Watchdog

[galtom]

Why Polish national television (TVP) will not do such a program.
With naming (wrong doing) companies, showing scams, bad products,
etc...
BBC One "Watchdog" is one of the best consumer programs I have
ever seen. I can bet that within few weeks it would get very
popular if it was done exactly as the one in UK.
Why do you guys think we do not have it?
Because of wimps in TVP or our law is so much different than
British?
Polish consumer is in much worse position than avarage British
one. Shame :-(

[Gość: Steve]

To be fair, although there may not be a dedicated programme, there are sometimes 'exposes' of company malpractice on Polish TV. I'm not sure whether TVP does such things, but the non-government controlled stations are still free to be more open.

However, I think there is a fundamental difference between our two peoples. The British love to complain and criticise and never stop doing so to anyone they can get to listen. Polish people are much more reserved about doing such things in public: something to do with a combination of respect and fear of resulting criticism, I think. I was shocked to be told that a relatively small number of people complaining about the late president being buried in Wawel showed how brave Polish people are. I wouldn't be surprised if a similar proposal in England - eg Maggie Thatcher being buried in Westminster Cathedral - led to a major outcry, with newspaper campaigns against the idea. (Imagine Palikot running a populist newspaper and you get the idea of a significant part of the British press.)

[galtom]

Gość portalu: Steve napisał(a):

> but the non-government controlled stations are still free to be > more
open.

They will not do it because there would be fear of loosing ad rev. Company you will openly complain about might boycott you if future, plus
there will always be an issue ..."are they really independent in criticism or has a competition paid something extra for TV time". With
BBC that takes no money from ads on "sponsorships" is much easier.
Everyone knows BBC represents nation not anybody's private interests.

I would really love to see TVP following BBC's lead on how to fulfil a
so called "mission" of national broadcaster. Instead of getting more and
more ads or sponsors ("this program is sponsored by..." instead of an
add in the middle of the program) they should start to make decent
programs they can sell - like BBC. How many BBC's program we could see
in TVP over the last 20 years and how many TVP programs were
sold/exported?

> However, I think there is a fundamental difference between our two
peoples. The
> British love to complain and criticise and never stop doing so to
anyone they
> can get to listen. Polish people are much more reserved about doing
such things
> in public: something to do with a combination of respect and fear of
resulting
> criticism, I think.

Can not agree with that. It is the Poles that love to complain about
everything to everyone (even strangers). It starts with simple How r u?
In UK the worst you can hear is "Fine" in Poland even if person you have
asked is OK you will hear a list of troubles complains, etc.

Problem is... British do know how to vote with their legs. Poles will
complain and do nothing about it. Will go to the same shop (that they do
not like), will buy the very same products, etc...

Check how many people change their bank account in UK and in Poland, how
many of us changes telecommunication providers and so on... and so on...

We are not used to know our rights as a customers and it shows on the
telly as well. Every station shows the same crap in scraps of time
between ads. Not even trying to make anything different or to upset
anyone (with the small exception of politics - that is were we love to
fight and argue).

Compare "Deals on wheels" or older BBC program "Wrong car Right car" to
TVN's Zakup Kontrolowany or Automaniak to "Top Gear" or Fifth Gear.

There is really nothing worth my time as a member of audience in any of
the polish stations. That is why (though I am in Poland) I still watch
BBC, ITV, etc...

BTW: if anyone from UK is reading this or you got friends there (with
limited time on hands) there is a great site to watch telly (for UK
residents ONLY - VPN is not working there!) tvcatchup.com
Proper, live TV to watch if you're not at home.

[Gość: Steve]

You may well be right. It is interesting how we diametrically disagree on the different national psychologies. It must be the way outsiders see things differently from people who come from a country. Perhaps we are actually the same.

[galtom]

Well, I would be really surprised if there were quite large
differences between nations in Europe :-)
What amazes me is how similar and close are Americans and Russians.
Although ocean of water apart they are almost identical societies.

Both ruled by the same people for years, both multinational, both
wouldn't mind if could rule the world. Both have a large quantities
of uneducated people who are quite easy to govern.

European nations should really unite and WE COULD RULE THE WORLD :-)
as Americans and Russians would be no match :-)

[Gość: Steve]

Sorry if I disagree, but the US and Russia are only about 75 km apart. For me, one of the most disturbing features of the EU is the (German?) aspiration to create a single superstate that can challenge the US. I actually think Poland is a wonderful place as a separate country. EU world domination is not on my wish list.

[galtom]

Well, from what you said above the only thing I can agree with is a
part about "domination" which sounds like imposing ones laws and will
over others. You made it sound negative.

But I do not see anything wrong in EU being or acting as one - united.
As much as I think that I understand your point of view, I do have a
strange feeling it is quite unrealistic one.

If you would like I can write a bit more... as to why I think so. (let
me know - it starts to become quite different but very interesting
discussion - perhaps it should have a new topic name? :-)

I do admit that I do not agree with all moves made by "Brussels" but
it is probably because I still remember time when travel to a
different country was almost as possible for as travel to the moon.
So, yes... I am EU enthusiast :-)

I see all countries in EU now as big, big cities in one country... You
can be Londoner or citizen of Manchester... no one denies you that but
there is no way those cities could act as separate states in today's
world. And... why would they? Are you less free because London,
Manchester, Oxford, etc... is all UK?

It is obvious for me that never 100% of public will be happy or will
agree with view of its leaders... but that is how democracy works...

My thinking is that the sooner we, Europeans will stop thinking about
ourselves as separate, independent form what happens to other our
neighbours the smoother and easier it will be for all of us.

[Gość: Steve]

I'm just a bit older and more cynical. Coming from an immediate post-World War II generation, I see the USA and USSR, recent superstates, trying to impose their will and perspective on other countries and assume that it is still an inevitable part of the collective ego of a powerful state. If democracy is a guarantee of peaceful co-existence, it is only as a justification for aggression against those who fail to run their affairs in a way that the democratic country considers to provide for peaceful co-existence.

I worked for many years on European issues within the British Government and supported Poland's preparations for the EU. I wouldn't trust anything a Commission official says. I have experienced their lies and incompetence, on the one hand, and their complete arrogance in assuming that only they can know how the EU should operate, on the other. As for Commissioners and MEPs I have had work relationships with, blah blah blah. I understand how the idea of an independent military force that can act quickly and decisively without independent Member State approval can be seen as desirable. However knowing the type of people that would be involved in decision making, I find it quite scary.

However, I know you are right and greater Union will happen anyway. Since Maggie Thatcher had to submit to the extension of EU power despite complete opposition to it, there is no way of stopping it.

Despite this, I was considered to be an EU enthusiast by most people I knew in England. It has been an excellent thing for Poland. However, few people appreciate that it is the very high quality work of Polish civil servants that go to Commission and Council meetings to defend the Polish position in the Council that is the primary determinant of this. Media highlighting of Polish success in getting a (very watered down and therefore useless) European Parliament resolution against Belarus over their rejection of the Polish Government's Polish representative organisation is laughable. Such resolutions and general reports go straight in the bin: meet a few EP rapporteurs and you'll know why. (The exception only being when the European Commission find them useful in arguing for what they want against Member States.)

Sorry, but I'm the wrong person to discuss EU issues with.

[10iwonka10]

It is good programme but since Ann Robinson appearedion it I stopped
wathcing as she really'plays on my nerves'