tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1392211719163936358.post-88554313917791049982008-01-03T13:36:00.000Z2008-01-03T15:37:09.379Z2008-01-03T15:37:09.379ZFormer MP Matthew Parris caused outrage in his Times column last week by suggesting that cyclists should be beheaded. Under a headline reading "What's smug and deserves to be decapitated?", he wrote "A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire across country lanes to decapitate cyclists". He commented that cyclists have "brutish disregard for all other road users". <br /><br />After cyclist organisations had complained he later printed an apology, saying that he meant it humorously, but had made a misjudgement.<br /><br />I too find it outrageous. Outrageous that he has decided to apologise for offending the obviously frail sensibilities of this arrogant bunch. There's a sort of sense of self fulfilling prophecy about the number of complaints received from this unsocial group, and I find it disgusting that Parris has backed down over an article which was so obviously designed to be humorous.<br /><br />What's the point of The Times giving column inches to someone who runs for cover when one of the most basic of journalistic duties is challenged - that of creating outrage through humour.Charles Lettermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12154962418772628193noreply@blogger.com3