Should they have shown this??

[Freckle]

I was watching the breakfast news this morning on BBC1. They had a report about Amir Khan being knocked out in the first round of his fight last night.

They showed one punch to his head in slow motion and the effect on his head and face made me feel quite ill (am not normally squeamish). They then proceeded to show several more punches which knocked him down and him trying to get up but clearly unable to control his limbs. Was it really necessary to show this so graphically? Fortunately none of my children was in the room, but, if I found it distressing, how would it have affected a child? Showing those images did nothing to enhance the report at all.

Or am I being too picky??

[Freckle]

Needless to say, despite ticking the box stating that I wanted a response to my complaint, I have heard nothing from the BBC. I did notice that, on the later news, the report had been cut considerably leaving out the more graphic film.

[LynetteScavo]

Boxing is seen as an acceptable sport by society in gerneral, which is why it was merrily shown on the news.

My personal view is that boxing is violent and unneccessary, and if this clip has shown boxing for what what it is, then good.

If warnings for "stong language" are given though, why not warnings for strong violence?

[combustiblelemon]

To be fair you're probably right about them showing it Georgiemum, because she didn't know that they were no threat, so she probably was swimming for her life.

[georgiemum]

Oh really? (did that sound disappointed?) I heard it on the radio - I thought it was pretty tasteless to show some poor woman swimming for her life!

[combustiblelemon]

Georgiemum, they were leopard sharks. They don't eat people.

[Freckle]

If the purpose of the report was to show boxing for what it is, I wouldn't have a problem provided a warning was given. But it wasn't aiming to do that. It was merely a bit of video to illustrate the news report and, as such, was gratuitously violent and graphic.

I don't normally have boxing on the television and wasn't really watching intensely, just gazing at the television in an early morning on a Sunday haze. But that clip really shook me.

[georgiemum]

Oh she got away luckily. I couldn't believe they'd show this live...

[GreenMonkies]

oops, I mean Georgiemum!

Although I'm completely with you Roisin, I won't have boxing in my house, not even om the Wii.

[GreenMonkies]

Roisin, did she get away, or did the sharks eat her live on tv??

[kittywise]

Well I hope ds1 enjoys his first boxing session tomorrow.

[roisin]

I didn't see this, but agree with Edam it might make people realise what happens in boxing. That is what it is about.

I can't stand it at all, and would never ever have boxing on the TV. Even if it comes on in a news report I turn it straight off. I find it thoroughly unpleasant and it has no place in my civilised house.

[georgiemum]

I really though this thread was going to be about the helicopter tv newsteam who transmitted live a woman swimmer being chased ashore by a shoal/flock/gang of sharks.

[Overmydeadbody]

Not necessary.

I have a thing about news in general though and don't like DS being within earshot of it let alone actually watching it. Mayby ober the top, but it always affected me really badly as a kid and I want to shelter DS from those worries.

[edam]

Seems a bit strong for breakfast news but agree it might bring home to people what boxing is REALLY about.

[Freckle]

I understand that they would show the boxing, but to show that particular shot in slow motion was entirely unnecessary. Also the following shots were gratuitous. They could have shown the knock downs in isolation without focussing on his dreadful inability to even stand up afterwards.

[Moomin]

I complained once about something that was on the bbc lunchtime news. I had to ring up and spoke to one of their operators in scotland. By tea-time it had been amended and the offensive bit taken out.

so don't think it's not worth it - give it a try.

[combustiblelemon]

Rightly or wrongly it is classed as a sport. During the Olympics there was live boxing shown in the middle of the day. I suspect that the BBC will view it on the same level as showing cricket highlights or the Grand Prix winner crossing the finish line.

[notsoteenagemum]

I think the news is always showing unnecessary images. I think its horrible when they show injured people in wars etc like when they showed the baby being treated in a Hospital in Georgia.
It's not that I want to be shielded from such things but I alays think it's undignified for the people they are showing to have news reporters and cameras shoved in their faces. They ca tell you whats going on witout the images.
I can't stand boxing thankfully its always on in the middle of the night.

[Freckle]

Well, I've complained, but doubt it will do any good.

I agree that, as a piece of propaganda showing boxing as a brutal and vicious sport, it was very good, but that clearly wasn't their aim. It was meant to be an illustration of the news report and should have carried a warning.

[kittywise]

Prob not nescessary, but ds1 (10) is starting boxing classes next week, he can't wait!

[LittleBella]

I think it's a good thing they show it. It shows just how dangerous and horrible boxing is and if it brings it home to people who think it's OK because it allows a handful of poor men to escape poverty, what a grotesque and insulting response to poverty that is, then good. A few more people might have been won over to the idea that boxing should be phased out because of seeing that clip.

[GreenMonkies]

you see, it upsets me so much I can't evenspell unnecessary!

[Freckle]

Maybe I'll complain then. I wasn't sure if I was just being a bit sensitive - which I'm not normally. It just made me feel ill, particularly the slo-mo shot.

[GreenMonkies]

Like boxing in general it's totally uneccessary.

I don't understand how anyone can find it entertaining to watch, or consider it sport.

[Cies]

Agree with you all. It´s unnecessary and would also make me feel a little giddy if I saw it I´m sure.