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The Forum > Article Comments > Fine tuning the ABC > Comments

Fine tuning the ABC : Comments

By Ben-Peter Terpstra, published 24/12/2009

Junk science, both conscious and unconscious, makes our ABC a special place. But nothing beats junk geography. Or a crap graphic.

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An example of Junk Science is the ABC Science Show's story "Twin Towers toppled by weakened steel columns" of 20 Sep 2008 at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2008/2369411.htm which proposes a completely novel and new explanation for what we are told were the three unprecedented engineering disasters which all occurred on 11 September 2001.

My response, including correspondence with Robyn Williams, is "Science Show too quick to close discussion of World Trade Center collapses" of 24 Dec 08 at http://candobetter.org/node/966

Other stories concerning the ABC can be found at https://candobetter.org/taxonomy/term/249
Posted by daggett, Tuesday, 29 December 2009 1:02:06 PM
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Gee, Daggett, you're a hard one to please. Robyn Williams might be the first to agree that the allegedly 'weakened steel columns' of the Trade Centre was a bit of disposable junk science. But isn't that what you and rpg want: publicly funded BALANCE?
Most of the ABC's viewers/ listeners are pretty well educated by now (largely via the ABC's keeping the balance on the believable side) and can tolerate a certain amount of von Danikenism for those less fortunate who have been brought up on loud advertisements prised apart by junk advertorial. Why do they gravitate to the ABC?
'Believe it or not' stories throw a sop to the folks who like conspiracy theories (see Zeitgeist). Junk science on the ABC is mainly reserved for the 'silly season'. There are a lot of silly people out there and it is a way of keeping the balance. Not as much fun as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which commercial radio station have you ever heard that on?) but then, conspiracy theorists don't seem to have a sense of humour.
Posted by Polly Flinders, Tuesday, 29 December 2009 5:28:45 PM
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Well rpg how about Richard Aidey, Rachel Kahn, Geoff Hutchinson, Tony Delroy, Ian MacNamara, these are all be arch conservatives.

I don't live in Sydney but seeing the electorate there has managed to elect the inept labor government for a whole decade a left wing presenter may be balanced for the electorate. At least corrupt WA politicians end up in jail.

I can tell you the rest of us are sick to death bailing out NSW with our taxes. The place might as well ask the Fiji commodore to balance the books.
Posted by gusi, Tuesday, 29 December 2009 7:54:36 PM
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Gusi I assure you it's the government the entire country's taxes are bailing out- and most likely on false pretenses as we (meaning the state government- not us) actually have plenty of money- if you ask me- I think they pulled one over all of us.

Anyway- I'm also sorry to say that the tired "ABC is a socialist conspiracy" myth has resurfaced AGAIN.
Tell me RPG, what exactly is "left-wing" about the ABC?
What "Right wing" coverage is it lacking?
What issues concerning "Right Wing" interests is the ABC refusing to show, and what blatantly socialist-advocating material does it so scandalously insist on showing?
What important "Left wing" figures and persons have major scandals around them that went unreported? It can't be Rudd (who isn't left-wing at all but is constantly referred to as such) because he's criticized all the time- and don't forget the various Rudd/Labor bashing GetUp ads and Chaser skits.
And most importantly, what's exactly stopping the other channels from showing it? And how are they "too left wing"?

I'm very much convinced that people who accuse the ABC of Left-Wing Bias NEVER watch the channel. The reason being is that I'm pretty sure I'm quite far from what a "left wing" person is, and I'm failing to see it.
Posted by King Hazza, Tuesday, 29 December 2009 8:26:01 PM
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King Hazza, I was referring to the way GST is collected federally and then divvied up unequally between the states.
Posted by gusi, Tuesday, 29 December 2009 11:03:28 PM
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king haz, or haz not - have a really good look in the mirror, that's a classic self inflated whining left wing liberal looking back at you - ok.

The reason you see nothing wrong with ABC coverage and in fact like it the way it is .. see above.

I do occasionally watch ABC TV, the programming outside of their commentary, Lateline, 730 report etc is great - but when you see their behaviour when dealing with the conservative as compared to the liberal side of politics (right/left), the bias is obvious, unless .. see above.

PM Rudd has socialist tendencies, get over it. PM Rudd is not criticized all the time, whenever questioned he points our MSM to the coalition, and off they go to ask them questions they should press the government for - he is a master of misdirection.

Where did I mention the ABC is a socialist conspiracy? Or is that your little imagination hard at work .. see above.

Gusi .. I'm not from Sydney .. have not heard of these Perth ABC people, well hidden clearly from us in Melbourne - Macca of course, but I can't stand his show, personal taste of course - Tony Delroy, yes .. give you that one. Come to Melbourne, listen to 774 radio, it is a nest of liberal thought and opinion, (Unless challenged, then they have no opinion). Jon Faine even called for an end to conservative journalism when PM Rudd won the 2007 election.

Polly - yes, I want publicly funded balance, what's your problem with that? Do you think the ABC should be completely conservative? I wouldn't go that far, I'm willing to share how about you? Or is your type of sharing where everything is your way? (were you an only child?)
Posted by rpg, Wednesday, 30 December 2009 8:08:28 AM
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