tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post8030059156899524109..comments2024-02-11T11:30:09.490+00:00Comments on pfgpowell: The Archers: urban fantasy or just pie in the sky? Baby give birth to Elton John, plus the joy of self-delusionpfg powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-48656462704788933012010-12-30T15:47:27.896+00:002010-12-30T15:47:27.896+00:00PS
There is no need for your fellow hacks to beco...PS<br /><br />There is no need for your fellow hacks to become unbearably distressed, I expect when push comes to shove I shall carry on withthe Mail as I always have.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-13791535230809044622010-12-30T15:44:06.749+00:002010-12-30T15:44:06.749+00:00I think there is a grave danger that we may finish...I think there is a grave danger that we may finish up agreeing with each other, as long as you reserve such terms as 'bollockheads' for the more obsessive posters on the Archers message board. I've had another look this morning and - my oh my - obsessive is the word. I strongly suspect from internal evidence and my memory of some of the broadcasts that some of these people actually post comments before the night's broadcast has ended, which may explain why they don't always seem to know what has happened in the story!<br />They are also inclined to lose it with each other and have to be reminded that it is after all a work of fiction they're getting so excited about. I wouldn't really see them (the Posters that is) as Guardianistas. Judging by their "Hang 'em and flog 'em (not necessarily in that order) attitude to the less popular characters, I imagine some of them are well to the right of Ghengis Khan. It has occurred to me that in olden times when Pat was Welsh - before she had the voice transplant - she used to read the Guardian . Make of that what you will.<br /><br />On your more general points I've found quite a bit on your blog that I agree with more or less. My own opinion of current trends is that you may well be right that we are in for a dose of 'Make do and Mend' Woolton Pie etc. I also think we are in for a dose of new puritanism to counter the 'evils' of the permissive society. The signs are that the forces of Government are massing for an attack on the demon drink to be followed by an increased vigilance about the True Briton's unhealthy taste for food. The forces of Lauranorder will continue to demand extra powers every time there is a demonstration of some sort.Having been avictim of crime on more than one occasion, I would quite like them to try using the powers they already haveDavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-42227245999967673892010-12-29T22:39:59.310+00:002010-12-29T22:39:59.310+00:00I agree with you entirely about The Archers party ...I agree with you entirely about The Archers party line and its issues-driven agenda, but it seems to me life in Britain goes in cycles and after the obscene and tacky loadsofmoney Eighties, we arrived at the caring Nineties and we are at the tail-end of that. What will come next I really don't know. I think we must reconcile ourselves to reading - in every paper - guides on how to make less go further, A Fun Guide To Thrift, Jamie Olivers' updated Woolton Pie and looking on the bright side of unemployment. Finally, there will be Burial On A Budget - You Don't Need A Big Send-off by Morag McTwee. As for your refusal to read the Mail, I shall inform call a meeting of all hacks working on the day when I am back next Sunday and announce your decision. I'm afraid there might well be tears.<br />I'm just pleased someone reads this bloody blog. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: There's one thing worse than being read and that's not being read. Sleep well.pfg powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-26496020122827379062010-12-29T22:22:53.148+00:002010-12-29T22:22:53.148+00:00I am sorry to hear that journalists on the Mail fi...I am sorry to hear that journalists on the Mail find time hanging heavy on their hands like the other contributors to the Archers message boards. <br />I still don't see what the Guardian has to do with any of it. I soon lost patience with the messages and may have missed something.<br />But you will be relieved to hear that I have no intention of transferring my affection to that paper. I tried it once for a week - never again.<br />For the record I have listened on and off to the Archers since day one. I have never forgiven it for driving 'Dick Barton - Special Agent' off the air. Nowadays I listen more off than on, primarily this is because in my opinion it lost all contact with reality some years ago.<br />I vaguely remember the current editor being quoted recently as saying that the story-lines arise out of character (or words to that effect) Clearly she suffers from an advanced capacity for self delusion - or possibly thinks her listeners are all idiots.<br />Ambridge is the land of the character transplant, where personalities change at the click of a scriptwriter's keyboard to suit the exigencies of the plot.<br />The plots themselves, apart from a few patronising 'comic' episodes at the expense of the peasants, seem always to be driven by ishues - often wimmins ishues which can then be discussed on Woman's Hour.<br />The party line is, of course very PC. I can't off hand think of a single character in the show that I would like to pass the time of day with. The women are all feisty dynamic leaders - but sadly bitchy and lacking in intelligence; while the men are all downtrodden buffoons.<br />Why do I still listen? Little more than habit - and only when I have nothing better to do.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-91809959088260764942010-12-29T15:45:50.846+00:002010-12-29T15:45:50.846+00:00It was made entirely during working hours. I have ...It was made entirely during working hours. I have better things to do in my spare time. The Guardian was dragged in because some people write some truly appalling messages on its various messageboards which makes any of the alleged hate perpetuated by the Mail very small beer indeed. The irony - for me - is that all too often many on the left like to see themselves as men and women of reason and consideration for others. For the record all my life the left has thought me on the right, and the right has always regarded me as a dangerous pinko.pfg powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-61251934512960887532010-12-29T15:28:20.006+00:002010-12-29T15:28:20.006+00:00Thank you for your clarification. So I am to take ...Thank you for your clarification. So I am to take it that one Daily Mail journalist thinks of his readers in terms of 'bollockheads' and that the marketing manager may well agree with him.