The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Oxford

First topic message reminder :

Hello and welcome to the Virtual Rugby Pub, a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

The Pub has made its way to Oxford and the only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of Seve Ballesteros, Andy Fenby, Nick Williams,Tim Visser, Adam Ashley Cooper and Paul Lawrie up on the wall.

Was Batemans at Northampton? He was some player Bateman.

I didn't know that, but yes it was. I put him in my favourite player's team the other day on here. He was quality.

One for the wall guys - definitely worth a look

https://www.606v2.com/t35679-connacht-rugby-the-wests-awake

He was a fine player but really unassuming, too. That's a much better combination than a player who's good but makes sure everyone knows it.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:He was a fine player but really unassuming, too. That's a much better combination than a player who's good but makes sure everyone knows it.

Agree entirely

Worse still is a player who isn't that good but makes sure everyone knows they are.

This isn't the time or place for ROG bashing though......

Bad news


Mark Bridger has been arrested on suspicion of murder

Not surprising Hoog. Barsteward.

Hoog wrote:Bad news


Mark Bridger has been arrested on suspicion of murder

I saw the stink that Kay Burley has caused by announcing it on Sky News.

Kay Burley is utter, utter poison.

Scarlets will be wearing pink ribbons to show their support for the campaign to find April.

Really isn't looking good though that they've arrested him, even if it is just on suspicion.

The fact that the police have now stood down all non professionals from the search tells me a lot.

Very very sad. I just hope that they find April's body quickly so that her family can begin the grieving process. She is the same age as my Hattie, I cannot even begin to contemplate how they are feeling right now.

It's really horrible Pete. And thing is, I know it's horrible to even think it, but with what the terain is like up around Mach, they might be faced with the utterly horrific situation of never finding her

Ah that's terrible. poor little April.

Oh thats awful. The poor kid. What did that Sky news woman do?

This is part of it Stag:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/oct/05/april-jones-kay-burley

Sky don't exactly have a good record of handling cases like this well, but from all I've heard about how she's conducted herself, it's all pretty putrid coming from them given the circumstances.

Oh FFS. Thats just horrible.

think that just about sums it up Stag

Righty, back to work.

The question is, had she 'spoken to the family'? Or was she plain lying as well as being insensitive?

I watched some of Kay Burley on Sky News International when I was in Lanzarote. She was covering the murder of the two policewomen and she didn't seem to care about them either.

Luckless, she obviously doesnt engage with the stories. On one hand if she were to engage with every news story covered by Sky News then she would be in therapy every evening.

But seriously that type of carry on really pissses me off. Thats just horrible carryon.

The woman in the Hi-Vis coat should have slapped her. So insensitive.

Rava wrote:The woman in the Hi-Vis coat should have slapped her. So insensitive.

+1. I think insensitive is too bloody short to describe it.

That's not journalism, it's gossip, and gossip designed to cause as much upset as possible. It's not Kay Burley's place to tell those volunteers that.

The police themselves said that they now feel it is the appropriate time for trained searchers to take over from concerned citizens. The police officer who said it made the point of being curt, he didn't soften it by saying that he knows how people feel and that he understands people will still have hope or that he understands many will want to ignore his call and continue searching. He said now is the time for police to take over the search exclusively. I'm afraid there is a time to talk straight, just when a doctor has to come out into a corridor and tell family members what they don't want to hear.

Kay Burley was asked what the news was, she was asked - the two people wanted the information - her relating it did not abuse anyone, it related to two concerned people an unfortunate 'truth'. The police don't want people helping out now because they now believe they'll need to be very careful about preserving the forensic details they might find that might lead to a criminal murder conviction. If that truth annoys people then that is unfortunate but that is the message the police need to be made known...to everyone.

Well perhaps we can agree that it was unnecessary at best to film these two volunteers as they were told the news.

SecretFly wrote:The police themselves said that they now feel it is the appropriate time for trained searchers to take over from concerned citizens. The police officer who said it made the point of being curt, he didn't soften it by saying that he knows how people feel and that he understands people will still have hope or that he understands many will want to ignore his call and continue searching. He said now is the time for police to take over the search exclusively. I'm afraid there is a time to talk straight, just when a doctor has to come out into a corridor and tell family members what they don't want to hear.

Kay Burley was asked what the news was, she was asked - the two people wanted the information - her relating it did not abuse anyone, it related to two concerned people an unfortunate 'truth'. The police don't want people helping out now because they now believe they'll need to be very careful about preserving the forensic details they might find that might lead to a criminal murder conviction. If that truth annoys people then that is unfortunate but that is the message the police need to be made known...to everyone.

True Secret.

But, on camera?

It sounds to me like the very last thing that journalist was thinking about was giving information.

But Luckless...I was watching BBC news this morning after the Police Press conference. The interviewer was outside afterwards talking to quite a number of people...and telling one or two of them the details, that they were being asked to now end their involvment.

Number 1: - News reporters are still news reporters (even if they're doing the outside broadcasts) They impart news to me, looking on TV - everyday of the week, they tell me things I don't necessarily want to hear but I tune in to hear what news they have anyway. So simply because it's a sensitive issue and just because we all think the News Services gloat on these subjects, we do still use them to gain information - the two people were doing the same. They wanted the details - she gave it to them as sensitively as you can in an outside environment where people are already emotional. Do we think Kay Burley doesn't think like us? That she doesn't care about the story she's covering or isn't annoyed by the news? Does she have children like some of you have?

Number 2: - the two people knew who they were approaching. They knew they were talking to a TV person. They weren't hoodwinked. They spoke freely in the aftermath of the information she gave them.

Oh God... oh, that was horrible. That video?

