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[Pete]

Here is a photo of my hotel room in Hamburg



That TV in the middle not only had an ambilight, but had a rather fab selection of channels, including British ones. The version of ITV1 on the TV just happened to be Channel, and I chuckled to myself when I saw an advert advertising "Puffins Pla(i)ce."

Now I have no interest in a birthday card show, however I recall it from a long running thread on TVF. I never read that thread and it's irritating title consistently annoyed me due to the shoddy pun in the name.

However I happyily ignored it because it was doing no harm either to me or the board in general.

The rota chat however is different: it keeps attacking other threads like a fungus. GMTV - Daybreak deserves chat on presenters, they're changing the lineup, it even deserves chat on how they might be used for weekends or what. However the endless inane drivvel being written in there over the most minor of things, with the pantwetting excitement over each titbit as if it was Radio 1 doing their tedious "and we'll let you know another act for One Big Weekend" thing is infuriating.

It distracts from, and frankly ruins the original nature of the forum, the stuff older members are interested in and joined for.

In addition to that, the level of creepy stalkerishness of it is getting insane. Dare someone from News 24 not appear on their allotted timeslot, are they pregnant? are they ill? what sort of illness is it? did they catch it having nookie with Adam Bolton behind the barcos? could he being tried out for the ten? Stop! Agghh!

Frankly, if I was handed the keys to the board right now its the one thing I would not be able to tolerate. I could work with the software, I could put up with Mock Designs, I could probably even withold myself from banning all the newbies in sight (and I mean that, how often is it we actually ban someone on here?). However rota chat would go, instantly, it would be banned with zero tolerance.

After a while, perhaps 3 months, I'd allow proper presenter discussion to occur. Chris Hollins and his breakfast rumours, Ian Wright and his reasons for leaving LASF. Those are interesting facts / news about people on the news shows.

However "did xxx present World at 3pm? I didn't see her, she's listed down here on my rota, is she pregnant? How long did maternity last last time? Perhaps if she has a boy this time she'll only be off for two months as her husband has been fired from tesco according to his twitter" is NOT intersting, and is damn right invasive, nasty and creepy.

I tut at the Daily Mail for invading people's privacy and yet I involve myself with a forum that allows its foolish members to do that. It really isn't right and makes the place look bad.

[Gavin Scott]

I'm definitely one of the annoying types who points out the foibles of newbies. I know it, and its not something I like in myself because I realise people must dislike me for it. That bothers me more than it should, but it does.

I could say, "well if there were better/greater moderation then I wouldn't have to", but that's a conceit, and wishful thinking. I probably still would, but perhaps to a lesser extent because of a fear of being warned and ultimately banned. And because no one likes being told they're behaving like a cock.

Also, I tend to pussy out of some attacks on new members, when they respond in a way that makes them more human - if you see what I mean. I forget how hurtful it can be when someone rips you up for arsepaper - and when it dawns on me I segue into the old "friendly advice" routine.

No, I'm definitely part of the problem, rather than the solution when threads get out of hand - and what makes matters worse is that I seem to reach my breaking point at the same moment as, perhaps, two or three others, resulting in a waterfall of derision. I suppose that will either scare the pants off a newcomer, or cause them to entrench. Neither outcome is desirable.

I did speak to danslink in PM following on from an exchange in the Sky News thread; and I was sincere when I suggested to him that his experience would be vastly more enjoyable were he to dispense with this pre-occupation with his age, and consider taking on board some of the opinions on his attitude, rather than glibly thanking people for their concern before reiterating that he would carry on his way. After a to-and-fro he seemed to take this on board, and we left our chat on good terms.

For what its worth he seems an energetic chap, clearly engaged in the subject, and although he needs to spend more time reading dictionary definitions, he does have an eloquent style (or it would be with more careful word selection). Could be quite refreshing once he's more seasoned on the board.

Like other new members, I really think he'd benefit from widening his scope of interest (from simply, "I like him, I hate her, this is what they should do...") and spend time really soaking up some of the great thoughts and knowledge that's there to be gleaned. That part of the forum never gets old for me. I adore reading Tony Currie's posts - he's endlessly fascinating, and is a super story teller.

