You gotta see English crime. It's hilarious, you don't know if you're reading the front page or the comic section over there. I swear to God. I read an article front page of the paper one day, in England, 'Yesterday, some Hooligans knocked over a dustbin in Shaftesbury.' ...Wooooo. 'The hooligans are loose! The hooligans are loose! ...What if they become ruffians? I would hate to be a dustbin in Shaftesbury tonight. (to the tune of 'Behind Blue Eyes' by The Who) No one knows what it's like... to be a dustbin... in Shaftesbury... with hooligans...'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hicks satirizes the sensationalism of English crime reporting over trivial incidents.
- In plain terms
- He makes fun of how the news treats minor crimes like dustbin knock-overs as major events.
- What can you take from it?
- Question the media's tendency to exaggerate minor news stories.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much news is actually important?
- Why do trivial stories get attention?
Another view
Some crime reporting aims to inform rather than just entertain or alarm.
More from Bill Hicks
That's why my girlfriend and I broke up: she wanted kids, and I : well, she wanted kids. [laughs] I had no idea her philosophy was that flawed. She goes, 'Woul…
Permalink to quote #1 I got to see, while I was over there [England] footage of the Rodney King trial, which I had never seen while I was here. I saw footage over there of the Rodne…
Permalink to quote #3 'You ever notice that everyone who believes in creationism looks really unevolved? Eyes real close together, big furry hands and feet. 'I believe God created m…
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
Europe has a press that stresses opinions; America a press, radio, and television that emphasize news.
James RestonJames Reston quote #1 There are a lot of people who think our job is to reassure the public every night that their home, their community and their nation is safe. I don't subscribe …
Peter JenningsPeter Jennings quote #2 People are always dying in the Times who don't seem to die in other papers, and they die at greater length and maybe even with a little more grace.
James RestonJames Reston quote #2