Whistling in the wind as simple as ABC

Dear !!!!!

Thanks for getting angry enough to burst into print with what is a more appropriate response to my original email. Your email also reveals a lot about the ABC and I share your obvious concern that it could and should be addressed by ABC management. I am sure I am not alone in wanting to support you in your efforts to penetrate the mind sets and machinations of the ABC in order to improve this tax payer funded public service. So please look upon me not as a pest but as a co-conspirator.

To comment upon your response (and please, do not feel obliged to answer)

1. 'Radio National does use standard responses for listener correspondence' - If this is policy clearly the ABC is not interested in public comment. That being so, I would suggest the ABC does not invite the public to make contact.

2. 'I am not privy to the reasoning behind management decisions' - And neither are the public (further proof you and me are on the same side). It's a sad commentary that ABC management are seemingly so aloof that even their own front line staff haven't got any idea what management are doing and why.

3. '… it is a matter of resources' - see #1. There are obvious cost savings to be made by cutting off public contact.

4. '… I would be able to write a more personal reply such as this one' - for the public who take time to write in - Oh Happy Day!

5. '… standard responses provide a consistent reply' - of course they do. But if #1 cannot be implemented, choose just one standard response which could be used in all situations - eg.' The ABC is not interested in what you have to say. So sod off you bloody nuisance'. This could be computer generated in every situation and not be a drain on resources.

6. ' There are other shows such as The Quiet Space' - Let us be quite clear. This programme is not music. It is torture. It is inane. It serves the interests only of the weird and bizarre. Its monotonous drone often jolts me from a sound slumber. It is an example of what is the worst of ABC radio. This type of 'noise' never gets airplay on any other radio station worldwide and you would need to ask yourself why that is. I suspect it is management pandering to a long serving staff presenter that is given his moment of insanity in lieu of a salary increase and generous retirement pension package. This is one of just two* so called RN 'music' programmes that is NEVER replayed during daylight hours - and for good reason. If this programme was ever replayed during daylight instead of just past midnight when most are asleep, your incoming public comment would overwhelm you. The public comment wouldn't be pretty. For inanity it is closely followed by Sound Quality* - another programme presented by someone I presume whom management probably would have preferred to pension off years ago!

Don't be discouraged - you have friends on the outside who would like to improve your lot. Best of luck in the ABC.

Kind regards

Geoff Ellis