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History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 12:42:07 PM

Title: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 12:42:07 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/05/the-guardian-view-on-roman-britain-a-constantly-shifting-picture
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Jim Webster on November 06, 2021, 12:54:03 PM
Quote from: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 12:42:07 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/05/the-guardian-view-on-roman-britain-a-constantly-shifting-picture

Interesting. I thought the phrase, " The only way to "know" about Roman Britain is to hold hypotheses and theories lightly and gently, ready for them to be revised in the face of new ideas and facts: " was an excellent summation :)
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: DougM on November 06, 2021, 01:05:21 PM
If it's as ill-informed as their piece on Culloden, it won't be worth reading.
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 01:56:22 PM
Nothing fairer than writing off something you haven't read just because you don't like another piece by a different author (in, technically, a different newspaper - the Culloden piece is under the Observer rubric).
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Imperial Dave on November 06, 2021, 02:03:39 PM
I'm with Jim in that the summary statement wasnt a bluster or a fanfare but a useful position that sums it up nicely
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: DougM on November 06, 2021, 03:37:10 PM
Quote from: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 01:56:22 PM
Nothing fairer than writing off something you haven't read just because you don't like another piece by a different author (in, technically, a different newspaper - the Culloden piece is under the Observer rubric).

I did read it Duncan. I was just having a crack at their (and yes, Guardian and Observer are supposedly separate publications..) Culloden piece. Editorial oversight has really fallen away in recent years. Which is tragic given how famous the Grauniad was for typos in the time (40+ years), i have been a reader.
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 04:29:11 PM
Quote from: DougM on November 06, 2021, 03:37:10 PMI did read it Duncan.

OK. I didn't take "It won't be worth reading" to imply that.

Off topic, but what's wrong with the Observer's Culloden piece?
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Mark G on November 06, 2021, 05:51:37 PM
I guess Jim is still hoping the other side can win, and doesn't like being reminded they didn't
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 08:26:15 PM
Quote from: Mark G on November 06, 2021, 05:51:37 PM
I guess Jim is still hoping the other side can win, and doesn't like being reminded they didn't
I guess you don't actually mean Jim?
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Jim Webster on November 06, 2021, 09:10:52 PM
Quote from: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 08:26:15 PM
Quote from: Mark G on November 06, 2021, 05:51:37 PM
I guess Jim is still hoping the other side can win, and doesn't like being reminded they didn't
I guess you don't actually mean Jim?

Probably not but I'm a husband and used to being in the wrong  ;)
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: DougM on November 06, 2021, 10:11:31 PM
Quote from: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 04:29:11 PM
Quote from: DougM on November 06, 2021, 03:37:10 PMI did read it Duncan.

OK. I didn't take "It won't be worth reading" to imply that.

Off topic, but what's wrong with the Observer's Culloden piece?
Hi Duncan -  whole range of things, starting with ignoring previous Jacobite wars, the myth about the special bayonet training, conflating battlefield combat casualties with killing the wounded and fugitives. It's essentially written by someone who learned their Jacobite history from 1950s textbooks. It's rubbish.
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Duncan Head on November 06, 2021, 11:04:40 PM
I see. Can;t say I entirely agree, though, but thanks.
Title: Re: Guardian editorial piece on Roman Britain
Post by: Nick Harbud on November 07, 2021, 08:49:38 AM
Quote from: DougM on November 06, 2021, 03:37:10 PM
Editorial oversight has really fallen away in recent years. Which is tragic given how famous the Grauniad was for typos in the time (40+ years), i have been a reader.

Reading the footnote on the mix-up between Woodchester and Wotton-under-Edge, it would appear that there are some journalistic traditions one can still rely upon.

:P