Gail Trimble and Dumb Britain

[callmemadam]

Congratulations to Gail Trimble *and her team* on winning University Challenge. I was astonished to hear that far from being praised for her success, the poor girl has come in for a load of abuse. Isn’t it depressing that people still feel threatened by a clever woman? This seems symbolic of the anti-aspirational attitudes found everywhere today. OK, Ms Trimble comes from a supportive middle class home and has had educational advantages. We should be saying, ’Let’s try to give more people those benefits’ but instead the attitude is, ‘Let’s bring her down!’ It’s a far cry from the Mechanics’ Institutes and Workers’ Educational Societies of old. Eheu!

Comments

[lethe1]

I have watched UC on and off over the years, and started to watch the remainder of this series after reading dovegreyreader's admiring post (http://dovegreyreader.typepad.com/dovegreyreader_scribbles/2009/01/a-day-at-the-laces.html).

Gail Trimble didn't seem smug to me at all, she came across as a very nice person.

I'm surprised that those haters even watch UC, it doesn't seem like a quiz they would appreciate. It's all sour grapes, I suppose.

Exciting finale by the way, I thought at first Manchester would stay ahead, but Corpus Christi came back splendidly. A deserved win!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised that those haters even watch UC
Quite. That sneering remark quoted by girlyswot about being 'academically booksmart' says it all.