209 Responses to OPEN THREAD

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  1. Radio2LunchTimeLoather says:
    February 7, 2012 at 11:23 pm

    My complaints battle continues…

    I’ve been having an exchange of views concerning Jeremy Vine’s use of Twitter, with particular emphasis on his “blocking” of me, for reasons that have not been explained. I assume that he thinks this means that I cannot follow his pearls of wisdom. but there are ways and means around a Twitter block. I have found two different sets of BBC guidelines on staff use of Twitter accounts. Neither of them mentions anything about blocking or when it should occur. In response to another complaint about this the BBC Complaints Department emailed me on 20th January and said:
    However, if you believe a serious and specific breach of the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines has occurred and you wish to pursue this complaint further, you can contact the BBC’s Editorial Complaints Unit.

    I had a reply from the ECU yesterday, which said:
    … As your complaint doesn’t relate to a matter of editorial standards in an item broadcast or published by the BBC, it doesn’t fall within the remit of this Unit. The issue it raises is a matter for the management of BBC Audio & Music, and accordingly I have forwarded your message to them.  As it is covered by the expedited procedure, however, they will respond only if they judge that it is covered by the exceptions to that procedure.

    So the Complaints Dept. should not have referred me to the ECU in the first place. Left hand, meet right hand.

    And on we go… http://lunchtimeloather.blogspot.com/

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    • My Site (click to edit) says:
      February 8, 2012 at 8:35 am

      ‘So the Complaints Dept. should not have referred me to the ECU in the first place. Left hand, meet right hand.’

      It’s a hoot is it not? Were it not a deliberate policy of misinformation and misdirection designed to grind you down by attrition.

      Will make their defence in court fun to witness.

      More power to you.

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      • Radio2LunchTimeLoather says:
        February 8, 2012 at 2:02 pm

        Thanks!

        Receipt acknowledgement of my appeal to the BBC Trust received by email earlier, despite them only accepting appeals by printed and posted letter. How quaint.

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  2. cjhartnett says:
    February 7, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    Hang on a minute!
    This breast implant stuff is EU certified isn`t it?…the Frenchies fooling our women into using used hospital gels to look like Jordan?
    Why no mention of the EU in all this?
    And…
    how the hell does this story manage to rise up from the grave of Januarys stories again….what possible reason is there for this?
    Are these stories-breat implants, Leveson, assisted dying/euthanasia-like the glasses your granny leaves around the flat? 
    Poor old dear doesn`t know if she`s mentioned the lost glasses/stories or not…so we get them again, as if it is US that suffer from amnesia or dementia!
    Hope we`ll fill the next Davos bus with the likes of Paxman…and take a detour in Zurich or some place that Dignitas will deign to “assist” the BBC in a caring way!

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    • My Site (click to edit) says:
      February 8, 2012 at 8:37 am

      ‘Why no mention of the EU in all this? ‘

      Hahahahahahahahhahahhahahahhahahh.
      [wipes tears from eyes}

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  3. pounce_uk says:
    February 8, 2012 at 7:10 am

    30 years later the bBC continues its Anti British coverage of the Falkland’s  
    Argentina to raise Falklands UK ‘militarisation’ at UN  
    Argentina is to make a formal complaint to the United Nations about British “militarisation” around the disputed Falkland Islands.President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner made the announcement at a meeting of MPs, senior officials, and veterans of the 1982 war Argentina fought with Britain over the islands. Tensions between the two countries have been increasing in recent weeks. Last month, the UK said it was sending a destroyer to the region.  
     

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    • pounce_uk says:
      February 8, 2012 at 7:11 am

      Not content with informing the Argentine military that their bombs were not arming due to being dropped too low, or even informing Argentina that Goose Green was a target. (thus allowing Argentina to rush troops to the area) The bBC continues its anti British coverage by promoting the view that the Uk is Militarising the area by sending down a destroyer in which to threaten the poor argentines who as we all know (well according to the bBC) can only be victims.  
      What the bBC doesn’t tell you is that it is Argentina that is upping the ante , that Argentina isn’t just closing its ports to Falkland based ships but rather is trying to effect an complete blockade from the South American continent to the Falkland’s. (You know something like the blockade that Israel has against Gaza, but actually a lot worse)  
      As for sending a destroyer to the region, gee I wonder what HMS Montrose has been doing since Oct last year and before her for six months it was HMS Edinburgh but why should the facts stop the bBC from telling half a story in which to promote their anti-British agenda. Which is why they haven’t reported how Hugo Chavezhas stated he is ready to go to war against the Uk, if they attack Argentina.  
       

