All national BBC radio stations, BBC Radio Sheffield and even Hallam FM and Real Radio held a two-minute silence at 11am as a mark of respect to the service men and women who died fighting for Britain.

However, I was disgusted to hear that not only were Galaxy belting out some dance track during the 2 minutes, but they didn't appear to mention it afterwards either. I appreciate that we don't all want to spare 2 minutes in our busy lives for the millions who died, but considering other commercial stations such as Hallam FM managed it, I don't think Galaxy have any excuse.

Galaxy would probably say it's because they have a young, 'cool', audience who don't want their music being interrupted - but these are exactly the inconsiderate sods that could do with considering how lucky they are! Or perhaps it's all about money. Perhaps 2 minutes silence would have messed up Galaxy's advertising slots and cost them a few thousand pounds.

Either way, I was not impressed. Anyone here happen to work for Galaxy's PR department - if so, did you even realise there was a 2 minute silence?! If you did, then why were you the only major station to ignore it?

Rant over.

(I believe, the tune they were playing was "Take Me To The Clouds Above" by LMC Vs U2 :| )

We had a 2 minute silence here in the office.. All phones of the hook etc..

Galaxy, that channel responsible for churning out noise akin to a cutlery tray being dropped on the floor don't do respect.

Nah, and if they did, it would be RESPEC (sic)

Sums up the muppets (presenters and listeners) if you ask me.

I was observing my 2 minutes silence despite colleagues who had obviously forgot or who just don't care.

Just added this to my original post, but noticed a few replies since.

I'm 99% sure that the tune they were playing was "Take Me To The Clouds Above" by LMC Vs U2.

Perhaps someone at the Star could take up this story... would be good to see if Galaxy could be 'taught' to show a little more respect next year... either by having the silence like their fellow commercial stations, or perhaps playing something more suitable.

Thats terrible. I have always taken time to respect the war dead. They made the ultimate sacrifice so we could live as we do today. Galaxy have shown no respect to their sacrifice.

T**ts!

galaxy fm should have a 24 hr silence 7 days a week.

Hold on a minute..you had a radio statio blaring out music when you were observing a minutes silence??
Its not the radio stations responsibility to aid you in your show of respect. If I was observing a minutes silence I would turn the tv and radio off otherwise its not silent!!!

'wibbles', please don't feel the need to post in every thread. Turning off the radio wasn't necessary as the station I was listening to observed their 2 minutes of silence, therefore there was no noise. However, in the interests of investigative journalism (which I enjoy) I decided to ruin my own two minutes of silence to conduct a quick survey of other stations.

Lets keep this on topic, which is not only did Galaxy ignore the 2 minutes, but they were also playing "Take me to the clouds above" during the duration! That's the real story here 'wibbles'... :rolleyes:

I think Wibbles has got a bit of a point really.

Galaxy probably judged that their audience weren't overly fussed about the two minutes silence and decided not to mark it. If someone who wasn't their audience decided to tune in just so they could complain about it then so what?

That's the point I addressed in my first post though Jim. Here you go:

Galaxy would probably say it's because they have a young, 'cool', audience who don't want their music being interrupted - but these are exactly the inconsiderate sods that could do with considering how lucky they are! Or perhaps it's all about money. Perhaps 2 minutes silence would have messed up Galaxy's advertising slots and cost them a few thousand pounds.

The fact I wasn't tuned in to Galaxy at the time doesn't mean I never listen to it. The tuning during the 2 minutes silence was to test a theory I had that it was only the BBC that did the whole 2 minute thing these days.

Rather than worry on why/how I found out this news, we should focus on why Galaxy was alone in assuming that the 1.3 million people that have died didn't deserve the respect of the current generation of teenagers/young adults.

Originally posted by Jim
Galaxy probably judged that their audience weren't overly fussed about the two minutes silence and decided not to mark it.
I suspect that's the whole point...

If it hadn't been for the sacrifice of a few million people giving up their lives and childhood, they wouldn't be in existence...

It's about respect.

