To think the BBC is dumbing down?...

[Windthebobbinup1982]

Having just read the following quote about the arresting the Russian opposition leader: “Protesters on Moscow's Pushkin Square shouted slogans such as "Down with the tsar!" - "tsar" was the historical title of Russia's pre-revolutionary emperors”

Do people really need to know who and what a “tsar” was?

Considering the displays of general ignorance you see online on a daily basis, I don't think you can assume people know what a tsar is.

Things like "OMG I just discovered Cornwall isn't in Scotland!!!"

There are people now who have never heard of the Holocaust, so unfortunately now I think it is needed.

I thought this was going to be about Scarlett Moffat being made royal wedding correspondent.

On the back of this thread I asked my two eldest if they knew what the Holocaust was. Quite surprised that they didn't know (they are 11 and 14). Pretty sure I would have known at that age because I remember the silver sword bring read to us in primary school, I really enjoyed it and looked it up in the library.

To be honest I think that “dumbing down” (I don’t like that phrase at all, it has disablist origins) is the least of their worries.

The fact that they continue to employ Maya Jama after her racist, colourist and disablist opinions were aired is awful.

The cover ups of abuse and the lack of action to try and bring perpetrators to justice is absolutely sickening.

The gender pay gap is ludicrous and appalling.

Please tell me Scarlett Moffatt is doing just radio for the wedding, she has a voice that sets my teeth on edge. I can't believe they are using her, she just shrieks and gabbles

Adult literacy is higher than it has ever been, but BBC broadcasting style has changed from paternalistic (we educate you, and assume a modicum of baseline knowledge) to egalitarian (assume nothing - explain everything).

You can argue about where the line should be drawn, but they’ll argue that the central tenet of public service broadcasting is that it’s accessible to all, which means explaining what a tsar is.