Limmy Reacts to the Radio 4 Review of his Autobiography

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[@Dave_ja_vu]

There goes Limmy, making his autobiography all about him. The gall of that man

[@scottgall8383]

Wait to you hear mine.

[@Dave_ja_vu]

@@scottgall8383 excellent😆

[@briangordon2955]

And making it linear? Disgrace.

[@underwaterdick]

@@briangordon2955 imagine the disgust when he starts in childhood, progressing to a teenager then ends up talking about adult years. Yuck. Why so linear? Can't he start with his death, then teenage years, then birth and childhood?

[@leesweets4110]

Indeed. In one sentence they say he's arrogant, in the next they say he admits to truths most men would be embarrassed to admit. Which is it? Is he arrogant or is he humble because you cant have it both ways.

[@CammyBouse]

"He has an intelligence of a certain kind" has got to be the most condescending pish I've ever heard.

[@jnicolson865]

Like they're talking about an animal that's figured out how to open a door by pressing down the handle.

[@lordhoot1]

A certain low cunning

[@adventureswithmm]

Me too, smug, patronising bastards

[@mattnorris9152]

"One of the brightest Scots to ever drag himself out of the slums of Glasgow, which I visited once actually, disgusting place"

[@homosexualpanic]

"[C]ondescending pish": welcome to Radio 4

[@factsnorefunds]

“I didn’t sympathise with him because I’m better than him” what a psycho

[@pikpik42]

preach

[@nexviper]

"I don't think he's that well known outside Scotland" Aye well I didn't know Lloyd Cole existed till Limmy brought him up. Now I want to forget.

[@curtismcallister9569]

what a bad start to their podcast lol. limmy is the steel is heavier than feathers guy and the woken up in the middle of night guy. i don't think you could ask to be any more well known to the wider, global, english/meme-speaking community.

[@prinztricky]

im pretty certain more mainland-europeans know limmy than whoever the fuck llody cole is

[@Marko25Polo]

Im Irish and I love Limmy. So their point was bollox to begin with.

[@ironflazambat5815]

Greetings from Florida, from a man doing his best to super-spread Limmy.

[@user-ce1cu5my4j]

Same here lol

[@cartmanofsp]

'''Completely without charm.'' If he tuned into a euro truck stream he'd soon change his mind. Smashing a family of four off the road in a big 18 wheeler is one of the most charming things I've seen

[@SamChaplinify]

A massive loss of life

[@stevep764]

Having a wee game of Ludo

[@FunkyMonkMan]

Stressbusting with Euro Truck was the first video of Limmy's I saw... charmed

[@gr7458]

Police suspect foul play

[@alexharvey7102]

A wee nudge

[@hyperhydra376]

A lot of what they criticised was not about Limmy's book, it was about Limmy's life. They didn't review his book, they just roasted Limmy for 8 minutes.

[@RequestAssassin]

Probably because “intellectual” airheads like them get those sweet sweet endorphins from cutting someone down that they feel safe they never have to encounter.

[@fridajohansson846]

And why would you read an autobiography about a person you're totally uninterested in in the first place. The criticism is so irrelevant

[@garydodd2837]

Yeah i would roast them if i had ever heard of them before...

[@najaneda]

@@fridajohansson846 Do film reviewers only review films they are interested in.

[@fridajohansson846]

@@najaneda wha?

[@BourbonJRA]

“There’s a linearity about it, then I did this, then I did that, then I did this, then I did that” Well, yes. That’s generally how the fucking passage of time works.

[@ericforsyth]

An autobiography doesn't have to be completely linear, though. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong if it is, either

[@theKiwii]

@@ericforsyth I bet if it were episodic or out of order they'd say something like "it is trying to be too obtuse for its own good, often leaving the reader lost and confused by its lack of structure; the reader will only be able to make sense of it if they're already familiar with the author"

[@ericforsyth]

@@theKiwii: You could very well be right, there's often no winning with art critics/reviewers and their prejudgments and biases. I did think Limmy's fellow Scot was complimentary enough, though.

[@MrMyers758]

@@remotefaith it can be

[@Dominic-fd2wz]

It has a linearity of a certain kind

[@Toto69584]

“Intelligence of a certain kind”… that phrase in absolutely soaked in class superiority.

[@sb_dunk]

If you can teach yourself Macromedia Flash, you can teach yourself to be a father. If you can teach yourself to be a father, you can teach yourself to not be selfish. And if you can teach yourself to not be selfish, YOU CAN TEACH YOURSELF TO REPAIR A NAVY HELICOPTER

[@Kazza_8240]

😂

[@_Lapis_Lazuli]

I agree and I would add: If you thought yourself Flash you are Limmy And if you teach yourself just one more thing you are not only better than Limmy, you have now won life, congratulations!

[@Krisdt8]

ikr this is the kind of guy you would punch at a party for being so smug.

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Farther wud be prud

[@JamieRambles]

He probably winches holiday pictures of himself before church.

[@PointlessNihilist]

Classism is one of the few remaining prejudices acceptable to people like this. It’s never overt and explicit, mind you. Always wee sly digs, like ‘intelligence of a certain kind.’

[@HarryRedders]

and you can't just join their club - its rules are inherited not learnt.

