[Vicky.]

Acccording to someone on my FB, this is currently #1 on the itunes chart.

[Jack_]

^ Indeed it is

[Beastie]

I think the song should be played. Let the bandwagon of Thatcher haters have their way. This will only brush over by next week until the next big/"controversial" thing comes along and this will be forgotten about. Who cares. I don't think Thatcher will care because she is dead. It says a lot more about people who use so much hate and hold a grudge rather than being the opposite and showing some love and moving on. If people used their emotions towards love than hate more often then the world would be a better place.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Beastie

I think the song should be played. Let the bandwagon of Thatcher haters have their way. This will only brush over by next week until the next big/"controversial" thing comes along and this will be forgotten about. Who cares. I don't think Thatcher will care because she is dead. It says a lot more about people who use so much hate and hold a grudge rather than being the opposite and showing some love and moving on. If people used their emotions towards love than hate more often then the world would be a better place.

100% right.

[arista]

But does the bloated BBC have the balls
to play it on the Sunday Chart show.

So far the bbc has said they do not know - fecking typical

[Jake.]

Still think that this is completely disgusting imo

[Jack_]

It should be played simply because it's not the BBC's place to be taking a stance on a political issue. This is what people want to buy, so on the basic premise of the chart show - this is what you have to play. It doesn't have to be playlisted or even discussed but it needs to be played so as not to potentially poke their nose in on this issue.

I'm not entirely convinced they're going to play it but I'll be very disappointed if it's not. And that's not because I support this, it's because it simply isn't the BBC's choice to decide not to play a song that people have been buying and downloading. The show is meant to reflect this week's sales, so I'm sorry, but it needs to be played.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Jack_

IThis is what people want to buy, so on the basic premise of the chart show - this is what you have to play. It doesn't have to be playlisted or even discussed but it needs to be played so as not to potentially poke their nose in on this issue.t should be played simply because it's not the BBC's place to be taking a stance on a political issue.

I'm not entirely convinced they're going to play it but I'll be very disappointed if it's not. And that's not because I support this, it's because it simply isn't the BBC's choice to decide not to play a song that people have been buying and downloading. The show is meant to reflect this week's sales, so I'm sorry, but it needs to be played.

I agree they are funded by the licence payer end of.

[InOne]

I hope they don't do what they did with Crazy Frog and just say the title and not play it.

[Z]

They have to acknowledge it, but I doubt they'll play it. It's not their place to make political statements, but there's a line to be drawn somewhere and I think they'll draw it at playing a song that's charted to poke fun at a former British Prime Minister's death.

[arista]

BBC to play Ding Dong in chart show despite anti-Thatcher Facebook push

Radio 1 says it may ask Newsbeat reporter to explain context of song, as top five entry poses test for corporation's new chief


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013...tcher-facebook

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by arista

BBC to play Ding Dong in chart show despite anti-Thatcher Facebook push

Radio 1 says it may ask Newsbeat reporter to explain context of song, as top five entry poses test for corporation's new chief


http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013...tcher-facebook

This seems a decent compromise (for want of a better word), reflecting the sales but informing younger listeners of the context behind its entry. If this happens I think they've made a good decision. As I said, regardless of your views on this (and mine are fairly indifferent to be honest), it is not up to the BBC to take any kind of stance on this issue. The chart show is supposed to deliver the week's highest music sales, and by not playing this they have failed to do so...especially if it charts as high as it is looking to. They don't have to playlist it, but if this is what people wish to purchase, then this is what needs to be played.

[joeysteele]

If it is in the charts and people have payed money to get it there, it should be played.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

If it is in the charts and people have payed money to get it there, it should be played.

I have to disagree with you on this one, as much as I usually agree with the gist of what you're saying.

Fair enough about people listening to it in their free time but I think we can afford to let a few quid slip by for the sake of her loved ones, who are actually mourning. Please don't think I'm having a go, but there are priorities and showing respect for those near to her is so much more important than money wasted on such a distasteful and utterly pointless song.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Redway

I have to disagree with you a little, as much as I usually agree with the gist of what you're saying.

Fair enough about people listening to it in their free time but I think we can afford to let a few quid slip by for the sake of her loved ones, who are actually mourning. Please don't think I'm having a go, but there are priorities and showing respect for those near to her is so much more important than money.

I'd never think you were having a go Redway, people cannot agree all the time,that is what makes debate and even chats more interesting.

Personally,I am more incensed at public money going to the funeral costs than I am as to this very short song having a week or two in the charts.
I am able though to see all points.

I just don't think myself that the BBC should fall down on one side or the other,so should just play the daft thing for a week and actually doing so will likely draw less attention to it anyway.

[Redway]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I'd never think you were having a go Redway, people cannot agree all the time,that is what makes debate and even chats more interesting.

Personally,I am more incensed at public money going to the funeral costs than I am as to this very short song having a week or two in the charts.
I am able though to see all points.

I just don't think myself that the BBC should fall down on one side or the other,so should just play the daft thing for a week and actually doing so will likely draw less attention to it anyway.

Thanks for understanding.

