A day in the sun.

While we've had some great server this week, today is the first day away from work. A delightful day!

New post.

Select Verdana.

Too big.

Ah, that's better.

Wow.  A blog.  A Web log.  My web log.  Things could get dangerous, or they could end up really rather trivial.  Most likely things will end up somewhere in the middle of the two.

That, by the way is a Welcome.

Now, you'd think I would've better planned my first blog post, but no - its a spur of a moment thing.  Plus, it contains content, something to discuss.  Now, I promise (well, promise-ish) this isn't going to be a regular soap box about the little niggles in my life - despite the fact I am starting with one!

For those living in outer space, Wonders of the Universe is Prof Brian Cox's latest TV epic.  So far in the series, we've explored time and most recently elements - all to some thumpin' tunes it seems.  The first episode garnered a total of 100 complaints into the BBC concerned with the volume of the audio track;  100 complaints out of a total viewing audience of 2.8 million.  Bonkers.  These complaints were not about the programme being factually inaccurate, or having poor standards - the bloody music track.

God, what have we become.  

Putting it into context, 0.0035714285714285718% of the total audience complained about the music being too loud.  I'm sure we could find 0.0035714285714285718% of any group of people who think the Phil Collins should come out of retirement - it doesn't make it right.

In response, I drafted and submitted a further complaint which you can read below:

I was appalled to read that the BBC made a last minute re-edit of Brian Cox's Wonders of the Universe.  This micromanagement of material is unnecessary and, I believe, a waste of money.

I read that only 100 people complained to the BBC, whilst the remaining 2.8 million viewers (I believe this to be the ratings for the first episode) had absolutely no problem with the volume of the audio track.  By my calculations that's only 0.0035714285714285718% of viewers.

These complaints aren't about standards, or factually inaccurate content; they aren't about some offensive language or a rude gesture - if they were I'd let this fly.  I think it is unreasonable to change programme content based on such a small figure of complaints.  I could easily find 101 people to complain that Brian Cox does not present the series wearing a hat.  If I can, I demand we have a hat super imposed onto Prof. Cox's head?

I ask that the BBC reinstate the directors true vision of the programme and ensure that a better complaints trigger (for complaints other than standards etc) is put in place; one that takes into account the number of complaints against the total audience.

Admittedly, I wasn't really appalled and I'm certainly not the type to habitually complain about the BBC either - I'm a huge believer in it (but that's another blog post altogether...) - but I am annoyed that such a small minority of people can successfully push their will onto others.  Hardly democratic - it seems a case of he who shouts loudest (this never worked when I was a child, why is it working now?).  Pretty frustrating in my opinion.

I am not saying that these 100 people can't have their opinion - we all do have a right to make our voices heard.  To me it seems that those dealing with complaints are all playing small politics, reacting to the next voice that yells rather than taking time to consider the larger picture and put things into context.  

I, for one, want decisions to be based on that big picture.