Same Time Next Year?

[andy-hughes]

Bang on cue, on the lunch time news, not one, but two individual saps standing outside freezing their bits off in two separate locations, to tell me that it's snowing where they are.

I mention this every year, and every year it crops up again.

I am sixty-eight, I was a child in 1963, probably the worst winter in living memory.

I know what snow looks like!!!!

You can just tell me it's snowing, I speak English, I'll understand, so why do they send some poor reporter and a camera crew out in it to tell me a simple fact about the weather?

Oh well, same time next year then ...

[ToraToraTora]

AH, it's a UN charter, every news outlet in the world must send some poor sap to stand in the middle of any inclement weather. It's the rules I'm afraid!

[ToraToraTora]

like this:

[wolf63]

We had an explosion in a recycling area. The newspapers all printed a picture taken from miles away and only showing smoke.

It is just a waste of money.

[QuizmasterG]

Stupid thing is, they advise people not to travel unless "absolutely necessary."
Is it necessary to tell us that it is snowing somewhere?
If they get stuck, some emergency person might have to get them, depriving someone else needing help in a real situation.

[andy-hughes]

QM - // Stupid thing is, they advise people not to travel unless "absolutely necessary."
Is it necessary to tell us that it is snowing somewhere?
If they get stuck, some emergency person might have to get them, depriving someone else needing help in a real situation. //

A valid point, but you can be assured that they only travel to and from locations where a risk of being stuck is minimal.

Actually, if they made a news piece out of the dangers of getting stuck in snow, that would have far more validity than simply standing there being snowed on, telling people that it's snowing.

[MargoTester]

... or standing at the end of a pier, or on a sea wAll in a howling gale, warning us of the dangers of being swept out to sea whilst a wave very nearly...... sweeps them off their feet

[gingejbee]

It's because it's teleVISION...you need to be seeing something, apparently.
For the same reason, reporting on gas supply means we need to see gas burners on a hob and water supply reports invariably show a tap running!

[andy-hughes]

ginge - // It's because it's teleVISION...you need to be seeing something, apparently.
For the same reason, reporting on gas supply means we need to see gas burners on a hob and water supply reports invariably show a tap running! //

I get that - but when they broadcast the weather forecast, where they actually give you meaningful relevant information about possible weather conditions, they don't seem to feel the need to provide visual images to back it up.

When they tell me that tomorrow is probably going to be the hottest day of the year, they don't appear to feel the need to convey that fact to me with the visual aid of a reporter standing out in his speedos and flip-flops with a pina collada in his hand.

If I can be trusted to understand the weather forecast without visuals, why am I supposed to need them when the reveal to me that - Shock!! Horror!!! it snows in winter!!

[smurfchops]

Or getting soaked presenting the news in a storm!

[dave50]

I don't remember my school ever being closed in the 60s and early 70s because of snow. It was always kept open and I always seemed to get there.

[nicebloke1]

Dave. The main reasons school close now is because, many teachers dont live within the local community where the school is, but miles away, so no other way to get there other than drive. I remember back in the 60/70s many teachers walked or cycle to school, same as the kids. Some teachers walked too, and back from school with kids, until diverting down there own street, and house. Then you have parents now that dont want their kids going to their local school for whatever reason, but choose one a few miles away. All in all, the schools close because getting there needs some sort of transport, hence the traffic jams, more so when snow hits.

[douglas9401]

Never mind, we'll all be dead soon enough and not need to bother with these 'issues'.

[andy-hughes]

douglas - // Never mind, we'll all be dead soon enough and not need to bother with these 'issues' //

What a welcome little ray of sunshine you are!!

[ladybirder]

Is it possible they think we won't believe them unless they show us?

[andy-hughes]

An interesting idea.

I remain baffled as to why they do it, but every year, up they pop!