[@jnicolson865]

Honestly, I think other prejudices are equally prevalent but (like you say) often not quite explicitly.

[@JamieJacksonati]

Bang on.

[@thesprawl2361]

That was fucking nauseating, that little turn of phrase. Like catching the surface of my thumbnail with the razor. That just comes from a certain kind of callous prick who simpers and saunters through life, never having to apologise for anything, insulated from all their mistakes by the genetic and developmental good luck of having a stable upbringing and a confident, unquestioningly oblivious mind.

[@kingloser4198]

'Of a certain kind' - sort of like a dog dragging its arse on the carpet, funny but annoying.

[@eeeeeee3245]

‘I actually have something in common with Limmy.’ ah, battling struggles with drugs & alcohol? mental health issues? money? violence? any kind of struggle or adversity at all? ‘I taught myself how to build a flash website.’ fuck me

[@trivial50]

its interesting how leftists turn their defects and failures into personality traits

[@LithgowWilson]

LLoyd Coles wikipedia page entry is amazing. "Cole taught himself how to make a flash website, at around the same time as Scottish comedian Limmy.[15]"

[@djapathy8967]

it's not there anymore(

[@RealDwarfChieftain]

@@djapathy8967 Now it says "Lloyd Cole (born 31 January 1961) is an English singer and songwriter and self-taught Macromedia Flash developer of a certain kind known for his role as lead singer of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions from 1984 to 1989, and for his subsequent solo work.[1]"

[@MMedic23]

@@RealDwarfChieftain this is fucking gold

[@baconous689]

@@RealDwarfChieftain It got removed again. I also found some gold from the talk page of the article "Is that why the intro paragraph defined him as a 'self-taught Macromedia Flash developer'? I think whoever edited that in overestimates how impressive it is to learn to do a bit of coding... are we going to list all of his hobbies?"

[@boiledelephant]

@@baconous689 Well, if we don't do it, the man will have to sign back into Wikipedia and do it himself, and he's very busy writing non-stop hit singles.

[@athousandfeethigh]

"I've never read a man before talking about his sexual exploits with such an admission of incompetence and failure." That's it, that's the cover quote for the next edition!

[@RunikaMori]

That just sold the book

[@eriktheranga2410]

Lol that’s awesome

[@eriktheranga2410]

Are you allowed to quote someone in a publication on the cover like that? If you could what would you do?

[@anthonyugarte1072]

@@eriktheranga2410 Yes you can legally quote without compensation since her comments were on a public broadcast and not in a private setting, at least in the US.

[@hectormugwump5530]

Oh good god, please Limmy 🙏

[@joeykickassery]

I looked up who Lloyd cole was and it makes a lot of sense now. He is a forgotten music act from the 90s. If he wrote a memoir it'd be about his blessed middle class upbringing, his shite music and his golf. I can see why he has trouble empathizing with a working class scot who achieved so much on his own

[@user-eg1yu5kx4h]

the way they were both talking about issues that regular working class people face with such disgust in their voices was enough for me to know exactly who they are but ty for this context because it makes so much sense feel like they’re just upset that someone from an entirely different walk of life is more talented endearing real famous loved and intelligent than they are lol

[@HarryRedders]

I reckon Limmy could have him - he's fuck all without the Commotions :)

[@boomtish4520]

Eighties.

[@LiamPorterFilms]

Limmy is working class? He has a working class accent, but that’s about it.

[@BK-hp6fv]

@@LiamPorterFilms has your name always been Porter or did it used to be Smith or something?

[@dylanwilson7544]

This is probably the most anyone's listened to a Radio 4 broadcast in the last 20 years, good on you Limmy for giving them exposure!

[@tgeh448]

I had a similar thought half way through this video: I'm only listening to you 3 wankers because I'm watching Limmy listen to you 😅

[@colonelsanders4006]

You wouldn't believe how popular Radio 4 is with middle class white people.

[@rainbowjo78]

Imagine calling someone’s autobiography self centred while admitting you felt no empathy with him because he’s different to you. The whole thing is disgusting.

[@pendafen7405]

Exactly! Absolutely zero self-awareness. Cannot find the common ground between 'selfish' and 'self-important and self-interested'. You couldn't make it up.

[@rso823]

This feels like a comedy sketch in itself

[@aki-the-gclan9441]

His life is.

[@mattd8725]

No honour amongst men who taught themselves flash.

[@shazbotic]

😂

[@Neuroticmancer]

Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man flash, he’ll write an autobiography

[@TrinaJulianEdwards]

"I taught myself how to be less selfish..." Sure, buddy. I'll just bet you did, since in an 8 minute review, you spent at least half of it talking about yourself. Last time I checked, the autobiography was about Limmy. That crack about "A certain kind of intelligence..." was just sickening. The superiority of these people is staggering. This made me sad and angry at the same time. They didn't even try to understand.

[@fg5852]

I need to read this book. Everything these arseholes said actually just made me want to read it so much. Sounds so honest and genuine.

[@danielcarr1297]

"He has an intelligence....of a certain kind". Fucking hell. He's won Scottish BAFTAS don't you know!

[@yallnwahsdontevendrinkskoo4092]

Only BAFTAs that matter, lad.

