Prom 37 - 10.08.13: Urban Classic Prom

[Wagnerfan2]

Well, 'malcolmtalcum', you've posted that quote before - and were recognised as a troll for registering here to do so and sneer.

This is - what? your sixth? seventh? attempt at disrupting discussion here, since you started out as 'hermannesque'. You started your own thread to discuss film music (as invited to do so), then abandoned it - in spite of the fact that many people were willing to engage with you. And now you return to resurrect a thread because you want to bang your single drum again.

And it has been explained - though your twisted thinking won't accept it - that this forum is not made up of FoR3 supporters, but of Radio 3 listeners. FoR3 itself has no policy on the matters you raise and has never campaigned over them. Individuals have views, that's all.

I've reopened the thread in the interests of freedom of speech but it will be closed if it goes off topic.

French Frank, my dear, you are getting more and more desperate, aren't you?

Why would I wish to 'disrupt' this forum when every word you utter and every low, dishonest tactic you use against me - abusing and therefore undermining your own credibility as the host of this forum - further diminishes any hope you have of influencing R3 programming policy?

Instead of engaging in hysteria about imaginary attempts to 'disrupt' this forum and nonsense about 'trolls' and you might like to reflect on why I have moved from a generally positive attitude to this forum to where we are now. I closed my account as Herrmannesque more in sorrow than in anger. I did so, partly because of my affection for the old R3 message-boards and disappointment at my own naivety in expecting this forum to be the same. The response to John Williams as CoTW was so nasty, mean-spirited and ignorant, the response to my 'defence' of film music so wilfully and illogically refusing to see the point and the 'host' so obviously biased towards one set of views I felt I could stay no longer. I left not intending to return.

When I had time to reflect I felt there was more to be said. I was angry at the realisation that where the 'old' message boards had allowed a wide range of views and were characterised by (for the most part) fair and objective 'moderation' your forum was nothing but a front for an unrepresentative lobby group, one which treated those forum members broadly espousing the views of FoR3 by one set of standards and the rest by another. Instead of helping to promote the music we all love and secure an audience for it in the future - at a time when ‘classical’ music has become more and more marginalised in the wider culture - I see a group whose attitudes can only harm this effort.

When I attempted to raise some of these issues as Malcum Talcum the response to me was pure cyber-bullying (openly acknowledged by the offenders themselves), including the use of sexually explicit language in one case. When I raised this with you your response was to do nothing except to suggest to me I cancel that account and open a new one. (Pace: your dishonest characterisation of it as another 'attempt' to disrupt the forum.) The abusive forum member was of course allowed to continue to post under his original name.

Now as DavidP I am banned from the forum (and my own IP addresses with it - something I didn't realise at first) for, horror of horrors, calling someone 'my doddery old friend' (mild compared to his unprovoked 'attack' on me.)

So, first, we have blatant double-standards on your part. Now, we have shameless flouting of the rules of your own forum. Mind you, after your Twitter debacle - which could have resulted in my personal details becoming available to all and sundry - why should I or any other forum member expect you to have any respect for our confidentiality?

However, the final nail in your coffin is your endorsement of Cheesehoven's ludicrous conspiracy theory that the BBC has a plot to turn the Proms into a 'multi-cultural event' with classical music playing only a 'small role' one (presumably 'urban') concert at a time.

It's at least some consolation to me that you now have about as much credibility left as one of those paranoid conspiracy fantasists who populate the right-wing blogosphere. I'm sorry I won't be around just to enjoy watching you vainly attempting to dig yourself out of this particular hole you have just dug for yourself!