Public TV's...
- 20 January 2009 19:0413329Not long ago I was sat in a waiting room and a tv was on. The picture was an old style (4:3) transmission stretched to fit a widescreen.
Everyone looked short and fat, it was just horrible to watch.
This is so common in pubs too and many other public places. It is a simple thing to make sure that the picture source matches the display and the display is correctly set up. These sets I find to be utterly unwatchable. (Not that I like tv's in pubs but sometimes they cant be avoided)
Perhaps it is a sign that the owners of these premises could not care less about the way they present their businesses/premises and if so, maybe it indicates that their services/goods are inadequate in more important things. Good presentation and detail are important for businesses and public bodies alike.
Even more incomprehensible is when people spend £1,000 plus on a tv for their own home plus BluRay players and then do not set it up properly. Over bright garish and unrealistic pictures and, yes, the short/fat syndrome appearing.
Does this annoy anyone else?
It is so unnecessary too, they are so easy to set up, a bit of time and patience is all it takes. I went along to help my son set up his new tv over the weekend, two hours of fiddling and adjusting and a reasonable picture was turned into a great one. - 20 January 2009 19:1313332Nope, it doesn't bother me how the tv is set up in a public area. But that's because I loathe tvs in public areas anyway, so am too busy miffing at that basic stage to go any further and notice how the picture is set up.
Give me the good old silent dentist's waiting room any day, where everyone avoids everyone else's eye, and the only sound is of teeth chattering as you await your turn ....
The Dover War Memorial Project
www.doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk - 20 January 2009 19:1713334I am so with you!! Pleeeeeeeease can we not have screens and noise everywhere - one of the many reasons I loathe Tesco (and there are many...!) is that the screens and noise and harrumph ansd pazzaz don't let up and don't mask the appallling service and cheap goods. Why can't our public places just shut the **** up?!
- 20 January 2009 20:0913337Barry, I really am with you on this one 100%
I have no problem with TVs in public places, except pubs where I find them irritating for ruining conversation(although I understand the revenue they can create in some establishments)
But back to your point, I can't stand it when I have to watch a distorted picture, even in peoples homes. I'm amazed that some people can't even register this, or don't feel it is a concern (god I' sound like an old man!) I also know people who almost feel that they are getting their money's worth by watching a 4:3 broadcast in 16:9, it's just crazy!
We only got a widescreen TV a year ago, because a very kind person gave it to us. When people splash out on these things and don't use them to their full potential (or specification) it does seem a shame! - 20 January 2009 20:4913347wetherspoons started up with the proviso that no music or TV would ever be allowed in their pubs.
this was based on the idea of their premises being havens for good conversation and drinking in the old style.
they have partly reneged on this.
silly, in my opinion, i like a pub with live football on, others would rather poke their own eyes out with cocktail sticks.
each establishment should cater for it's patrons and stick with it. - 20 January 2009 20:4913348Most televisions have an Auto setting which will automatically adjust the screen to the correct picture ratio. I don't know why more people don't use this - I suppose it involves reading the instruction book, and who does that?
Having the wrong setting always annoys me, I find a lot of 60s and 70s television unwatchable if the picture is stretched to widescreen format (content notwithstanding). I can't imagine watching The Avengers on BBC4 with Diana Rigg stretched out to look like Jabba the Hut. The recent Blu-Ray release of Thunderbirds caused some deeply furrowed brows amongst the Gerry Anderson fan community as the 4:3 image had been cropped to 16:9, this meant that two black bars had been slapped on top and below the picture, heads became decapitated and a great deal of picture was lost. Sacrilege!
Being a non-sports fan I find TVs blasting out football deeply annoying in pubs and usually avoid such venues. Then again, I suppose that is quite hypocritical as I should admit that I've enjoyed watching England in the World Cup in the pub with a pint for the atmosphere. Generally speaking they are distracting but I can see their worth in attracting people into pubs. Most local pubs really do need the trade so one shouldn't moan. - 20 January 2009 23:0713362I am totally with those who are against tvs in public places, specially pubs, but if they have 'em just set them up properly, pleassssssssseeeee.............
- 21 January 2009 08:4513382cant see why this is such a prob, on a personal side I don't ;ike TV's in pubs etc, and i would probably avoid the pub that has or sit/stand a long way from i
but if its a good picture or not, not realy bothered.
Understand where barrys coming from but fo me, not over concerned - 21 January 2009 09:4213390The consoles in the Post Office drive me up the wall as well, there is no chance of the art of conversation returning with people gazing at a tv screen. I've lost count the amount of times I've nearly been run down in Tesco whilst shoppers are thrown into a catatonic trance looking at the screens.
- 21 January 2009 18:1813412We bought a new flat screen 40 inch TV just before Christmas and I thought I'd set it up right, but although it wasn't particularly exaggerated, I thought people appeared wider and noses longer.
I'd checked the "aspect" of it and after a while I phoned the shop we bought it from and they told me it was the sky part that had to be married to the set-up - after that - great.
So it may not be that they don't care, maybe they don't know what to do.
I don't TV in pubs either.
Roger - 21 January 2009 18:4013413Imagine what would happen if we didn't have TV's in certain pubs, the art of conversation might run wild!
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
21 January 2009 20:2513417tvs in pubs should be banned,with exception of dedicated sports bars.