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Thread: About 20 years ago I was invited to give the Prince Philip lecture at the Royal Society of Arts. I chose "reasons for environmental optimism" as my topic.
At the end, Prince Philip chaired a lively question session...
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At the end, Prince Philip chaired a lively question session...
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A man from Greenpeace put up his hand: "There's so much wrong with this lecture that I don't know where to start."
"Well, you've only got one minute, I'm afraid", said Prince Philip to a ripple of laughter.
The man then made his points for about 2 minutes, uninterrupted.
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"Well, you've only got one minute, I'm afraid", said Prince Philip to a ripple of laughter.
The man then made his points for about 2 minutes, uninterrupted.
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The next day a journalist from a big newspaper called me and said:
"We're running a story about how Prince Philip was very rude to a man from Greenpeace at a lecture at the RSA yesterday. Apparently, you were there. Can you confirm this?"
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"We're running a story about how Prince Philip was very rude to a man from Greenpeace at a lecture at the RSA yesterday. Apparently, you were there. Can you confirm this?"
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I replied: "Not only was I there, I was giving the lecture, and no he was not rude. He was polite."
"That's not what we've heard. We have a source who says he was rude."
"Well your source is wrong. He was not a bit rude."
"Well, we are running the story anyway."
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"That's not what we've heard. We have a source who says he was rude."
"Well your source is wrong. He was not a bit rude."
"Well, we are running the story anyway."
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"In that case," I said, "I will call the editor of your newspaper right now and tell them that you are running a story you know to be false."
"Oh, so what is your version of events?"
They did run a story but much toned down and with no mention of rudeness.
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"Oh, so what is your version of events?"
They did run a story but much toned down and with no mention of rudeness.
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Ever since, I have taken with a pinch of salt any newspaper story about Prince Philip being rude. It became a media narrative that distorted reporting.
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