2DayFM?

[Jonzjob]

I wonder if they will still be here 2MorrowFM?

BBC News - Australian DJs face backlash over hoax death (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20651246)

I actually e-mailed them to ask if they were happy and when their next hoax call would bring them a cheap laugh? I haven't had a reply.

Edit : - I forgot to say that one of their 'phone pranks' they got a 13 year old girl to admit that she had cancer! Nice people?

[wheelinround]

Sadly John its not just here that this sort of laugh is acquired from idiots like these who just have no idea how far shyte like this can go.

Media have laws of their own backed by Moguls after bigger bucks. I mean what other things have come up.

"The Chasers stunt a few years back when they impersonated and gained access through security which was supposed to be Sydney's highest level ever".

I read a few years back on a UK media site about a DJ talking to a young person and edging them on to commit suicide.

Even Prince Charles did get a chuckle out of it looking at the original UK Daily Mail article and video, Prior the death of the nurse. I bet she got a bloody good bollocking.

[FenceFurniture]

Hmmm...well, I think a certain amount of ambivalence is required here, before jumping onto how the British tabloids would like everyone to react (and therefore purchase the daily paper).

Let me say at the outset that in no way do I necessarily condone or justify the prank call, and of course it's a tragedy that the mother of two young children should feel compelled to take her own life.

However, this was not an issue to take your life for - that reaction is beyond extreme. We do not know of any underlying issues that Jacintha may have had, and her reaction suggests to me that there must have been underlying issues. It's not like she put the call through to Kate herself, only to the Duty Nurse, and it was the DN that spilled her guts on Kate's health status. Mind you, even if Jacintha had put the call direct to Kate, it's still not worth topping yourself over.

We must remember that the British tabloids are the absolute masters of whipping up hysteria - all to sell "news"papers. They are the world benchmark of gutter press. The Australian tabloids, by comparison, are mere rural local papers.

Both nurses got fooled (somehow) by two people who were staggered that they got past the first post. It seems to me that they were fully expecting to be told to naff off within a few seconds. Jacintha was caught out for "not thinking it through properly". Had nobody briefed the staff on protocol when Kate was admitted??? This is a hospital that several members of the Royal Family have been in.

I feel that the only thing that the two DJs have done (in this case, anyway) is to expose a fundamental lack of staff training or lack of protocol procedures to be followed by the hospital management.

Did Jacintha really think that the queen dials her own phone calls? Clearly a secretary would make the call, speak first, and brief the call receiver on what was about to happen.

Whether or not they should indulge in prank calls is another matter, but they cannot be blamed for the nurse killing herself. To do so would be to also acknowledge as justifiable that (for example) when a man beats the crap out of his female partner for the most minor "perceived offence" and then says to her "look what you made me do!" That's utter bullshyte, he chose to do it. Just as Jacintha chose to take her life.

At the end of the day, what was this all about? It was about the media's fascination with Royal puking. WOW- WHAT A STORY! World significance, that one. What's next - the dreaded Royal Fart story? Please, let's be a bit sensible about this. We should remember that it was because this whole puking story was so bloody ridiculous in the first place that it deserved some kind of send-up. Clearly it does not require a life sacrifice.

[FenceFurniture]

"The Chasers stunt a few years back when they impersonated and gained access through security which was supposed to be Sydney's highest level ever".

Ray, better to have the security weakness exposed by these innocuous chaps, than some terrorist with real intent. Had they not gotten through, the security people would have all patted themselves on the back with "good job", when it clearly wasn't.

[artme]

Bravo FF!!:clap::clap::clap:

I was going to write in exactly the same tone. I would have been a little more brutal, however.

How poorly trained and downrigh bloodY stupid were both of the staff involved?

Before Lord Glenarthur became so indignant he should have looked into all of this and then given a more considered
appraisal and response.

I think the fact that this prank was performed by colonials""(of low breeding no doubt :rolleyes:) has added to0 the furore in the UK.

[jack620]

Whether or not they should indulge in prank calls is another matter, but they cannot be blamed for the nurse killing herself. To do so would be to also acknowledge as justifiable that (for example) when a man beats the crap out of his female partner for the most minor "perceived offence" and then says to her "look what you made me do!" That's utter bullshyte, he chose to do it. Just as Jacintha chose to take her life.

