Which is more important?

[rob1963]

Following on from an off topic discussion on another thread, when presenting something which is speech based, what do you think is more important...the presenter themselves (including their personality, skills, likeability etc) or the content of what they're presenting?

In my opinion, it's the presenter who is most important.

My first exhibit here is my Tuesday quiz night, which I've been presenting for 7 years. I consider myself to be a very good presenter & the quality of the quiz itself is usually pretty good. However, would the quiz have been going this long if the quality was even better but if it had a presenter who was crap? I don't think so.

My second exhibit is the TV show Countdown. For nearly 25 years it was presented by Richard Whiteley & Carol Voderman and was always one of Channel 4's most popular shows. It's now presented by Jeff Stelling & Rachel Riley and ratings are going through the floor. The content & format are exactly the same, so surely this massive decline can only be attributed to the new presenters?

Discuss!

:D

[Jonny Boy]

Would have to agree with you. It's about connection with the audience.

A good presenter can make even the most tedious subject interesting and engaging.
A poor presenter can make the most exciting subject matter dull as ditchwater.

That is not to say that if you're a good presenter you can get away with poor material consistantly. I'd say it's 60-40 in favour of the style over the content.

[rob1963]

A good presenter can make even the most tedious subject interesting and engaging.
A poor presenter can make the most exciting subject matter dull as ditchwater.

Exactly!

:beerchug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So this is a thread to massage your ego and get people to agree with you then?

:shrug:

[Mark Wild]

:shrug:

[rob1963]

So this is a thread to massage your ego and get people to agree with you then?

Far from it, Darren. If I DID want to massage my ego, this forum is the LAST place I'd come!

I don't NEED to massage my ego, as I already KNOW I'm good! I've formed that opinion from the amount of work I get, the amount of extremely good feedback I get from clients, my long running residencies & the fact that I'm always having drinks bought for me...and not only drinks, but cards & even presents too!

To be completly honest, last night when you suggested that my long running quiz residency was mostly due to the quiz itself rather than any skills I might have, I couldn't work out whether you meant what you said or were just trying to wind me up or knock me down a peg or two.

Either way it doesn't matter. I'm just interested to know what other people think about this, hence the thread. I don't mind whether they agree with me or not. After all, there's no right or wrong answer...it's all about people's opinions, and isn't that what this forum is largely about?

:shrug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

No, you just want people to agree with you Rob, which is why you started the thread. You do it time after time after time.

:shrug:

[CRAZY K]

Following on from an off topic discussion on another thread, when presenting something which is speech based, what do you think is more important...the presenter themselves (including their personality, skills, likeability etc) or the content of what they're presenting?

In my opinion, it's the presenter who is most important.

My first exhibit here is my Tuesday quiz night, which I've been presenting for 7 years. I consider myself to be a very good presenter & the quality of the quiz itself is usually pretty good. However, would the quiz have been going this long if the quality was even better but if it had a presenter who was crap? I don't think so.

My second exhibit is the TV show Countdown. For nearly 25 years it was presented by Richard Whiteley & Carol Voderman and was always one of Channel 4's most popular shows. It's now presented by Jeff Stelling & Rachel Riley and ratings are going through the floor. The content & format are exactly the same, so surely this massive decline can only be attributed to the new presenters?

Discuss!

:D

My view---the content /format and remaining presenters are worn out and its time for a change---no amount of new presenters however talented will make a difference.

Not even Rob James;)

The fact that they slashed Carol Vordemans salary by 80 per cent or something similar also tells you something;)

If it was so rivetting they wouldnt have done that.

I only watched it when the wife put it on ---and fell asleep:bang:

CRAZY K

[rob1963]

No, you just want people to agree with you Rob, which is why you started the thread. You do it time after time after time.

Come on Darren...do you REALLY think I'd be on this forum if I just wanted people do agree with me?

That would be a bit like someone who didn't like bad language hiring a Chubby Brown DVD!

:rofl:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

:shrug:

[Excalibur]

Agree totally about Countdown. Admittedly Ferret and Vorderman were a double act made in TV heaven, but Stelling is atrocious. Why oh why Richard Digance was not given the job, I have no idea. He's perfect for the format. The young lady can't shine if she's got nothing to work with.

