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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there’s no need for ‘major news report’ message

192 replies

Greyrootszerohoots · 09/04/2021 17:58

Getting ready for bed the CBeebies way and ‘Major news report on BBC1’ message keeps being flashed up. Anxiety inducing thoughts of you know, something major that didn’t happen earlier in the day and didn’t involve just one person dying.

I get that it’s big news and people care more than I do, but AIBU to think there’s no need to keep posting this on a kids tv channel?

OP posts:
MiddleParking · 09/04/2021 18:32

Weird as fuck to put it on CBeebies. Just so weird.

Anycrispsleft · 09/04/2021 18:35

@Chillychangchoo

Oh absolutely. I heard it in my car on the radio and my stomach leaped with anxiety, thinking something absolutely terrible had happened.

Phew, nothing major. A 99 year old has died.

I'm on the German/Swiss border and was listening to Radio 2 on Alexa. When I didn't hear the Swiss civil defence alarms go off I thought oh well China hasn't declared war then, it must be the Duke.
NativityDreaming · 09/04/2021 18:37

It is way over the top and completely unnecessary.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/04/2021 18:38

@Zan58

Shame that Peppa Pig has been interrupted but someone’s grandad/father/husband has died. If toddlers question it (not sure why they would), why not just demonstrate how to show compassion in situations like this (no need for it to be ‘anxiety inducing’ for anyone). People’s ability to make a situation all about themselves on Mumsnet never ceases to amaze me. Regardless of who he was, why not just feel sorry for the people who this will actually affect in any significant way (not you or your children).
He died hours ago,the news was reported hours ago. Its across all social media. If people don't know by now, I doubt they'll be that bothered when they do. "Very old man died, family very sad" isn't overly relevant to my 5 and 1 year olds. I could understand if it was breaking news but I actually rechecked the news as I assumed something had happened
Lweji · 09/04/2021 18:39

@VanGoghsDog

Yeah, you don't really get Godwin's law, do you?

Actually, I do. Do you?

Sometimes it's fair not to be 100% accurate when making a joke. Or there would be no jokes.
And, btw, most applications of Godwin's law are abusive and misunderstand the law.
Let's call it a non-canonical application of Godwin's Law sensu lato, rather than sensu stricto.

As it was, there was no need to mention here that the man had fought the nazis. This was only brought up as a last resort to justify the news overreaction to his death. That this was done in 13 posts rather than after a long thread is remarkable, and within the spirit of Godwin's Law.

Grin
mynameiscalypso · 09/04/2021 18:41

@MiddleParking

Weird as fuck to put it on CBeebies. Just so weird.
Agreed. Plus it's hardly breaking news now. It was announced nearly 7 hours ago. All it's telling me now is that there's a news programme on BBC 1. I did actually flick over to check that something else hadn't happened because I didn't expect it to still be flashing up every 5 minutes.
itsgettingwierd · 09/04/2021 18:41

I saw it earlier then phone longed Prince Phillip news so I was instantly able to out 2 and 2 together.

But with threat from Russia I have to say I did gasp a breath for a second or 2.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/04/2021 18:42

@cookiecreampie

Breaking news notifications pop up all the time, not just about people dying. If your heart is leaping in terror every time you get one of these how the hell do you function day to day? Genuine question.
On CBeebies? Trust me, that's not accurate. I watch A LOT of CBeebies
KoalaOok · 09/04/2021 18:44

I thought it was a bit off. My husband checked to see if anything else had happened. What are you going to do, interrupt bedtime hour to watch a report on someone dying?

VladmirsPoutine · 09/04/2021 18:45

Yanbu - if it were a nuclear strike I'd understand.

KoalaOok · 09/04/2021 18:46

It seemed like they were trying to warn adults that something seriously major and important was happening this instant

Nanny0gg · 09/04/2021 18:46

Whether you like it or not, the Queen's husband and consort has died.

The BBC will have to broadcast this news on every one of their channels, though from what I've seen so far. ITV has done a better job. Most normal programming won't go ahead.
And if you think this is bad, wait till it's the Queen.