Ask yourself one simple question: would the nurse still be alive today if not for this dopey prank? If the answer is "yes" then the DJs must take some of the blame. It used to known as taking responsibility for your actions (rather than gutlessly shutting down your Twitter account to avoid criticism).

Every prank has a victim. Often it's a hapless employee who has let his or her guard down and allowed the pranksters to embarrass the organisation that employs them.

And your wife-beater analogy doesn't make sense.

[BobL]

Every prank has a victim.

Yep I agree. I'm all for taking the out of people you already know and can take it, but for people you don't know one has to tread a lot more carefully.

At the very least the DJs should have immediately openly accepted responsibility for instigating the prank and spoken directly to everyone concerned and apologised to them. This might have helped to diffuse the situation.

[snowyskiesau]

I can't imagine the bollocking that the nurse would have received from the hospital for putting the call through.
The hospital would therefore have to shoulder a good deal of the blame. You would imagine that they would have protocols in place for VIPs.

That someone would think that some minor embarrassment to the royal family was more important then their own life, is the real tragedy.

[FenceFurniture]

Ask yourself one simple question: would the nurse still be alive today if not for this dopey prank? If the answer is "yes" then the DJs must take some of the blame. It used to known as taking responsibility for your actions (rather than gutlessly shutting down your Twitter account to avoid criticism).

Every prank has a victim. Often it's a hapless employee who has let his or her guard down and allowed the pranksters to embarrass the organisation that employs them.

And your wife-beater analogy doesn't make sense.

The analogy makes perfect sense:
The wife-beater says that the wife made him beat her
The British tabloids say that the DJs made Jacintha commit suicide.

Anybody who says "you make me angry" is completely incorrect, and trying desperately to justify their actions. What is actually going on there is that they choose to become angry, just as they can choose not to. The former is just a pathetic attempt to shift the blame, and that's what the hospital admin is desperately trying to do atm.

"Sleeping with the Enemy", although a work of fiction, gave a stark view of this, where the wife was beaten senseless because the bathroom towels were not straight, and for various other ridiculously minor things (like cans of food not sorted correctly in the cupboards et al). It's all too easy to see this being true, unfortunately.

Should the wife take some of the blame? Of course not.

Would Jacintha be alive today if the call had not been placed? Extremely likely that she would be, at least for the time being. The point I am making is that nobody made her do it - she chose her action. Would she be alive in a few months time if some other calmity happened in her life? Possibly not. We just don't know the background atm, and it may or may not surface in the next few days/weeks.

I wonder how people would regard this if it surfaced that she had been under extreme pressure from her ex-husband, or if perhaps she had just come off anti-depressants. Perhaps she had an undiagnosed mental illness (and I don't say that in a derogatory way).

"If the answer is "yes" then the DJs must take some of the blame."
Well, if that's true, who takes the rest of the blame? And clearly it would seem that they have taken some of the blame - it was their choice to go off-air, and they are reported to be "shattered".

Nor do I think that shutting down their Twitter a/c is gutless. Remember Charlotte Dawson? This won't prevent them copping flack, they'll still cop it from the mainstream media.

The Independent's editor Chris Blackhurst had this too say:
"People play jokes all the time, in all walks of life. Sometimes they backfire. Now and again, the consequences are out of all proportion to the original jape. Likewise, accidents occur every day because of an unforeseen danger.

"I can't excuse [the presenters]. But a little perspective is required."

Tell me Jack, would you have topped yourself over this?

[FenceFurniture]

I can't imagine the bollocking that the nurse would have received from the hospital for putting the call through.
The hospital would therefore have to shoulder a good deal of the blame. You would imagine that they would have protocols in place for VIPs.

That someone would think that some minor embarrassment to the royal family was more important then their own life, is the real tragedy.

Yep, and I reckon that therein lies the heart of the matter.

[wheelinround]

Ray, better to have the security weakness exposed by these innocuous chaps, than some terrorist with real intent. Had they not gotten through, the security people would have all patted themselves on the back with "good job", when it clearly wasn't.


They did pat themselves on the back thats the big problem.

Fact I wasn't just going off the media's recent beat up and no I do not believe all I read least of all from anything Murdoch owns.

Media has been doing things which bring fear into the hearts and minds of many for a long time. I was brought up on this one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0K4ApWl4g



Once again we are passing the issue of Impersonation is against the law at this level, had any of us done the same things we would not have got off at all.

