TV licence

[MontyVeda]

I think you'll find that the post you're getting your knickers in a twist over was suggesting that the license be scrapped and the Beeb paid for from the public purse.

You failed to pick up on the general gist of the post and nit-picked on a couple of minor points, thus taking the thread further off topic and getting all 'black-shirty' about it.

I don't feel like the one who has issues with differing opinions.

 

[Genau]

I think you'll find that the post you're getting your knickers in a twist over was suggesting that the license be scrapped and the Beeb paid for from the public purse.

You failed to pick up on the general gist of the post and nit-picked on a couple of minor points, thus taking the thread further off topic and getting all 'black-shirty' about it.

I don't feel like the one who has issues with differing opinions.

The general gist of the post was to get the discussion off the TV licence and on to the left-wing shibboleths of Murdoch and Tories. I am surprised Thatcher wasn't shoehorned in there too. As it was heading into conspiracy theory territory I am surprised it stuck to elderly Australians rather than the usual target. Nationalist governments? Really? And then the cheek to start crying 'Godwin' like a toddler who has learned 'bum' for the first time.

It's lazy thinking and if tried in company would only lead to embarassment.

 

[classic33]

We have established that he does not own a TV station in the UK.

The Sun as part of a free press is entitled to run whatever opinion pieces it likes. If you don't like it, don't buy it. I don't agree with the Guardian's editorial stance but other people are free to buy it. My liberal attitude seems to be deeply unfashionable these days though.

Given those facts, there is not much left to your posts other than some sixth form socialist slogans about a "toilet paper rag" and a "nationalist government."

I am afraid your image of massed ranks of assembled citizens gathered round the Volksempfänger to listen to this year's Winter Hilfe campaign is pure nostalgia.

Where does News UK TV fall in this, if your opening statement is correct.

 

[Genau]

Where does News UK TV fall in this, if your opening statement is correct.

I am happy to admit I was not aware of News UK, unlike some other people and their out of date views on Sky.

It's also not quite the same as the BBC or Sky as it will be online and news-only not full-service entertainment. Judging by the reporting of it, it's generally being bracketed with the Spectator's TV news which is only a small step up from a YouTube channel.

"Will be" as in it hasn't actually launched yet so changing that to "operating TV station" would cover it.

 

[classic33]

I am happy to admit I was not aware of News UK, unlike some other people and their out of date views on Sky.

It's also not quite the same as the BBC or Sky as it will be online and news-only not full-service entertainment. Judging by the reporting of it, it's generally being bracketed with the Spectator's TV news which is only a small step up from a YouTube channel.

"Will be" as in it hasn't actually launched yet so changing that to "operating TV station" would cover it.

Ironically it's to be available on Sky. At present just awaiting the operators license, dotting the I'd and crossing the T's.

 

[Once a Wheeler]

When we were without a TV we used to get one of these letters about every year or so. I used to reply by asking them if they had a River Tay salmon fishing licence and, if not, to consider whether that might be because they did not fish on the River Tay. No-one ever called to see if we had a TV; nor to check whether we had a River Tay salmon licence.

 

[MontyVeda]

When we were without a TV we used to get one of these letters about every year or so. I used to reply by asking them if they had a River Tay salmon fishing licence and, if not, to consider whether that might be because they did not fish on the River Tay. No-one ever called to see if we had a TV; nor to check whether we had a River Tay salmon licence.

that's the thing that irks me about TV Licencing ... I don't drive yet don't get regular letters from the DVLA letting me know that they don't have a driving licence listed with my name on it, and reminding me that if I'm driving without a licence, I could face a mahoosive fine. I don't own any firearms either, yet the police don't send out letters reminding people that if they possess a firearm without a licence, they could face a fine or prison

 

[captain nemo1701]

You're the one claiming we have a nationalist government. Google "nationalist" and see if you can really apply that to the most centrist government we have had in years.

It's just childish nonsense spewed out in the absence of any real argument. The same as how as everyone is a fascist, it's all the fault of the evil Tories and Murdoch controls the media. For goodness sake, grow up.

And admit you didn't know Murdoch sold Sky years ago and were just trotting out the same old propaganda slogans.

I think you ought to take a good hard long look at those billionaires behind the media you defend - phone hacking anyone?.

My Murdoch reference was to The Sun and the 'Scrap telly Tax' articles they ran. It's you who are making the connection, not me. I did know he sold his stake in SKY, so wrong there old chap.

And its not just me saying the Tories are now nationalists - seen a few articles online & in the printed press saying the same.

BTW - why did you bring up a reference to 1930's Germany?. I never mentioned that at all. Some do have an odd obsession with that period of history, even in the 21st century.

Nationalism: identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
Sums up Brexit for me...we're British therefore exceptional & don't like being in a partnership with other nations.

Oi!!!..... get those Union Jacks flying BBC....

 

[MontyVeda]

...

And its not just me saying the Tories are now nationalists - seen a few articles online & in the printed press saying the same.

totally off topic, but this was raised on yesterday's Any Questions and today's Any Answers. It seems the Government are keen to be seen to be proud flag wavers, thus gaining all the support they lost to UKIP and dare i say it, the BNP.

 

[captain nemo1701]

totally off topic, but this was raised on yesterday's Any Questions and today's Any Answers. It seems the Government are keen to be seen to be proud flag wavers, thus gaining all the support they lost to UKIP and dare i say it, the BNP.

Well, he did whine about that so I felt compelled to respond. They are keen on making the BBC more 'British' which is a bit like being at the north pole & trying to get further north. For me, flag waving has it's place like the proms, but the need to express your 'Britishness' constantly with a bit of coloured cloth does raise the question of 'are we so insecure about our identity we need to wave flags all the time?'. I note a Tory MP whinged about lack of union flags on a BBC report.

