We’ve got no problem with anyone asking mildly inappropriate questions for the sake of driving debate. This website does it all the time! But the BBC unarguably went too far earlier this month when it asked its audience, referencing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill, “Should homosexuals face execution?” The network ended up apologizing for the posting a day later, with a giant asterisk. So has the BBC learned its lesson?
In a post on BBC World’s Have Your Say blog, there’s this:
Pulling on recent events in Argentina and Malawi, the BBC expounds: “So what is it about gay marriage that is so divisive? Are the symbolic and cultural resonance of marriage something that gay couples shouldn’t the entitled to? Do you agree with the bajan blogger who argues that supporters of gay marriage have to answer the charge that they always want ‘more’ and will only be satisfied with an equality which certification cannot give? Is gay marriage a step too far?”
Now this isn’t a terrible question to ask, even if it does “offend” plenty of gays and their supporters, who see marriage equality as a right not up for debate. But the BBC could have been a lot more tasteless, perhaps by posing the question, “Do fags deserve the right to ruin traditional marriage?”
How about we take this to the next level?
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Maybe they should pose the question to BBC News staffer Jane Hill, who just came out.
sal(the original)
wow well one the bajan is stupid,two maybe bbc can get this jane hill to look over these gay issues stories b4 they post it(if she’s not a push over)and three where are the gays to call in and tackle these ignorant views on world have your say?hmm is bbc blockin you?
merkin
Here is the problem with the BBC’s recent line of questioning. They’re formed as yes/no questions, which give equal weight to either answer and don’t require further explanation. Not only are they offensive, theyre POORLY-FORMED questions if you want to stimulate debate. A better question might be, “How should the UK respond to the Uganda resolution?” or “Do you think the UK will follow Argentina’s lead?” They still leave room for debate, but they’re not so loaded.
I think the problem stems from the BBC’s elitism. With the changing face of Britain–and the influx of Eastern-European and Muslim immigrants–the network assumes it has to “dumb-down” its commentary, to mimic Fox News in order to be relevant to these new viewers from traditionally conservative or reactionary societies. Way to shoot for the lowest-common denominator, Auntie Beeb
ChrisM
Wow, again?
Tallskin
Merkin – you say: “I think the problem stems from the BBC’s elitism” then you say that the BBC is dumbing down to appease reactionary immigrants.
Some contradiction there, surely???
I think the BBC is appeasing but not immigrants but more its reactionary & religious, badly educated third world “World Service” audience.
The fact that is so doing indicates that it far from “elitist” !! Have you bothered to check the dictionary definition of “elitist” recently?
Bill
Heterosexuals will do anything and say anything at any given opportunity to be sure that gay people are still aware that they view us as less human than they are.
This coming from a group that has the capacity to treat their gay children in the way that they do while screaming about morality????
Morality indeed.
MickW
They have every right to ask, how they see fit. Why should gays get to be the only ones who behave like assholes.
Brian Miller
If I was a British taxpayer and “TV license payer” (yes, every Brit with a job and a TV is required to fund the BBC), I’d start asking questions like “why am I taxed to pay for this drivel?”
Brian NJ
Any and all questions can be asked except those where the debate has been clearly settled and there is no reasonable argument for a yes or no depending. Something that was up for debate in 1510, is no longer debatable. Liberals really often fail when trying to appear neutral over issues that are really settled in reason, but not in the public debate.
The larger problem is that the press too often has a hands-off approach to demanding quality reasoning in debates. Journalists never asked “tough” questions that are shaped to elicit quality reasoning and the to narrow the answer to get to the basis is reason. It is supposed to demonstrate the questioner’s neutrality, but it is really a lack of journalistic courage and a kind of journalistic political correctness. If, in a debate, only one side is truly reasonable, I think it is the duty of a journalist to bring that out.
This happens constantly with shapeless questions that advance the debate nowhere. The above question is not in the “wrong” category, like the one about murdering gays, but it permits silly, circular answers, like “no! Marriage is between a man and a woman!”
A better question would be, “Do you have a right to a heterosexual marriage, and why?” That would have been an interesting debate. Or, “Should your right to practice your religion or any of your other rights be put up for a vote, and if not, why not?”
mike
The BBC’s questions are always assuming that somehow we’ve overstepped. What a load of crap. It’s a crap organization dominated by African dictator-pandering whackjobs.
mike
The sad thing is that British gays appear to be totally silent as far as responding to the BBC’s homophobia. Their taxes are being used to prop up this organization.
Lynn
The show “World Have Your Say” is broadcast on the BBC World Service – the BBC’s international radio channel. It is distinct from the BBC Home Service, which is for domestic broadcast and has a very different audience. (The Home Service even has a parallel program called “Have Your Say.”)
The World Service reaches countries where gays and lesbians are persecuted much worse than in the West. My guess, and I didn’t hear the broadcast, is that the BBC wants to promote a discussion in order to change attitudes. It also wants to avoid charges of colonialism or cultural imperialism, complaints which sometimes get made regarding LGBT rights. So the Beeb is trying to appear neutral.
Blake B.
Fox News is bad? By all accounts BBC has been the most homophobic media outlet to exist….ever. Their history speaks for itself. Their polls regarding gay issues are ALWAYS done in a negative stance toward the gay side:
“Should gays be excuted?”
“Is gay marriage a step too far for gay rights”
Next week..
“Don’t you just hate faggots?”
sal(the original)
@LYNN “It also wants to avoid charges of colonialism or cultural imperialism, complaints which sometimes get made regarding LGBT rights” yeah but the gays like me who live in these kinda countries are not imperialists we are their neighbours,brothers and sisters.this kinda excuse cant fly anymore,homophobia is not gonna fly anymore, BBC should TAKE a stand like it has a stand on albino killings and children witches killings even though that is some africans traditions