But does one radio station, supposedly not observing a 2 minutes silence, in anyway undermine the sacrifice made by people many years ago??
Just exactly how many people in this forum actually observed the official 2 minutes silence and if they didn't then does that make them disrespectful???
Did buses all stop dead in the street??? Did all TV programming stop?? Did the whole country shut down for 2 minutes?? Where do you draw the line??...life has to carry on.
We all choose to show our respect in our own way in our own time.

'Geoff' I shall post where and when I want to..thats the point of a forum!!!

This thread is about Galaxy radio station being the only major station in the area that didn't hold a two minute silence. I personally found this shocking and started a thread about it, which, as you point out wibbles, is this point of this forum. You are more than welcome to start one about the general lack of respect shown, but I was focusing on Galaxy as it appear to be bucking the trend. If you don't understand the purpose of a thread then perhaps move on to another - there are plenty.

:rolleyes:

Ok ok.So your gripe is about Galaxy FM ONLY not observing a minutes silence?? Are you as upset about TV stations not observing the silence and halting programming for 2 minutes??

Originally posted by wibbles
Ok ok.So your gripe is about Galaxy FM ONLY not observing a minutes silence?? Are you as upset about TV stations not observing the silence and halting programming for 2 minutes??
Exactly :).

I was interested in hearing whether local, commercial radio still held 2 minutes silence on the 11th of the 11th. I assumed that they didn't, but was pleased to hear that they did. In my 'survey' I checked Radio 1, 2 and 4 for national and Hallam, Galaxy and Real as the 3 largest local ones. Galaxy was the only one that didn't and it was playing a song that could be considered unsuitable - therefore it bucked a trend and I thought it was interesting. If you don't then that's fine, each to their own.

Edit: The key is that they were bucking a trend, rather than being one of many.

anyhow i suggest that you try emailing galaxy personally, perhaps even directing them to this post. if you have a problem with something address it at its source, you could even phone in and express your views or you could invite a representative to join in the discussion on this forum.

why would the sort of people that listen to galaxy be botherd about our BRITISH war hero's

Removed several posts relating to whether Galaxy listeners like drugs or not. Please just keep this on topic - so many threads are being ruined lately.

Kirky, please read the first page... the whole thing with whether they would be interested was already discussed.

Edit: Wibbles, I've not removed anything that was on topic... they (the other users) were talking about drugs ffs . The other post was from someone saying they slept in to 11.50!

Originally posted by kirky
why would the sort of people that listen to galaxy be botherd about our BRITISH war hero's

Whoo more generalisations!

I listen to Galaxy, I don't like Hallam and don't really like Radio One either. I have however, been over Ypres, the Somme, the huge crater left by a bomb (can't remember the name). It certainly brought the enormousity that the First World War was, home to me :(

I think that's why you'll find the younger generation aren't 'bothered' it's because they don't understand.

there are so many people these does who are interested, don't know or don't care about what people really did for us in the war. unfortunately it is the way of the world and Galaxy may be merely reflecting what they think their audience is interested in. i think everybody taking two minutes out of their day to thank those who gave up their lives so we could listen to radio staions freely and rant on this forum freely is not too much to ask. its also iportant that people are aware of what actually happened and to remember or realise the horror that is war - 'lest we forget'

lets hope we never have to go to war like that again

Right..lets get reasonably back on topic and hopefully what I say next falls into that bracket.

I tried to make the point that i couldn't really see what Galaxy has done so wrong. They actually gave us more choice. By playing music the listener could either observe the 2 minutes silence by turning off or carry on listening and maybe pay their own respects in their own time and place.
I'm pretty positive that the everyday people that work hard at Galaxy (and have decisions taken out of their hands) will, if not already, pay their respects.
TV programmes didn't stop broadcasting so I can't see the difference.

Good point wibbles :). However, you could equally argue that as a station which targets the generation of people who appear to be forgetting about the efforts of previous generations, Galaxy actually has more of a moral obligation than other stations to observe the 2 minutes.

