Viewing Thread:
"Soaps: All crap?"

I don't really watch a great deal of TV, but if I happen to just leave the old TV on, and watch it on any given evening, what I see displeases me.

Soaps. I'm sure on any given evening you could watch over 2 hours of soaps what with Neighbours, CrossRoads, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Brookside and Hollyoaks to choose from, and no doubt a few more I've missed.

What exactly is my problem with soaps then? Well it may be something to do with the fact that a large percentage of the country care more about what goes on in a fictional area, than they do about their local community.

They care more about the rape of Toyah Battersby more than they do some girl that was beaten just down the road. They'd rather find out who shot Phil Mitchel, than who broke into a neighbours house. Surely this is not right?

What's worse with soaps is that the simply continue to recycle the same old storylines with different characters. Neighbours is the worst culprit of these, even goig as far as using the same props and clothing for a character in the same predicament years later.

Soaps also show a severe lack of moral fibre! Just how many couples stay together in soaps? Almost every family is split up in some way. No wonder there are so many divorces in the country, if Kevin and Sally can split up, so can anyone. If Frank can have an affair with Pat, why shouldn't you? The only couple I can think off that have stayed together in any soap would have to be Jack and Vera in Coronation Street, and they're a comedy couple really, aren't they?

The only soap I ever watch with any regularity (about once a week) is Hollyoaks! Why is this? Probably because it's so unrealistic! The majority of the characters are attractive, and the storylines don't even attempt to stay on the lines of realism like the more serious soaps do.

Still, I'm bored of that now after watching it for a while.

Any soap fans out there willing to defend them?

Blah blah blah

Who was even talking to you?
The number of assumptions and insults in your post highlight the intelligence on display here.
"I just want to scream in your face like most journos"

But you are one, you claim.
Relax, dont listen to me, go buy DIY and a nice car and chase that dream.

Peon

Oh, and just to amuse me, what publications do you work for and can I please read some of your stuff?

Thought not.

Now I'm not one tobe a critic of what people do with their lives. Goatchild is correct - it's his choice and why are we so worried.

But, is it me or are you simply a devoted follower of some guys you've "never met" - ie the writers of those books.

I'd be willing to bet that every comment you made got copied from one of your books. Books that to be honest sound about as interesting as sitting inside playing 'go-for-broke' and eating nibbles.

Now that was bad, but then you reveal to us that you're a journo! Your job is to quote other people! Can you now expect us to believe what you say. You have to twise every fact to suit your peronsal opinion, and as for creating a balanced output. Well thats a load of crap!

Perhaps if you had a tv and regularly watched it, you'd realise how commercialised the entire journalism industry has become.

You are a reviewer for a couple of movie mags, but that does not mean you can spout someone elses worldy view to us all and expect to gain yourself resepct.

The sheer vulgarity of your comments quite often makes me want to shout into your face - a trait not uncommon with a lot of other journalists.

You were right about the tv license thing though. As long as you have no aerial or box, you're free to not pay.

I'm a journo too actually. But I watch tv, and I'm not going to hide away from quiz shows in case they impregnate my sub-conscious with mental growth confining gamma rays.

Oh and interesting story about getting hit by the police - the sympathy vote rarely works though.

GET IN THE BACK OF THE VAN!!!!!!!

o-k-a-y ... whatever you say man...

Armatige Shanks wrote:

You limiting you scope of poeples views and attitudes... by watching only the videos you want to watch, your only allowing yourself to see the points of view that you already know and are comfortable with. It provides no new points of view, and no room for personal growth.

Ok, this has turned from me not owning a tv into you suggesting that I limit myself and restrict personal growth.

Dude, you know nothing about me. That's because I keep myself to myself.
However, in order to defend myself from these somewhat amusing personal affronts:
I am a freelance journalist and reviewer for a couple of movie mags and computer sites.
Part of my job is to be open to information from all angles and sources.

But, I do not watch tv because it limits the version of events that you are presented with.
Example:
Last year I was covering the Mayday Anti-Capatalist protest for Reuters.
There were a number of people in this area, tourists, reporters, protestors - all manner of different classes.
We were rushed by mounted police and riot-gear wielding police that indiscriminately used violence against anyone that couldnt get out of the way.
A camerman had his equipment smashed and I recieved a baton blow, knocking me out.
However, come the next day, all the reports were of "Thug Activists smashing McDonalds"
No mention of the wanton violence against a docile crowd, we were not in the trouble spots, yet this was not mentioned.

I find television an incredibly biased world view, which is why I choose to not partake in this and instead, seek out the things for myself and investigate.
To suggest that I limit my personal growth is laughable, and please refrain from making personal comment about me, as I made sure to not attack anyone else.
I merely stated my belief without highlighting anyone in particular.


"Residential
If you use a television set or other
> television apparatus (such as a TV-enabled computer), the law
> requires you to be covered by a valid TV Licence. "

I spent 3 months in court arguing this stupid and arcane law, so I am fully aware of my rights in this area.
I do not receive exterior visual information for the purpose of entertainment, informative or otherwise therefore I do not pay license fee.

I will debate with anyone until the cows come home, but I make sure to restrict my views and opinions to my own beliefs without casting aspersion on anyone else.

