What are the big successes of For3?

[P. G. Tipps]

'Big Successes' ... ?

It may hardly be 'big' but welcome to Platform 3's brand new refreshment facility for some very lucky local members ...

Maybe similar facilities for members could be extended nationwide, french frank ... ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39457579

[Dave2002]

I wonder how often forumites visit the main for3 pages - http://www.for3.org

Here are the current aims of for3 - http://www.for3.org/aims

[french frank]

I wonder how often forumites visit the main for3 pages - http://www.for3.org

Here are the current aims of for3 - http://www.for3.org/aims

Considering that 80% of active forumites are not supporters and that c. 95%+ of the posts have no connection with Radio 3, I imagine most give no thought at all to FoR3 Sorry to be a grouch .

[Dave2002]

Considering that 80% of active forumites are not supporters and that c. 95%+ of the posts have no connection with Radio 3, I imagine most give no thought at all to FoR3 Sorry to be a grouch .

No - don't apologise. I just think that sometimes awareness ought to be helpful. As you pointed out sometime not too long ago the forum does support R3 simply by relieving the BBC of any "need" to provide online forums, which it used to do. Some of us don't listen to R3 much any more, for various reasons. Left to my own devices I would listen more, but other people around me seem to want to listen to R4 or do other things, so I don't argue.

I think the stated aims of R3 from the main page are still very valid.

[french frank]

No - don't apologise.

I've been keeping my head down, fearing intimidation after my last post . The BBC used to do a lot of things that it doesn't do now, and they could argue that hosting forums was never part of their broadcasting remit.

The FoR3 aims haven't been updated for several years (if ever). But speaking for myself, I also hardly ever listen; but because I think that what Radio 3 used to do was an important part of our cultural life, it seemed important to 'keep the faith' in an ever expanding broadcasting environment in which no other station (including BBC stations) has any obligation, inclination or interest in providing what Radio 3 did - and still does to an extent.

We've had a very good relationship with the controller, and I have hopes that he will get a grip on the remaining low points. Though I think that no one should harbour any thought that Radio 3 will become a service resembling the Radio 3 of the 1980s, 1970s, or still less the Third Programme. It's not easy fathoming out what a cultural service should - or could - be in a world dominated by commercial entertainment where anything 'intellectual' or 'difficult' is either elitist or boring

[greenilex]

I do listen a lot, trying to avoid choking over my muesli at platitudes and condescending inanities from the presenters.

For those of us who have no need to negotiate what is on, I think Radio Three is still often a default option, and just occasionally a moment of real excitement.

So mediating our reactions to the powers that be is still important, I'd say.

[french frank]

I do listen a lot, trying to avoid choking over my muesli at platitudes and condescending inanities from the presenters. For those of us who have no need to negotiate what is on, I think Radio Three is still often a default option, and just occasionally a moment of real excitement.

So mediating our reactions to the powers that be is still important, I'd say.

It helps if people express their views in a reasoned way which provides constructive suggestions that can be used when presenting views. FoR3 only ever had broad outline policy which was easy to ignore or reject if it didn't suit R3 management. We always tried to back up any submissions with evidence that views were held by a range of listeners, and the forum was of great value precisely because members were not closely attached to FoR3 and expressed a range of views on a range of topics.

But: "I can't stand that oleaginous/simpering non-entity spouting mispronounced drivel all the time" isn't the kind of criticism that is useful (though may be fun to express), especially where the opinion mongers can see for themselves that there are others who disagree. What could FoR3 say, other than "Some people think this, others think the opposite." Carte blanche for R3 management to accept whichever opinion accords with their own.

A (final?) submission did go into R3 last week - all 15 pages of it ; it did contain a recital of recent changes which members here had approved of, as well as a slightly longer concert entitled 'Some ideas to think about?'. This, admittedly, contained the focused criticisms which the controller is already very familiar with, as they are repeated at regular intervals. Where there is a strong majority view among listeners, we say so; if opinion is divided, we tend to say nothing.

