Complaints to BBC News online

The following is my e-mail to the BBC, which I am extremely shocked and think it's unacceptable to post comments of hatred.

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Hello,

I would like to express my shock and dissapointment on how the BBC handles an internet user's comment, posted on the following link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/chinese/talking_point/newsid_3304000/33040311.stm

On the BBCChinese.com page, forum section, regarding the Taiwan's Referendum on Independence. Personal preference on this issue will not be disclosed, but I am extremely shocked on the following comment:


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Again, I am extremely shocked, and dissapointed at the BBC on how the corporation (or simple the chinese news team staff) handle this comments.

I, for one, a loyal viewer of BBC Channels here in Canada and visit the BBC website as often as I can, understand the BBC itself often stands up to defend people's freedom of speech, and probably it's a mandate for the BBC, which has been a tradition since its establishment albeit the Government's control.

However, I question the BBC's definition of freedom of speech. Does the BBC's definition of "freedom of speech" covers hatred comments, and applauding the mass murder?

Does the BBC HAVE to post this comment online because of "freedom of speech"? I think I'm seeing a compromise here. Is it because the BBC, a big corporation, a corporation stands up for every thing from UK politics to worldwide, afraid to stand up from (not only) the Chinese Government, (but also) the Chinese people?

If this IS the reason why BBC have to post this, once more, I am dissapointed.

Albeit the post is posted on BBCChinese.com, which I somehow don't believe any main executive staffs at the BBCNews would really bother it, since it's the chinese team responsible for this. But the fact is, the comments is posted on the BBC, no matter they're posted on BBC Radio1, or other BBC webpages.

And the fact that the comment is being posted on the BBCChinese.com, it's a part of the BBC, and it'll stay on the BBC Webpage forever. And the fact that the comment is being posted on the BBC, it'll stay on the BBC Webpage forever. It simply ruins the reputation of the "BBC", and more importantly, people will start to see the BBC as the "purveyor of hate speech", supporting comments of mass murder, and hatred.

Sincerely Regard,

Jim Liu, Canada

Indeed, this post was in very bad taste and by no means what i expect from the BBC. It is unacceptable for a Major News corporation to allow comments like this to be posted online.

you couldn't pop a line break or two in there could you jimyvr?

Or just delete all that foreign rubbish that sends my screen into five-mile-wide mode.

If I could read the original post, I MIGHT have a chance of something like a serious reply.

Well for a start, you will have lost a good deal of support from most Forum users with your stupid posting style which, even on my 1400x1050 screen size stretches WAY off the screen, and frankly just annoys me. Pity the poor fools on 800x600.

Secondly, what exactly is the problem here? Anyone with a modicum of intelligence will understand that the opinions expressed are those of an individual (irrespective of whether or not they are shared by a broader spectrum of a community), and are not the gospel views of the BBC. Anyone who can't draw that painfully simple conclusion for themselves is unlikely to have the intelligence to contribute to such a debate anyway. It is obvious that the Talking Point is a forum, a melting point for the ideas, experiences, and opinions of individuals , with the BBC as the facilitator for the discussion or debate. Anyone who concludes that the BBC, in giving voice to an opinion - however controversial - therefore advocates, enforces or promotes that opinion as its own is frankly stupid.

So the BBC broadcast or published a controversial and extreme viewpoint - it's the end of the corporation as we know it! As the arbitrator of the discussion, it is the BBC's responsibility to provide the most balanced reflection of all the opinions that it can. The means of achieving this aim will, inevitably, include publishing the more moderate opinions, as well as those at both extremes - pacifist and firebrand.

To argue that the BBC's reputation has been irreversibly damaged by the publication of such an opinion is utter nonsense. What was said may have got you riled, it may have offended you deeply, and it may even have frightened you a little to see such an opinion in mainstream media, but none of these reactions has any relation to the crap that you sent in that email. The BBC - and indeed any other outlet that publishes such extreme and potentially offensive opinions in an attempt to properly represent every opinion voiced - should be applauded for doing so, and not lambasted just because it failed to censor an opinion that you find distasteful.

God, it's like watching a tennis match from here!!

I've got rid of the "Chinese" text, as:

a) It wasn't proper Chinese, rather strange characters
b) This is an English language forum!

Anyway, we resume 4:3 broadcast...

Tsk. It's censorship, CENSORSHIP , I TELLS YA.

And 'horizontalist discrimination' - Why is vertical always right?

That is true, yet I think they should have some intergrity when posting views like this, I was just not expecting the BBC to show this kind of content, I am not saying they should be completly slammed, of course not, and it is a good to see they are taking in all opinions from all sides, it is about limits, it was a bit too graphic for me. No this aint the end of the BBC, it was a bit too risky, I am glad they restricted to only using the comment on this single site. Although the decision to show was wrong in my view.

BBC is the one control what kind of comments should be posted. I don't care if it's opposition or not, but comments of hatred or applauding mass murder is just not right.

I think you may be misunderstanding the purpose of the forum, Jim.

Just as YOU are allowed to say what you think HERE, the Chinese communist gentleman is saying what HE thinks on the BBC's forum.

The forum owners don't have to agree with every word that is posted.

It is up to other members to point out when they don't agree with a poster, not the moderators.

Imagine if Asa simple locked every thread where a view in opposition to his own was posted. YOU might not last long here in those circumstances.

The purpose of the BBC's forum is DISCUSSION, just like here; so if we don't agree with the communist gentleman, and I suspect that the majority don't, then we should reply to his post and argue our own corner.

I certainly see very little point, if any, in dragging the whole argument over into a DIFFERENT forum, especially when that different forum is dedicated to television presentation and NOT web forum censorship.

If you really feel that you MUST discuss this here, then might I suggest the Media Websites area and NOT this one?