The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[Stanfordian]

Not me. I can't fathom how anyone can enjoy a roller coaster of Gershwin, Handel, Judy Garland singing Somewhere over the rainbow, two Ivor Cutler songs, followed by Purcell. The fact that that isn't what Classic FM would have seems to me a point in Classic FM's favour.

Put enough in the mix to appeal to as many people as possible. Sadly flawed!

[french frank]

Put enough in the mix to appeal to as many people as possible. Sadly flawed!

I once read that it takes radio listeners on average about 12 seconds to register that they don't like what they're hearing and to switch off. With that kind of mix there's something for everyone not to like.

[Lat-Literal]

I once read that it takes radio listeners on average about 12 seconds to register that they don't like what they're hearing and to switch off. With that kind of mix there's something for everyone not to like.

In all seriousness, this is what is so difficult. My radio memory of the 1970s is being able to listen to any one of seven stations for many hours while doing homework and later in bed and every part of them was palatable or better. It would have felt impossible to work - or be - in silence. I was often very reluctant to switch them off and go out daily into the world. Television just didn't have that role. In the 1980s, there was a similar number of stations in university course work, when driving and around socialising or work. There was hardly a time when something was said or played that was not of interest or to my taste. Certainly there was nothing at all which triggered fear. Perhaps I was unusually open minded or less comfortable in social company or when alone unfocussed - or alienated - in silence or all these things. I don't think I was all that different really. But now radio listening is either not to my taste or like treading on eggshells. Much of it is genuinely traumatising in a way that I could not have possibly predicted less than a decade ago. I still can't get my head around it.

I have thought about this further now. In all respects, radio, like travel, was a far away place and the far away was all a dream. That sounds very much like youth talking but I am not sure it is the whole answer. Even in the late 1960s, such things were still in their infancy for people of all ages. Now it is all reality including a reality we never knew or asked to know.

[french frank]

My radio memory of the 1970s is being able to listen to any one of seven stations for many hours while doing homework and later in bed and every part of them was palatable or better.

This is where people differ and where their ability to listen to radio differs. When I first started listening to Radio 3, I would not do so at times when my brain was focused primarily/most importantly on something else. Some routine jobs I could do while listening primarily to the music; homework if I had had homework to do at that time was one thing that required my full attention and I didn't want background 'noise', in the way that libraries used to enforce silence. (I don't know whether now library users have to work with the tsshh-tsshh-tsshh of someone else's ipod/phone in the background). I had a radio in my car but never had it on when I needed to negotiate unfamiliar roads or on long journeys. I need silence to think but that goes against society's need to constantly have speech or music on in the background: in the car, in the cafe, walking in the street, doing homework, even at work … Radio 3 caters for people who want to be doing two or three things at a time, so what is broadcast isn't of primary importance - as long as something is there. Oh, in my opinion, of course.

[Lat-Literal]

This is where people differ and where their ability to listen to radio differs. When I first started listening to Radio 3, I would not do so at times when my brain was focused primarily/most importantly on something else. Some routine jobs I could do while listening primarily to the music; homework if I had had homework to do at that time was one thing that required my full attention and I didn't want background 'noise', in the way that libraries used to enforce silence. (I don't know whether now library users have to work with the tsshh-tsshh-tsshh of someone else's ipod/phone in the background). I had a radio in my car but never had it on when I needed to negotiate unfamiliar roads or on long journeys. I need silence to think but that goes against society's need to constantly have speech or music on in the background: in the car, in the cafe, walking in the street, doing homework, even at work … Radio 3 caters for people who want to be doing two or three things at a time, so what is broadcast isn't of primary importance - as long as something is there. Oh, in my opinion, of course.

When I was last in my local library, there was just a teacher reading a story to a group of six year olds. She was fine and they were well behaved but it was the presence of other people in the place that made it more difficult. Arguably it is worse when there are just the library assistants around. I am a better driver and was a better student for having the radio on. It is quite possible that I couldn't have been a driver or a student without it. Taking in one thing while applying myself to another makes me more aware of each rather than feeling very overwhelmed by self-awareness as a writer or a listener. I can only assume that at some deep level it was about early learning and application with mother, the radio being a surrogate.