Also, Galaxy are in a privileged position having been awarded the right to broadcast on radio. You would have hoped that as part of the system for awarding licenses, the government would ensure that each station would provide something back to the community it serves - in this case informing it's listeners about the importance of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Do you really think Galaxy didn't do the 2 minutes in the interests of choice, or was it more likely due to the fear of listeners changing station?

(PS. Like I keep saying, this thread is specific to Galaxy as they were the only large local station not to have 2 minutes - lets not turn this thread in to a general discussion about other media, such as TV.)

shocked at galaxy. i was out having a meeting and we had one, so did all of the children in the primary school i was at. not good galaxy

You could complain here (http://www.galaxy105.co.uk/Article.asp?id=34724)

Be interesting to see any replies.

Nomme

Thanks for the link Nomme.

Just to clarify I did e-mail both the DJ and the station (using that complaint form) within minutes of starting this thread. Interestingly enough (from a geeky point of view) the e-mail listed for the DJ (on their site) bounced back...! :hihi:

Another thing I want to point out. The fact I bothered to check which commercial stations were respecting the 2 minutes silence and the fact I bothered to start a thread about it, was because I thought it made an interesting local story. I'm not actually that shocked or surprised and personally the whole thing doesn't bother me massively - but nevertheless I knew it would be of interest to others.

I'm always encouraging people (with the likes of Project Sheffield) to go out there and find local 'stories' which can then be discussed on the forum. Whether a story, such as Galaxy being the only local station not to do the 2 minutes, is interesting or not, is obviously a contentious issue ;) (And I think even wibbles might agree with me on that!).

Originally posted by Geoff
the generation of people who appear to be forgetting about the efforts of previous generations


how do they appear to be forgetting ?

we had two minutes silence at work and I assume everyone knew why we were doing it, even the young people.

just because the managers of Galaxy didn't have two minutes silence doesn't mean the listeners didn't.

From Britain remembers war dead (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4001577.stm) .


"Armistice Day has been a tradition in Britain since King George V issued a proclamation in 1919 that "all locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead"."

Nomme

Originally posted by nomme
From Britain remembers war dead (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4001577.stm) .


"Armistice Day has been a tradition in Britain since King George V issued a proclamation in 1919 that "all locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead"."

Nomme

But not everything did stop. Although I respect the original topic was aimed at Galaxy I think its unfair to throw so much grief their way. I don't see anyone complaining about TV stations and I can guarantee I would get ridiculed if I started a thread "TV Stations carry on broadcasting through 2 minutes silence..what a lack of respect"

Perhaps the real people who are forgetting are the people that supported the war we are currently involved in, without fully considering the sacrifice the soldiers and their families would be making.

Rememberance day should be about remembering the sacrifices made and trying to avoid further conflicts. It should not be a convenient way for our society (and politicians especially) to ease their guilt about those that have died since the last Rememberance day.

Originally posted by wibbles
I would get ridiculed if I started a thread "TV Stations carry on broadcasting through 2 minutes silence..what a lack of respect"
That's because there are 100s of TV stations, whereas there are only 3 major local stations and all but 1 didn't respect the 2 minutes... I thought that was an interesting (in some people's opinions) local story...

...we're going around in circles now.

Wibbles. No offence but you seem to be arguing for the sake of it. Geoffs point is a valid one!

Y don't u guys call it a draw. The good thing about a forum is that people can express different opinions. If you don't agree with something say so but don't keep going on.

Originally posted by Fowler
Wibbles. No offence but you seem to be arguing for the sake of it. Geoffs point is a valid one!

Y don't u guys call it a draw. The good thing about a forum is that people can express different opinions. If you don't agree with something say so but don't keep going on.

So's mine so whats your point???
This isn't a competition and there is no oneupmanship..I am merely putting my point across.
The point I'm making seems to be conveniantly lost on some people who are all too quick to jump on the "slag off Galaxy bandwagon" without giving it any thought.

The story is interesting Geoff and I am glad you raised it.

