If so many people support the Licence Fee...

When people start trying to throw insults at people who disagree with their point of view, you know they're struggling to come up with any decent arguments to support thier case.

You asked for an honest debate, you got one. Deal with it.

Hi Borg. Nice to see you're still as obsessed as ever with the licence fee. Tell us, have you moved out of your parents home yet, and do you pay your own licence fee now?

What have you done to "make your voice heard"? Created some more YouTube videos where you whinge about the BBC whilst wearing a Scream mask? Also, I thought you liked Dr Who and were making your own Tardis? Clearly the BBC has some use to you in that respect.

What "type of people" support the licence fee? Is there a typical person? A pretty broad range of individuals post on these boards all with only one main tying interest - an enjoyment of TV.

Perhaps you could list some of the BBC shows you make use of, and what you think the BBC could do in order to make itself more attractive to your tastes. More American imports? More Sci-Fi? At what point do you think the £140 a year Licence Fee would become value for your parents - sorry - your money? Can you honestly say you never ever look through your Sky Guide and see a programme of interest on any of the BBC's TV or Radio networks that stands out to you? That makes you think "Hey, Sky wouldn't make that, I might put that on and broaden my horizons rather than watching decade old repeats of american imports"? Theres nothing wrong with decade old repeats of course, but isn't it nice to have new and original programming of all genres?

Of course, we all know you've been indoctrinated with your odd obsessional love of Sky and pathological hatred of the BBC (how many posts have you made on various forums over the years on the subject do you think?) but it would be nice if you could answer some of my points in a reasoned manner rather than simply whinging.

Hate (love) to be a pedant, but the original British way would have been with the z, only later after American English was standardized would the s (French-style) variant become more popular in Britain.

Links to the OUP:

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/organization?view=uk
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutspelling/ize?view=uk

And not one of them is British or even European is it? Jon asked what you'd get apart from 'imported American stuff'. The issue is that the BBC is the major producer/commissioner of British content, without it we'd be drowning in a sea of American imported rubbish

Does £2 a week really hurt your pocket that much? If it does, then without getting personal perhaps the license fee isn't the issue here.

Some people do oppose the BBC, but some people also support the BBC. As I stated in my previous post I support the BBC but I don't watch much on the BBC. Firstly, it doesn't cost that much and secondly those who oppose the license fee and think its just as simple as "the BBC going commercial"- which in an ideal world would be the best scenario- are very ignorant about the whole institutional aspect. No BBC as it is now would mean British TV would collapse.

I can accept that some people don't like the current situation but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't argue the case... I just wish you'd respond with an argument for your opinion!

So how much in the 'real world' are you? With a name like yours it sounds like you're a little kid to be honest



It having taxpayers money is another argument - very few of us in the UK listen to/watch BBC services that come out of taxpayer money.

I think msim has confirmed what I suspected - this "skyfan" is nothing but a surly stay-at-home teenager who neither pays the licence or the Sky sub in his household.

I expect he might realise the value of something when he comes to paying for it himself. Frankly I would be more interested to hear the view of his mum and dad.

Perhaps the next time someone wants to reopen the debate on this subject they should first scan and upload a copy of their licence.

Otherwise its just a lot of wasted effort on the part of everyone here.

So again, you won't accept anyone who disagrees with the Licence Fee. And again, you bring up the "back to school" comments. Like I say, if you are happy paying it, then pay mine aswell then. Don't see why I should pay out for it.

You don't pay for it, so stick a sock in it.

At this rate I'm going to ask for a rebate in the child benefits I've forked out for you, you numbskull.

And YOU won't accept anyone who disagrees with your point of view.

You don't see why you should pay out for it? Hmm let's see, IT'S THE LAW! Like I attempted to explain earlier, if you want to own a piece of televisual broadcast receievng equipment in this country, you must have a license for it.

There are many other things for which you must have a license in the UK today - as a radio presenter, I know this all too well. I expect you're the type of bedroom teenager who strings together an iPod with an MP3 encoder, launches Radio SkyFan but conveniently forgets to contact PPL/PRS, because "you don't see why you should pay out for it." I also expect you're the type of person who disagrees with driving licenses or pet licenses. It is you, and not us, who is not living in the real world.