Jamesy, have you thought about applying for the job yourself? :confused:


To answer the initial question, I believe it's the sum of the parts, not one sole factor. If one bit's crsp, the whole thing fails, so sorry Rob, while I don't doubt you're very good at what you do, I don't think you can take all the credit for the success and longevity of your quiz. Maybe they sell Real Ale at 50p a pint on quiz nights. Maybe they give free suppers. Maybe the fit barmaid only works that night.

[rob1963]

Agree totally about Countdown. Admittedly Ferret and Vorderman were a double act made in TV heaven, but Stelling is atrocious. Why oh why Richard Digance was not given the job, I have no idea. He's perfect for the format. The young lady can't shine if she's got nothing to work with.

Jamesy, have you thought about applying for the job yourself? :confused:


To answer the initial question, I believe it's the sum of the parts, not one sole factor. If one bit's crap, the whole thing fails, so sorry Rob, while I don't doubt you're very good at what you do, I don't think you can take all the credit for the success and longevity of your quiz. Maybe they sell Real Ale at 50p a pint on quiz nights. Maybe they give free suppers. Maybe the fit barmaid only works that night.

You haven't answered the question my good man! Which do you think is more important, the presenter themselves or the content...or are you saying it's 50-50?

In the case of Countdown, you clearly think it's the presenter.

P.S. I'm not taking ALL the credit for the success & longevity of my quiz...just MOST of it! ;)

[Excalibur]

You haven't answered the question my good man! Which do you think is more important, the presenter themselves or the content...or are you saying it's 50-50?

In the case of Countdown, you clearly think it's the presenter.

And you haven't read my reply. :p

It's the sum of the parts.

If one of the parts is defective, the whole thing fails. I'd have to allow that the presenter probably makes up 60-40, but that's as far as I'm going. ;) :D

Edit: I've just noticed that Rob has edited his post, which makes it look as if I'm being swayed by his argument. I'm not.

[Corabar Steve]

I fail to see the point of this thread.

The quiz has been going for 7 years (quite successfully if you're to be believed) the only way of proving your point would be to get a presenter with the personality of a tadpole & a better set of questions, then see how long it would run. Thus putting yourself out of a job. Maybe you should wait 4 years & have an experiment.

It does seem to me as this is just an exercise in massaging your ego

:shrug:

[rob1963]

I fail to see the point of this thread.


To get peoples opinions on what they think is more important for speech based presentations...the presenter & their skills or the content.


The quiz has been going for 7 years (quite successfully if you're to be believed) the only way of proving your point would be to get a presenter with the personality of a tadpole & a better set of questions, then see how long it would run. Thus putting yourself out of a job. Maybe you should wait 4 years & have an experiment.

Or you could just look at the "Countdown" situation. This thread isn't about me...it's about speech based presentations in general.

However, on the rare occasions when I'm not around & someone else covers one of my quizzes, the complaints & negative comments I get about them on my return are almost unanimous...and this doesn't just relate to one person, but 4 or 5 different different people who have covered for me at various times, all of whom are experienced at presenting quiz nights, but who clearly don't have the best personality or mic/presentation skills.


It does seem to me as this is just an exercise in massaging your ego

As already stated, this forum is the LAST place I'd come if I wanted to do that. To be honest, my ego is massaged very nicely in the REAL world by most of my punters!

:D

[Excalibur]

However, on the rare occasions when I'm not around & someone else covers one of my quizzes, the complaints & negative comments I get about them on my return are almost unanimous...and this doesn't just relate to one person, but 4 or 5 different different people who have covered for me at various times, all of whom are experienced at presenting quiz nights, but which don't have the best personality or mic skills.


:D

Hmmmm. But I haven't stood in yet. ;) ;) ;)

[rob1963]

Hmmmm. But I haven't stood in yet. ;) ;) ;)

Indeed.

Let me know when you're free!

:D :D :D

[Shaun]

So this is a thread to massage your ego and get people to agree with you then?

:shrug:



It does seem to me as this is just an exercise in massaging your ego

:shrug:

Of course it is. He's never going to admit to it though.

:shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

Or you could just look at the "Countdown" situation.
Which really has nothing to do with the quality of the questions (as there aren't any) or the presenters.

The thing with Countdown is that until his death RW (& CV) had been with the show from the beginning & as such had picked up their fans. Subsequent presenters (Des & Des) until the current line up were both well known already & certainly had a ready made fan base with which to add to that of the show.

The current presenter & words/numbers girl are both relatively unknown & won't have as many fans, thus cutting the show's fans in one fell swoop.