[@katiebate8641]

TWO Scottish BAFTAS actually

[@adamlee3333]

It's like they're talking about 'Derek' haha

[@Cactuspractice12]

If it wasnt the for the rp accent, it's a fair point, but the accent makes it sound condescending.

[@PhilosophyofElivagar]

Quite frankly, you can't criticise someone with two ˢᶜᵒᵗᵗᶦˢʰ Baftas!

[@SAM31FW]

A review so scathing, so late into his career, could ruin him. Hope he bounces back from this.

[@Stupoider]

Just a bump in the road...

[@BAReactions]

The way I see it, he's finished. He can't even corner the Elder Scrolls market for his age demographic cause that old lady already does a Skyrim let's play.

[@Steezy93]

FINITO. DONE-ZO. KAPICHE!

[@louisryan]

To be fair, those clowns reviewing books on Radio 4 are among them the most self centred cretins I’ve ever come across. And I listen to that show most days. Sounds like they hadn’t bothered to do even a little research into Limmy.. at one point Lloyd says ‘ I didn’t like the plot’ It’s an autobiography you imbecile!

[@mistypeaks1375]

@@louisryan and "he's too self-centered" like this man never read an autobiography ever 😂

[@j0rdan18]

“I couldn’t empathise with Limmy because…well, I taught myself how to be a father. I taught myself how to not be selfish.” Tell me you don’t understand depression without telling me you don’t understand depression.

[@prinztricky]

must be hard learning how to be a father when you can literally do fuck all for 10 years without ever running out of money for rent, food and commodities. just the sheer safety must be incredible

[@meandkitty8387]

"I taught myself how to be less selfish" says the guy gloating about his own accomplishment while berating someone for writing an autobiography that predictably only talks about the authors life 😭😂

[@fromthedumpstertothegrave3689]

Init. I'm not a father but have/had (way better now after professional help) pretty bad depression for many years and found Limmys book a massively cathartic read. Depression can cause you to act like a massively selfish cunt, you don't mean to but when you place zero value on your own life you can barely comprehend the idea your actions affect other people because you can't see how you're significant enough to affect anyone.

[@jonathanymusic]

all of the things they thought were bad are reasons why I think I would love the book

[@enemystand2981]

Ahaha what a crossover. Love to see it big man

[@NRProductionss]

This actually made me want to buy the book, especially because they were so scathing.

[@johnthomson9614]

@@ULTRAOutdoorsman Yeah, you pretty much put your finger on what bothered me about that guy’s review. People are different, not everyone is lucky enough to have a clean bill of mental health all the time, and it always seems a bit mad when someone doesn’t seem to get that, or even seems proud of their lack of empathy.

[@bufoerectus9170]

@@ULTRAOutdoorsman McAfee holds no future, including his own anymore

[@lnfreeman]

@@johnthomson9614 it actually made me think that the fact that limmy is so truthful without ego is what made him so alien to the guy. That was like the canned response you get from people with some form of disadvantage who try to disparage all other people with their disadvantage that can't pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Identifying with the pathetic requires an uncomfortable amount of humility.

[@nighTmareCSGO]

Great point

[@stephensanderson6386]

A self centered autobiography what next.

[@mxschaefer]

All joking aside, this actually made me really angry. Absolutely dripping with classism for a start, and to criticise someone's autobiography for being self-centred and to then invoke your own personal success as a stick to beat the author with shows an incredible lack of self-awareness imo

[@jrk10]

It annoys me so much that all the points they made are the opposite of what limmy wants. They basically mocked his depression and said that all he wants is attention and sympathy when all he wants is to do comedy and stream games which gives him a break from the world he’s just an ordinary guy doing what he likes

[@chaosincarna]

Does Limmy not talk about his own selfishness in the book? Not classism to bring up a topic mentioned in the material. And his comparison of being able to supersede his own short comings being something that makes him lose touch with Limmy's story of failing to do so, is just a perspective, and fairly common. When you achieve something where others around you fail, sometimes its a more difficult a situation to look back and decipher their ignorance rather than explain your success. Said to someone else: Its a show about opinions of critics. When you are interested in specific styles of writing and not others, you will have a definitive taste. I grew up loving to read poetry and Shakespeare's old English drew me in to reading more, I remember being the only kid in class smiling while we read it out loud, and laughing at jokes no one else got because they were too busy trying to be cool and hate something from a different era. I grew up in a time around people where intelligence was frowned upon. Having answers and making an effort made people look at you sideways. Intellect and wisdom should be valued above all else, because in tandem they create the best version of a person they can be. I see your point, but instead of the posh ideal of villain, I'd say it was very much the opposite more commonly. Having others pull you down like crabs in a bucket so you can't aspire for great things or beyond your baser threshold.

[@yeetwchybaban]

@@chaosincarna ok

[@Muzly]

@@chaosincarna and here you are, doing exactly the same thing these critics are doing. Slagging someone off while bragging about yourself.

