Thursday, November 10, 2005

Where's the Balance, ABC?

Listening to ABC Radio at home in Coober Pedy today I heard a wonderfully enthusiastic introduction given by a presenter named Deb, for her guest, another Deb.
As the interview progressed it was easy to hear that Deb the presenter was very impressed with her guest Deb.
But for me, I was getting madder and madder, because the interview only presented, in a very positive way, one side of the subject of speaking with people who have "passed over".
Guest Deb told how from early childhood she experienced supernatural sightings and conversations with dead people. And how this phenomenon had been in the maternal side of her family for generations.
Presenter Deb expressed amazement at the 'talent' or 'gift' of her guest.
But by the end of the interview it was obvious to me that Deb the presenter had a total ignorance of Christian spiritual doctrine on the subject of talking with the dead.
I think the ABC failed miserably in presenting a balanced broadcast with this interview, by not giving any hint that the Christian side of the subject would be given airplay at any time in the future.
I don't mind if presenter Deb does a wonderful job of interviewing someone in a positive way. And I don't mind being informed that guest Deb is a respected, long standing clairevoyant of 25 years' experience.
However I do mind if the ABC puts across that non-Christian subject matter is so impressive that it does not warrant a balanced point of view.
Surely someone in the ABC can follow this up and arrange to present an equally positive interview with a qualified Christian person.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Mature Audience Only

Andrew Denton's Enough Rope last night on ABC TV had a warning that 'mature' audiences only should view it, as it had 'some coarse language'.
A timely warning, as it surely had coarse language.
Now, how should we take this 'mature' stuff?
I suspect it means that viewers should not be children because children are immature and should not be exposed to such language because it's not good for them because it will corrupt them. Whereas adults are mature and don't get upset by such stuff. They are already corrupted by coarseness so it's like water off a duck's back to them.
Well, call me an immature adult if you like, but I got upset by it. It upset me that the ABC is so coarse in its choice of provision of entertainment that it allows such programs to be produced.
What is the good value in such entertainment?
No doubt Mr Denton and his guest are men of fine intellect and talented.
But what a waste of intellect and talent, to be greatly amused by their own coarseness.
For me the only value I can find is that it gave me an opportunity to pray that both these men and the ABC programers and the audience will realise the low value for the nation that such an interview is.
And to thank God that I no longer get laughs out of such coarse stuff, like I did in the past.