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      • pounce_uk says:
        February 8, 2012 at 7:11 am

        Sky news have run a  completely different story from the baised bBC where they report how their are food shortages on the Islands due to Argentines economic embargo.  
        The bBC the traitors in our midst.  

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      • My Site (click to edit) says:
        February 8, 2012 at 8:02 am

        ‘The bBC continues its anti British coverage by promoting the view that the Uk is Militarising the area’

        I rather thought it was rather militarised a while ago, on account of the invasion by the last Argentine set of loons trying to promote Wag the Dog – South American style. Now the difficult second war, with the macho Ms. Flint of the tango set hell bent on glory, as encouraged by President O.

        Evidently warwongering the BBC does like for some reason, hence the Haw Haw coverage.

        Sky has Mehdi Hassan on to ‘comment’. Guessing that loopy Argie Prof (what is with these titles? SKY had another from Syria ysterday, who was as bright as a 1W energy saving bulb) is now installed in Aunty’s green room now.

        And so our airwaves will be alive with similar ‘expertise’ the coming days.

        I have already wondered if we may also expect a peace flotilla en route to our oppressed Souht Atlantic brothers and sisters,with Capt Bowen doing PR from the crow’s nest, if on behalf of the aggressors. He’s qualified, as I don’t think he speaks Spanish either (Dez, be a love and check).

        And, of course, the whole thing has been kicked off by an heir to the British throne being deployed as a seach and rescue helicopter pilot. Just listen to that term.. ‘search and rescue’… doesn’t get much more provocative than that! (Send in the tugboat doesn’t quite have the same ring).

        If the BBC is giving ANY succour to our country’s clear past, present and possible future enemies in this, especaily a barking balcony bint like Ms. Kirchner/Fernandez they deserve all that they reap.

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    • deegee says:
      February 8, 2012 at 9:11 am

      Disputed? The BBC is neutral about the United Kingdom’s sovreignty in the Falklands?

      Britain has held the Falkland Islands since 1833. Perhaps one should be thankful the story doesn’t reference the occupied Malvinas.

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  4. pounce_uk says:
    February 8, 2012 at 7:37 am

    bBC Slow News crawl
    The other day I reported that the bBC hadn’t bothered its arse in reporting a racist attack by a gang of Muslims on a white boy. Well the bBC clone who pops out now and again in which to try and prove this blog wrong (Paying job Dez?) has pointed out that actually the bBC has reported this story and that by doing so I am the biased one and not the bBC. Really Dez, lets look at the facts:
    The Sun and the mail reporte the story on the 6th, the bBC on the 7th The former refer to the attack as racist, the bBC refer to it as, the victim feels it was racial, racial versus racist. yes dez the bBC which has no problem bombarding the airways with a story of a racist white women throwing abuse at Muslims, feels that when the shoe is on the other foot the story may ahve a racial element. 
    Then how about that threating gesture that muslim made m the bBC don’t tell you what, but everybody else state it was a throat slitting motion, gee I wonder what bunch of people go round thratening to slit throats….let me think.

    Dez, I get the impression that you rent your arse out to a Islamic bBC worker or that you are an arse who works for the bBC. Please continue posting on these boards as I have no problem exposing you for the shite you are.or shoud that be she-ite.

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  5. John Anderson says:
    February 8, 2012 at 8:14 am

    BBC behind the curve as ever on the US political scene.  They have mostly reported on the non-Romney candidates only when after hit problems – eg Cain and Gingrich – nothing much ever on Perry,  and the flurry caused by Trump earlier on was ignored.

    Now we have Rick Santorum beating Romney yesterday in Missouri,  Minnesota and Colorado.  The average BBC user will be thinking  – “Rick who?”   In reporting Santorum’s “surprise” wins on the Today programme,  no mention that Santorum had done well in Iowa and had been forecast by lots of polling to be doing well yesterday.  And of course Santorum is described as a “religious” candidate – as if the others are not.   Just as bad – the brief BBC report repeated the lie that Romney had said he did not care about the really poor – his remark on that had been taken completelyt out of context,  he had said that his prime focus was on the BBC’s beloved “squeezed middle” .

    Also,  no reporting by the BBC of the big storm Obama has been causing with the Catholic church on Obamacare.  That’s OK,  they won’t need to report the likely U-Turn being forced on the White House.

    BBC – the last place to turn to for reliable news on the US.