Your comparison to a quiz night is not a good analogy as in most cases people will neither be going because of it's longevity or it's presenter, but rather because it's a quiz night.

To say it's not about you is also a falsehood as you wouldn't have used


My first exhibit here is my Tuesday quiz night, which I've been presenting for 7 years. I consider myself to be a very good presenter & the quality of the quiz itself is usually pretty good. However, would the quiz have been going this long if the quality was even better but if it had a presenter who was crap? I don't think so.
as an example if it wasn't.

Or would you?

:shrug:




As already stated, this forum is the LAST place I'd come if I wanted to do that. To be honest, my ego is massaged very nicely in the REAL world by most of my punters!





We only have your word for that
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sprachlos/speechless-smiley-034.gif

[Excalibur]

Which really has nothing to do with the quality of the questions (as there aren't any) or the presenters.

The thing with Countdown is that until his death RW (& CV) had been with the show from the beginning & as such had picked up their fans. Subsequent presenters (Des & Des) until the current line up were both well known already & certainly had a ready made fan base with which to add to that of the show.

The current presenter & words/numbers girl are both relatively unknown & won't have as many fans, thus cutting the show's fans in one fell swoop.


Added to which, he's crap. Sorry but this does tend to fit in with Rob's theory also. ;)

[rob1963]

So this is a thread to massage your ego and get people to agree with you then?

:shrug:


Of course it is. He's never going to admit to it though.

:shrug:

I've already said it's NOT, so are you calling me a liar, Shaun?


Your comparison to a quiz night is not a good analogy as in most cases people will neither be going because of it's longevity or it's presenter, but rather because it's a quiz night.

It's certainly true that people won't go to a quiz night because of it's longevity, and I never said otherwise.

However, I'm afraid that in my experience it's complete rubbish to suggest that people don't go to a quiz night because of its presenter.

If that was true, when I miss one of my regular quiz nights, why do so many punters come along to one of my quizzes on a different night at a different venue that week...rather than doing the same quiz at the same venue as normal when the only difference is that it's being presented by someone else?

:shrug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Rob, people like things they are familiar with and don't like change. (Even if they are crap...:sj:)

[Corabar Entertainment]

If the quiz questions matter so little, why not dispense with the quiz questions altogether and just entertain them foir the night? (I'm sure the poor bugger who spends all their time writing the quizes for you will be so glad to know that all of his efforts are so appreciated by you)

:shrug:

[rob1963]

Rob, people like things they are familiar with and don't like change. (Even if they are crap...:sj:)

Exactly...so it IS about the presenter then! :D :D :D


If the quiz questions matter so little, why not dispense with the quiz questions altogether and just entertain them for the night?

Angela, I'm not saying the quiz questions matter so little, just that the presenter & their personality & skills are MORE important than the content of the quiz. I'd say a successful night is two thirds due to the presenter & about one third due to the actual content of the quiz. Funnily enough though, a colleague of mine often DOES do what you're suggesting at his so-called quiz nights..

I've watched him take points off various teams scores for ridiculous reasons (because one of their team members is wearing a shirt he doesn't like, or because a team are being too noisy and even in one case a team had points deducted just for turning up to do the quiz!). Apart from that, there have been occasions where his whole quiz has gone out of the window after all or even part of the first round...the rest of the evening has been spent with him telling jokes & funny stories and/or getting people to come up & sing on the mic or tell their own stories.

:shrug:

[Shaun]

I've already said it's NOT, so are you calling me a liar, Shaun?


I haven't called you anything. Merely stating my personal opinion.

:shrug:

[NKR]

If the quiz is bad people will not come regardless of how presented. If the presenter is bad it makes the quiz bad.

So you need both to be successful, however as good presenter of a bad quiz will still not work.

[Excalibur]

If the quiz is bad people will not come regardless of how presented. If the presenter is bad it makes the quiz bad.

So you need both to be successful, however as good presenter of a bad quiz will still not work.

Oh poo.:( :( I find myself concurring with the views from the wrong side of the Pennines again. Grrrrrr. :( :(

[soundtracker]

If the quiz is bad people will not come regardless of how presented. If the presenter is bad it makes the quiz bad.

So you need both to be successful, however as good presenter of a bad quiz will still not work.

