# The BBC - How? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 2, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482 "2005-10-02T20:39:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/61 "2005-10-05T13:38:42Z")
And we usually use “it’s” in this country, too :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > It only 1 hour and 10 minutes of Crimewatch More than enough for anyone, I think. > [@](#): > > and the T-Rex programme looks very interesting To who? > [@](#): > > As to BBC 2 there is the excellent Space Race , the always watchable Rick Stein a new series of Room 101 and new ( and not “30 year old” ) DIY programme You mean “always watchable when there’s nothing else on the other channels or I want an excuse not to revise”? A new series of Room 101 you say? What series is this? The thousandth? You’re right about the repeat though, I mistook “The Good Life” for a repeat. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/62 "2005-10-05T13:47:24Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#): > > And we usually use “it’s” in this country, too :rolleyes: > > More than enough for anyone, I think. > > To who? > > You mean “always watchable when there’s nothing else on the other channels or I want an excuse not to revise”? A new series of Room 101 you say? What series is this? The thousandth? > > You’re right about the repeat though, I mistook “The Good Life” for a repeat. I am afraid that all your comments are very subjective. How do you know that the T-Rex programme and the Space race programmes are no good if you haver not seen them ? At least we are not subjected to all those “celebrity” shows you get over on ITV. As for the American shows you mention. Don’t forget that these are probably the best there are and that the vast majority of American shows are much worse than you would see on British television. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/63 "2005-10-05T13:53:38Z")
I’m afraid your opinion is very subjective. How do you know that the majority of American shows are no good if you have never seen them? Why does the fact that we are shown their very best shows imply that the rest are somehow of less quality than the BBC’s? ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/64 "2005-10-05T13:58:12Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#): > > I’m afraid your opinion is very subjective. How do you know that the majority of American shows are no good if you have never seen them? Why does the fact that we are shown their very best shows imply that the rest are somehow of less quality than the BBC’s? Have you been to America and seen much TV over there? I am basing my view both from the comments of Americans on this board and from a couple of people I know who live in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/65 "2005-10-05T14:02:38Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > I am basing my view both from the comments of Americans on this board and from a couple of people I know who live in the US. A real representative segment of the population you have there. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/66 "2005-10-05T14:25:54Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#): > > A real representative segment of the population you have there. You haven’t answered my question about you being in America and seeing television over there. If you haven’t , how can you pass judgement about the general standards of American television ? ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/67 "2005-10-05T14:34:57Z")
Where am I passing any judgement? Your question is completely irrelevant to the debate at hand. It is you that is passing judgement on standards of American television by implying that it is inferior to British television based on the opinions of yourself, a seemingly ardent supporter of the BBC, a couple of friends and about three Americans who have entered this thread, stating that they prefer British television. Given that Americans are in the majority on this board, and a fair few of them have spent some time in the UK on holiday or business and are likely to have seen British television, the dearth of Americans rallying to support your position is more remarkable than the few who have. Your position is as weak as they come. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/68 "2005-10-05T14:41:54Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#): > > Where am I passing any judgement? Your question is completely irrelevant to the debate at hand. It is you that is passing judgement on standards of American television by implying that it is inferior to British television based on the opinions of yourself, a seemingly ardent supporter of the BBC, a couple of friends and about three Americans who have entered this thread, stating that they prefer British television. > > Given that Americans are in the majority on this board, and a fair few of them have spent some time in the UK on holiday or business and are likely to have seen British television, the dearth of Americans rallying to support your position is more remarkable than the few who have. > > Your position is as weak as they come. This quote from you for a start :- I\*'ll take The Sopranos, Lost, ER, Six Feet Under etc. etc. over the pap the BBC pumps out anyday\* If that is not judgement then I don’t know what is. As for Americans not flocking to my defence. Don’t forget the time difference. I doubt if many Americans are active on the board at the moment. Aside from that, we will just have to agree to disagree over what are good programmes and what aren’t ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/69 "2005-10-05T14:46:40Z")
That quote shows me passing judgement on the quality of _BBC_ program **mes** with respect to a selected few American program **mes**. It isn’t me “passing judgement on the American standards of television” at all. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/70 "2005-10-05T14:49:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Aside from that, we will just have to agree to disagree over what are good programmes and what aren’t Which is pretty much the point of the whole thread, isn’t it? The pro-BBC side likes to think that there’s some universal measure of programme quality, and that the BBC persistently outperforms other channels and/or networks in that metric, when, in actual fact, programme preference is entirely subjective. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/71 "2005-10-05T18:27:51Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > You probably didn’t bat an eyelid at some anti comments Oh I batted all right - I even boggled at some of the article titles from the Daily Mail. I also noticed that there were no counterpoint article titles (did any such appear after I stopped watching? I doubt it). I expected fairness and it was manifestly not there. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/72 "2005-10-05T22:07:05Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I also noticed that there were no counterpoint article titles Which would have come from rabidly left-wing newspapers such as…errr…? ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/73 "2005-10-06T11:53:24Z")
The Militant? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/74 "2005-10-06T14:32:11Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#): > > The Militant? Surely the failure to quote from the Militant shows a _lack_ of bias?! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/75 "2005-10-06T17:59:02Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Which would have come from rabidly left-wing newspapers such as…errr…? I wouldn’t call the Daily Mail _rabidly_ right wing, but I didn’t see anything similar from the Guardian or the Mirror. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/76 "2005-10-06T22:31:00Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I wouldn’t call the Daily Mail _rabidly_ right wing, but I didn’t see anything similar from the Guardian or the Mirror. Find anything similar from the Guardian that they _could_ have quoted in opposition to moronic Mail headlines, and I’ll accept your point. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/77 "2005-10-08T06:54:31Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Find anything similar from the Guardian that they _could_ have quoted in opposition to moronic Mail headlines, and I’ll accept your point. One only has to look in the jobs section for that. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/78 "2005-10-08T06:58:04Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > One only has to look in the jobs section for that. I think we’ve been through this one before. Advertisments != editorial policy. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/79 "2005-10-08T07:01:18Z")
One might plausibly except the odd one or two, but the Guardian is full of them, week on week. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482/80 "2005-10-08T07:04:11Z")
Yes, we’ve definitely been over this before. _All_ broadsheets have specific fields in which they’re the chosen publication for job advertisments. None of it is by design, it’s just traditions that have developed over time. The Telegraph is the paper of choice for arts administration posts…are you equally willing to argue that the Tory rabble have actively recruited such advertisments? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bbc-how/324482.md?page=5)