I've just been infuriated about this whole topic over this past week so I may sometimes come across as having a go.

[Jake.]

Not being funny, people have bought this to mock a dead woman. Like her or not, it's disrespectful, and if BBCR or whoever else don't want to play it then so be it, people can listen to it with their headphones in if they really wish.

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by JH95

Not being funny, people have bought this to mock a dead woman. Like her or not, it's disrespectful, and if BBCR or whoever else don't want to play it then so be it, people can listen to it with their headphones in if they really wish.

The problem is is that this has been bought by opponents of Thatcher, and if the BBC were to not play this, it is perfectly feasible to argue they are taking a pro-Thatcher stance. It's not up to them to take sides on this, if this is what people wish to buy, and it makes it into the top 40, then by rights of the point of the chart show - it should be played. It doesn't need to be discussed, Scott only said 'following an online campaign it's reached #10' on the Update on Wednesday with no further detail, and it doesn't have to be playlisted, but by not playing it they are going out of their way to take a side on the issue, and that goes against the neutral and impartial position the BBC should hold.

What goes on in the real world is entirely separate from the BBC's output, it should simply just exist to reflect what is going on outside with no biased input of its own. If people have bought this song and it has charted high enough to be played on the Official Chart Show, Radio 1 should do what it always does and play it.

[AnnieK]

I think they should just play it....it's getting more bloody attention with people debating whether or not it should be played. Her family will be under no illusion as of the strength of feeling both for and more notably against her. This is just feeding the fanaticals IMO who are trying to use anything as a fight. It's bad taste IMO but its not going to effect much in the long run.

[Jake.]

But does it mean that they are being 100% pro Thatcher by not playing it? Could it not be that this whole campaign is disgusting and offensive to some? It's not some pop-song that's charted highly, it's a song that is being used to mock a persons death.

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by JH95

But does it mean that they are being 100% pro Thatcher by not playing it? Could it not be that this whole campaign is disgusting and offensive to some? It's not some pop-song that's charted highly, it's a song that is being used to mock a persons death.

But it is not the BBC's place to decide that is wrong, it should remain neutral and impartial on all issues, reflecting both sides of the coin. It is not up to them to say 'nope, I'm sorry, this is disgusting so we're not playing it', because that is just a matter of opinion, and the BBC should not be letting their own personal agenda or opinions get in the way of the chart show's basis premise -which is to play the top 40 songs that people have been buying and downloading during the week. To go out of their way to not do that and specifically make a point of their own, defeats their entire objection.

The debates about whether or not this is acceptable should happen outside of the BBC, they are just merely a platform to reflect the happenings in the outside world in a unbiased manner.

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by Jack_

But it is not the BBC's place to decide that is wrong, it should remain neutral and impartial on all issues, reflecting both sides of the coin. It is not up to them to say 'nope, I'm sorry, this is disgusting so we're not playing it', because that is just a matter of opinion, and the BBC should not be letting their own personal agenda or opinions get in the way of the chart show's basis premise -which is to play the top 40 songs that people have been buying and downloading during the week. To go out of their way to not do that and specifically make a point of their own, defeats their entire objection.

The debates about whether or not this is acceptable should happen outside of the BBC, they are just merely a platform to reflect the happenings in the outside world in a unbiased manner.

I don't see anything that isn't disgusting about a hate campaign over the death of someone...

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Ninastar

I don't see anything that isn't disgusting about a hate campaign over the death of someone...

Because you have to understand how this woman destroyed so many people's lives and communities, and how that will, understandably, have left them feeling bitter with resentment. I've had some people on my Twitter timeline longing for her death for years and tweeting things about parties when she finally dies. As I said, I don't really have much of an opinion on it myself and can see both sides of the argument, but you do have to see the flip side of this. The reason it's an opinion as to whether or not this is disgusting is because to me, this is near enough on the same level as dark-humoured jokes and comedians like Frankie Boyle making jokes at the expense of disabled children or people that have been murdered; while some people argue that's disgusting, some people take the view that comedy has no bounds and so as such it's not disgusting. This is, to me at least, is similar - it's making fun of somebody's death - some people will see that as disgusting, others will not. It all depends on how she affected your life, how much you know about her and how you stand on dark-humoured jokes and the like. It's a tiny bit above a 'sick' joke but it's not completely dissimilar.

Some people would also of course argue points like 'well, she's dead and she's not going to know about it - so why does it matter'?' or 'she wouldn't have cared anyway' or 'well if people are allowed to celebrate other people's deaths, like Osama Bin Laden's and yet we're supposed to respect the dead - why can't we celebrate this woman's death?', even if the difference in how they affected people's lives is drastically different. These aren't necessarily my views, I'm just pointing out how it is a matter of opinion whether this campaign is disgusting or not.

[Jake.]

Yeah, good points Jack and I appreciate your point of view

[AnnieK]

This reminds me of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Relax. That was initially released and then subsequently banned by Radio 1- which drove it to number 1 and got it far more attention than it would have got otherwise and the same thing is happening here. I agree with jack it should just be played and that be the end of it, it stops getting the attention and goes back to being just a song from the wizard of oz