Sep 6, 2023·edited Sep 6, 2023Liked by NE - Naked Emperor Newsletter
In Fred Dibnah, the BBC thought they had found a quirky northern working class chap.
Little did they know how incredibly intelligent and talented he was. HIs knowledge of historic buildings and architecture and engineering was staggering. It can be seen in his later series when he is shown to be far more erudite, with far more depth of knowledge, than the many professors that he meets.
A great example of how the pussified woke useful idiots have created a micro sensitivity to feelings and risk. They produce nothing yet take for granted the effort of others who provide to make their livelihood of pushing ones and zeros around in cyber space possible. The irony of claiming overpopulation is destroying the planet while creating mountains of policies and laws to remove all risk of harm in every aspect of human endeavor. Doublespeak abounds in 2023.
I've heard people speak of the "postindustrial age". The fact is, we have more industry than ever. It's just that fewer people work there. In spite of my college degree, I worked in the skilled trades. It's sad that there are people who are entirely clueless as to where all their stuff comes from. Yet, they think they are the indispensable ones.
I’m also an American, but I have a fondness for England, so much I eventually got a PhD in British literature. Reading this account makes me wonder if the Naked Emperor is actually a writer by trade … beyond Substacks!
He is without a doubt, a hero. The phrase 'salt of the earth' just doesn't cut it. While the chimney stuff was superb, it was his engineering skill, particularly with his steam-driven traction engines. If a part was not available - which was a regular occurrence - he simply made it from scratch. Nothing phased him. He was a true engineer!
This brought to mind a friend of my dad's Rick Lohr who worked with International Chimney. They've been contracted to move lighthouses when erosion threatens them.
Thank you for presenting Mr. Dibnah's work. I'm terrified of ladders, but to hear such common sense and offhanded ingenuity in a language remotely resembling my own? Well, height didn't seem so much of a problem.
I'm a little surprised by this romanticizing of what for those much unluckier than Fred Dibnah often resulted in a family impoverished by the death or crippling of a wage earner; by children's growing bodies deformed by factory labor, etc. etc.
There must be balance in all things, a recognition that foolish safety regulations cause equivalent harm to entirely absent safety regulations.
For every Fred Dibnah there are ten who climbed their last chimney very much sooner than they intended and not as they intended.
You are born and after a while you die. Various things happen in the intervening period. Maybe ten of eleven chimney climbers did die but the mentality that led them to make the climb is the same as the attitude that got humanity out of the cave and hunted down a bit of meat to eat.
Bugger balance humanity is about taking chances with guts and a sod it all attitude at times.
I speak as a toxic male who has experienced some degree of danger and risk of injury during my working life who has worked alongside real men and been proud to do so and maybe it is worth romanticising all of this just a bit. Why not?
For every VC that was won there were dozens of other unrecognised poor sods who acted bravely but this does not devalue the VC.
It pains me to also note having lived and worked in Bolton, that he was a bully and treated both wives terribly. There was also strong suspicion of fraud and tax evasion, not a little, not taking advantage of the weaknesses in the law, but a lot!
Makes me think of Rob Roy, how Liam Neeson's character was portrayed as just ever so flawless and perfect, and how that made me want to root for the evil weasel unattractive villain. Maybe this zeitgeist around delegitimizing anyone, in fiction or life, who has flaws, comes from people not reading books as children or as adults. Characters without flaws are beyond boring, and you know there must be a Dorian Gray picture in the closet anyway, and it may be, in some inexplicable, unpredictable sense, that living people's flaws are deeply entwined with their most heroic or brilliant selves. This addiction to outing of what is imperfect, like it's a big iconoclastic revelation, is beyond boring too.
Why you felt it necessary to post your comment is bizarre, and it appears to be based on speculation, gossip, and suspicion. The article isn’t saying he was a saint and focuses on his professional life and TV career. You might want to consider taking a more balanced approach next time. People, and often those that are outstanding in particular fields or endeavours, are flawed. Get over it.
Why you felt it necessary to post your response is more bizarre!! When he is being painted as a great man, I AM providing the balance!!! I did not criticise his work or his approach to the same which was always fascinating to watch. Perhaps you should take note of T. Paine's comment
In Fred Dibnah, the BBC thought they had found a quirky northern working class chap.
Little did they know how incredibly intelligent and talented he was. HIs knowledge of historic buildings and architecture and engineering was staggering. It can be seen in his later series when he is shown to be far more erudite, with far more depth of knowledge, than the many professors that he meets.
A great example of how the pussified woke useful idiots have created a micro sensitivity to feelings and risk. They produce nothing yet take for granted the effort of others who provide to make their livelihood of pushing ones and zeros around in cyber space possible. The irony of claiming overpopulation is destroying the planet while creating mountains of policies and laws to remove all risk of harm in every aspect of human endeavor. Doublespeak abounds in 2023.
