British Broadcorping Castration

Norpig wrote:I just don't see how the Beeb is past it's sell by date though KP. They still make some of the best telly in the world for me. The campaign to trash the BBC is being orchestrated by the right wing media like Murdoch and the Tories.

gloswhite wrote:They are good in some things, but not all by any means. Were you aware that the BBC manages Acension Island. At least they were when I was there a few years ago. Why? and who pays for it ?

Do they actually manage it? They are on Ascension Island because that is where the Atlantic Relay Station serving most of Africa and South America for the BBC's World Service is located. British governments used to think (and maybe still do) that the BBC World Service served a useful purpose.

They do have an agenda..... to promote equality....laudable.

Their drama is world-class...... and reporting is largely neutral. Wish we could say the same about ITV's Piers Morgan....or The Daily Express

Norpig wrote:Get a life ten bob you really are a nasty little man aren't you? Jealous of everyone who's actually done something with their lives, so you just keep muck raking you troll.

Really.

Is there any need for this?

What's Lineker ever done with his life apart from being born with a wonderful talent to kick a ball - not as though he's had to do things the hard way like the rest of us, is it?

Is it wrong to avoid tax, no, but evasion is and unless I've missed Bob's point Lineker's been found to be in the wrong three times already for doing this?

How do you judge a man - on what he says or what he does?

It's not uncommon to find that many of our hero's we put on a pedestal turn out to have feet of clay.

I'm a massive fan of the BBC but mainly for the news and the factual programmes, I can't say I watch MOTD or QOS frequently if at all and a change of presenter wouldn't draw me back to watching them either.

Is Bob a troll?  He certainly get's a bee in his bonnet now and then but a troll, no. I don't believe so.

Does he warrant the abuse given by you - not at all.

Don't agree with him is one thing but saying what you did seems a great overreaction to me and makes me wonder if you are having a bad day or something as it is not in character from you?

If so I hope things soon turn out better but please no more abuse like this.

Sorry Sluffy but he comes across on here as nasty and spiteful and looks down on us mere mortals. It was a bit strong but that's how i feel about him.

I was listening to a couple of Gammons who were sat on a bench earlier. They were slandering Alex Scott. One of them beacme puce. Its funny how all the Gammons hate her. I cant understand why that is.

Bob’s a bit different, I’ve no issue with him but (like Karly) anyone who can’t handle having their opinions questioned is weak and needs to do some growing up. I don’t understand the culture war against the BBC at the moment, all a bit depressing really if I’m honest.

Norpig wrote:Sorry Sluffy but he comes across on here as nasty and spiteful and looks down on us mere mortals. It was a bit strong but that's how i feel about him.

It's ok mate.

We are all a bit different from one another and some of us no doubt rub others up the wrong way - but I believe in Bob's case, unintentionally.

I don't think his aim for a moment is to piss you or anyone else off on here but to vent against people who seem on the surface 'good' people but when you look a bit deeper seem to be playing the system you and I pay into, millions!

He can't square how they are seen to be presented as people to look up to and when you think about it, he's right.

Nowt he or anyone else can do about it so I guess he's just getting it out of his system on here - and possibly also the fact he's no longer his free TV licence for being 75 or over and is now having contribute to Lineker's hefty wages knowing full well 'jug ears' has been putting that money into schemes to 'evade' paying tax on it!

Perhaps you might cut him a bit of slack as he does indeed have a point but maybe doesn't present it in the best way for young millenniums like you are used to.

T.R.O.Y. wrote:Bob’s a bit different, I’ve no issue with him but (like Karly) anyone who can’t handle having their opinions questioned is weak and needs to do some growing up. I don’t understand the culture war against the BBC at the moment, all a bit depressing really if I’m honest.

I think it is fairly clear why the BBC is being attacked by right wing zealots. They are trying to suppress any criticism of Boris and his cronies.

Sluffy wrote:

It's ok mate.

We are all a bit different from one another and some of us no doubt rub others up the wrong way - but I believe in Bob's case, unintentionally.

I don't think his aim for a moment is to piss you or anyone else off on here but to vent against people who seem on the surface 'good' people but when you look a bit deeper seem to be playing the system you and I pay into, millions!

He can't square how they are seen to be presented as people to look up to and when you think about it, he's right.

