Posted by Diane Bentley on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/Too-much-chit-chat-not-enough-discussion-tp1492403p1492418.html

In message <[hidden email]>, Mario Guatteri
<[hidden email]> writes
>I'm of the same opinion. Too much chatters lately ;-(
>I need more discussion and useful information :-)
>> --
>
>Ciao
>Mario

OK point taken. However, being, by self confession, one of the guilty
party in the chatter department, I would like to offer (firstly) my
apologies for any offence caused and (secondly) the following "in
defence" so to speak...

I am a self confessed 60's - 80's sci-fi junkie. I have been a lifelong
addict of WHO, (a programme I was weaned on) and a twenty year devotee
of Blakes 7. I have nigh on every video of the pair of them and
have been to several cons as well as being a full member of Horizon.
Also along the way, I got into Lost in Space (NOT the dreadful film, I'm
talking the original with Bill Mumy) I'm also a bit of a Trekkie - but
only as far as the original series with Kirk, Spock, Scotty, etc are
concerned. As far as Gerry Anderson is concerned; I grew up with
Thunderbirds and Stingray and have still got the original 45 rpm theme
tunes of both on vinyl as treasured possessions. I desperately tried to
get into Space 1999 but in the end that naff 1940's Errol Flynn movie
type soft screen focus on the female "heroine" got on my nerves in the
end... but that's all another genre and none of it belongs on this list,
I know.

Getting to UFO. Well - sadly, this is one of the programmes that I
instantly adored on it's original airing, but have only just
rediscovered after many years absence. I'll be honest here, I'm not a
great fan of modern TV programmes in general - most of my viewing time
is spent on what I personally consider was the finer era of television,
and so I tend to flick about, sometimes aimlessly, on sky looking for
something worthwhile to watch. This was how I came across the current
UFO screenings on the UK SKY Sci-fi channel and rekindled a VERY long
lost passion for this wonderfully evocative programme.

Nobody (but perhaps YOU all can) would believe how thrilled and relieved
I was when I came across Marc's incredible site and subsequently, the
quite remarkable Italian ISOSHADO site too. It was marvellously
comforting to know that there were SO many people, from all around the
world who also loved this long lost programme.

But then Sky pulled the plug. Ok - not for good, but nevertheless, I
only got to see 4 episodes - none of which have been on the "discuss"
agenda since I joined SHADO. Sheila from the list is very kindly
donating me her "spare" episodes on video to give me a chance to catch
up a bit. But I can't help thinking there must be others like me on
here - who maybe can't afford right now to give our credit cards a
pounding & buy the series outright on commercial video and so must rely
on whatever Sky or our trusty friends can supply us?

I can understand and fully sympathise with the frustration "one liners"
cause to UFO die-hards, but it is extremely difficult to do much else
if, like me, you are very eager to join in a discussion but are still in
the "infancy" of the programmes screenings.

I would therefore, (extremely respectfully!!!) point out that if
slightly more widespread topics of debate that could include ALL list
members, regardless of level of episode knowledge could be thrown into
"the arena" (for example individual character assassinations, set
design, props, and overviews of the viability of an organisation like
SHADO in real life 1980's etc.,) then this might go a long way towards
encouraging the level of "useful discussion" desired...
Di