I've heard people speak of the "postindustrial age". The fact is, we have more industry than ever. It's just that fewer people work there. In spite of my college degree, I worked in the skilled trades. It's sad that there are people who are entirely clueless as to where all their stuff comes from. Yet, they think they are the indispensable ones.
Thank you for honouring a great man - and representative of many men who stoically built this country with litlte if any acknowledgement or thanks.
The TV series also counterbalanced all of the twee period dramas - much to the relief of many a viewer.
Lovely memories of TV viewing when I had a family. Thanks you.
That is definitely not a tear in my eye, for times defintely better than our own.
"As you get higher up, the holes tend to get deeper. It's called fear."
That one got me too... and that he'd never fallen from a chimney... Lovely!
Thank you for stirring my memories of Fred. He was a giant among men.
I don’t know Fred Dibnah, but I want to now. This short piece was such a beautiful tribute, and so well-written.
My sentiments exactly! I'm American, but I love this story!
I’m also an American, but I have a fondness for England, so much I eventually got a PhD in British literature. Reading this account makes me wonder if the Naked Emperor is actually a writer by trade … beyond Substacks!
He is without a doubt, a hero. The phrase 'salt of the earth' just doesn't cut it. While the chimney stuff was superb, it was his engineering skill, particularly with his steam-driven traction engines. If a part was not available - which was a regular occurrence - he simply made it from scratch. Nothing phased him. He was a true engineer!
This brought to mind a friend of my dad's Rick Lohr who worked with International Chimney. They've been contracted to move lighthouses when erosion threatens them.
Thank you for presenting Mr. Dibnah's work. I'm terrified of ladders, but to hear such common sense and offhanded ingenuity in a language remotely resembling my own? Well, height didn't seem so much of a problem.
Dude. You totally hijacked my day. I have been watching Dibnah and Steeplejack youtubes non-stop.
same
Oh yes, I remember it well...
Holy CRAP ! He’s not even tied on to that ladder! NO Harness at ALL❗️🫣
I remember him fondly. Blaster Bates too but the BBC would have to have been very brave indeed to televise him😄
I'm a little surprised by this romanticizing of what for those much unluckier than Fred Dibnah often resulted in a family impoverished by the death or crippling of a wage earner; by children's growing bodies deformed by factory labor, etc. etc.
There must be balance in all things, a recognition that foolish safety regulations cause equivalent harm to entirely absent safety regulations.
For every Fred Dibnah there are ten who climbed their last chimney very much sooner than they intended and not as they intended.
I'm not romanticising a lack of safety regulations, I'm enjoying rewatching the fearless Dibnah.
OK. I'd think he was gifted and lucky in similar proportions.
You are born and after a while you die. Various things happen in the intervening period. Maybe ten of eleven chimney climbers did die but the mentality that led them to make the climb is the same as the attitude that got humanity out of the cave and hunted down a bit of meat to eat.
Bugger balance humanity is about taking chances with guts and a sod it all attitude at times.
I speak as a toxic male who has experienced some degree of danger and risk of injury during my working life who has worked alongside real men and been proud to do so and maybe it is worth romanticising all of this just a bit. Why not?
For every VC that was won there were dozens of other unrecognised poor sods who acted bravely but this does not devalue the VC.
It pains me to also note having lived and worked in Bolton, that he was a bully and treated both wives terribly. There was also strong suspicion of fraud and tax evasion, not a little, not taking advantage of the weaknesses in the law, but a lot!
Oh no not tax evasion!
He probably spent it on a new set of brass lamps for his steam roller. The monster.
He wasn't portrayed as a savior. A smart & fascinating man who had flaws. Carry on.
Makes me think of Rob Roy, how Liam Neeson's character was portrayed as just ever so flawless and perfect, and how that made me want to root for the evil weasel unattractive villain. Maybe this zeitgeist around delegitimizing anyone, in fiction or life, who has flaws, comes from people not reading books as children or as adults. Characters without flaws are beyond boring, and you know there must be a Dorian Gray picture in the closet anyway, and it may be, in some inexplicable, unpredictable sense, that living people's flaws are deeply entwined with their most heroic or brilliant selves. This addiction to outing of what is imperfect, like it's a big iconoclastic revelation, is beyond boring too.
Why you felt it necessary to post your comment is bizarre, and it appears to be based on speculation, gossip, and suspicion. The article isn’t saying he was a saint and focuses on his professional life and TV career. You might want to consider taking a more balanced approach next time. People, and often those that are outstanding in particular fields or endeavours, are flawed. Get over it.
Why you felt it necessary to post your response is more bizarre!! When he is being painted as a great man, I AM providing the balance!!! I did not criticise his work or his approach to the same which was always fascinating to watch. Perhaps you should take note of T. Paine's comment
🤣