This seems to be acceptable with in media circles no matter which or what it is for similar situations all round the world to give us a laugh, gain cred points and ratings.

Here's a more recent one Extremely Scary Ghost Elevator Prank in Brazil - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N5OhNplEd4)

Not happy with that one they did this one

Extremely Scary Corpse Elevator Prank in Brazil - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxbZgB5UNO8)

Now if it was your aged mother or father in there with a weak heart or similar situation or pregnant wife etc etc.
I guess what your saying is that media are allowed to do anything they like regardless of the outcome, bit like our sports people getting let off just cause they are top of their game.

I agree the poor nurse had no reason to take her own life.

We all pull pranks, stunts etc some are stupid enough to be life threatening and its only after we consider what could have been the out come or in some situations see the real life out comes.

Hence why we now have the ban on apprentices being initiated, I saw one almost drown stuck upside down in a 44 gal drum of water and left he could not get out. Another fellow rag in back pocket it was lit burnt back as the rag had solvent highly flammable on it. Fellow locked in lockers who had a phobia of spiders and confined places.

Yep all stunts no harm done.

All done for other peoples enjoyment NOT he people whom the stunts involved.

[FenceFurniture]

Now if it was your aged mother or father in there with a weak heart or similar situation or pregnant wife etc etc.
I assume you mean in relation to one of your links, and not as the hospital receptionist.

I guess what your saying is that media are allowed to do anything they like regardless of the outcome, bit like our sports people getting let off just cause they are top of their game.
Absolutely not! I made no comment on whether or not they should have made the call. By and large I think that the media (mainly the commercial media) is irresponsible (to put it very mildly) far too often.

I am only commenting on the nurse's out of proportion reaction, followed by the media hysteria, that unfortunately influences the thinking of people who perhaps need to be told how to think (and I don't refer to you there). That's how they keep selling the papers. Thank Gawd that at least Murdoch has two less publications through which to spew his thought control.

[wheelinround]

I assume you mean in relation to one of your links, and not as the hospital receptionist.

Absolutely not! I made no comment on whether or not they should have made the call. By and large I think that the media (mainly the commercial media) is irresponsible (to put it very mildly) far too often.

I am only commenting on the nurse's out of proportion reaction, followed by the media hysteria, that unfortunately influences the thinking of people who perhaps need to be told how to think (and I don't refer to you there). That's how they keep selling the papers. Thank Gawd that at least Murdoch has two less publications through which to spew his thought control.


Any and all Media is. I never said you mentioned if they should make the call.

Any situation or do you consider not the whole or any situation she/they could have been a part of. I was really relating to just the video's but at what point do you consider a prank/stunt has gone to far? Who should be held responsible and what action if any taken regardless of outcome.

So what your saying is if Media want's to continue to make money all governments and the countries laws do not apply to them.

Thats true but Murdoch is consolidating all his interests isn't he got to remember he is not just newspapers so the proper gander is wide spread bit like fertilizer on mushrooms.

[artme]

A point not so far raised-
How much of the reaction has been influenced by political correctness
and our current propensity hang our hearts on our sleeve and indulge
in public grief and handwringing?

In my view too much twisting of events is done by everyone with access
to a microphone or a computer.

[jimbur]

The one sensible comment I've heard on this was when someone was asked what the station should do and the answer was, "have at least one adult in charge".
Using the word prank sums it up. It was a childish thing to do and most of us stop doing it once we leave school.
They recorded a conversation without informing the other person, seemingly an illegal act, then broadcast that conversation with the intention of maintaining or increasing their ratings i.e. to make money.
If nurses in the UK are under the same amount of stress and overwork as many are here, it's hardly surprising that they make a bad judgement call occasionally.

[FenceFurniture]

So what your saying is if Media want's to continue to make money all governments and the countries laws do not apply to them.

Eh? Nah mate, not even close to saying that. :no:

I'm simply saying that Jacintha was responsible for the extreme over-reaction that she took, nobody else is.

I had already refuted "I guess what your saying is that media are allowed to do anything they like regardless of the outcome", which is a different way of saying the same thing isn't it?

I dunno, maybe we are at cross-purposes or something here. The only thing I've said about the media is that they love to beat up something until hysteria sets in because it sells papers. IMO, the vast majority of the commercial media will go to any depths of crap to make money. Whether or not they are digging at something factual, worthwhile, or indeed in the public interest is completely irrelevant to them. They just want viewers/listeners/readers so they can make money from advertising. They do not care how they get them.

