Controversy over at BBBC, where until recently I've posted a lot but am currently resting. In the wake of the Madrid bombing, Patrick Crozier posted an angry denunciation of the BBC's coverage, mainly referencing Channel 4 news (which can be the most annoying of the entire media I know) in which he expressed the hope that journalists might 'feel their pain' in a more literal way than is usually intended by that phrase- by torture in fact. Choice quotes include 'I want these people to feel pain. I mean real pain. The sort of thing only a professional torturer can dole out'. Despicable, say some commenters, while others join in the lurid fantasy, adding their own thoughts.

Why the vitriol, on either side? Well, BBBC was started to give a voice to people who are alienated by BBC coverage, who are concerned at its effects, and dismayed by its failings. There's always a fine balance between staying rational and maintaining a sense of indignation at bias, error, conceit and smugness. I think that, despite appearances to the contrary, Patrick did that in this case. His point, reading between the lines, was that not Hutton, not the License fee/charter renewal discussions, not criticism in the press and internationally, will dissuade the BBC from their cultural crusading at the expense of ordinary bystanders to the political process. I think he's right in that analysis. It'd be unrealistic to think otherwise... and that leaves us with the extreme positions that will upset the unprepared and infuriate the idealist. Of course, I don't agree with extremism. Not at all. But it's good to know where you're forced to stand nevertheless. Let's be clear too: it was a fantasy entertained under the duress of the moment. It was not, and could not be, the position of http://www.biased-bbc.blogspot.com/