Someone needs re-branding

I don’t know who gets paid what and quite frankly I couldn't care less. This just isn't about money. I’m not one to take the moral high ground, but certain moral codes are based on simple decency. How’s it right for our society to preach the message of and to expect common courtesy and respect on one hand, whilst at the same time conveying the complete opposite to millions of listeners on BBC radio 2?

How many times do we hear? “The kids now days have got no respect” OK, some haven’t. But neither have some adults. Maybe it’s about time we look a little closer to home, and then ask why on earth should kids? We have role models advocating (at least by their actions) abusive malicious law breaking behaviour as the way forward. The way forward for whom or for what exactly? It seems for their professional careers. If that’s right then what a very sad state of affairs.

Who remembers happy slapping? Someone becomes the unfortunate victim of a prank (mostly violent) recorded on the video player of a mobile phone, occasionally turning up on YouTube. Sound familiar? Not nice and not nice being played out on the radio either. Don't we have laws to protect us against that kind of thing? Err, yes we do!

As for bringing back old school core values etc; old school or new school, what’s the difference? It’s not that hard to refrain from being utterly offensive to people around us; and surely lessons in respect are not exclusive to kids. Jonathan Ross is 47 years old. Russell Brand is in his early 30's. They could certainly do with a crash course on how to win friends and influence people.

It's a great shame; Jonathan's got a cheeky style that does sometimes work. But he's certainly dropped the ball on this one - as though he’s reverted to being twelve years old, egged on by his little buddy in the playground.

Russell Brand doesn't take himself too seriously. That's pretty evident. He obviously doesn't have that much respect for himself either. The way I see it, if anyone goes that far to cause so much offense and upset to others, then they probably don’t have or even wish any respect in return. After all, we get back what we put out, even Russell Brand. He'll know all too well from his own dark past what it means to cause real pain to people around him. Maybe he's also regressed, at least emotionally. Maybe he has a really low opinion of himself. Either way, he needs to stop playing out his sick thinking to a nationwide audience. It’s not just his life at stake. It's wrong that anyone in such a privileged position should be permitted to influence so many others in such a negative way.

Do as I do - Not very complex is it? But nonetheless fundamental to role models, mentors and mentees everywhere.