I used to attend a sports quiz, which was absolutely superb, and ran for about 5 years, the presenter was a bit of a non-entity, but people still turned up regularly because of the quality of the quiz,

[NKR]

I used to attend a sports quiz, which was absolutely superb, and ran for about 5 years, the presenter was a bit of a non-entity, but people still turned up regularly because of the quality of the quiz,

Doesn't have to be a personality, but has to be organised and flow. I have been to some really awful quizs where they announce the wrong answer to questions, get it all in the wrong order, etc. That is bad presenting, which makes the quiz bad.

The presenter may not have been a personality, but I would bet his organisation was bob on.

[soundtracker]

How did you know his name was Bob? It was purely down to the quality of the quiz - no banter, all delivered in his bizarre monotone, no humour, no endearing qualities at all.

[Corabar Steve]

If that was true, when I miss one of my regular quiz nights, why do so many punters come along to one of my quizzes on a different night at a different venue that week...rather than doing the same quiz at the same venue as normal when the only difference is that it's being presented by someone else?
If it's not about your ego then why bother telling us that?
:shrug:

I've been thinking about this & thinking about pubs I know that have quiz nights. One of the nearest to us has been going for years. It's had several different presenters & the questions, style of quiz & difficulty have varied immensely. The one common factor, has been the pub itself (& the people who go there).

This kind of proves Darren's point & disproves your "it's all about the presenter" theory

[DJ Jules]

I've been a regular attendee at two quizes over the last decade or so in two different pubs. Both were presented by complete non-entities (I can't remember a thing about either of them) but the quizes were generally well organised and the presentation (while not memorable) was at least accurate and free from mistakes.

I stopped going to one of them because one team who attended won EVERY week. It got to the point where there was just wasn't any reason to play. The other one we stopped going to because the questions were too hard (or near impossible for us to answer as uneducated young adult's in our early 20's) and we got bored with not knowing the answers.

In the first case, if the presenter had taken a less orthodox approach to the quiz (i.e. deducted points from the team who always won at the start or "had a word with them") then they probably could have secured our future custom. In the second case, I don't know if it was just us who found the questions too hard, or if the presenter was generally not tailoring the quiz to the audience at all. In both cases, if the format had been changed to part quiz and part Cabaret, I don't think we would have objected!

Julian

[Excalibur]

If it's not about your ego then why bother telling us that?
:shrug:

I've been thinking about this & thinking about pubs I know that have quiz nights. One of the nearest to us has been going for years. It's had several different presenters & the questions, style of quiz & difficulty have varied immensely. The one common factor, has been the pub itself (& the people who go there).

This kind of proves Darren's point & disproves your "it's all about the presenter" theory

Don't think it does either, actually. If the beer were crap and overpriced, and the Landlord/Landlady were miserable :Censored: 's even the legendary Jamesy would not be able to sustain a successful quiz, would he?

And by the same token, if the beer were 20p a pint cheaper than local competitors, all good real ale, a free supper on quiz nights, photogenic barstaff of whatever gender takes your fancy, and a friendly atmosphere, then surely any old idiot could run it with ease?

Everything matters.

[Marc J]

:shrug:

[Corabar Entertainment]

This kind of .....disproves your "it's all about the presenter" theory
Don't think it does either, actually. If the beer were crap and overpriced, and the Landlord/Landlady were miserable :Censored: 's even the legendary Jamesy would not be able to sustain a successful quiz, would he?

And by the same token, if the beer were 20p a pint cheaper than local competitors, all good real ale, a free supper on quiz nights, photogenic barstaff of whatever gender takes your fancy, and a friendly atmosphere, then surely any old idiot could run it with ease?

Ermmm... haven't you just disproved it too? :lol:


Everything matters.
Agreed :approve:


...But what do I know?
:shrug:

[rob1963]

If that was true, when I miss one of my regular quiz nights, why do so many punters come along to one of my quizzes on a different night at a different venue that week...rather than doing the same quiz at the same venue as normal when the only difference is that it's being presented by someone else?


If it's not about your ego then why bother telling us that?

Why? To back up my opinion that it IS largely about the presenter...with actual facts about what I've experienced.

It's amazing. I get moaned at for having opinions on things that haven't happened to me specifically, and yet when I talk about positive things which I DO know about through personal experience I get moaned at and accused of trying to massage my ego. It seems I'm in the wrong WHATEVER I think or say...so no change there then!

It's funny that when I talk about something positive which has happened to me in my business I'm accussed of only posting it to massage my ego, and yet there are many posts each day from plenty of other people talking about positive things that have happened to them...and nobody says a word!