 

[Genau]

I think you ought to take a good hard long look at those billionaires behind the media you defend - phone hacking anyone?.

My Murdoch reference was to The Sun and the 'Scrap telly Tax' articles they ran. It's you who are making the connection, not me. I did know he sold his stake in SKY, so wrong there old chap.

And its not just me saying the Tories are now nationalists - seen a few articles online & in the printed press saying the same.

BTW - why did you bring up a reference to 1930's Germany?. I never mentioned that at all. Some do have an odd obsession with that period of history, even in the 21st century.

Nationalism: identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
Sums up Brexit for me...we're British therefore exceptional & don't like being in a partnership with other nations.

Oi!!!..... get those Union Jacks flying BBC....

You're the one with a obsession with 'nationalist' governments and you followed it up a paean to everyone gathering around the TV for moments of national coming together. Goals don't come amy more open than that. You want the nationalism just not using the current commonly accepted symbols. Make it a bit more about the people not the state, eh? Not a bad idea in itself but, as Ken Livingstone would say, you know who else thought like that? Alll those revolutionary movements removed the old national symbols in order to make room for new ones based on a natioal community not a ruling caste. The Soviet Union replaced the Tsarist subject with the Soviet citizen and gave him a new flag to wave. Want another one? The first broadcast by Italian state radio was a speech by Mussolini. All very well if you're building the workers' paradise but it's not very 2021, is it?

You like the BBC because it has the same opinions as you. You have establishment opinions and Orwell covered what they were regarding patriotism and nationalism in England specifically back in the 1940s. They are not my opinions and I would probably be keener on the BBC if the did agree with me all the time but I would at least have the sense to know that's possibly not an unalloyed good. I don't want anyone to have the power of a bully pulpit even if they do think they're acting in the best interests of the people. I'm doing my bit by starving the beast. If someone else wants to keep it going they can pay a subscription and we'll see who prevails.

Have you ever considered what it would be like if we really did have that overbearing, nationalist government of your fantasies? Surely the last thing you would want is a national unity broadcaster? SNP supporters are convinced it's a mouthpiece for unionist opinion so they, rightly or wrongly, think we already have one. If that bias does exist it's probably more to do with organisational self-preservation rather than any love of the UK but the motive is irrelevant to the viewer. It's the fact that they potentially could be actively promoting a unionist view when they have such a dominance of the British media and can bring down the criminal justice system on your head if you'd rather watch ITV news.

As for other people thinking we have a nationalist government, well, yeah, some genius on the losing side in Labour's civil war has dreamed up a new line of attack and people like you are pushing it. It doesn't mean it's true. Poor old Starmer desperately needs those northern constituencies and thinks pretending to like the British people will do it. The purists of the old regime don't like that sort of thing so they're pretending it's suddenly become a huge problem and everyone they don't like is now a nationalist. It's a variation on "everyone who disagrees with me is a fascist."

You'll be on to something else next week.

 

[captain nemo1701]

I like the BBC because it has content which interests me. I think its good that the country sits down as an audience to communally enjoy & participate in programmes. We have better technology to do that now and I go back to the 70's with the beginning of interactivity with phone-ins. I wouldn't mind a chunk of my tax money funding a national broadcaster. Remember, the BBC arrived way before Netflix and the rest of them. Its our heritage now It's a successful global brand we can all be proud of and better in my opinion, than wasting oceans more on weapons of mass destruction which Boris wants. Funding it from central govt would be a minute percentage of our GDP. Good value if you ask me.

As for a nationalist govt, they seem very keen on waving flags at the moment. I'm not going to go on much longer seeing as you keep ranting & jumping to conclusions about me which aren't true. You're now deviating way-off topic.

 

[Yellow Fang]

I like the BBC because it has content which interests me. I think its good that the country sits down as an audience to communally enjoy & participate in programmes. We have better technology to do that now and I go back to the 70's with the beginning of interactivity with phone-ins. I wouldn't mind a chunk of my tax money funding a national broadcaster. Remember, the BBC arrived way before Netflix and the rest of them. Its our heritage now It's a successful global brand we can all be proud of and better in my opinion, than wasting oceans more on weapons of mass destruction which Boris wants. Funding it from central govt would be a minute percentage of our GDP. Good value if you ask me.

As for a nationalist govt, they seem very keen on waving flags at the moment. I'm not going to go on much longer seeing as you keep ranting & jumping to conclusions about me which aren't true. You're now deviating way-off topic.

That might have been the case once upon a time when Some Mothers Do Ave Em was on the telly. Can't think of anything now.

 

[Genau]

I like the BBC because it has content which interests me. I think its good that the country sits down as an audience to communally enjoy & participate in programmes. We have better technology to do that now and I go back to the 70's with the beginning of interactivity with phone-ins. I wouldn't mind a chunk of my tax money funding a national broadcaster. Remember, the BBC arrived way before Netflix and the rest of them. Its our heritage now It's a successful global brand we can all be proud of and better in my opinion, than wasting oceans more on weapons of mass destruction which Boris wants. Funding it from central govt would be a minute percentage of our GDP. Good value if you ask me.

As for a nationalist govt, they seem very keen on waving flags at the moment. I'm not going to go on much longer seeing as you keep ranting & jumping to conclusions about me which aren't true. You're now deviating way-off topic.

Ah yes, that irregular verb, to rant.

I rationally discuss.
You rant.
He is off-topic.

Is that ranting as in throwing in scatological comments and off-topic as in weapons of mass destruction?

All this entertainment and it hasn't cost me £170.

 

[keithmac]

BBC should be subscription based, at the moment it's just a tax for owning a TV..