets onto question time and has interviews were he slags off the system? Who allowed that?
I would love it to be true and that he is for the people.