For the last time, to suggest that I'm trying to massage my ego on this forum is a complete joke. This is the last place I'd EVER come to try & do that. Why? Because I've never had people be as rude, belittling & disrespectful to me & my business as a fair few have on this forum over the last 3 years. I reluctantly put up with it because for every person who is like that there are several more who are NOT.


I've been thinking about this & thinking about pubs I know that have quiz nights. One of the nearest to us has been going for years. It's had several different presenters & the questions, style of quiz & difficulty have varied immensely. The one common factor, has been the pub itself (& the people who go there).

This kind of proves Darren's point & disproves your "it's all about the presenter" theory

Firstly, you're misquoting me. I never said it's all about the presenter, but it's mostly about the presenter. I think it's about two thirds down to the presenter and a third content. Some people have agreed with me & others have not, which is just what I'd expect.


Everything matters.

This thread has been a bit of an eye-opener, as it's shown that a number of people clearly do NOT think that everything matters, as they've made it clear that when it comes to presenting it's the CONTENT that matters...but NOT the presenter or their skills!

:shrug:

[BeerFunk]

Wow, what have I missed here?!

Well, for what it's worth, I think it's split down the middle. I'll assume we;re mainly talking about a pub quiz. A good structured quiz, with variation in style and content is a good starting point. In this case, the presenter doesn't really have to do much - much like a bingo caller (everyone who is actually playing is concentrating on their card).

However, I could see the case for a really charismatic quiz host taking precedence over the quiz content, as they are entertaining everyone in the pub - not just those playing, either.

[rob1963]

I'll assume we;re mainly talking about a pub quiz. A good structured quiz, with variation in style and content is a good starting point. In this case, the presenter doesn't really have to do much - much like a bingo caller (everyone who is actually playing is concentrating on their card).

However, I could see the case for a really charismatic quiz host taking precedence over the quiz content, as they are entertaining everyone in the pub - not just those playing, either.

To be honest Beerfunk, the thread was meant to be about speech based presentations in general, not just pub quizzes...although that's the way it seems to have gone (hence my reference in the OP to the TV show Countdown as well...which I thought illustrated my point quite nicely).

To be honest, I'm a bit confused, as some people are clearly saying that the presenter & their mic skills etc aren't too important, but on another recent thread people were commenting on a video of someone presenting in a shopping centre...and were saying that it IS important for everyone to have good mic & presentation skills like him!

:shrug:

[Corabar Entertainment]

Well let's look at it from another angle:

If a client is looking for a DJ and wants an entertainer-style DJ (and the DJ is great at the banter/chat, etc). Does it matter if he plays crap music all night?

...as has been said several times, everything matters and it is the balance between everything that makes things great. (Which would be better? An entertaining presenter with a lousy quiz in a terrible pub, or a monotone presenter with an entertaining quiz in a pub with great food, drink, atmosphere and company?)

:shrug:

[Mark Wild]

Which would be better? An entertaining presenter with a lousy quiz in a terrible pub, or a monotone presenter with an entertaining quiz in a pub with great food, drink, atmosphere and company?

:shrug:

I'll take a monotone presenter with an entertaining quiz in a pub with great food, drink, atmosphere and company. I don't think people hang on every word the quizmaster says as they are having fun, drinks and banter with their team mates/friends/family whatever. All they're waiting for is the moment he says " O.K question number 1,2,3 etc !!"

:shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

Firstly, you're misquoting me. I never said it's all about the presenter, but it's mostly about the presenter. I think it's about two thirds down to the presenter and a third content. Some people have agreed with me & others have not, which is just what I'd expect.


In my opinion, it's the presenter who is most important.
:shrug:

[rob1963]

Surely what I'm saying in the two posts you quoted couldn't be much clearer?

:shrug:

[rob1963]

I'll take a monotone presenter with an entertaining quiz in a pub with great food, drink, atmosphere and company.

I don't know where a pubs with great food, drink, atmosphere & company came from, as that's not what the thread is about!

:shrug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

:shrug:

[Mark Wild]

I don't know where a pubs with great food, drink, atmosphere & company came from, as that's not what the thread is about!

:shrug:

:shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

:shrug: :shrug:

[Shaun]

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[Corabar Entertainment]

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[Shaun]

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[rob1963]

Here's the clue in the OP as to what the thread was asking:


when presenting something which is speech based, what do you think is more important...the presenter themselves (including their personality, skills, likeability etc) or the content of what they're presenting?