<br />Well in these hard times it's nice to know I can now save myself the cost of the Mail each week.<br />I found your blog more or less by chance and had the curiosity to look at the Archers message board you refer to. A quick survey suggested that this is largely the work of a small number of people - most of whom seem to dislike the show - who find time hanging heavy on their hands.<br />I couldn't quite follow how you managed to drag the Guardian into the discussion, .<br />I do hope your contribution to the message board was not made during working hoursDavenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-71548059177701990272010-12-29T09:22:41.305+00:002010-12-29T09:22:41.305+00:00'few' = 'fed''few' = 'fed'pfg powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-5347253017914012262010-12-29T09:22:13.432+00:002010-12-29T09:22:13.432+00:00Not only that, but I suspect he agrees. It's a...Not only that, but I suspect he agrees. It's all very well being sensitive about such issues, but we have to deal with them. A while ago, I recounted the anecdote of how Kelvin McKenzie, then editor of The Sun, got so few up with a reader who had rung up that he told him he was 'banned from reading The Sun'. Five minutes later, a call came throught from the reader's wife. She asked: "Does that mean I'm banned, too?" The one difference between Sun readers and - er, who's watching? - other readers is Sun readers are less pretentious.pfg powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-37086838470984363172010-12-29T01:01:08.465+00:002010-12-29T01:01:08.465+00:00Does your marketing manager know you refer to read...Does your marketing manager know you refer to readers you dislike as "bollockheads"? I can't imagine this does much to improve the paper's circulation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-89775436971783423702010-12-28T19:10:12.446+00:002010-12-28T19:10:12.446+00:00I wasn't pissed. The tone of your message soun...I wasn't pissed. The tone of your message sounds vaguely censorious, but I thought the great and good of Britain who believe themselves to be on the side of the angels prided themselves on being broadminded. I'm confused. I take it you don't read the Mail, then. Which one is it?pfg powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-63710439422738680312010-12-28T16:53:50.777+00:002010-12-28T16:53:50.777+00:00What you actually said was "No, a piece is go...What you actually said was "No, a piece is going into the Daily Mail tomorrow and we like to get things right. Please someone tell me so I can pass it on to a colleague."<br /><br />I'm so glad AN Wilson got his fact.<br /><br />I hope you've sobered up by now!Janenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-74647505248682608632010-12-28T13:48:29.080+00:002010-12-28T13:48:29.080+00:00You can find it here http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbar...You can find it here http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbarchers/NF2693940?thread=7957489&skip=0pfg powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-18471491848815385502010-12-28T13:32:52.647+00:002010-12-28T13:32:52.647+00:00If Paul interprets my comments about the Guardian ...If Paul interprets my comments about the Guardian as a 'rant', he is probaly still only 9 years old and has yet to experience a real rant in its full force and fury. I didn't actually mention I was from the Mail. As for the 'supercilious remarks about people who bothered with my thread, well perhaps they will learn their lesson.' Anyway, my superciliousness was aimed at all the smartarses, not the two posters who were genuinely helpful.pfg powellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407148810847119242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-85553218978174653832010-12-28T12:53:13.714+00:002010-12-28T12:53:13.714+00:00http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbarchers/NF2693940?threa...http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbarchers/NF2693940?thread=7957489&latest=1#p104534007<br /><br />The link to the spat should sort out who did what to whom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-23744317224758132802010-12-28T12:38:12.919+00:002010-12-28T12:38:12.919+00:00Well, as a resident of mustardland myself, I would...Well, as a resident of mustardland myself, I would say it's you that comes off badly in the thread you started - a peremptory demand for information in the next ten minutes, followed by ranting about the Guardian when no-one had mentioned it, and supercilious remarks about the people who bothered with your thread, which you have now made subject for your blogging too.<br /><br />If you mention that you're from the Daily Mail, you must surely expect some reflex comments about that paper - and if you say "what's Mustardland?" when you are in it asking for advice, you really do give yourself away as a user who has no time to understand the resource he is exploiting.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-52897180611317186652010-12-28T12:37:06.105+00:002010-12-28T12:37:06.105+00:00Why don't you post a link to the spat so we ca...Why don't you post a link to the spat so we can all enjoy it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592994284096434432.post-46601393427516818472010-12-28T05:49:58.032+00:002010-12-28T05:49:58.032+00:00Hi; I enjoyed your 'spat'. If you want ...Hi; I enjoyed your 'spat'. If you want accurate information about the Archers 9especially from the 1970's (when I started listening)you can contact me directly. By-the-way: when I am in the UK I take the Mail!<br />StephenRBeet@gmail.com<br />At present living and working in Novosibirsk, Siberia a land free of political correctness!<br />StephenStephenRBeethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11746520444205393827noreply@blogger.com