239 Responses to OPEN THREAD

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  1. David Preiser (USA) says:
    September 25, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    I just sent in the following complaint:

    It’s offensive to Jews and Christians and other religions for Barbara Plett and the text crawl on the BBC News Channel to refer to “the Prophet Mohammed”, rather than “the Muslim Prophet Mohammed”. He is neither a Christian prophet nor a Jewish one, nor a Buddhist or Hindu or any other kind. At approximately 16:31 GMT today, 25 Sept. 2012, Barbara Plett said “the Prophet Mohammed” when discussing that controversial “Innocence of Muslims” film with Jon Sopel. The text crawl at the bottom of the screen used the same terminology. This is consistent with all BBC News broadcasting.

    BBC correspondents, editors and presenters do not similarly say “the Lord Jesus Christ”, or use the preferred Hebrew term of religious Jews, “Hashem”, in place of “God”. In fact, it’s offensive to religious Jews to use any other term besides “Hashem” when referring to God. Similarly, any use of that spelling in print is offensive. Religious Jews spell it “G-d”, as you probably well know.

    Yet using Muslim religious terminology seems to be encoded in the BBC style guide and editorial guidelines. Giving special preference to Muslim religious belief is not only biased in favor of Islam, but offensive to people who are religious but not Muslim.

    Why doesn’t the BBC instead use a modifier, such as “the Muslim Prophet Mohammed”? Why are the sensibilities of Christians and Jews not respected in this way?

    I selected “Offence” rather than “Bias” in the submission form, hoping it will be received with a different attitude. I don’t expect an answer, though.

       11 likes

    • bodo says:
      September 25, 2012 at 6:46 pm

      David:
      Notasheep on his blog recently complained about this. The BBC replied with a link to their website, full of contradictions about ‘there is no policy, but here is our policy, but we don’t have one’ – so f*ck off please.

      Can’t find the link… sheepy mate, your blog is v slow recently – and crashes. Too much stuff on the page perhaps?

         5 likes

      • NotaSheep says:
        September 25, 2012 at 7:22 pm

        Try here. I will reduce the number of posts on the home page, I increased it a while back at the request of someone else!

           2 likes

        • David Preiser (USA) says:
          September 25, 2012 at 9:00 pm

          I think they missed the point of your complaint.

          That explanation from 2006 is utter BS. Every single other Mohammed on the planet has a last name, which they would use anyway. And who would possibly wonder which one they’re talking about in any situation? Doesn’t pass the laugh test.

          Saying “the Muslim Prophet…” would accomplish the same clarity they claim they’re aiming for, and would satisfy all complaints.

             6 likes

        • David Preiser (USA) says:
          September 25, 2012 at 11:05 pm

          I’ve just realized the BBC’s real dilemma regarding this whole “Prophet” deal. I should have thought of this sooner.

          The BBC can’t qualify him as “the Muslim Prophet” because to suggest that he’s not THE Prophet for everyone would be offensive to Mohammedans. So from the BBC perspective, it’s either offend them or annoy Islamophobes. Their choice is clear: everyone must accept Islamic doctrine.

             6 likes

          • NotaSheep says:
            September 26, 2012 at 9:02 am

            I hadn’t thought of that, I think you may be correct. I shall have to use that when/if the BBC deign to respond to my ongoing complaint.

               0 likes

          • Aerfen says:
            September 26, 2012 at 9:47 am

            Then why call him a ‘prophet’ at all? he could be referred to as Mohammed alone, when the context makes it clear, and ‘Mohammed the founder of Islam’ if it’s not.

               1 likes

    • RCE says:
      September 25, 2012 at 8:57 pm

      I think, David, it will be received with an INdifferent attitude.

         3 likes

    • Guest Who says:
      September 26, 2012 at 7:36 am

      ‘I selected “Offence” rather than “Bias” in the submission form, hoping it will be received with a different attitude. I don’t expect an answer, though.
      Unless they can arrange to expedite you (which they will) they have to respond, but of course that need not include an answer. If truly backed to the wall in the face of fact and logic, they will answer something not asked and claim that’s the end of it.
      The category selection was wise as ‘bias’ drops straight into subjective territory and they know they can waffle that one away with ease.

         1 likes

  2. Guest Who says:
    September 25, 2012 at 6:49 pm

    Just browsing the BBC Newsnight FB feed and saw this (so one presumes, if they read their on pages, they are now aware) posted…

    China – WARNING – very disturbing image at link:

    http://www.infowars.com/man-crushed-by-road-flattening-truck-on-orders-of-chinese-officials/

    Now, if this proves true and verified, one has to wonder at what the relative levels of commentary might be vs. certain other not dissimilar events. At least in terms of end result.

    If, as I suspect, not a lot, one might then suspect certain countries seem to get cut slack to a near unique degree on the old questions-being-asked, holding-to-account front.

       2 likes

  3. bodo says:
    September 25, 2012 at 6:52 pm

    Ah, here’s their reply. Bet you get the same. Exactly.

    Thanks for contacting us about BBC News.

    We understand you feel it’s inaccurate for the BBC to refer to Muhammad as a ‘prophet’.

    This issue has been addressed at the following link which you may find of interest:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4760000/newsid_4762700/4762772.stm

    Nevertheless we understand the strength of your comments and we’d like to assure you… blah blah blah.

       5 likes

    • noggin says:
      September 25, 2012 at 10:36 pm

      “the reason for the use of the term “the prophet” is simply for reasons of clarity. There are a lot of Muhammads we could be referring to in news stories and we’re being quite specific about which one we are talking about”.

      meaning … to the bbc mohamhead IS
      “the prophet” –
      but not to 93% of the brit population though –
      wait a minute – isn t it “supposed” to represent the brit population …

         4 likes

      • David Preiser (USA) says:
        September 25, 2012 at 10:54 pm

        All those other Mohammeds have a last name, which they would ALWAYS use in a news report. It’s impossible to accept this BS excuse.

