Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

From our own correspondent - warning?

(11 Posts)
Alea Thu 22-Oct-15 11:17:14

I have just had to switch off From our own correspondent in revulsion at the graphic description of torture meted out in one of the African countries (Burundi? Uganda? )
Before anybody worthily accuses me of sticking my head in the sand, it is shortly after 11am, there could have been preschool DGCs in the kitchen where the radio is on, but also I find that sort of graphic description every bit as bad as pictures or film of violence. The revulsion I feel is NOT going to make me feel any differently to such corrupt and brutal regimes, and I now have the memory of what the correspondent said going round in my head, possibly to surface in those wee small hours or to be the stuff of nightmares.
Might it not be reasonable to warn that what follows will be graphic and possibly "unsuitable" for some listeners? I don't need shocking into awareness about the awful things happening in some parts of the world.
If anybody heard it and made it to the end of the item I'd be interested in their comments.

Jane10 Thu 22-Oct-15 11:33:45

I didn't hear it but it certainly sounds as though it should have some kind of warning. Impressionable little children could be very distressed. The poor victims of the torture though......

Luckygirl Thu 22-Oct-15 12:07:26

I have had a correspondence before with the BBC about graphic TV newscasts during the daytime and early evening when children could be watching. The bland reply they gave justifying it on the grounds that people need to be informed completely missed my point about young viewers. I gave up.

Katek Thu 22-Oct-15 12:34:09

I heard it in the car Alea and agree with your sentiments. They do put warnings out for some television progs so can't see any reason it couldn't be done for radio broadcasts.

Alea Thu 22-Oct-15 12:58:29

Thank you katek I began to wonder if I am just "of a sensitive disposition" but after saying he wouldn't give all the grisly details, the reporter proceeded to do just that.
"Home Front" an hour later, which is Drama, was preceded by a warning that it contained a scene which "listeners might find distressing", fair enough it was, but surely fact is more distressing than fiction?
Maybe I am just getting squeamish as I get older, but I'd rather be that than hardened to the point where it just passes me by.

Katek Thu 22-Oct-15 14:08:25

Do they think that because there are no visuals we'll find it less disturbing? Personally I'm disturbed either way as I'm blessed/cursed with a vivid imagination. I've been caught out twice on FB this week with very distressing pics of what happens to sea birds/turtles with all the litter that floats on our oceans. No warning at all-one minute I was watching what I thought was a clip of some beautiful birds/animals and in the next frame there is a horrific picture of a shell-less turtle (I can hardly keyboard that....head running away from image it's creating) with insides full of litter. It was so disturbing. I know this happens and I do my best re litter and beach clean ups as I live by the sea but I don't want to see this over my breakfast without warning.

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 22-Oct-15 18:04:01

It is a programme for grown ups. The purpose of it is to tell us what is happening in other countries. Why should the pill have to be sugared?

And yes, I did hear it. And it was horrific.

Katek Thu 22-Oct-15 21:09:23

Not sugared Jings, just a warning that we're going to have to swallow something unpleasant would be nice.

rosesarered Thu 22-Oct-15 21:42:12

There are so many warnings now that sometimes I think....is this really worth my watching? Usually though,it's ok ( Think Downton Abbey, ulcer scene) other times it's...get it off quick!So radio should be the same, especially if it was as bad as that.So I agree, Alea and Luckygirl with what you both say.

Sonsybesom Fri 23-Oct-15 10:43:55

You are right about small children, the Schools programmes once broadcast the execution of Charles 1 complete with drumroll, delay then chop. We would have been about seven. It was so graphic I was sick, other children distressed and since then I cannot watch or listen to anything relating to that particular action. If I do, it gives me nightmares. The BBC does ignore the fact that small children can be listening or watching. Even the 6pm news can be graphic.

Marmight Fri 23-Oct-15 11:03:11

I listened to it while on my long drive south yesterday; I am 99.9% sure there was a warning before the programme that some listeners may be upset by one of the reports. It was horrific.