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    • David Preiser (USA) says:
      February 8, 2012 at 5:21 pm

      You beat me to it, John. Funny how the astute political analysts at the BBC just parrot what their Left-wing US media buddies say. Sources provided for you by the BBC are all Left-wing: NY Times, Dana Milbank, Politico, and the LA Times. All are very excited that this will weaken Romney even further when he ultimately ends up running against the President. Non-Left outlets are talking about how the race is still supposedly wide open, but don’t really look at it exclusively from the perspective that this will just make Romney “bloodied” when he runs against the President in the fall.

      Nobody at the BBC seems interested in informing you that candidates with an activist base or single-issue die-hards do better in caucuses. They even stupidly censor the fact that Gingrich wasn’t even on the ballot in Missouri. Might that have had any affect on the result? Not only that, but this vote doesn’t even really count because the actual delegates will be chosen in a caucus next month.

      Notice that both Minnesota and Colorado were caucuses. That’s why Ron Paul did better in Minnesota, and why Santorum won Colorado. Santorum worked a lot harder in Colorado than Romney did, and didn’t exactly win in a landslide.

      The best news – for Beeboids – to come out of all of this is that they can continue to sweep bad news about the President under the rug and avoid talking about His performance or accidentally mentioning anything that might make Him look bad.

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  6. My Site (click to edit) says:
    February 8, 2012 at 8:40 am

    Just watching a SKY report on the BBC Today interview with Mr. Hester.

    Seems the only thing that obsessed Mr. Humphrys was high pay; one presumes only in the banking sector.

    Why do folk even bother going into a BBC studio to be hatcheted, first live and then with slected edits later.

    I doubt what was actually said will make it into the final cut every hour on the hour on the news headlines.

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  7. ap-w says:
    February 8, 2012 at 9:48 am

    This Radio 4 News headline this morning was taken from the template on page 1 of the BBC’s Journalism Manual;

    “The Government’s controversial plans to shake up the health system in England return to the House of Lords today, where in the past they have faced sharp criticism”

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  8. As I See It says:
    February 8, 2012 at 11:15 am

    What have the BBC told me this week?

    One of my former school teachers used to suggest a way to cut through bias and prejudice in statments I hear was to play the mental game of imagining oneself an intelligent ignoramus; approach issues almost as if one were a visitor from another planet – without baggage.

    Perhaps BBC news and current affairs broadcasting should act that way. In fact I assume the BBC Charter says that they should.

    Well what is actually happening? Two issues, both (I would have thought) not particularly political in content – Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee and the 200th Anniversay of the birth of Charles Dickens.

    What has the BBC taught me – assuming I come to these stories as a blank canvas; with no preconceived ideas.

    Queen Elizabeth, I learn, has done a very good job of being Queen ‘never put a foot wrong’? Well almost. Mind you this whole business of the monarchy – the BBC have told me there is serious debate to be had. In fact the arguments against monarchy are so strong it seems as if Queen Elizabeth II may very well be the last.

    Charles Dickens was a master of story telling and of characterisation. His style may be a little difficult for today’s young readers but they should know this literary giant because he was a ‘social reformer’. Child labour, poverty, social injustice, the greedy rich – they were the big issues of Victorian times. Mind you the BBC tell me that Dickens is still very relevent so I assume Dickens failed in his efforts and in celebrating his work there should be a call to arms on these issues.

    And people say the BBC doesn’t have a left wing agenda.

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  9. wild says:
    February 8, 2012 at 11:53 am

    The only people who say the BBC have no political agenda are the ones who only support them because they do.

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  10. My Site (click to edit) says:
    February 8, 2012 at 11:58 am

    For a long time I have had a major problem with the BBC brand name being used, especially when claiming to speak for the nation whose name it bears.

    I rarely does for me. 

    On current evidence, if reflecting it’s audience accuratley, I’d suggest TCS, or Terrorists, Chavs & Slappers, as this seems who they defer to, serve, and feature.

    There are a few others that would form an epic acronym, so maybe, liek the empire can be expanded with the addition of new channels to inclusivly bring in other favoured groups?

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  11. George R says:
    February 8, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    INBBC’s Mr ROWLATT propagandises for Islamic Malaysian ex-PM, but doesn’t mention Islam!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16918000

    An antidote:

    Fitzgerald: Sharia and dhimmitude in Malaysia

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    • George R says:
      February 8, 2012 at 12:24 pm

      Tell us about the wonders of the Bumiputra system in Malaysia,
       Mr ROWLATT.  
       