           5 likes

        • noggin says:
          September 26, 2012 at 8:50 am

          correct …
          “by their own fruits we shall know them”
          talking of which …
          i see that nicked emus is back from dragging his knuckles over the keyboard – after trying to stitch
          D Vance up
          “Because he is a prophet. – But I don’t think his status is under question, is it?”

          hmm … “by their own fruits we shall know them”

             2 likes

    • David Preiser (USA) says:
      September 25, 2012 at 9:02 pm

      Hey, looks like Tim Stanley is finally waking up to what’s been going on.

         6 likes

    • DB says:
      September 25, 2012 at 9:19 pm

      The online Telegraph had that very story on its front page today (check out the angry face photo) and the page remained unchanged long after it became clear the story was bullshit (Romney had been joking of course). The Telegraph has some commentators still willing to defend Romney but its news staff – especially those correspondents assigned to the US election – love to stick the boot in to the GOP. If anything Foster, Swaine, Spillius etc are at times even more anti-Romney than the BBC. The Telegraph is staffed by Guardian-wannabes and I wouldn’t wipe my arse on it.

         5 likes

      • Guest Who says:
        September 26, 2012 at 7:28 am

        ‘When a gaffe seems too good to be true, it probably is.’
        However, for some, the lesson learned is that what you shape in the edit suite can be around the world and immune from context, so the reality need not even bother getting its boots on.

           1 likes

  5. capriole, peter says:
    September 25, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    In a statement, the BBC said: “This morning on the Today programme our correspondent Frank Gardner revealed details of a private conversation which took place some years ago with the Queen.

    “The conversation should have remained private and the BBC and Frank deeply regret this breach of confidence. It was wholly inappropriate. Frank is extremely sorry for the embarrassment caused and has apologised to the Palace.”

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19716941

    Was that before, after, or during his receiving an OBE ?

       4 likes

  6. Phil Ford says:
    September 25, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    Just time to file a quick report for anyone else cheesed off with the BBC’s continual hyping of the ‘record loss of Artcic ice’ this summer. Rueters report (via the ever-reliable Climate Depot) the following:

    “…In a September 18 video posted by NASA on its website, they admit that the Arctic cyclone, which began on August 5, “wreaked havoc on the Arctic sea ice cover” by “breaking up sea ice.”

    Global warming activists have been giddy in their hyping of the satellite era record low Arctic sea ice extent while ignoring the satellite era record sea ice expansion in the Antarctic…”

    Of course, genuine meterologists everywhere already knew about the great Arctic cyclone which broke up so much of the Polar ice and made it so unusually vulnerable to it’s annual melt, but anyone care to place a bet on whether or not the cowardly, deceptive, lying BBC ever get around reporting this scientific FACT?

       5 likes

  7. lillian says:
    September 25, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    I think there should be an extreme high blood pressure warning to all right wing viewers when the Labour party conference is on. The BBC will be hanging on to every word, there will be no criticism, there will be dead silence when the great ones Milliband and Balls are speaking and the BBC will be emphasising to the country that they have been in contact with the Lib Dems and will be joining them at the next election. They will have far more coverage and far more correspondents and any policy will be a world saver and the greatest thing anyone ever heard.
    In contrast the Tory party conference will be poorly covered and the policies will be quietly sidelined by all the left wing media, Sky also shares the BBC news even down to the same rolling news, it will be so transparent (as happened with the BBC when they got into power) as to be shoe throwing time.

       7 likes

  8. jonsuk says:
    September 25, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    apparently, according to the BBC, the UK’s premier rainbow city has had loads of cuts, still i expect the saunas are busy

       3 likes

  9. DB says:
    September 26, 2012 at 12:40 am

    Months after the story first broke the BBC has today finally reported on Elizabeth Warren’s fake Cherokee claims (although it doesn’t call them fake of course). Why now, after all this time? Because the BBC Washington bureau has at last found a feeble anti-GOP angle for the story, that’s why:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19723601

       3 likes

    • Beeboidal says:
      September 26, 2012 at 9:01 am

      A genealogist has reportedly found evidence that Ms Warren is 1/32 Cherokee.

      Weasel words or a deliberate falsehood?. His claim to have found evidence has long since been found to stand no scrutiny and he has clammed up.

         2 likes

      • David Preiser (USA) says:
        September 27, 2012 at 7:46 pm

        More like a falsehood reprinted in the hopes that it might be true (no need to wait until facts are verified before printing speculation – when it suits their agenda), as well as the expectation that their audience has no clue and trusts them implicitly, bolstered by the belief that any opposing view is merely the fevered babbling of an extreme Right-wing racist and nothing to worry about.

           0 likes

  10. Dysgwr_Cymraeg says:
    September 26, 2012 at 8:27 am

    Breakfast on INBBC bigging up the story of the runaway teen in France. Interviewed Nicky Walton twice, to whom a similar event had happened in her teens.
    Hugely important story.
    Coming soon: sofa filled with teens from Rotherham?

    Errr…..don’t think so!

       6 likes

  11. As I See It says:
    September 26, 2012 at 9:20 am

    BBC Gamesmaker Nicky Campbell has a phone in this morning on the Lib-Dems.

    ‘Let Polly finish’ He pleads. (Polly Toynbee of course).

    Earlier this week one of Campbell’s dolly dealers brought us a show from Lib Dem conference with a debate which was packed with the voices of Labour and Green supporters.

    The great majority of opinion I hear on the BBC is from the left.

       6 likes

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