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If it's such a big issue to parliamentarians why don't you just start up your own channel, why this reliance on England? If you are going to live in union with the English, as they are the dominant power you have to expect these things...
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That is a very good point.
If the Welsh & Scots do not like the BBC coverage, get off your Rses and do something about it.
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I didn't really have a problem with the bias before now...until i read those comments.
They hit somewhat of a sore spot.
Our own channels? You do realise that our "own channels" are those of BBC 1 Wales, BBC 2 Wales and S4C...our own channels are those funded by BBC.
Reliance on the English? We HAVE TO rely on the English because we are such a small country (nay principality). We rely on your money (which is actually seen as "our money") we need the English and we could NEVER become a republic. Any welsh person to think otherwise is deluded.
We've been given the freedom of speech and clearly there are some Welsh folk out there who feel they want more concentration on Wales.
Granted, these people could learn to speak Welsh and turn over to S4C and watch NOTHING BUT Wales, but we're a country that's filled with English speakers and live in a culture and society that is heavily dominated by the concept of a western world revolving around the English word. So, not everyone here can speak Welsh.
"Dominant power" your speaking as if the Empire still runs good and strong. Get over yourself, things don't quite work the way they used to...not that you ever witnessed the way things "used to be" so why on earth you have this way of thinking is beyond me. How about thinking of Wales as an allie to England and there is no "power situation"
Now England have long since accepted that Wales are HEAVILY reliant on them, and have willingly funded us and what not, and granted you could choose to say "beggars can't be choosers" but England should look at Wales as their adopted children. They chose to look after us, so they can't let us watch the tele and not let us have cartoons. That's unfair and cruel punishment. So would it be too much to ask for a little less English bias?
NB: Not that i have a problem with all of this. It's just i didn't appreciate JovialJim's and BLR's comments being thrown around so flippantly. Nationalities are a delicate concept and words of such a belittling nature can be hurtful.
You were close to a neg rep for those comments.
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You should have a look to Eastern Europe or the Balkans, you will see that there are republics such as Slovenia which are independent countries with a descent standard of living. Recently UK, Germany, Italy and France recognised the independence declaration of Kosovo which is smaller and counts less inhabitants than Wales.
In principle Wales could become an independent country if there was a real willingness for it, but I think the "Britishness" feeling of the Welsh is in contradiction.
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I'm not sure of who it is-didn't catch the game-but there are a couple english commentators who really focus on their own team-its annoying-they do it to the point where you want to mute the commentary-Comments like "England have to do this now" and cheering when they score-its just unproffessional-they were doing it at the world cup too. [/b]
Please don't say it is part of a vast, evil, Anti-Scottish conspiracy. Otherwise I
will be forced to kill you...slowly.
That said, I think the comentators you're thinking of are the Sky ones (Miles Harrison and Stuart Barnes) for the "England have to do this now" and the BBC's Brian Moore for the cheering/getting very angry at England. Do note that Brian Moore's sidekick is indeed
Welsh (Eddie Butler). And while it is quite unprofessional and I don't condone it (bring back Bill McClaren:
the most unbiased commentator ever. Period. End of discussion.) in the case of Brian Moore who has always been extremely outspoken in his views, quite what you were expecting is beyond me.
And as a side note, if you can, try and find the French coverage of the France vs New Zealand Quarter Final. There the commentators were literally screaming "OUUUUUUUIIII" for the 2nd French try and going frankly stark raving nuts. As a matter of course, if the commentators are the same nationality of the team who is playing then most likely, they
will be biased towards them.
The solution? As an example, just get Irish commentators to do England vs Wales, Welsh ones to do Ireland vs Scotland and English ones to France vs Italy.
Et Voila, problems of bias are solved! [/b][/quote]
I quite often find the commentary by the BBC more neutral than what we can get on the French TV. For example during the last match in Paris, they were quite vocal on the knock-on which preceded the first English try.
In general you are right the commentators are very often biased toward the teams of their countries. I watched the famous RWC QF played in Cardiff on the NZ TV and I was surprised by the bias of the commentators.
I think that this pleases many of the TV watchers, this creates a link with the commentators.