The worst examples of the media that I despise are
the British tabloids (generally)
Shock Jocks
A Current Affair
Today Tonight
Anything to do with Murdoch
Anything to do with Fairfax
Most things to do with Packer (although I admire their philanthropy, and I supported the World Series Cricket revolution).
and anybody else that screams "our Thorpy" or "we did this for you" or "your newspaper" like we owe them something. It's almost emotional blackmail on a grand scale. Tribal mentality. Bush - "if you're not with us then your against us (and we'll take that as licence to kill you if you disagree)"

How about this then? What if Alan Jones had topped himself (now there's a thought..........Alan? Are you a member? Someone send him a PM.) after it was revealed that he had referred to Gillard's father dying of shame? Would there have been a public outcry at the journalist who recorded it? I think not!:D I know it's a bit different, I'm trying to illustrate the point.

[MICKYG]

I believe that the word "yobbo's" would be appropriate for this particular pair.

Not very nice in any ones language.

Regards Mike:no:

[A Duke]

I think you all need a Bex and a cup of tea.:wink:

[artme]

I think you all need a Bex and a cup of tea.:wink:

Wot!? And ruin my liver!!:no::no:

[jack620]

Tell me Jack, would you have topped yourself over this?

Highly unlikely FF. But then I've never been subjected to worldwide ridicule, so I can't be sure. If I suffered from depression I certainly might have. Therein lies the problem with pranking people you've never met. You have no idea what their mental state is.

[FenceFurniture]

Therein lies the problem with pranking people you've never met. You have no idea what their mental state is.

Yeah, well that's reasonably fair enough, although I'd have to say that if their state of mind was that fragile, then if not this, it would be something else in the near future that would push them over the edge (and that wouldn't normally push someone over the edge).

At the end of the day, all Jacintha did was pass the call onto somebody else, who actually committed the breach of privacy. If the second nurse had said "naff off you dopey imposters" we'd never have heard of any of them again. And I'd say that they still would have broadcast the (in this case) failed prank.

[AlexS]

Even if you discount the fact that the nurse committed suicide, there was never any doubt that whoever involved at the hospital would get, at the very least, a good bollocking. Even if the juvenile presenters didn't think about this, or think about the ethics of obtaining and broadcasting confidential medical details, the stunt was, according to the station, run past their lawyers beforehand. IMHO, as serial offenders, it's time this station lost its broadcast licence.


How poorly trained and downrigh bloody stupid were both of the staff involved?
The job of nursing staff is to nurse, not respond to puerile twerps ringing them at some ridiculous hour of the morning. I suppose you'd criticise the broadcasters for being poorly trained in nursing?

[Jonzjob]

There have been some very interesting replies here.

Before anyone thinks it I am not trying to knock the Aussie media at all. They are basically all the same and will do anything they think will plush their numbers up. A while back the clown Jonathan Ross was barred from the BBC after several stupid incidents, but he has always been a clown anyway. Have a look at this for an exaple.

Jonathan Ross - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Ross#Controversies)

Russel Brand is just as bad! Idiots both!

The hospital have stated that there wasn't any action taken against Jacintha or anyone else. I would think that there is a proceedure for this kind of thing but at 5 in the morning it would be so very easy to make mistakes. I worked shifts in the R.A.F. for 12 years on large transport aircraft and I know just how it feels at that time.

The hospital has been used by the Royal family for a fair old while now and there will be proceedures for just about everything, but for some idiot to phone up doing even a bad impersonation of the Queen? A bit like a micro wave manufacturer not putting in the instructions about not drying your dog in it really?

[Grumpy John]

:ranton:

These two morons and the likes of Kyle Sandilands, Alan Jones, Yumi Stynes, et al are the reason I don't listen to the radio any more. I have over 17,000 songs on my Ipod and play that on random through my car stereo. I'm no doubt missing out on hearing some good new music (although I doubt it :rolleyes:), but, as FF states so eloquently, I am in control over my anger, and I choose not to get angry. As far as the media in general go I don't watch the news (on any channel), don't watch any current affair shows and rarely read newspapers. Am I ignorant and uninformed? Probably, but the media will put their own spin on a story to get the best ratings, not to give you the truth, don't think for a moment these journo's are doing their job for a noble cause.

