Confession time (sort of). On telly, I like documentaries and concerts and ballets and plays and series. I like things that have a schedule - not because they have a schedule and I'm a control freak; it's just that I'm like that.
Now... when it comes to sports, I like a few things: sumo and the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, which are (well, except if you add one idiot in the Thames) rather scheduled events.
I'm old enough to remember a time when all TV schedules were respected to the letter, even if a match or game of <insert any variety of sport here> wasn't finished. Today, let's face it, with the money sponsors are putting into televised sports events, channels do not stop broadcasting football, rugby, tennis or pillow-throwing (in case you're wondering, yes, I'm being sarcastic because I'm tired and angry) because there's just too much money in it for them.
The hordes of sheeple are just too happy because they need to see the results immediately.
Couldn't channels schedule sport events differently and plan for a possible delay to the following programme? No, because it'd mean planning (and I'm not sure they're good enough to plan this far) and it'd mean a short programme to show if the match ended on time, and that'd mean spending money. So, basically, channels today all hope that all sports events are going to end on time, and if not... to hell with the (paying!!!) people who are waiting for the programme that's scheduled after the game.
I know that there's no 'One person’s freedom ends where another's begins' in this case because we're talking about channels that want to make money without too much work; quality and respect mean nothing to these bipeds, so their behaviour is not surprising at all.
What I find utterly annoying is that, if you dare to complain, let's say because the play you're planning to watch is delayed by some sport, you'll have some sheeple (and not necessarily sports fans, which is just a bit rich!) who will make fun of you... because 'you react like my nan when her favourite soap is late', because 'it's not important'.
Basically, you're treated like a childish pain in the neck because you dare to complain.
I say 'Hold it right there, mate!'.
Yes, all right, it's not the end of the world, but why should it be wrong (when I pay for a service! Let's not forget that!) to expect my 9pm play to start at 9pm, not 9:15pm or even 9:35pm?
This is just entertainment (even if I pay for it), but I'm afraid it reveals a much deeper problem in some sheeple's attitudes. According to them, why bother with schedules? We've got TV schedules, but they're not carved in the rock.
Right.
This is exactly the kind of sheeple who will growl if imposed a deadline at work (Oh, the horror!).
But at the same time, this is exactly the kind of sheeple who will howl at the moon if their train or tube or plane is NOT on schedule.
Because, let's face it, if you want your train to be on time, I'm allowed to dream that my play is not going to be delayed by half an hour. Fair enough, no? Of course, our dear sheeple will growl that I'm being a pain in the neck, and that it's not the same.
Whatever.
I'm not advocating to always behave like sad dictators (a delay of a couple of minutes isn't too dreadful), but schedules and planning are made for a good reason. Not respecting them is an open door to... chaos? In the very long term - possibly. But it's immediately an open door to mediocrity and laziness.
Am I being harsh? Not in my book. Sorry (and as usual, when I say 'Sorry')...
I could blame this entry on my being feverish, but... No. I'm being myself, and I'm just saying, stating and typing what I think.
Besides, I've just caught someone barking at the world because of something minor - apparently, one is not allowed to express sadness if one feels sad, and that was a bit of a last straw.
I've got colourful names coming to my mind, but I'll refrain from typing them...
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