I tried to make it clear, but obviously failed, for which I apologise...so I'll leave it to the rest of you to carry on talking about the quality of the food, the beer & the company in pubs.

:shrug:

[NKR]

I have been repulsed by some pub carpet. This has ruined the whole quiz experience for me. I feel the carpet is very important. :p ;) :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

Here's the clue in the OP as to what the thread was asking:

I tried to make it clear, but obviously failed, for which I apologise...so I'll leave it to the rest of you to carry on talking about the quality of the food, the beer & the company in pubs.

:shrug:Well Rob, I am sorry that you cannot grasp the concept of conversation progession, which came from 'everything matters' being mentioned a few times.

If all threads stuck within extremely limited parameters, then we would have a very boring forum withloads of posts saying 'yes' 'no' 'I don't know' 'I agree' 'I disagree' (or some other extremely short reply to directy answer the specific question!)

If you open a subject for discussion, expect people to discuss it in full!

(Maybe if you only wanted 'the presenter matters most' or 'the content matters most', you should have made this a poll.)

:shrug:

[StarZSoundS]

Here's the clue in the OP as to what the thread was asking:



I tried to make it clear, but obviously failed, for which I apologise...so I'll leave it to the rest of you to carry on talking about the quality of the food, the beer & the company in pubs.

:shrug:

Want some input from someone who's been doing the same quiz night for 6 and a half years and who doesn't need his ego massaging cos he knows how good he is;)

The truth is if you do the whole shebang(questions and presenting) yourself you don't go home torturing yourself about wether it was HIM or ME.When I kiss the mirror before I get into bed on Sundays I know its all down to my own efforts.

I am also proud of lasting so long also and was open when I posted a thread about long residencies.If you try to be too clever with this lot they'll be on you like a pack of wolves:eek: Proof of the pudding.Theres nothing wrong with loving yourself Rob.....just do it in private....and make sure you keep the door shut:bang:

[rob1963]

If all threads stuck within extremely limited parameters, then we would have a very boring forum withloads of posts saying 'yes' 'no' 'I don't know' 'I agree' 'I disagree' (or some other extremely short reply to directy answer the specific question!)

If you open a subject for discussion, expect people to discuss it in full!


You seem to be saying it's okay for people to take my thread off topic by deviating from what I was asking in the OP...and yet whenever I do that I get moaned at for going off topic!


If you try to be too clever with this lot they'll be on you like a pack of wolves:eek:

Let's be honest, I don't have to try to be clever with this lot in order for them to be on me like a pack of wolves...I just have to post anything here!


Theres nothing wrong with loving yourself Rob.....just do it in private....and make sure you keep the door shut:bang:

Ironically, in the real world people always tell me I UNDER estimate myself!

As I mentioned earlier, I find it strange that when I post about something I'm doing which is successful people accuse me of trying to massage my ego, and yet many others are doing exactly the same on here every day...and nobody says a word about massaging of egos!

Sometimes it feels like there's one rule for me & another for everyone else on here!

It's a funny old world!

:shrug:

[Corabar Entertainment]

You seem to be saying it's okay for people to take my thread off topic by deviating from what I was asking in the OP...and yet whenever I do that I get moaned at for going off topic!Rob... you are a clever enough bloke to comprehend the difference between conversation progression and off-topic posts.

Quite frankly, you constantly deliberately take people's words literally and out of context and twist their original meaning, (when you very well undertsand the original overal 'flavour' of someone's posts). Fine.... you can be a very clever wordsmith in that way, but please do not complain just because that twisting may then annoy the people that you are doing it to, or complain that people are on you like a pack of wolves merely because they do not share your opinion.

[Shaun]

You seem to be saying it's okay for people to take my thread off topic by deviating from what I was asking in the OP...and yet whenever I do that I get moaned at for going off topic!



:shrug:

If I were to tell you off EVERYTIME you did that, I'd have as many posts as you :d. Whilst were on the subject, whenever I post for threads to get back on topic it's aimed at everyone - very rarely do I see any of the staff singling people out by name. I'd be interested to see where you've been specifically moaned at, especially as you've claimed you're moaned at whenever you've strayed off topic?

:shrug:

[Excalibur]

Well let's look at it from another angle:

If a client is looking for a DJ and wants an entertainer-style DJ (and the DJ is great at the banter/chat, etc). Does it matter if he plays crap music all night?