[@chaosincarna]

@@Muzly Explaining how bullheaded crowd think, people who thought education wasnt cool enough for them, isn't slagging, it's stating the not so obvious for people who get mad at those in pursuit of academia or haven't achieved that degree thus far. Nerds usually are not the bullies. And it is far more common to tear people down for their interest outside the norm, with the norm being usually hedonism and consumer based idealism. What these critics are doing, is their job. And explaining how they don't understand his point and why. What I explained was that I enjoyed a topic of literature, while all others had bored me. And I was confused why everyone was so almost angry and almost aggressive about having to read it in class. You are doing the same thing that most people do when this mass hysteria. They look at someone with an interest in something considered proper, like, vocabulary, poetry or effort and deem them as uppity. It makes no sense. The classism here is from someone with a chip on their shoulder wanting to throw hate at anyone who has a valid critique.

[@jxp]

Classism is absolutely rife in this nation. Limmy is a genius, an absolute genius, a once in a generation type of comedian who is incredibly versatile. I absolutely understand why he holds his core political views though.

[@143jcm]

The grueling hardships of creating a flash website shouldve humbled him

[@nairbas392]

3:36 “This very long suffering woman called Lynn”. Absolutely priceless reaction from Limmy. First time I watched this I nearly fucking died hearing that

[@shauno2387]

Deserves a clip just on its own. Highlight of the review by a mile.

[@seanicus100]

That was the rudest bit of the whole thing. To speak on another person's behalf saying that they're clearly suffering. I'd be fucking insulted if I were her.

[@user-bp1gx3qt3o]

@@seanicus100 she said long suffering, it’s a figure of speech, still quite rude tho

[@thechosenone589]

Why is he critiquing the book as if its some fictionalised story, like hes complaining about the plot lmao

[@thirstinstud4832]

I was thinking the same thing. Are they upset he hasn’t lived a life they deemed acceptable? Is the point of an autobiography to make you empathizable? Should he have lied? Is his story, or any life story for that matter, unimportant purely because you don’t see eye to eye with it? Very strange criticism.

[@Kazza_8240]

You two summed up my feelings, they seemed a snobby wee book club type, moaning his autobiography was all about 'then I did this, then I did that', isn't that what an autobiography is? Lol, I know, from personal experience and seeing comments on twitch streams, Brian has really helped a lot of people with his book, I've been a fan since the beginning, and Limmy seemed this guy that's so sure of himself, and then he opens up about his depression and feelings, and stuff he's been through, it's something people can identify with, and know it's not just them, and if Limmy used to be fucked up, look at him now, I'm no bein funny, but he is an inspiration. And it might be a Scottish thing, but sometimes talking about it in a jokey way helps you say things better, he jokes about some of the darkest things at times, and it makes me think, what is the point of worrying? Life's always gonnae be shite to some degree, there will always be ups and downs, so why not talk about it light heartedly? It just takes the edge off.

[@lnfreeman]

To be fair, the writing/storytelling technique is exactly what they should be critiquing. That fact they found him an unsympathetic character isn't really, though.

[@googm]

They clearly said that it seemed like he just wrote it on a whim.

[@forestsunset9617]

The point of a good autobiography is to detail your life as honestly as possible. If someone is opening their heart and being brutally honest about themselves you can't turn around and say "I can't relate to you and you have no charm". It's just disrespectful and shows your own ignorance and lack of empathy.

[@mingtooter]

Reminds me of our uni. People would pour their heart and soul into these amazing ideas and build up their projects having never worked that way before, and they'd come along with classical art and literary references and smash fuck out of the whole thing intellectually. Letting you know they're in charge.

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

Limmy is too honest for his own good. People can't handle it. They actually prefer being lied to....I'm not joking.

[@rakino4418]

Limmy doesn't even say anything remotely controversial. He just treats people with empathy. The Jacqueline McCaffrey character is the epitome of this.

[@GenericCoyote]

This has to be parody surely. He's complaining about the plot, self centeredness and linearity of an AUTOBIOGRAPHY ffs 😂

[@maxmcwhirter5456]

I laughed when he literally used the word "plot".

[@joshtheprune]

Autobiographies/biographies still have plots.

[@GenericCoyote]

@@joshtheprune I mean you're right, but in the same way they have 'characters'

[@joshtheprune]

@@GenericCoyote Well whether or not the events you relate are fictional, the plot is the order in which you tell them, what emphasis you put on what, and also how you link them together. The non-fictional aspect is largely just a self-limitation, it doesn't mean that the concept of plot is irrelevant. FYI I also thought that these R4 interviewers were pompous, just not because they criticised the plot

[@GenericCoyote]

@@joshtheprune I know and agree with all this stuff, the joke is in the fact that he's criticising something that Limmy doesn't have control over because it's his LIFE STORY.

[@Daryoon]

"Literature Club members project personal flaws onto innocent Scottish comedian."

[@angrynorway]

“Why am I not sympathising with the guy?” These people are incredible.

[@seanicus100]

"Why am I not sympathizing with this working class person? Must be his fault, not mine."

[@screamingleak3725]

I definitely only read non-linear autobiographies. Start when you're 26, jump back to being 14. All of a sudden you're 52. Turn the page, BAM, 4 years old at Disneyworld.

[@Kenobeansontoast]

They obviously skipped the chapter where he discovered he had the funny bone

[@leonjford]

This is the single most enticing advert for an autobiography I've ever seen. Should take some of the best quotes from here and put them on the front of the book.