The media are pure vultures sometimes. Sky News is amongst the worst. Oh, god. They are repellent. She'll get a pat on the head for that I'm sure. 'Capturing real human emotion for the viewers at home'. They're looking for that money shot of the volunteers breaking down. The story- the misery and tragedy of it- is just one more commodity these people are selling.

Horrible person in a horrible organisation.

And so sad, the news.

Tragic.

Fly, I appreciate what you're saying and it's true that the volunteers needed to be told to stand down; but there's a world of difference between a policeman telling them and a journalist with a camera crew telling them live on air - and then having the X* to ask them, 'would you like to say anything?'.




* - presence of mind / heartlessness (delete as appropriate)

Bad news should always be delivered sensitively, respectfully and in private.

Thats just what I think, is all.

Fly I think if you are naiive if you think that reporter was not out to get a reaction.

red_stag wrote:Fly I think if you are naiive if you think that reporter was not out to get a reaction.

I'm many things, Stag. Naive is certainly not one of them.

She was working. Of course she wanted 'human interest reactions'; that in no way equates with the idea that she wasn't telling the people what they wanted to hear, that many searchers cruise around the cameras willing and ready to give their reactions on camera, or that people watch these very 24 hour ongoing/as-it-happens news 'events' for the very fact that they are immediate and happening in real time and that you're likely to see real emotions on display - in the raw, not cleaned up or edited for the 6 0'Clock news.

So yes, she was working. She was looking for comment and looking for 'human reactions' But it's hypocracy to suggest we, none of us, tune into 24 hour news channels for that very specific immediacy purpose. Raoul Moat? London riots/fires? Shop owner reactions? Lybian war? Iraq? Afghanistan? Hard hitting documentaries?

Yep, I'm many things but naive isn't one of them.

Just watched it..........I agree the woman in the hi-vis should have conked her one...............really not the way to deliver that news to someone even if they're not immediate family.

You know my views on Sky Stag. I can't understand that so many intelligent people allow narrow self interest to blind them to just how insidious the organisation they are paying to keep afloat really is.

Thanks ASBO

I've seen people try saying about watching the whole video, to understand the context. As far as I'm concerned, she doesn't need to break the news to them. All she had to do was say I don't know or it's not my place to say and invite them to speak to the Police. It's simply not her job to do that, especially whilst recording. Given that she's had criticism a week ago for similar (by the looks), she clearly has previous.

"But it's hypocracy to suggest we, none of us, tune into 24 hour news channels for that very specific immediacy purpose."

Well, you've just found one. As tragic as these type of events are, I am not a 'grief monkey' and certainly don't sit watching a 24 hour news channel when something like this happens.

That's not to say I am ambivilent about it and don't feel for the people involved.

I am sure there are many people who feel the same way.

Glas a du wrote:You know my views on Sky Stag. I can't understand that so many intelligent people allow narrow self interest to blind them to just how insidious the organisation they are paying to keep afloat really is.

I'm with Glas on this one. As per.

The SUN, SKY, Hello Magazine, yada yada... only exist and flourish because people badly want and crave this schitt. Throw in Reality TV and you have the full set. They can' t get enough of it. And they are in the majority.The rest have to suffer it. And if they insist on watching it, following and reading it, feeding it, it serves them right tbh. Its as simple as that.

If I sound like a pseudo-intellectual snob, its because I am. I read Cosmo(on de Loo) and only watch and read the BEEB for English news. They are peerless.

How's everyone vanavond? I'm loving Friday nights again. Real weekends. Pint of G and a decent Jemmy chaser set up for de rugby later. Lovely.

Unfortunately thats Sky news for you. Remember that political reporter going beserk at a bemused Alistair Campbell during the last election? Thats the standard of there journo's. its a shame if you want to watch the majority of live sport these days, skys the answer.

Evening, and how's the job gibbo?

And I take it the 'G' is a Grolsch.

Well, I hope it isn't Gin.

Story Hound bud?

Its great man. I' m smiling everyday. I am one of the youngest in my team. All old MF SysProgs who are still rockin. Some really cool relaxed dudes there. They try to send me for coffee. I' m chuffed.

The G is a pal. Grolsch? No way. They only Dutch beer I will drink is Brand, or Bokbier in the winter.

Evening All,

Hope everyone's well. Can I have one of these bartend ? It's been a tough week...hopefully the rugby will be a welcome distraction.

I'll just help myself then

O's ahead in their match so far...that's a positive start to the weekend.

Hoi Cari.

The games have started already?

The O's one has ( well according to updates I'm not actually watching or listening to it from Italy).

Ah Gibbo - the kid on the coffee run. Love it!


Story?? Rugby tomoz and Sunday. Ealing v Fylde and Wasps v Worc.

Good luck to the Os Cari, and have another

Aye, Gibbo the tea boy...a proper job!

I won't have too much coffee - I'll be up all night. How's things in London? Wasps playing this weekend?

Breadvan wrote:Unfortunately thats Sky news for you. Remember that political reporter going beserk at a bemused Alistair Campbell during the last election? Thats the standard of there journo's. its a shame if you want to watch the majority of live sport these days, skys the answer.

Yeah Bread, they whacked out over a Billion for the soccer rights, didn't they?

BT are trying to hit them where it hurts and Id like to see it for the RU Prem, they would probably do an excellent job, but I think they may have feiced-up on the European side of things.

Anyway there' s a thread about that, I wont go on.

Sweet jebus, have ye seen Ulsters team tonight? Strong, is not the word.
I really hope Connacht give them a game for the full 80. Be great. I doubt it. No sides but... seen as I was shouting for them when they were thrashing us...

QUINNY!!!!

does anyone know if I can watch this on BBC online?