Jingsamichty

So, Max Mosley & the News of the World...

Is a man allowed a private life...

If you're the president of an international sporting federation?
If your dad was Oswald Mosley?
If you like a bit of S&M?
If you spend a fortune on hookers? (even if you can afford it)
If you (allegedly) like a bit of Nazi role-play?
If you keep this all a secret from your wife?


So far, I'd say yes. Don't agree with it, or endorse it, but I'd still say it's his own private life.

The News of the World however claims it's in the public interest for this to be spread all over the front pages in sordid detail.

Anyone think that this is indeed a matter of public interest?

G77

Does anyone read or worse still, believe what's written in the NOTW?

iaink

The many people who buy the news of the screws for titilation probably do.

Personally, if the plaintiffs are to be believed and there were no Nazi overtones (and thats a big IF under the circumstances), then I dont see it as being relevent to his public job, so no, it wasnt in the public interest.

But on one hand we know the NotW wouldnt blanch at tarting this up as a Nazi sexplay thing even if it wasnt, and on the other hand we have the Mosely family history standing like the elephant in the corner of the room.

Frankly I dont know who to believe, but if it really was all good clean fun, then how come its taken months to come up with a defence strategy? Lets face it, Max has nothing to lose in bringing this defamation case, as he is already seen as pretty much a low life as a result of the coverage...seems like a desperate last gasp strategy to me, but who knows.

I missed all the original coverage, was there anything obviously Nazi about it? Or could it be interpreted more innocently?

R I C H

Here's the BBC's recent report on it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7493311.stm

iaink

Seen the recent stuff...missed (or rather chose not to look at) the original pictures. The few I have seen its hard to know if they were the original ones published in the NotW or some Internet mock up.

Is a grey suit close enough to a SS uniform to make the connection?? Who knows. Speaking German is not yet a crime (although there are perhaps aesthetic reasons to argue that it should be!)

Obviously if you are paying a few grand to some "escort" types to be the victims in this "game", it doesnt take a huge leap of the imagination to see them getting a few hundred grand to lie in court and say there was no Nazi angle, but maybe I'm being too cynical about peoples motivations.

Jingsamichty

I haven't seen any of the original coverage either, just the reportage on the court case.

But even if there was Nazi stuff... even if, in his bedroom, he likes to give it all the SS stuff - I still can't see that publication of this is in the public interest?

Loathsome creep he may certainly be, privileged semi-aristo with a dodgy family history etc etc... but from what very little I've seen, I don't think there is any suggestion that his propriety in his public position has ever been in question.

iaink

Then it would be in the public interest simply because of the family history and because he denies getting off on the Nazi thing (remember who his father is), and that would throw his honesty in other (public) areas into question.

At best it shows a complete lack of judgement about what the reaction would be should word reach the public that the prominent son of a neonazi leader was playing Nazi looking roll playing sexgames...and his judgment is supposed to be why he gets all that F1 money

Jingsamichty

Prince Harry dressed up as a Nazi, and he's got some pretty dodgy nazi-sympathizers in his family history too...

And what happened to your earlier pinko lefty leanings, iain?!!! Surely Mosley could be "rehabilitated"? Does his upbringing count as a traumatic childhood? Is he scarred by his father's beliefs?

Perhaps Mosley shouldn't be 'exposed', he just needs a hug from a social worker and a holiday to CenterParcs.

iaink

Harry had the defence of youth on his side, and was hardly trying to hide his outfit, which was not exactly super controversial for a fancy dress party anyway...it was simply just stoopid...like only teenage boys can do.

Max Mosley is a smart, politically savvy adult, and he displayed poor judgement at best, but thats not really a crime. Is not really a question of rehabilitation...he is the one suing the NotW for defamation of character here, no one has charged him with a crime as far as I' aware.

It is surprising to me that he wasnt voted out of office given his judgement on this issue, but on the the other hand, he has made an awful lot of money for a lot of the smaller Auto clubs, so I suppose they could be forgiven for not wanting to kill the golden goose over one non club related incident.

Now, Ive not seen the video, but surely it will quickly become obvious to the judge whether the nazi thing is true or not, so ultimately this will come down to "was the paper justified in invading his privacy", and that I think should come down to whether whatever he was doing had or could have any impact on his public duties. (Blackmail for example, or is there an element of untruthfulness or hypocrisy stemming from this)

It certainly showed a lack of judgment, but then if it hadnt become public knowledge through the paper that maybe wouldnt be an issue. Has he lied about it? Again, without the intrusion he wouldnt have been in the embarrassing position of having to defend himself, so ultimately it will be interesting to see what comes of this. Does the establishment hate the NotW enough to side with the son of a Nazi I wonder

Jingsamichty

Iain, I just can't get a rise out of you, you're unflappable!! I'd give you karma but I've got to spread it around first.

I do wonder if saying that Mosley has 'public duties' is stretching it a bit... okay, he's President of the FIA (International Federation of Autosport, in French, lest anybody not know who he is) but that is a pretty closed world. I wouldn't equate that role to say, those of Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini or Bernie Ecclestone, for example.

I think it fair to say that Mosley's public profile stems at least in significant part from his father's infamy, rather than from his FIA role.

Therefore, it is disingenuous of the NOTW to claim 'public interest' for this story - his public position is irrelevant to this story. Rather it is purely the titillation factor entwined with his father's Nazi past that drove the story for the NOTW. Then they just had to make it fit the public interest claim.

I agree with you about Mosley's extraordinarily poor judgement, for an apparently political man. Both in his original 'unusual' behaviours, and then in pursuing a public case which is guaranteed to be front page material for weeks. The case itself is car-crash material. Both sides are repulsive, and deserve all the contempt they're throwing at each other.

Biiiiink

Ahh, thanks for that. I thought he was someone from Coronation St.

I know all about Oswald, Diana and the Mitford girls, but have never heard of this one..

ann m

Actually, I think that sums it up quite nicely.

Apparently, in today's court report, evidence was given relating to speaking German (as Iain says, not currently a crime) but it was done to assist in the role playing to make the characters more severe - and that he was 'examined for headlice' amongst other things. Personally, I couldn't give a s**t what he does in his private life - as long as everyone is consenting - but to bring all this up, by either side of the equation makes me a bit queasy

Tangram

Surely paying for hookers is illegal and therefore a criminal offense ergo in the public interest though not my personal interest ?

Must admit to not reading the article nor being aware of the guy's existence until this thread.

dbd33

Not in the UK. Nor, AFAIK, in Canada.

Butch Cassidy

Exactly, paying for sex is NOT the crime. If it was how many husbands\Partners would be Jailed