Nowt he or anyone else can do about it so I guess he's just getting it out of his system on here - and possibly also the fact he's no longer his free TV licence for being 75 or over and is now having contribute to Lineker's hefty wages knowing full well 'jug ears' has been putting that money into schemes to 'evade' paying tax on it!

Perhaps you might cut him a bit of slack as he does indeed have a point but maybe doesn't present it in the best way for young millenniums like you are used to.

You really are indulgent, Sluffy. I could easily afford the TV licence if it was ten or a hundred times more than it is but that wouldn't really make it right for a public service broadcaster to facilitate the kind of tax dodges that are inherent in the system or justify the withdrawal of a relief that are appreciated and valued by those who have contributed to the system throughout their lives without ever indulging in any of the kind of tax dodges that now seem to abound amongst the Beeb's slebs.

We live in an era where half-truth, spin and falsehood are the norm in almost all walks of life  and I just happen to have gained enough knowledge and experience to see through a lot of it and expose it for the sham it really is. 

There's no shortage of folk who prefer the truth hidden or buried. It suits them and serves their interest but, for better or for worse, its never quite suited me.

Why do you care so much about tax though ten bob? For as long as people have been earning large amounts then there has always been people looking to avoid paying as much tax as they should. I'm sure there are people you actually admire that have or as still doing that exact same thing.

Ten Bobsworth wrote:You really are indulgent, Sluffy. I could easily afford the TV licence if it was ten or a hundred times more than it is but that wouldn't really make it right for a public service broadcaster to facilitate the kind of tax dodges that are inherent in the system or justify the withdrawal of a relief that are appreciated and valued by those who have contributed to the system throughout their lives without ever indulging in any of the kind of tax dodges that now seem to abound amongst the Beeb's slebs.

We live in an era where half-truth, spin and falsehood are the norm in almost all walks of life  and I just happen to have gained enough knowledge and experience to see through a lot of it and expose it for the sham it really is. 

There's no shortage of folk who prefer the truth hidden or buried. It suits them and serves their interest but, for better or for worse, its never quite suited me.

Sorry I wasn't intending to be, just trying to make a little point as to how all TV licence payers are paying a fraction of our fees to the likes of Gary and Sue and how that would not be a pleasant thought for you to be doing.

I'm the same as you in the respect of being honest and open, I guess much of it is down to how I was brought up but there is also a little something somehow ingrained in me to 'do the right thing' even when not doing so would have made my life a lot more easier at times.

A few years ago my daughter was travelling on her gap year and I had encouraged her to take the opportunities that presented themselves to her on her travels as she may never have the chance or opportunity to pass that way again. Well one day I got a call from her and she had a chance to swim with Whale Sharks but was concerned about how the tour companies were exploiting them and she didn't know whether to go or not, to which my reply was that she had to live with herself and would she be more comfortable taking the chance to swim with the sharks, as she might never get that chance again, or more comfortable not doing so and knowing she wasn't party to them being exploited.

I'm pleased to say she chose the latter, she may never get to swim with whale sharks in her life but at least she doesn't have to carry around in her head, her guilt for having done so.

I tell the story simply because that is how I am, I'm bothered far more for not doing the right thing - even though it would benefit me enormously, than doing the right thing even though it does me no favours. I can't help it, I even sometimes regret doing it at the time but I still do it never the less.

It's me that has to live my life and I can live more peacefully within myself knowing I did the right thing instead of the wrong thing even thought that would probably saved me a lot of grief at the time.

Maybe I'm a fool but at least I'm a contented one.

I guess the main difference between us though is that I have accepted that the world is unfair and no longer fight battles I have no hope of winning.

Good luck to you with Vince, Lineker, et al but they are simply battles I have no interest in fighting, they've won and I can see any mileage in worrying about them myself.

Fair play to you for not giving in though, in a way I admire you for it.

Most reasonable people want to see the rich pay their fair share of tax. But Bob’s crusade seems to be more about people he doesn’t like than anything moral as Sluffy and Bob now seem to be positioning it. It’s quite difficult to take seriously.

Sluffy wrote:

Sorry I wasn't intending to be, just trying to make a little point as to how all TV licence payers are paying a fraction of our fees to the likes of Gary and Sue and how that would not be a pleasant thought for you to be doing.

I'm the same as you in the respect of being honest and open, I guess much of it is down to how I was brought up but there is also a little something somehow ingrained in me to 'do the right thing' even when not doing so would have made my life a lot more easier at times.

