Channel 4 and quality viewing
All today I’ve been hearing asides from the general public about what a bunch of arseholes we parking enforcers are. From what I can make out, that shining star of quality viewing, Channel 4 ran a programme on ‘Traffic Wardens’. Predictably perhaps, it showed the excesses of the private sector rather than the dull day to day stuff of enforcement that really gets done out on the streets, but that wouldn’t make exciting viewing would it?
Like the Big Brother and ‘reality TV’ drek that the Channel generally hosts – and like so many TV programmes before them, the producers dwelt on the confrontational, the dramatic; because real lives, rather like the real lives of contestants in ‘Big Brother’ do tend towards dull as ditchwater. Even princesses have to spend time on the toilet each day.
The programme itself was about as real as a Soap Opera actresses emotional responses. After a short discussion, our mess room consensus was that it was a ‘load of bollocks’ put out by ‘some disgruntled ex-enforcers’. Although some of the other guys simply shrugged as if the content wasn’t all that surprising; it was simply a case of the same old shit, just a different day. Notwithstanding; in our neck of the woods some of the excesses ‘documented’ would get you a severe telling off from Management. We have to walk a very fine line.
Mind you, if it makes people less likely to get into confrontations with me over parking, I’m okay with such programmes. I want the sight of my uniform to have wrongdoers scuttling for safety. So much easier than actually having to issue parking tickets. Less paperwork; less stress. It might put me out of a job of course, but that’s life for you.
On a lighter note a member of the public who objected to being booked for parking in a restricted area referred to my good self as “A sodding blood sucking vampire!”
For the record, my thoughts on the matter were; well if I’m a vampire, how come I’m not more stylishly dressed?
Like the Big Brother and ‘reality TV’ drek that the Channel generally hosts – and like so many TV programmes before them, the producers dwelt on the confrontational, the dramatic; because real lives, rather like the real lives of contestants in ‘Big Brother’ do tend towards dull as ditchwater. Even princesses have to spend time on the toilet each day.
The programme itself was about as real as a Soap Opera actresses emotional responses. After a short discussion, our mess room consensus was that it was a ‘load of bollocks’ put out by ‘some disgruntled ex-enforcers’. Although some of the other guys simply shrugged as if the content wasn’t all that surprising; it was simply a case of the same old shit, just a different day. Notwithstanding; in our neck of the woods some of the excesses ‘documented’ would get you a severe telling off from Management. We have to walk a very fine line.
Mind you, if it makes people less likely to get into confrontations with me over parking, I’m okay with such programmes. I want the sight of my uniform to have wrongdoers scuttling for safety. So much easier than actually having to issue parking tickets. Less paperwork; less stress. It might put me out of a job of course, but that’s life for you.
On a lighter note a member of the public who objected to being booked for parking in a restricted area referred to my good self as “A sodding blood sucking vampire!”
For the record, my thoughts on the matter were; well if I’m a vampire, how come I’m not more stylishly dressed?
Labels: Media
4 Comments:
Haven't seen it yet (recorded but haven't summoned the enthusiasm to watch) but someone who has said it's the same old same-old. It even had the Salford rabbit hutch story!
twas total bollix - was on ITV and had been previously scheduled bout 4-5 weeks back but was pulled for some reason. Just absolute tosh
Hi Bill, I've just realised you're linking to me - thanks!
I should mention though - Visual Parallax is just a test blog, there's not a whole lot on there :) My other blog (Musings on an ordinary life) is my main one.
Cheers :)
Bill, next Tuesday (Monday for those of us in Caledonia's fair land) should be some interesting stuff on 'Lenny's Britain' with PAs in Glasgow
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