Before you suggest the action I can take in order to widen my horizons and personal growth, may I suggest the following reading, and then we can sit and discuss things further in regards to my beliefs:

No Logo: Naomi Klein
Manufacturing Consent, The Political Economy of the Mass Media: Noam Chomsky

These two books can provide an idea as to why I find tv abhorrent, and may provide some interesting facts for the general reader.

And what does it matter if I watch tv or not?
Why do you guys even care what I do?

Relax and enjoy the lifestyle you have chosen, let me get on with mine.

Peace

Goatboy

awww... c'mon man...

I was only jesting...

I didnt mean to cause offense...

honest! :)

:)

Goatboy wrote:

Rather limiting though
> huh? Not really a window into
> thw world?

TV is not a window into the world for me

I read the news channels from BBC, CNN, ABC and World Service
> over the net. I read 2 newspapers in the morning and anything I need
> to know or want to know, I get from The Net.
That way I can filter
> out the information I dont feel is useful to me and bypass the
> crap.

You use CNN? okay...

News, especially US based, but more increasingly UK based is increasingly becomming an entertainment industry. As such even with a broad range of standard news sources, even by collaborating news stories your getting limited informaton about the whole picture.

But TV is more than just a news broadcasting service, it provides education and entertainment for the masses.

Because its not striclty the information your after, doesntm mean its a waste of time...

The validity of spending so much time playing B&W is a great deal more questionable than that of enjoying a soap operah, which for many people, who work together but have litttle in common, is a superb basis for inital and contiuned communication of like points.

Watching the movies I like aint limiting at all, trust me, I
> know enough about world politics and situations.

You limiting you scope of poeples views and attitudes... by watching only the videos you want to watch, your only allowing yourself to see the points of view that you already know and are comfortable with. It provides no new points of view, and no room for personal growth.


Nope. You can buy a tv without one, otherwise it would be
> compulsory at purchase. The money is to recieve the signal for the
> BBC, hence they get the money and have no advertising, their revenue
> is collected solely from license subscriptions ( and the UK is the
> ONLY country in the world to apply this reasoning)

mmm... okay... and, honestly, this isnt because I have too much time on my hands and a bored... honest... but...

"Residential
If you use a television set or other television apparatus (such as a TV-enabled computer), the law requires you to be covered by a valid TV Licence. "

mmmm...



I like to discuss, to exhange information and
> opinions.
Doesnt mean I take any of them seriously, nor do I expect
> to be.

Then you agree that this isnt a heated debate huh?

:)

Armatige Shanks wrote:
> Goatboy wrote:

Yep, I buy
> the movies that interest me, not
> watch whatever is on at the
> time.

Rather limiting though
> huh? Not really a window into thw world?

TV is not a window into the world for me.
Game shows, cookery shows, DIY, Worlds biggest animal attack 2 and blah blah blah
I read the news channels from BBC, CNN, ABC and World Service over the net. I read 2 newspapers in the morning and anything I need to know or want to know, I get from The Net.
That way I can filter out the information I dont feel is useful to me and bypass the crap.
Watching the movies I like aint limiting at all, trust me, I know enough about world politics and situations.
Isnt it
> a license to own a TV...

and that the money just goes to the
> BBC???

Nope. You can buy a tv without one, otherwise it would be compulsory at purchase. The money is to recieve the signal for the BBC, hence they get the money and have no advertising, their revenue is collected solely from license subscriptions ( and the UK is the ONLY country in the world to apply this reasoning)


Then why discuss anything here, where
> most people are unknown to you?

I like to discuss, to exhange information and opinions.
Doesnt mean I take any of them seriously, nor do I expect to be. Which is why 99% of my posts are not serious, because my opinion doesn't matter to anyone but me.
There are some people from here that I consider friends, I wont name names because that'll spark something else off.
My posts are nonsense, because I dont come here to swap idealogical goals, it's a way to pass my day at work and talk rubbish with others.


Don't worry about why I do things and if I watch tv or why I dont or do.
It doesn't matter.
Just relax and enjoy your hair.

Goatboy wrote:

Yep, I buy
> the movies that interest me, not watch whatever is on at the
> time.

Rather limiting though huh? Not really a window into thw world?

Dont you need a license to own a TV?
Nope, the license
> fee is to fund the BBC, I dont recieve that service therefore I
> don't have to pay.

Isnt it a license to own a TV...

and that the money just goes to the BBC???


I care what my friends think, it's just
> the average schmo that can walk past without me even remembering
> what they looked like.
You're not a person until you're in my phone
> book, or MSN.

Then why discuss anything here, where most people are unknown to you?

So
> Lofty lied to me? But Chelle dumped him at the altar.
(I used to
> watch this stuff, until I realised it wasn't for me, so I do have a
> basis on which to form my opinion)

I didnt mention the validity (or lack of) of your opinion...


:)

But if someone was to tape 24 hours of BBC1
> for you, would you legally be allowed to watch it on your TV?

Nope, because taping programmes off the tv is illegal.
It's illegal to rebroadcast, record or transmit without prior consent from the broadcasting body concerned.

So y'all are lawbreakers as well as tv children.

Feel ashamed!

Seriously though, the only thing I have taped for me is The Simpsons and I pick the tapes up every couple of weeks from Sis.
I don't live in a bubble though and use the Net for my info on news etc.