Critics might consider what they would do if they were controller. If they start off: "I'd get rid of Presenters A, B, and C", it should be obvious to them why they're never likely to become controller.

[BBMmk2]

This Forum has certainly helped me out. Especially the last few months! Many thanks.

[Dave2002]

This Forum has certainly helped me out. Especially the last few months! Many thanks.

Very glad to read that.

Hope things are getting better for you. Are you on to beer yet? Anything stronger?

Best wishes.

Dave

[DracoM]

Well. as a Host, I do listen to R3 quite a bit, but selectively.

I fear that some presenters have the effect of making me want to turn off, and I seriously loathe the music critic's descriptive platitudes liberally sprinkled by such presenters - BAL, RR, and passim AMcG, Rob Cowan. Not challenging their verdicts, but the way they richly lard the upcoming 'track'. And KD is just a joke. Martin Handley is the model for me.

Less is more. More is emetic.

Which is why I use the Scandinavian YLE classical station a lot: [a] I don't speak Finnish, and [b] the links between pieces are very, very short.

The successes for the Forum? Enjoying discussions of the drama on R3, role of BBC in the nation's culture; educating me in areas I knew / know little about, making me laugh.

[BBMmk2]

Very glad to read that.

Hope things are getting better for you. Are you on to beer yet? Anything stronger?

Best wishes.

Dave

Hi Dave

All going well thanks. Still a fare way to go though. Drinking real ale but low in alcohol volume, like Harvey's Best or badger Best, etc. Nothing stronger. Only a pint though.

[french frank]

The successes for the Forum?

If that was the meaning of the OP, I misunderstood it. I thought 'FoR3' was referring to Friends of Radio 3 (FoR3 = Friends of Radio 3: the forum is only a marginal activity - the charitable arm , as you might say). We have avoided criticising individual presenters, though have occasionally mentioned someone who seems to be getting unanimous approval. One man's bête noire is someone else's favourite: what are we supposed to say about that?

The 'success' of the forum as far as the Forum members are concerned is on view all the time.

[Dave2002]

If that was the meaning of the OP, I misunderstood it. I thought 'FoR3' was referring to Friends of Radio 3 (FoR3 = Friends of Radio 3: the forum is only a marginal activity - the charitable arm , as you might say). We have avoided criticising individual presenters, though have occasionally mentioned someone who seems to be getting unanimous approval. One man's bête noire is someone else's favourite: what are we supposed to say about that?

The 'success' of the forum as far as the Forum members are concerned is on view all the time.

Indeed my original post was intended to refer to FoR3, not the forum, though as has been pointed out the forum itself is a manifest success for those who use it.

I just felt that many forum members had (lost sight of/never had) a strong feeling for FoR3, and there has been an ongoing divergence away from R3 related matters.

It's also possible that there are or have been some behind the scenes successes of which most of us are unaware - things that didn't happen, but which we (collectively) would not have liked.

Some newer forum members may not have thought to look at the FoR3 pages, or the aims - as stated - of FoR3.

[french frank]

I just felt that many forum members had (lost sight of/never had) a strong feeling for FoR3, and there has been an ongoing divergence away from R3 related matters.

It's also possible that there are or have been some behind the scenes successes of which most of us are unaware - things that didn't happen, but which we (collectively) would not have liked.

Some newer forum members may not have thought to look at the FoR3 pages, or the aims - as stated - of FoR3.

Well, thanks for the publicity boost, Dave2002 As far as behind the scenes 'successes' go, we can never claim any success. As per your OP, we did play a part in the DAB dispute (in the time of the old BBC messageboards). We had correspondence with the BBC; we even had an apology. But we have no idea how many other Radio 3 listeners wrote in independently and complained, so the 'success' could have been more down to a public outcry than pressure from us …

Even where we think there has been no public outcry, we still don't know whether decisions would have been made anyway, especially under the current controller. I'd be pretty sure the dropping of 'Your Call' was down to him! On the other hand, we do know what we have said to him and what seems subsequently to have happened