Originally posted by wibbles
Hold on a minute..you had a radio statio blaring out music when you were observing a minutes silence??
Its not the radio stations responsibility to aid you in your show of respect. If I was observing a minutes silence I would turn the tv and radio off otherwise its not silent!!!

totally agree, & i dont agree with having a two muinit silence one day a year, its something you should think about & respect all through out the year.

just because one radio station didnt stop for the two muinit silence your kicking off.

i respect what all those people dead & alive who faught in every war especially WW2, if it wasnt for the british army or embassy i wouldnt even behere. i'd say nearly every person has been affected by a war at somepoint, whether it be the british attacking there country of origin or someone loosing a son, daughter, dad, aunt, cousin due to fighting in the war, we have all been effected by it so why save one day & two muinits over something we have to think about every day, not only for soldiers of past wars but current ones also, who are out there now fighting!

Whilst I don't particularly rate Galaxy, I think their decision to not have a two-minute silence was a good one.

First of all, how many coffin-dodgers, sorry, pensioners listen to Galaxy? None according to Rajar.

Secondly there are a fair number of people (and the number is growing with every passing year) that don't particularly feel the need to commemorate something that happened ages ago (and please don't post that it also commemorates more recent conflicts, because the large majority would've preferred that these conflicts didn't take place).

Can you imagine people commemorating this bloody farce in Iraq in fifty years time?! It's been and gone, and pretty soon anyone involved in either of the great wars will have snuffed-it anyway.

If you want to have your own private commemoration, by all means do, just don't expect the rest of the country to close down as well.

SaxonLeigh, I think you missed some of the earlier posts :)

Cheers.

Edit, just read this by smedley...

First of all, how many coffin-dodgers, sorry, pensioners listen to Galaxy? None according to Rajar.

Damn, I wish people would actually read an entire thread before replying.

I credit wibbles for a good discussion, but there is little point in having the exact same discussions with other people. Besides, there has been a development with this story which might change things... watch this space. In the meantime, the likes of smedley might do well by actually reading the whole discussion about Galaxy's target market and also learning a little more about the point of today... it's not for the OAPs :rolleyes:. Talk about giving everyone a good impression of yourself!

Smedley has told me, via a very friendly PM, that he didn't have the time to read the first 3 pages so that explains why he posted comments the rest of us had read already. Not sure what explains the relevance of OAPs not tuning in to Galaxy, but that's a whole other story!

The real news is that Galaxy has replied and given us permission to post their comments on the forum:

Thank you for your comments on Galaxy 105's programming today.

Rest assured, we are, as ever, planning to observe the silence on Remembrance Sunday which is traditionally when the huge sacrifices have been marked by the nation as a whole in ceremonies at War memorials across the country, supported by the Royal British Legion. The extra silence on the eleventh is a relatively new observance and, of course, many people will also use that time to pause and reflect.

We welcome comments on this issue from our listeners, as we do on all our output, and we are alert to the mood of our audience. In that respect, your comments are useful to us and we will keep the policy under review. I am sure you would agree that to suggest that the number of silences is, in any way, related to the depth of feeling would be rather simplistic. What is important is that we mark this event, as we shall on Sunday.



David Lloyd
Regional Managing Director
Galaxy 105

No need to have slagged them off then.

Originally posted by Geoff
Removed several posts relating to whether Galaxy listeners like drugs or not. Please just keep this on topic - so many threads are being ruined lately.

Kirky, please read the first page... the whole thing with whether they would be interested was already discussed.

Edit: Wibbles, I've not removed anything that was on topic... they (the other users) were talking about drugs ffs . The other post was from someone saying they slept in to 11.50!
geoff you obviously didn't have the 2 mins silence either..you were listening tio galaxy

Originally posted by jessycar
Whoo more generalisations!