Skysblue · 09/04/2021 18:46

I do not understand why this is such a major news item (other than the journalists wrote the articles years ago and can now all go home early).

‘Major news’ = terrorist attack. V irresponsible to use that esp for kids.

mynameiscalypso · 09/04/2021 18:46

Plus the reaction of almost everyone I know has been 'Oh, that's sad' and then gone back to whatever it was they were doing in the first place. There's really no need for the hysterical reaction.

AfternoonToffee · 09/04/2021 18:47

We had CBBC on and I too saw the ticker / banner. I turned over as I genuinely thought something else had happened. It wasn't even 'news' it was a rolling obituary program that will have been prepared years ago.

Anyways I don't need to explain death to my children, they went to their Grandma's funeral last week.

Zan58 · 09/04/2021 18:47

All relevant points - however, none of them address or acknowledge what I said about certain mumsnetters’ ability to take a sad situation and explain to everyone why it’s oh-so-inconvenient for THEM. Must be exhausting to immediately jump to how something affects you every time you hear anyone say anything.

mynameiscalypso · 09/04/2021 18:48

@Zan58

All relevant points - however, none of them address or acknowledge what I said about certain mumsnetters’ ability to take a sad situation and explain to everyone why it’s oh-so-inconvenient for THEM. Must be exhausting to immediately jump to how something affects you every time you hear anyone say anything.
Well yeah. Because if people didn't do that, MN would be a much much much quieter place.
Zan58 · 09/04/2021 18:49

Also if it’s so anxiety inducing (for adult or child), just turn the T.V off. Worst things have happened to people today than them feeling like they want to turn the T.V off.

VanGoghsDog · 09/04/2021 18:50

[quote Lweji]@VanGoghsDog

Yeah, you don't really get Godwin's law, do you?

Actually, I do. Do you?

Sometimes it's fair not to be 100% accurate when making a joke. Or there would be no jokes.
And, btw, most applications of Godwin's law are abusive and misunderstand the law.
Let's call it a non-canonical application of Godwin's Law sensu lato, rather than sensu stricto.

As it was, there was no need to mention here that the man had fought the nazis. This was only brought up as a last resort to justify the news overreaction to his death. That this was done in 13 posts rather than after a long thread is remarkable, and within the spirit of Godwin's Law.

Grin[/quote]
Oh, I hadn't spotted that you were making a joke. Usually they are funny.

Laffie · 09/04/2021 18:50

When Princess Diana died there was a banner on Nickelodeon asking you to turn over to a major channel, can't remember how long it was on for.

Zan58 · 09/04/2021 18:50

You’re right about that Grin

Original poster
Greyrootszerohoots · 09/04/2021 18:52

@Zan58 I’m not sure about how others feel, but I didn’t really see it as making it about me. As I previously explained, I’m not aggrieved at the interruption per se, more that the tone and style of messaging is alarmist and not necessary for a kids tv channel. It could be smaller, or even announce the news, rather than ‘major news report on bbc 1 now’.

Although if sharing an opinion is making something about you, then yes you’re right. And you’ve done the same.

OP posts:
Zan58 · 09/04/2021 18:53

@AfternoonToffee I agree that it’s awful for people to lose grandparents, parents, or any family member. All we can do is remember how we felt and try to show the same compassion to others. The world would be a very angry place if we couldn’t.

Original poster
Greyrootszerohoots · 09/04/2021 18:53

@Zan58 perhaps anxiety inducing is the wrong term, but I would certainly call out alarmist.

OP posts:
Shopliftersoftheworldunite · 09/04/2021 18:54

Literally no one will ask 'where were you when Prince Phillip died' ? it is not a major news event. The Queen dying, maybe - as that will trigger changes to our head of state and all the associated pomp and nonsense that goes along with that. But her husband? Nah.

In a few days time literally no one outside of his immediate family will give a fuck. He was 99 years old and there will be no changes whatsoever to our country now he has died.