[BBMmk2]

They were nothing short of brilliant, it seems much of their output is not available now - time for a box from Decca?

Money well spent, IMO.

[Lawrence]

This is where people differ and where their ability to listen to radio differs. When I first started listening to Radio 3, I would not do so at times when my brain was focused primarily/most importantly on something else. Some routine jobs I could do while listening primarily to the music; homework if I had had homework to do at that time was one thing that required my full attention and I didn't want background 'noise', in the way that libraries used to enforce silence. (I don't know whether now library users have to work with the tsshh-tsshh-tsshh of someone else's ipod/phone in the background). I had a radio in my car but never had it on when I needed to negotiate unfamiliar roads or on long journeys. I need silence to think but that goes against society's need to constantly have speech or music on in the background: in the car, in the cafe, walking in the street, doing homework, even at work … Radio 3 caters for people who want to be doing two or three things at a time, so what is broadcast isn't of primary importance - as long as something is there. Oh, in my opinion, of course.

Don't we all need silence from time to time? I would have welcomed it this morning in the dentist's chair but had to suffer Radio 2 blasting out from the radio behind me. At least, I think it was Radio 2.

[Lat-Literal]

Don't we all need silence from time to time? I would have welcomed it this morning in the dentist's chair but had to suffer Radio 2 blasting out from the radio behind me. At least, I think it was Radio 2.

I don't think so, no.

There is a reasonably strong case for the absence of human sound.

But the best night's sleep would be accompanied by sheep baaing, sea, birds and storms.

(Not necessarily in that order)

[french frank]

Don't we all need silence from time to time?

I don't think so, no.

Research suggests it's beneficial to health:

"Inspired to go find some peace and quiet? Here are four science-backed ways that silence is good for your brain ― and how making time for it can make you feel less stressed, more focused and more creative. "

But the best night's sleep would be accompanied by sheep baaing, sea, birds and storms.

Again, research suggests certain kinds of noise (white noise) can improve sleep. But other kinds of noise (storms and bird calls are mentioned) don't help. The noise has to be diffused so that the brain doesn't become suddenly active.

[jean]

... I would have welcomed [silence] this morning in the dentist's chair but had to suffer Radio 2 blasting out from the radio behind me. At least, I think it was Radio 2.

My dentist congratulated the nurse on her choice of Radio 2 the other day. She said she didn't care for Radio 1. He said he rather liked Radio 4. Is that the one with no music? she asked. Then they fell to wondering what Radio 3 was all about, and decided it was probably sport.

[french frank]

Then they fell to wondering what Radio 3 was all about, and decided it was probably sport.

I went into local accountants and asked if, for a one-off over the counter payment, he would take a look at some accounts for me (actually the BBC's and Radio 3's funding). He said he'd never heard of Radio 3. Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 4 and Radio 5, yes. But not Radio 3.

I suppose there didn't have to be a Radio 3. I remember when British Rail had First Class (white tickets) and Third Class (green tickets). There was no Second Class.

[cloughie]

I went into local accountants and asked if, for a one-off over the counter payment, he would take a look at some accounts for me (actually the BBC's and Radio 3's funding). He said he'd never heard of Radio 3. Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 4 and Radio 5, yes. But not Radio 3.

I suppose there didn't have to be a Radio 3. I remember when British Rail had First Class (white tickets) and Third Class (green tickets). There was no Second Class.

....and BBC3 has disappeared from our screens and on to the net!

[Stanfordian]

My dentist congratulated the nurse on her choice of Radio 2 the other day. She said she didn't care for Radio 1. He said he rather liked Radio 4. Is that the one with no music? she asked. Then they fell to wondering what Radio 3 was all about, and decided it was probably sport.

Well, my dentist appointment on Friday was accompanied by Magic FM!

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, my dentist appointment on Friday was accompanied by Magic FM!

Classic FM was on all the time I was having my stent inserted. I didn't object.

[cloughie]

Well, my dentist appointment on Friday was accompanied by Magic FM!

Is that the modern substitute for Laughing Gas?