[@leonjford]

"In order for you to be able to read the book and get through it, he needs you to like him somewhat. I didn't like him"

[@leonjford]

"I just didn't find the story interesting"

[@leonjford]

"I was revolted by his monumental self centeredness"

[@leonjford]

"There's a linearity about the book which is just tedious"

[@actually-will1606]

“I’ve never read a man before talking about his sexual exploits with such an admission of incompetence and failure”

[@ravingrabbit7995]

Y'know seeing Limmy reacting like this does put a hole in my eye he looked like he was about to tear up like god damn I can relate with this. Wish him the best and continue his work

[@ErokLobotomist]

"I don't think he's that well known outside Scotland", Cheers from the West Coast of Canada Limmy! I try and expose as many people as I can to your comedy! It's funny listening to University Educated people describing a normal human being lol Love you Limmy!

[@r_bear]

Aye, cheers from Illinois!

[@DysprosiumJudas]

they got a reaction out of you, you've got to give them that

[@danielsmith997]

Lol

[@malango255]

haha! XD

[@davidwinters7128]

Wouldn't be against Limmy chasing these three into a graveyard tbh.

[@djapathy8967]

ahahaha mate, i actually laughed out loud at that!

[@_banja]

I found myself unable to sympathise. When I was feeling down I would simply visit Papa's manor for a weekend in the country, where we would laugh at poems, and drink fine wine as the sun descended. But seriously. These people don't see their own flaws because they are in a such a disconnected bubble.

[@alfuncoot4887]

just gotta say, I read your book, and I loved it. you aren't asking for sympathy, but from people with a brain stem who have gone through any sort of strife or suffer from mental health issues, you garner empathy, and the ability to understand that everything you've faced has been a challenge you overcame and continue to overcome, and, if anything, it is inspiring for people who continue to struggle and worry about their worth. your book was a difficult and wonderful ride, and I thank you for writing it and putting it into the world!

[@GitsumSaus]

I only just realised after years, that Limmy was the window cleaner in IT Crowd

[@docstranger9520]

Funny how that bloke brought it all back to himself in his ‘review’. “I couldn’t empathise with Limmy.”, “I also made a website”, “I learned how to be unselfish” etc etc. Classic Narcissistic thought process but then that’s a given with most people on radio or TV. In the words of Charlie Brooker ‘they wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire’.

[@foxyrocks777]

Honestly Charlie brooker is as bad as the rest of them! Has no idea he’s become an awfully middle class tv personality

[@sauercrowder]

I couldn't empathize with Limmy cause I'm popular with the ladies and great at sex

[@glmoorer]

Not really how it came across to me.

[@cat3584]

@@glmoorer how did it come across?

[@AlpacaFiasco]

@@foxyrocks777 I think he's quite aware of it, from wiki "Brooker left the "Screen Burn" column in 2010. In the final column, he noted how increasingly difficult he found it to reconcile his role in mainstream media and TV production with his writing as a scabrous critic or to objectively criticise those he increasingly worked and socialised with."

[@shuckeruedwards2879]

Limmy came on my radar about 10 years ago, and I was instantly enamoured with how relatable his comedy was. There is a lot of comedy that focuses on the working class in Britain, but Limmy's Show is one of a very few that actually depicts things through the lens of experience. Little Britain is an example of a similar show, only written from a vastly different perspective, and without any of the life experience. We see the same themes of council estates, drug use, poverty, and domestic breakdown between the two, but a brief look at the cast of characters reveals just how different the respective creator's perceptions of the working class are. Limmy's financially struggling, mentally affected, and often mundane cast stands in heavy contrast to the lazy, dimwitted, and exploitative cast of Little Britain, and for a very clear reason - while one is based in reality, the other is based in fantasy. David Walliams and Matt Lucas (the creators of Little Britain) have as much first hand experience with the working class as you or I do with dragons and elves. We don't see real characters here, but media built stereotypes anthropomorphised in order to confirm wide spread biases across the UK. For anyone who has lived in these worlds though, the characters are anything but relatable, only recognisable by vague memories of headlines in the Daily Mail. With the above comparison in mind, it makes perfect sense that these three presenters - in some capacity colleges of David and Matt of Little Britain - would be unable to attach to the autobiography. From their perspective, Limmy's experiences feel almost fictitious, nonsensical, or even accusatory. They directly challenge the stereotypes that have been built up by their family and friends, and considering their contributions to said stereotype this 'real look' at life actually challenges their work as well - it directly contradicts their impressions of the working class which they make their bread by sharing. In much the same way that we could sit and debate the true nature of Narnia and never reach a real consensus, our presenters believe that there is still room for discussion, and that their interpretations can stand next to limmy's own. For any onlookers though the elephant in the room is blindingly obvious - just as paper beats rock every time, 1st-hand experience will always beat 2nd-hand hearsay. To an extent it feels like limmy's entire creative career has been a kind of autobiography of sorts. For a lot of us this meant that we could relate with his content in a way we couldn't with a lot of other stuff, making us enjoy it all the more. However, almost by definition, the less you can relate to something the more perspective you can gain from trying to understand it. The fact that the presenters can't relate with Limmy on any level is a failing in the system, but the choice to reject any form of new insight is a failing in their characters.