A few years ago my daughter was travelling on her gap year and I had encouraged her to take the opportunities that presented themselves to her on her travels as she may never have the chance or opportunity to pass that way again.  Well one day I got a call from her and she had a chance to swim with Whale Sharks but was concerned about how the tour companies were exploiting them and she didn't know whether to go or not, to which my reply was that she had to live with herself and would she be more comfortable taking the chance to swim with the sharks, as she might never get that chance again, or more comfortable not doing so and knowing she wasn't party to them being exploited.

I'm pleased to say she chose the latter, she may never get to swim with whale sharks in her life but at least she doesn't have to carry around in her head, her guilt for having done so.

I tell the story simply because that is how I am, I'm bothered far more for not doing the right thing - even though it would benefit me enormously, than doing the right thing even though it does me no favours.  I can't help it, I even sometimes regret doing it at the time but I still do it never the less.

It's me that has to live my life and I can live more peacefully within myself knowing I did the right thing instead of the wrong thing even thought that would probably saved me a lot of grief at the time.

Maybe I'm a fool but at least I'm a contented one.

I guess the main difference between us though is that I have accepted that the world is unfair and no longer fight battles I have no hope of winning.

Good luck to you with Vince, Lineker, et al but they are simply battles I have no interest in fighting, they've won and I can see any mileage in worrying about them myself.

Fair play to you for not giving in though, in a way I admire you for it.

Its not a battle to be won or lost, Sluffy. But I do find it interesting to look beneath the veneer of the sleb culture, media hype and juvenile journalism.

And btw don't think for one moment that you and I are unusual in examining Companies  House filings and declarations. I am a Vice President of a charity that I was closely involved with for many years and yesterday one of the present trustees was walking by my house. He is quite a successful businessman with a keen interest in junior football and for many years a sponsor of the League 2 club he's supported all his life.

I was in the garden and we got into a quite a lengthy conversation during which he told me how he spends quite a bit of his time on the Companies House site and how surprised he was to discover the names of two people he knew on the Ingenious file. He also told me how it came about. I won't repeat it but it did confirm something that had crossed my mind when I first noticed the names.

Blessed are the incurious

The truth is that it was the government that decided to stop paying for the benefit for over 75s, and Labour and the charity Age UK accused the government of betraying pensioners and trying to shift the blame on to the broadcaster.

I watched MOTD last night, Lineker was his usually knowledgeable and professional self.

Apologies Bob, sadly I didn't have time to find out about his financial situation, but it was nearly midnight by the time it finished.

Natasha Whittam wrote:I watched MOTD last night, Lineker was his usually knowledgeable and professional self.

Apologies Bob, sadly I didn't have time to find out about his financial situation, but it was nearly midnight by the time it finished.

Did you really? Don't know how he manages on it, but Lineker's still worth £1.35m of anybody's money, is he?

You'd be up a long time trying to find out where the dosh is going these days, though. Its well and truly hidden if you ask me.

It's really insignificant in the scheme of things. 
Compare that to "Mr Brexit" Dyson who once we'd committed to leaving the EU moved his head office from the UK to the Far East so that he wouldn't have to contribute his taxes to the UK.
Or the raft of offshore Conservative party funders.

These small time TV presenters are not the same class.

Just been listening to Anneliese Dodds. She wants to bear down on tax dodgers and help businesses that agree not to pay dividends in return for financial support. 

Some good news there for tax dodgers though. Its by not paying dividends that they avoid paying tax on the dividends. You explain it to her, Dale.

wanderlust wrote:It's really insignificant in the scheme of things. 
Compare that to "Mr Brexit" Dyson who once we'd committed to leaving the EU moved his head office from the UK to the Far East so that he wouldn't have to contribute his taxes to the UK.
Or the raft of offshore Conservative party funders.

These small time TV presenters are not the same class.

You are right. They are small time, over-hyped, overpaid and under-taxed. Some seem to think they are more important than they really are.

Dyson is a very successful inventor and entrepreneur who, like most successful entrepreneurs, will try to maximise business opportunities and minimise costs and risks wherever they can (including tax costs).
 
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Sir James told the paper his recent bid to build an electric car had been scrapped despite costing £500m of his own money.
"Ours is a life of risk and of failure," he said. "We try things and they fail. Life isn't easy."


He still lives and invests in the UK, so far as I'm aware, and is therefore subject to UK taxes on personal income.