...as has been said several times, everything matters and it is the balance between everything that makes things great. (Which would be better? An entertaining presenter with a lousy quiz in a terrible pub, or a monotone presenter with an entertaining quiz in a pub with great food, drink, atmosphere and company?)

:shrug:
Can I phone a friend? :confused:


I'll take a monotone presenter with an entertaining quiz in a pub with great food, drink, atmosphere and company. I don't think people hang on every word the quizmaster says as they are having fun, drinks and banter with their team mates/friends/family whatever. All they're waiting for is the moment he says " O.K question number 1,2,3 etc !!"

:shrug:
Easily pleased, aren't you? :D :D


I don't know where a pubs with great food, drink, atmosphere & company came from, as that's not what the thread is about!

:shrug:

Well actually it sort of is, cos what a lot of us are saying is any entertainmnt format with a high speech content can not succeed solely on the skills of the host/hostess/presenter. The sum of the parts ( And the whole is often greater than this. ;) ;) ;) ;) )


You haven't answered the question my good man! Which do you think is more important, the presenter themselves or the content...or are you saying it's 50-50?

In the case of Countdown, you clearly think it's the presenter.

P.S. I'm not taking ALL the credit for the success & longevity of my quiz...just MOST of it! ;)

Countdown definitely at least 60% presenter.
Your quiz: :zip: :D :D :D

[rob1963]

Quite frankly, you constantly deliberately take people's words literally and out of context and twist their original meaning, (when you very well undertsand the original overal 'flavour' of someone's posts).

Funnily enough, that's something which others (often site staff) have done to ME on many occasions!


Whilst were on the subject, whenever I post for threads to get back on topic it's aimed at everyone - very rarely do I see any of the staff singling people out by name. I'd be interested to see where you've been specifically moaned at, especially as you've claimed you're moaned at whenever you've strayed off topic?

To answer your question, post 22 in the following thread is a good example, which happened just yesterday!

http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=3968&page=3

If you ask me, my post was more of the "conversation progression" that Angela talks of than an off topic post...and I certainly don't think it warranted the response it got.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Funnily enough, that's something which others (often site staff) have done to ME on many occasions!Don't know whether that's true or not Rob, but if you continually do it to others, I wouldn't be surprised if you've had it done back to you.

PS I have no interest or intention of entering into any further off-topic discussion here, so if you want or need to have the last word, post back here... I won't reply on the subject again.

[soundtracker]

Funnily enough, that's something which others (often site staff) have done to ME on many occasions!



To answer your question, post 22 in the following thread is a good example, which happened just yesterday!

http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=3968&page=3

If you ask me, my post was more of the "conversation progression" that Angela talks of than an off topic post...and I certainly don't think it warranted the response it got.

Well I think it got exactly what it deserved - several people have commented lately on your propensity to stray off-topic, and on this occasion, there is no"conversation progression" at all! Its a list! i realise that you're not my biggest fan Rob, but tbh that really doesn't bother me in the slightest.:shrug:

[Babybob]

Anyway....back on topic, I think it's cheese on toast.
:shrug:

[rob1963]

Well I think it got exactly what it deserved

We'll agree to disagree on that one then...but your reply was certainly on a par with the way you usually speak to me!


several people have commented lately on your propensity to stray off-topic

Well if it's only several, then it's clearly not much of a problem!


i realise that you're not my biggest fan Rob, but tbh that really doesn't bother me in the slightest.:shrug:

I realise that you're not my biggest fan either (that's blatantly obvious by the way you speak to me), but it doesn't bother ME in the slightest either!


Anyway....back on topic, I think it's cheese on toast.
:shrug:

With or without brown sauce?

[rob1963]

several people have commented lately on your propensity to stray off-topic

I have a few afterthoughts concerning the above point.

Firstly, the conversation about the importance of the presenter versus content actually started in a different thread, and ironically the reason i started THIS thread was so the OTHER thread could get back ON topic!

Secondly, the reason for me going off topic more than other people is because I POST far more than anyone else on the forum. If you looked at the PERCENTAGE of my posts which are off topic, that would tell a very DIFFERENT story.

Finally, for the record I don't go off topic intentionally, and whenever it's pointed out to me, I usually apologise (unlike most others) and either get BACK on topic or stop posting in the thread completely. As far as I'm aware, that's the right thing to do...but if it's not, I'm sure someone will let me know.

:shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

Thread closed for being way off topic

& to avoid any further argument.