[@samward1863]

Very well written/said.

[@NAB001]

Excellent analysis, thanks.

[@rorybrady6811]

Super solid take!

[@Scott-bh2qb]

Amazing

[@cragwaa1453]

Really good take, excellent read. It made me chuckle that Limmy hasn’t ‘liked’ this a wee bit though.

[@grantmelville263]

I listened to the audiobook recently - I particularly enjoy audiobooks of autobiographies read by the author. I found it horrifying, fascinating, and also deeply moving. Limmy, if you read this, I salute you. And even if you don't, I still salute you! I can empathise with some of your struggles, and see a kindred spirit in you. In the age of social media when everyone is scrambling constantly to present a picture-perfect image of themselves, you've been brutally honest. We are all imperfect, and many of us struggle, and it's good to be reminded that others are struggling, and therefore none of us are alone.

[@derekconnor2753]

This snobbish nonsense was good enough reason for me to go straight to Amazon and buy your autobiography. Looking forward to it! Cheers, Limmy! Keep up the good work.

[@scottduffy6654]

It’s a very good read. I would assume those of a higher class wouldn’t understand limmys mundane life style and struggles that they couldn’t possibly go through

[@user-eg1yu5kx4h]

this review could just be broken down into “i don’t understand working class people when i was down or had a character flaw that a lot of people experience i just threw money and structure at it” the fact she had disgust at discussions of su!cide pretty much shows why it’s so necessary for us to talk about it bc cvnts will always treat it like it’s something to be ashamed of ??? we already feel ashamed how is that helping anyone

[@prinztricky]

But why would you want to kill yourself, just buy a couple therapists, and a cottage in the countryside and youll feel alright after a 3 month vacation

[@harlek1149]

If you ever wanted for British people to gain revolutionary class consciousness you should beam radio 4 into everyone’s home and car with no option to turn it off.

[@georgemulford2910]

Radio 4 and the BBC in general turn my stomach

[@Gun_Metal_Grey]

Best comment here so far

[@pendafen7405]

Well there's 5 Live. And Radio 3 isn't too bad, they sometimes have LMC musicians, singers, conductors and directors on who talk like normal people without pretension. The rest of the BBC stations on radio & TV can do one though.

[@BritainsAyahuascaChurch]

You're giving the British people as a mass far too much credit

[@trivial50]

true, its pure leftism.@@georgemulford2910

[@BadKarmaXx]

this is like a scene from The Boys, when someones talking shit about homelander and you see homelanders ego crumble

[@PhilBradshaw90]

I loved the book and identified a lot with what Limmy was saying about his life and feelings with depression/alcoholism. This is presumably why I like Limmy's humour so much too. I think the radio 4 crowd just come from a different, very upper middle class planet.

[@fcawley2042]

That Lloyd Cole is fluent in speaking out of his arse

[@BiscitTheThird]

You can really tell some people have never had to deal with mental health problems in their life and how little they understand of it. Even besides that though, saying "I got good at something, why can't someone else do it as easy as me?" then having the gall to say someone else is self centered?

[@aim9491]

Damn, summed it up nicely.

[@theKiwii]

I wouldn't say these people don't have any mental health problems because they're showing clear symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. It's just that society actively enables and supports them in their ways.

[@prinztricky]

Modern society is built in a way in which almost anyone but the very top of income (and thereby security) will experience some form of mental health problem or disorder. Humans havent evolved to live in a high-tech society as we have achieved, were probably at least 1 million years ahead of evolution.

[@ste3179]

This book is all killer and especially the audiobook version where limmy reads it himself since I didn’t read it in my head. it’s dead funny and serious and honest and makes me laugh out loud literally.

[@AHappyChange]

I found the description of Depression to be one of the realest, most recognisable I'd read/heard. So much of this book resonated with me and whats going on in my own brain. Mad that these reviewers can describe someone writing a Autobiography as self-centered whilst simultaneously trying to mitigate someone else's experience of life with anecdotes about their own lives and how they are more successful. These people showed zero understanding of the complexities of mental health. I learned Flash around 2000 and when I saw my GP years later to ask for an antidepressant prescription, I wasn't quizzed on my ActionScript knowledge.

[@HamishSaks]

"I thought watching KZbin videos of Limmy would be cheating". Researching who you're reading about is considered cheating? I'm gonna go read Alex Fergusons autobiography but no watch a single Man Utd Match. That's Cheating.

[@googm]

"This is me, I was useless sexually" - Limpy

[@FensFirewood]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@thesolidsalamander6527]

Their commentary was so vapid. The autobiography is there for people who want to know more about limmy , and I love understanding the person behind comedy, that’s very much a reflection of themselves and their thoughts. Just the idea that someone had a song stuck in their head and so they had to write a sketch around it. Or just the way someone can write comedy in such a way to make people get into a head space you found yourself in long ago, that people don’t seem to get. I really love that shit

[@aarononeill3]

This is the first video i've seen of you Limmy. Never heard of you before, but this makes me want to read your story. The radio review distinct lack of empathy and understanding of what they are reviewing is shocking. It's one man's life story, his experience, there are no right or wrong answers and I respect your courage and authenticity in writing this book. You are a hero!