I listen to Galaxy, I don't like Hallam and don't really like Radio One either. I have however, been over Ypres, the Somme, the huge crater left by a bomb (can't remember the name). It certainly brought the enormousity that the First World War was, home to me :(

I think that's why you'll find the younger generation aren't 'bothered' it's because they don't understand.


i think you missed my point..i wasn't refering to young people i was refering to people who's grandma'a granddads etc wernt even in this country at the time of the war.so really it doesn't concern them

Originally posted by kirky
geoff you obviously didn't have the 2 mins silence either..you were listening tio galaxy
kirky mate, this has been covered at least 3 times. I appreciate you can't be online all day, but the thread has moved forward without you I'm afraid - just the nature of the thing.

*cries*

Originally posted by Geoff
kirky mate, this has been covered at least 3 times. I appreciate you can't be online all day, but the thread has moved forward without you I'm afraid - just the nature of the thing.

*cries* i must read the whole thread

i must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole thread
i must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole thread
i must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole threadi must read the whole thread
i must read the whole threadi must read the whole thread

:D :D :D

David Lloyd
Regional Managing Director
Galaxy 105
The extra silence on the eleventh is a relatively new observance and, of course, many people will also use that time to pause and reflect.

"A relatively new observance".
I still can't believe I just read that so I'll type it again:
"A relatively new observance".

As I pointed out earlier:

"Armistice Day has been a tradition in Britain since King George V issued a proclamation in 1919 that "all locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead"."

This regional managing director chap may also want to closely read the web page I cited that from, namely:

Britain remembers war dead (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4001577.stm)

Perhaps the use of a web browser is too much for him so here are some quotes from said page:

"The servicemen and women who died fighting for Britain are being honoured at Armistice Day ceremonies across the country and the Commonwealth.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh each laid a cross to open the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.

At 1100 GMT, in line with tradition, they led the nation in a two-minute silence, before meeting veterans.

At 1800 GMT, the Royal British Legion will stage a flypast and drop three million poppy petals above the Thames.

The petals - one for every British and Commonwealth service person killed in action since the beginning of World War I - will be dropped between Tower and Westminster bridges by an original World War II Douglas Dakota DC3 aircraft during a two-minute flypast.

The river will be lit up in red every night until Sunday when the Queen, accompanied by about 9,000 veterans, will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.

At the Field of Remembrance, relatives and friends will plant about 20,000 tiny wooden crosses, each adorned with a blood-red poppy, the name and rank of a fallen loved one and a message of commemoration. "


"Troops stationed in Iraq were among an estimated 45 million British people who observed the two-minute silence."


So that's the Queen et al, the armed forces and an estimated 45 million British people who observed this "relatively new observance"

Pah!

Nomme

Originally posted by nick2
No need to have slagged them off then.

Hmmm...

a) I wasn't 'slagging' them off. I was merely pointing out that I was disappointed that Galaxy was the only major local station not hold a 2 minute silence.

b) I refer you to Nomme's post above... hmm :P

Nice 1 Nomme. I read the notice from the director and was shocked by his attitude towards it.

However if people don't want to observe it maybe it's best to leave them to it.

I'm not shocked by it. Its obvious from his comments that he actually isn't totally aware of what does go on..and why would he be. His job means he has to pander to a certain age group and as a result is probably as educated as that age group.
But I can see their point of view...kind of caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand you decide to observe a 2 mins silence and upset the majority of listeners who don't even know what's going on or you play music and upset the people who don't really tune in that regularly??

Originally posted by wibbles
But I can see their point of view...kind of caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand you decide to observe a 2 mins silence and upset the majority of listeners who don't even know what's going on or you play music and upset the people who don't really tune in that regularly??

Magically, it appears that it is not a problem on Sunday.

Nomme

Originally posted by Geoff
Edit: The key is that they were bucking a trend, rather than being one of many.


Or, maybe "Starting a trend" rather than "bucking" one?

FTR. I sat in complete silence throughout (SKY news, Volume muted). After nearly 10 years not obseving the 2 mins, I found it to be quite a moving experience (probably in light of recent events)!


Also, Galaxy are cr4p, so does it really matter that much in the greater scheme of things?