Its difficult to say to young people that they should listen more and talk less. Well, its easy to say, but not easy to be understood - and in fairness, they come online to contribute what they have to say. As one gets older I think its more natural to defer somewhat to other's knowledge and contributions.

So in conclusion, I dunno. The forum is almost a decade old, and spats come and go. Its easy to understand why Asa's position is relaxed on the matter.

But perhaps a periodic burst of direction would make the experience (which is "new" for all the dozens of recent signups) a little easier all round. They'd understand that everyone, old and new, is expected to conform to some basic rules in order to maintain decorum - even if its as straightforward as, "Its considered a courtesy to your fellow forumers to check thoroughly to see if something is being discussed or would be suited to an existing thread before starting a new one".

Might stop some of us resorting to self-help quite so much, and becoming very annoying in a different way.

That's my thoughts on the subject.

[Alexia]

I agree with Pete and Gav.

[Pete]

Another brilliant example of why the rota / presenter chat is getting out of hand

http://www.tvforum.co.uk/forums/post674813#post674813

I can't help feeling frustrated at the discussion in this thread. Why on earth does ginofish and others believe they have a right to sit there discussing how Kaplinsky should never have gotten pregnant, how she has let down both herself and Five, doesn't deserve her pay, the BBC won't want her and other mindless nonsense that would actually be quite hurtful were the woman herself to read it. I'm not saying we should always post as if we were having a face-to-face discussion with someone (after all, I say things on here to other members that some might not like, but at least there is an opportunity for you to reply), but when it's gets as far this, based on nothing apart from watching news bulletins (after all, what arrangements Kaplinsky and Five/Sky have come to are private) it makes me wonder if I really want to be on here with people who appear to hide behind their keyboards and say Barry George*-esque things.

* I believe him to be innocent as it goes, but you see what I'm getting at.

[Col]

Mr Fishy in the same thread:

I think the chances of me meating her are slim

What obsession?

[dosxuk]

Sian Jones presented the ITV Morning News this morning. They must be short staffed! lol

ARGH! *facedesk*

[Pete]

http://www.tomscott.com/warnings/



Perhaps we could have a version of these made for TVF.

WARNING: This poster probably rummages in the bins of newsreaders in their spare time.

[Nick Harvey]

They ought to have that as a DOG, superimposed over the whole of Points West!

[Alexia]

Can I just put in an off-topic yay for Tom Scott. Blockbusters contestant who threw two cymbals and a drum off a cliff, and who also tried to remove his fingerprints using a pineapple and a pan scourer. A genuine top bloke.

[Ben]

I'm definitely one of the annoying types who points out the foibles of newbies. I know it, and its not something I like in myself...

It's refreshing and frankly a bit of a relief to read that. Not that I think you have been totally unfair in your reactions to new (and annoying) members but lately whenever I have logged onto TV Forum I've spend more time scanning through conversations between/about members than anything vaguely TV related.

I know there are some bizarre posts out there by certain individuals but if you ask me we have a situation now where the reaction to the problem has become bigger than the original problem itself. I'm fairly confident there are members who will not post replies or even read threads because the conversation keeps getting sidetracked by what members should/shouldn't be posting.

Maybe it is a case of more moderation needed, or taking the responses to PM or printing pictures of the new members and sticking them up on wanted posters. I don't know the solution but it seems like in order to fix it it isn't just addressing the issue of the 'new' members anymore.

[Pete]

I can't speak for Gavin but what really tips me over the edge and often results in me joining the "attack of the oldies" events is when they are so dismissive and bone-headed about criticism. For example the manner in which the person in the Five News thread decided that, when questioned on his attitude toward's Kaplinsky + maternity leave just restated the whole thing again and then abruptly attempted to change the subject.

It's this "well I'm right, how dare you question me about being a creep" attitude that really stinks.

MOVING ON, let's talk about that Adrian Chiles, what a fatty eh?