[@spongekiller178]

So they read an autobiography about someone they have no clue about and they expect not to be bored? Autobiography's are hardly entertaining unless that person is a role model to you or an inspiration and you want to learn about them, or if they are a huge historical figure of course. The fact they said Limmy had no reason to make a memoir is ridiculous. It's like they're saying Limmy's whole life was basically nothing and no one cares, they sound like assholes.

[@LiamGervaise]

I can't comprehend how you can read an autobiography about someone you don't know and then complain when you have zero feeling or connection to the person just bizarre

[@sauercrowder]

Well if it's any consolation, they asked themselves whether that was the right decision before ultimately deciding it should stand on its own legs. They have an intelligence, of a certain kind

[@anvilbrunner.2013]

Smells like classism. Most autobiographies are sequential. How snobs ever imagined they would could or should relate is laughable. I'd be glad they were unable.

[@whenwewereseventeen]

Yep, "intelligence of a certain kind" absolutely reeks of classism.

[@yoosh9034]

Classism is right. It’s like they’re aliens observing and discussing from afar the activity of some lower being.

[@trachtaire]

100%. The working class are "quaint", their ways have "a certain charm", but only when the snobs view them from down their noses. Otherwise they can't stand them.

[@cnglight]

"[...] He's not sophisticated in some ways" is a thinly veiled way of saying "not middle class enough" in the UK. It's textbook classism.

[@aidanglass7440]

Heaaaavy Tories

[@sleepyyfoxx7041]

I'm an American so a lot of the geographical subtleties in the book were lost on me but I'm also someone who has dealt with a lot of mental health issues and so I was able to relate with a lot of the more emotional parts of the book. I'm also someone who wasn't in a particularly affluent situation growing up and felt like a lot of the parts about his emotions as a child up through his teenage years and especially issues with substance abuse were very relatable for me. I think the issue with these people reviewing the book is that they've grown up in a rather posh situation where they didn't have the same kind of struggle and if they did there were people to provide the help they needed. They seem to lack the empathy to truly relate to someone like Limmy. Also, the complaints about the book being all about him and linear seem kind of strange considering it was an autobiography lol.... I personally really appreciate Limmy sharing his experiences and making me feel like a lot of the emotions I felt and feel are actually normal when my whole life I have wondered if other people feel this different from "the norm."

[@tomsimpson5449]

The BBC is full of people like this. Limmy has more intellect, insight and integrity than any of them.

[@eldaytripper2]

Limmy is so good at acting that you can never tell if his reaction is serious or not.

[@Youcannotfalter]

He has said before he doesn't even know when he's serious or not.

[@jezzmaninjapan]

I think usually it has to be the other way around: first you get interested in a person, then you read their autobiography. Not have some little arsehole bookclub meeting where you go "let's see if this is any good". Ah well, just some patter I suppose.

[@nighTmareCSGO]

Yep

[@HaneeFannee]

That's how every single normal person approaches autobiographical work. They already have an interest in the person, like them and want to know more about their life. It's only for the sake of conjuring up book reviews does anyone read an autobiography without knowing or liking the person already, and at that point they're just having to do whatever they need to in order to keep themselves in a job. It's completely without merit or reason.

[@JustJokesTV]

Limmy's one of my fav comedians. He willingly endured a scathing review by people we will never remember, and posted it online. Absolute legend!

[@redrizzla1989]

But if you've grown up around violence, its probably going to appear in your autobiography 😂 such a priveleged comment from the lady.

[@kirby118]

Poor lad, he'll never recover from this one...

[@oscarsandarlosfilmsandmore2572]

I imagine Lloyd Cole spends his time annotating the obituary columns with a felt pen jotting down... "I've done that..." "what a doddle" "well we've all given birth to twins" " not sure if i care about this dead chap" "i wonder why he bothered dying probably had nothing better to do"

[@Thompson8200]

I imagine he's getting rather tired of each obituary featuring deaths in a linear fashion

[@CPSPD]

@@Thompson8200 fucks sake why are they writing an obituary for them after they've died? its all a bit too chronological, this happened then that happened then they died. should have written it at their birth or at prom night.

[@mollycuddle9990]

Limmy, I can’t believe what I just heard. Just sneering. Don’t take notice. No one has a plot for their life, surely?? I’ve never had one anyway. I think you’re awesome, you be you. Sending a hug ❤️🙋🏻‍♀️ xxx

[@MissFeline]

It’s so hard to sit and listen to people criticising you, especially in a personal sense, when you feel misunderstood it’s even worse, well done Limmy for being who you are, sod them💛

[@cheekybadger84]

I read Limmy's book and honestly, it was everything I'd hoped it would be. I cheered, I cried, I stood and cheered. I fist pumped the air. I'm so proud of him.... GAH!

[@dead_yellow]

the crux of the book really is macromedia flash ability

[@micu1544]

He's a man of many talents is Limmy

[@theKiwii]

what a future-proof skill to have

[@jameswhee]

I heard this as it went out and actually thought "I hope Limmy doesn't hear this" ...oof

[@laurenhook1547]

This made me so upset watching limmys reaction to them basically mocking his entire life and his own experiences. He deserves better

[@Guerillatoker]

One thing that irked me regarding the "taught myself flash" part of the review (ignoring the absurdity of that relating to life skills) is that Limmy never says he couldn't learn how to raise his child or be selfless, he details his difficulty in going through that process. That is the interesting part of a story too: the difficulties faced in confronting conflicts, especially conflicts within characters themselves. Far more interesting than "Then I had a kid, and became the best dad ever."