:rantoff:

[Grumpy John]

They were bad in 1974, and they aren't any better now.

That night when on stage, the Chairman of the Board let fly. In a prickly monologue, he described journalists as “bums”, and as for “the broads who work for the press”: “hookers” worth “a buck and a half” at best.

Frank Sinatra, July 1974.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iMseJH9d78

[jimbur]

What do they put down on their CVs when applying for jobs on the station? Hobbies - ringing doorbells and running away?

[Wongo]

Would you have topped yourself over this?


I wouldn’t but it is very easy for me to say. Almost too easy. But maybe it is not so easy for a naive, trusting, loving, wife and mother from India, knowing the whole world knows about it. She must be feeling terribly embarrassed or even shameful. With no one to talk to in her little hospital apartment.....

Anxiety and depression lead people to do irrational things, and you better believe it. It is why they are wrapping the 2 DJs in cotton wool.

Anyway, I feel sorry for her, her 2 kids and her family.

[artme]

As we learn more about this episode several things are becoming clear.

This stuff was recorded and the vetted by people further along the
chain of command. Where does responsibility at the station therefore lie?

It may well be that Australian laws have been broken in pulling this prank.

How much training is given and by whom, to both the hospital staff with regard to
protocols, and to the radio station with regard to the law and ethics?

[artme]

Good rant GJ!:2tsup:

My view is that you miss a lot by not listening to Alan Jones.

[Wongo]

Is AJ still on air? I thought he is now a Catholic priest.

[FenceFurniture]

Is AJ still on air? I thought he is now a Catholic priest.

I should think that he would be THE VERY LAST person that should be allowed into that particular institution.

[Wongo]

Not when you are closer to God than most people. :D

[Grumpy John]

Good rant GJ!:2tsup:

My view is that you miss a lot by not listening to Alan Jones.

I've never listened to talk back radio (don't ask me why unless you want another rant), but since the "music" stations started employing presenters that think their opinions and stupid chatter matter more than the music I've switched off.

Oh, was that sarcasm artme, I missed the appropriate smiley.

[artme]

Twas indeed mild sarcasm.

I listen to him now and then to remind myself that I am one of the sensible people in the world!:p

[FRB Design]

Wouldn't it be wonderful that just once,out of rescpect for the women and her family that people could keep opinions and conjecture to themselves.

What has been put into print in this thread is just as bad as the media that most have been denouncing.


Frank.

[Grumpy John]

Wouldn't it be wonderful that just once,out of rescpect for the women and her family that people could keep opinions and conjecture to themselves.

What has been put into print in this thread is just as bad as the media that most have been denouncing.


Frank.

Frank, I believe that most, if not all of the people that have responded in this thread feel great sorrow for what happened to the woman concerned, her family, friends and work colleagues. Some have expressed their sorrow publicly, others haven't.
Surely you're not telling us that we cannot debate the (low) standards of journalism, which is what, I believe the OP was alluding to.

[jack620]

What on earth are you on about Frank? We must be reading different threads.

[A Duke]

Well we should have the whole story tonight the DJs are on A Current Affair and Today Tonight this evening.

[RETIRED]

Well we should have the whole story tonight the DJs are on A Current Affair and Today Tonight this evening.Ohhh, more unbiased and investigative journalism? :whistling2:

[FRB Design]

Frank, I believe that most, if not all of the people that have responded in this thread feel great sorrow for what happened to the woman concerned, her family, friends and work colleagues. Some have expressed their sorrow publicly, others haven't.
Surely you're not telling us that we cannot debate the (low) standards of journalism, which is what, I believe the OP was alluding to.


You of all being a person who avoids the media like plague surely wouldn't allude to discuss what the media are reporting, my point is the media doesn't show any rescpect and will milk this for all it's worth. At least we can show some rescpect in not discussing the media's hearsay and conjecture.

[crowie]

Well we should have the whole story tonight the DJs are on A Current Affair and Today Tonight this evening.

Yes, THEY HAVE BEEN ADVERTISING IT THIS AFTERNOON AS A "7 EXCLUSIVE" on Today Tonight.....

[AlexS]

It's amazing how the comment on social media, including this and other forums, has started to say that the poor nurse must have had other issues to make her commit suicide, when so far, there's not been a scrap of evidence to that effect. Almost as if it was being orchestrated by spin doctors for the station. No, they wouldn't do that, would they.