      For his edification:  
       
       
      “Malaysia, Islam, And The Bumiputra System”

      http://www.newenglishreview.org/blog_display.cfm/blog_id/31705  

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      • My Site (click to edit) says:
        February 8, 2012 at 1:11 pm

        When I lived in Singapore, I seem to recall this sweetheart also being at the core of a less than edifying political and legal assault on a rival for, if memory serves, practises that get you elevated to be a BBC manager’s aide as opposed to being ruined on the mere accusation.

        There were also a few questions on treatement in jail of those who were not towing Dr. M’s merry line, too, if not asked as much by some.

        Guess that passed our ethical guide in his long distance travels on our behalf, too. So… we pay to be fed hald the story as the blessed brethern skip around the globe on jollies. No change there, then.

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  12. As I See It says:
    February 8, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    Flirting with Labour.

    Shelagh Fogarty on BBC Radio 5 Live has several guest MPs and Beeboid John Pienaar with whom to discuss politics and sport.

    But it is Labour’s Vernon Coaker who piques Fogarty’s interest. ‘Vernon, I can imagien you as the next England football manager…..you would look good in a sheepskin coat, a “sheepie” as we call it where I come from.’

    As a licence payer I turn off the radio. I feel I am intruding on a blossoming romance.

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  13. My Site (click to edit) says:
    February 8, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    Just added a new complaint (having page captured tweet and story online) to a long and growing list:

    I just had this in my twitter feed: BBCPolitics BBC Politics David Cameron attack on Welsh NHS bbc.in/xWGWbKClicking the link, I find out the actual story is this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-16947484 ‘Prime Minister David Cameron has launched an attack on…. Labour’s handling... of the health service in Wales.’ That.. is a fair discrepancy. One that suggests a whole other story; one hard to see as an ‘error’ for so-called professional, impartial news broadcasters of any integrity. Without resorting to now too familiar ‘ the truth wouldn’t fit’ reasons that are no excuse, please explain how this transpired. As to why such things keep happening in what appears a uniquely consistent ideological direction we’ll leave to another time.

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  14. My Site (click to edit) says:
    February 8, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    With the DG tanking a tad with his ‘we get it all about wrong’ outing, time for a new ‘The Editors’ psoting.

    These are almost always comedy gold, along with many twitter quotes cited here. But then, combine the two in how the BBC seeks to conduct its unique ‘news’ sharing business and a whole new level is attained..

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2012/02/twitter_guidelines_for_bbc_jou.html

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  15. Roland Deschain says:
    February 8, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    According to Guido, the BBC may have covered up some unpleasant allegations regarding Jimmy Savile and young girls.

    BBC Jimmy Savile “Cover Up Scandal” Coming

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    • My Site (click to edit) says:
      February 8, 2012 at 5:03 pm

      Ahhh…. explaining this, slightly rhetorical tweet:

      Donal_Blaney Donal Blaney I wonder if the Guardian will go after the BBC with the same vigour it has gone after the Catholic Church for covering up sexual abuse?
      I see there is talk of ‘questions being asked’. Of Mr. Thompson.
      Oh, the irony.

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      • My Site (click to edit) says:
        February 8, 2012 at 5:05 pm

        Be interesting how the BBc handles the ‘but it all happened before we were in charge’ aspect, in that ‘unique’ way they have when it applies, or doesn’t.

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  16. My Site (click to edit) says:
    February 8, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    For balance…

     

     
    NiemanLab Nieman LabToday in greatness: The BBC tracked down an Internet troll to understand what kind of man he is nie.mn/yeJaJd
    Sounds like a thoroughly bad sort.
    Now, on matters of precedent, are we to assume a whole new era of vigilante extra judicial naming and shaming anywhere else?

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  17. My Site (click to edit) says:
    February 8, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb/07/sky-news-twitter-clampdown?

    Meanwhile, at the world’s most trusted Wild West ‘news’ and personal opinion outfit… zzzzzzzz

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    • My Site (click to edit) says:
      February 8, 2012 at 5:22 pm

      I wonder which free spirit has what interesting views on which collection of folk/entities/topics… none of which are necessarily those of their employer, as linked and littered in their bios at the top. Uniquely.

      Helen, luv, time for another of your famous (foir being ignored) ‘just..don’t, please. Hugs’ memos.

      That £700k won’t get earned without a few more of those.

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  18. My Site (click to edit) says:
    February 8, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    Ah well, as Mili is Redknapped, so a promising series is consigned to archive oblivion.

    ‘Twas ever thus… 🙁

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