[@aidanlynn]

"...almost revolted by his monumental self-centredness" It's an autobiography? I had the pleasure of meeting Limmy at a charity do, he was suprisingly down to earth and very funny but I was almost revolted by his monumental self-centredness.

[@faboolean7039]

Was the charity a charity for Limmy?

[@lildink9529]

@@tiotom9217 agreed

[@koolyman]

lol

[@Fabianwew]

Many celebrity's autobiographies are ghost written these days, making them have less of that classic memoir feel.

[@pocketblue]

ROFLMAO

[@tecnispeedfight]

Limmy is one of the most fascinating characters out there. And he makes flash homepages.

[@bobbydigitales]

Bought the book based on this video.

[@ChorltonOutlaw]

This is absolute gold

[@adudefromtheukvideos]

“I do have something in common with Limmy… I also brushed my teeth with my own spunk and tweeted the video” 🪥

[@Jordanskiy]

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions is the answer to the question: "What if The The were shite?"

[@joedoe783]

They've turned the book against me.

[@ellamaeve9685]

I found this genuinely upsetting to listen to, so unnecessarily personal and cruel and patronising. Ugh.

[@mitchOrr1]

The Tory way.

[@samg1879]

I get it's an autobiography, but they talk of charm, intelligence and decency while at the same time being mentally incapable of critiquing a book without attacking the author in such personal and vile ways. This guy purposely stopped himself from YouTubing Limmy and then claimed that he couldn't connect with Limmy because he doesn't know him. What..? Isn't the reason you read an autobiography to learn about someone that you're already interested in? Who the hell wants to read about the life of a complete random? Lastly, he criticises Limmy for his apparent "self obsession?" (something like that, I can't be arsed to go back) but then proceeds to pat himself on the back for making a website and being a dad. Who the hell is this guy? I hope he isn't being paid to review these books, what the hell does he think an autobiography is? It's like he's comparing the life of Limmy to Harry Potter and then complaining it isn't as entertaining. Piss poor research from this guy.

[@acerimmer2000]

"patronising" Is bang on the money there. It's one of the reasons do not listen to people like that.

[@Kazza_8240]

@@samg1879 👏🏻

[@iamhocus]

Same, it’s a great read to be honest.

[@kacakacamu]

Last comments from that guy was ridiculous, i was skeptical whole review that comment sealed the deal. That guy is clearly lacking empathy. I mean you don't have to have same experiences with some to have sympathy for them. Narcissistic pricks

[@squid1481]

But he learned how to made a website

[@whatisthisthing7465]

This sounds like a limmy sketch condescending book review.

[@JenifAR87]

I am going to buy your autobiography right now. For one reason - I like your style of comedy and always have done, from the early days when I first saw your stuff. Much love.

[@mpchmr1317]

“Not doing anything right now” just entertaining over 3000 every day being a hero

[@seosamhrosmuc]

They never mentioned the two Baftas!

[@weswheel4834]

Yeah, but tbf, they were Scottish Baftas.

[@8300dvo]

"should a book need you to know the author?" I think an autobiography might a little yeah bud.

[@TEAMRONALDO1]

"Intelligence of a certain kind" is such an underminding comment

[@jamesloganhart]

But who buys an autobiography of someone they don't know. I wouldn't walk into a bookshop and pick up a random book about someone I don't give a shit about? Unless you're a reviewer obviously but then you'd do a bit of research, but this guy felt 'torn' searching up a youtube video on the guy he was reading about so why should we give a shit.

[@Kazza_8240]

Exactly, his opinion doesn't matter if Limmy didn't matter enough to know about before reading it

[@redfmrules]

I'd love to see the website Lloyd Cole made. Bet it was shite.

[@pali2944]

it was really strange to listen to a review that is so much on the other side than I am. it sounded like when your parents talk about a friend of yours they don't know shit about and you just feel this anger and terrible injustice

[@etymonlegomenon931]

"There's a linearity about the book, which I found... tedious" Digging deep to give the book the most robust critique you can, aye?

[@nicoreuel2092]

I haven’t even read the book yet i still feel cut by this discussion

[@nighTmareCSGO]

Read it, I found it brilliant. Always come back to it and you can actually get some pretty good advice for it if you relate to him.

[@c.cooper6000]

I found it hard to put down. They're right in that he doesn't ask for sympathy which to me shouldn't be seen as a negative. It's very brutal and very honest and may cause unease but isn't that Limmy through and through?

[@Mynamejeff666]

Witnessed this live on my drive to work, nearly crashed said car on the way to work after hearing the conclusion of the other guy

[@thesecondshambler]

These are the exact kind of people I spend my life avoiding.

[@jeremyfisher8512]

radio hosts read an autobiography of a guy and find that he is in fact just a guy like the rest of us and is absolutely devastated that he isn't some knight in shining armor, but a good comedian and funny internet man.