[FenceFurniture]

Jonathon Holmes (the Media Watch guy) has this (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-10/holmes-an-unforeseeable-but-not-unaccountable-tragedy/4418942) to say.

Alex, I think people are questioning her mental state because it's so hard to believe that someone would suicide over something like this. She was by far the lesser party in it.

[AlexS]

I think people are questioning her mental state because it's so hard to believe that someone would suicide over something like this.
Well, I find it hard to believe that anyone would commit suicide over anything but a terminal disease, but clearly they do. However, there has been no evidence that anything about her previous mental state would have predisposed her to take her own life, yet many people seem to be assuming that there was.
To me, if it smells like a rat, it often is. I know that's an assumption too, but it's at least as valid as the assumption that she had some predisposing issues.

[jimbur]

One point that has not been covered is the possible impact on relatives of the sick and dying. Many of us have been in the situation where the hospital/nursing home tells us that we can ring anytime, day or night. This is in recognition that relatives need reassurance and comfort too.
Are nurses to treat every such call with suspicion from now on adding further stress to an already stressful job and an extra burden on concerned relatives?

[A Duke]

It's still an assumed suicide there are other possibilities, which could leave people with egg on their faces again.
Regards

[Big Shed]

Keep it nice kiddies.:~

[Bushmiller]

You of all being a person who avoids the media like plague surely wouldn't allude to discuss what the media are reporting, my point is the media doesn't show any rescpect and will milk this for all it's worth. At least we can show some rescpect in not discussing the media's hearsay and conjecture.

Whilst I believe your comment is made with altruistic motivation I would point to the words of Edmund Burke.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing."

On this basis alone it is essential that such issues are discussed and a philosophy I try to follow. We are using the media against itself.: A double edges sword if you like.

However I take your point that it should be done with the utmost consideration for the nurse that took her life whetherit was a warranted action or not.

Regards
Paul

[Bushmiller]

Jonathon Holmes (the Media Watch guy) has this (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-10/holmes-an-unforeseeable-but-not-unaccountable-tragedy/4418942) to say.

Alex, I think people are questioning her mental state because it's so hard to believe that someone would suicide over something like this. She was by far the lesser party in it.

JH made some very salient points and it particularly highlights that the distiction between legality, morality and decorum are nowhere near as clear cut as we all think.

Remove for one moment the suicide of the first nurse. Erase that tragedy from your mind. What do you think of the prank now? Personally I wouldn't give the royals the time of day and the gutter press even less time (don't even think about getting me going on the shock jocks. A waste of space and a blight on the planet.)

Emotion has clouded our judgement. We witnessed, courtesy of the electronic media, a tradgedy that emanated from a relatively harmless, if slightly ill-considered, prank.

This type of prank has been going on since the invention of visual and audio media. Anybody remember Candid Camera? Similar type of situation. What if one of those pranks went wrong?

Orson Wells had a little hiccup when he broadcast HG Wells' War of the Worlds and caused one third of the American nation to go into freakout mode.

What I am pointing to here is that we have to keep evnts in perspective.

I would further comment that the discussion here is excellent and productive.

Regards
Paul

PS.I don't watch Today Tonight and in any event was otherwise occupied this evening. I do wonder if anything useful came out of it.

[Groggy]

I feel very sad that someone has taken her life, whether or not it had anything to do with the radio duo.

Poor lass must have been in quite a state, may she rest in peace.

[Bushmiller]

Apologies to Wheelinround. Just re-reading the thread (I only do that to important threads) and I had missed you already mentioned the War of the Worlds fiasco.

Just adding to my earlier comments, if we reintroduce the death/suicide of the nurse involved, we have to ask if this was reasonable under the circumstances. As she was barely involved, it seems out of proportion and more reasonable to say that there may have been other issues of which, at this stage, we have no knowledge.

Regards
Paul

[RETIRED]

"War of the worlds" really has nothing to do with this.

"WOW" was a radio play that the public had been warned about for a month before and there were constant announcements throughout the broadcast that this was a play and not true but people will be people.:shrug:

This was a prank that under normal circumstances hardly anyone would take notice of.

[Sturdee]

Just adding to my earlier comments, if we reintroduce the death/suicide of the nurse involved, we have to ask if this was reasonable under the circumstances. As she was barely involved, it seems out of proportion and more reasonable to say that there may have been other issues of which, at this stage, we have no knowledge.