A very interesting thread.
One side seems to be defending Galaxy out of being fans of the station rather than on a basic principle though(?)
I find something rather coercive about the 2 minutes silence and poppy buying altogether.
When I was a kid, Remembrance Sunday was a really big thing but everything didn't stop for two minutes on Armistice Day.. .this is a fairly recent revival. How's this come about, why and who has promoted this? I don't need two minutes to remember the disgusting carnage of World War 1 or the sacrifices of World War 2.
As a kid I didn't like Remembrance Sunday because of the way it was coloured by militarism and military values and most of all because the highest profile at these events was given to politicians.......things haven't changed.
I can understand that old soldiers want to remember their mates and that the Armed Services are in many ways their family and that for many of them the best way to remember is in a military ceremony but it leaves me feeling queasy: the sight of the top brass and the politicos at these annual events, the people with blood on their hands. This is not about a lack of respect, it's quite the opposite, it's about a respect for ordinary people used as cannon fodder by the people for whom I feel disgust: members of the Establishment, the politicians and senior officers. It's this that should be remembered.
I don't like the way accusations of disrespect or being uncaring are levelled against anyone who won't conform to the norm and peer group pressure.
This isn't a dig against Geoff or anyone else with similar sincere views. People feel what they feel. However some of us don't feel comfortable with the Establishment deciding how we should remember because we can think for ourselves.
Good thread.

Originally posted by Geoff
All national BBC radio stations, BBC Radio Sheffield and even Hallam FM and Real Radio held a two-minute silence at 11am as a mark of respect to the service men and women who died fighting for Britain.

However, I was disgusted to hear that not only were Galaxy belting out some dance track during the 2 minutes, but they didn't appear to mention it afterwards either. I appreciate that we don't all want to spare 2 minutes in our busy lives for the millions who died, but considering other commercial stations such as Hallam FM managed it, I don't think Galaxy have any excuse.

Galaxy would probably say it's because they have a young, 'cool', audience who don't want their music being interrupted - but these are exactly the inconsiderate sods that could do with considering how lucky they are! Or perhaps it's all about money. Perhaps 2 minutes silence would have messed up Galaxy's advertising slots and cost them a few thousand pounds.

Either way, I was not impressed. Anyone here happen to work for Galaxy's PR department - if so, did you even realise there was a 2 minute silence?! If you did, then why were you the only major station to ignore it?

Rant over.

(I believe, the tune they were playing was "Take Me To The Clouds Above" by LMC Vs U2 :| )


So did you show your honour for the war dead by scanning through Comercial radio stations trying to find out the ones not acting in a respectful manner?

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
So did you show your honour for the war dead by scanning through Comercial radio stations trying to find out the ones not acting in a respectful manner?
Another person who can't be bothered to read the rest of thread... :rolleyes:

Can we start banning these people? :heyhey:

Originally posted by Ned Ludd
I don't like the way accusations of disrespect or being uncaring are levelled against anyone who won't conform to the norm and peer group pressure.

This is a good point. It ties in with the whole issue of whether people wear poppies to show they've donated or do they wear them so they can't be accused of not donating. However, a discussion about poppies should be in a new thread ;).

Most of the arguments have been covered multiple times in this thread. We even had a slightly flawed statement from Galaxy, which, in fairness, explains they are holding a 2 minute silence on Sunday. In summary I reckon this thread has run its course?

PS. If you're looking for smedley's off-topic Iraq rant, it's not deleted, just "spun-off" in to General Chat.

Would have done the 2min silence thing if it were not for the screaming babies I was looking after at work :help:

I can see your point of view about them having the 2 min silence thing but "at the end of the day" you cant force your views and opinions on anyone you can meerly argue your case. Maybe their choice of song "Take me to the clouds above" was meant to be symbolic??????????

The problem lies with the education system and the poor teaching standards as to why those young "sods" as they were referred too have no interest or respect in their past.

You can't expect a top commercial dance station to break up one of their 9 minute megamixes for 2 minutes of dead air.

What they should have done is put on John Cage's 4'33". That's 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence, so we could have got next year's 2 minutes out of the way too.

And three months of 2006.