Absent Friends & Missing Persons

[french frank]

Steering this back to the forum and Radio 3, I think the two are connected (I hope so?). If you lose interest in Radio 3, your interest in the forum is, at least, diminished. I can't really comment here directly on any programmes because I no longer listen to them.

[Pulcinella]

Isn't "peripheral" being misinterpreted here?

Surely it is a compliment.

Alain said his interest in the UK has now become peripheral.
BeefO took that to mean that Alain wrote off 66 million people as peripheral.

I sympathise with Alain's attitude, but also happen to think that as a nation we have indeed become a peripheral concern to the rest of the world, though that is NOT what Alain said. No doubt I will be thought of as 'talking this country down'.

[Serial_Apologist]

Steering this back to the forum and Radio 3, I think the two are connected (I hope so?). If you lose interest in Radio 3, your interest in the forum is, at least, diminished. I can't really comment here directly on any programmes because I no longer listen to them.

But that is not the reason for your stepping down as Host.

[gradus]

The "you" is the U.K.: I thought that was clear from my previous sentence, but if not, then I wrote with insufficient clarity and careless syntax. I was not attacking the Forum (although from time to time I have been bitten in the leg by other posters and it stung). Perhaps "written off" is strong, but what seems to have happened in those Isles is that you seem more insular - how could you not? Geography dictates it. Discussion of a certain subject over here has now been relegated well down the pages, we have other much more pressing uncertainties* to worry about.

*Example: how much discussion is there in the U.K. press of the current and probably incendiary border dispute between a country on the edge of the E.U. and one about to join? We see a Casus Belli. You probably feel they are small countries a long way away and of which your people know nothing.

As if to prove the truth of the accusation, at least in my case, could you help me with the names of the states to which you refer?

[Lat-Literal]

Alain said his interest in the UK has now become peripheral.
BeefO took that to mean that Alain wrote off 66 million people as peripheral.

I sympathise with Alain's attitude, but also happen to think that as a nation we have indeed become a peripheral concern to the rest of the world, though that is NOT what Alain said. No doubt I will be thought of as 'talking this country down'.

I meant that I quite like being peripheral.

Being a R3 listener is peripheral, having an interest in a northern forest is peripheral, wanting there to be a fan club for Charlie Kunz is peripheral, etc.

[cloughie]

I do occasionally hear from 'Gordon' and I gathered once or twice that he was finding less of interest to him these days He was also much involved with VLV.

VLV? I find use of initials, that I have to rack my brain to work out, very annoying.

[Alison]

Pet

Once you eventually retire - not long now - I think you should devise a whole Proms season.

Maybe you’d need a little help in the early and contemporary fields but I’m sure Ferney and Co would help.

We could then all play out the eight week season mid winter.

[french frank]

But that is not the reason for your stepping down as Host.

No But I did anyway, and still can't resist wanting to be a peacemaker!

People give up the forum and go away for many, many reasons. Ours not to question motives (though that's only my way of thinking of things).

[french frank]

VLV? I find use of initials, that I have to rack my brain to work out, very annoying.

The Voice of the Listener and Viewer. Apologies for causing irritation!

[cloughie]

I meant that I quite like being peripheral.

Being a R3 listener is peripheral, having an interest in a northern forest is peripheral, wanting there to be a fan club for Charlie Kunz is peripheral, etc.

Increasingly I find my musical tastes peripheral, nice to share, but if nobody wants to so what?

[Alison]

VLV? I find use of initials, that I have to rack my brain to work out, very annoying.

[cloughie]

The Voice of the Listener and Viewer. Apologies for causing irritation!

Thanks ff! Duly Googled so now I know more!

[BBMmk2]

Pet

Once you eventually retire - not long now - I think you should devise a whole Proms season.

Maybe you’d need a little help in the early and contemporary fields but I’m sure Ferney and Co would help.

We could then all play out the eight week season mid winter.

Sounds like a plan, Pet?

[Richard Barrett]

All I can say is that having lived abroad for almost a quarter of a century, in three different countries, I've become very intolerant of the synecdoche (hurrah! first time I've actually ever used that word! ) that uses the word "you" to describe an entire nation, or, in this case, its ruling class. The concept of nationality is a way of dividing people. We can however refuse to play that game.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

We seem to have moved from regretting the absence of Forumistas and provided, instead, possible reasons why they might have left in the first place.

The complaints have started to arrive in the e-Mails and PMs. Certain posts (they know which they are) shall be removed to The Basement if I receive any more.