Regards
Paul

No one has so far considered the cultural heritage and background of the poor woman. Being Asian the concept of "losing face" may well have had a big impact on her. The thought of having inflicted, unwittingly, permanent shame on her and her family may have been too much to bear for her.

[jimbur]

Paul, regarding Candid Camera, no items were broadcast without the approval of the people concerned.

[Jonzjob]

And, more in line with this situation, Candid Mike the radio programme that led onto C Camera had the same spec. No broadcast without the participants agreement. That was broadcast on Radio Luxemburg, 208 meters medium wave.

The Great 208 'Radio Luxembourg' A Brief History (http://radiosoundsfamiliar.com/radio-luxembourg.php)

[Bushmiller]

Paul, regarding Candid Camera, no items were broadcast without the approval of the people concerned.

A very good point. The radio station is maintaining it contacted the hospital before broadcasting, but that is being denied by the hospital saying that no senior executive was contacted. I don't know who they contacted, if anybody, but ordinarily you would have to think somebody in authority should be the person and not the gardener, for example, despite the splendid job he might be doingowith the roses.

Regards
Paul

[Bushmiller]

"War of the worlds" really has nothing to do with this.

"WOW" was a radio play that the public had been warned about for a month before and there were constant announcements throughout the broadcast that this was a play and not true but people will be people.:shrug:

This was a prank that under normal circumstances hardly anyone would take notice of.



My understanding was that they announced the format and warnings before the broadcast, but I'm not sure about during the show. It is interesting that the media are alledged to have exaggerated the fear caused and only about 1,000,000 people actually believed it was true!

However, my real point was that pranks have been part of our culture for some time. Even if consent is obtained events can still turn sour. As I mentioned before, just because a prank is performed it doesn't make it a good prank. It may not be funny, it may not be tasteful and many of them aren't. I cringe frequently at some of the antics.

You have to bear in mind that I think reality shows are the absolute cesspool of broadcasting so I come with some prejudice here.

I was questioning the balance between the alledged evil of the deed and the apparant over-reaction of the nurse, who took her life. To my mind it just doesn't stack up and I feel there is more of the story to unfold yet.

I do take Sturdee's point also that everybody takes situations differently. If the hospital had had a go at me for taking and passing on the call I would have come out fighting. Not everybody would react the same. I think the Chinese culture is the one that has more concern with saving face as opposed to Indian, but again I would like to reserve judgement until we have some more detail.

Regards
Paul

[RETIRED]

Paul, here you go.

War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast (http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/a/warofworlds.htm)

[Bushmiller]

Thanks

I guess this is the important sections,

"
Though the program began with the announcement that it was a story based on a novel and there were several announcements during the program that reiterated that this was just a story, many listeners didn't tune in long enough to hear them.
A lot of the radio listeners had been intently listening to their favorite program the "Chase and Sanborn Hour" and turned the dial, like they did every Sunday, during the musical section of the "Chase and Sanborn Hour" around 8:12. Usually, listeners turned back to the "Chase and Sanborn Hour" when they thought the musical section of the program was over. "

Still my point is that in the quest for ratings Welles, arguably, took quite a deal of licence and some believed deliberately manipulated the public. I think many Americans of that era were naieve and very insular and as such were a perfect audience for somebody who was both bright and possibly a little unscrupulous.

The hospital incident was two presenters striving to make their name in a cut-throat world. I'm not defending them. It's just how it is
:(.

Nobody has reported back on the Today Tonight programme. Was it a non event or are we all too highbrow for such trivial drivel?

Regards
Paul

[underfoot]

..I've just added a new word to my vocabulary..."Nontroversy"

[rrich]

I guess that I could be called an impartial observer. The recording of the prank call was a big deal on the evening news here. The news played a recording of HRM and the fake, asking which one was real. (I could tell and I'm not accustomed to hearing HRM voice.) In my opinion, the prank was tasteless regardless of who the patient was. I can only hope that those two radio (lack of) personalities can no longer find employment in the radio industry. Today it was announced that the nurse hung herself. Today I think that the radio (lack of) personalities should be tarred and feathered.

[FenceFurniture]

I guess that I could be called an impartial observer. ....Today I think that the radio (lack of) personalities should be tarred and feathered.

That's an impartial view? I'd hate to see what you'd like to see happen to them if you were partisan.