The totally off-topic thread

[Flashback]

What great service on SQ so far. We are actually being addressed by name instead of Sir and Ma'am. Qantas hasn't done that for me in premium cabins in a long time...

 

[SeatBackForward]

What great service on SQ so far. We are actually being addressed by name instead of Sir and Ma'am. Qantas hasn't done that for me in premium cabins in a long time...

When in J, all MH, CX and SQ staff have referred to me by name, even the ones who've had nothing to do with me on the flight (say if I pass them in the Galley).

All I've received from QF is the welcome aboard handshake that every other J customer gets.

 

[drron]

No need of the Do Not Disturb sign in the last few hotels-all have been in the SPG Green choice program.Love those extra points.

And as for airlines have just flown AA DFW-NRT.Not only called by name but on several occasions the FA or Purser came and had a chat.The Purser was on 2 previous sectors we have done Trans Pacific-even remembered the wine I like.

 

[Buzzard]

If the hotel has a DND sign, I'm a massive fan of using it.

Maybe admin can sell DND signs for those times the hotels (like the one I'n in) don't have one...

Can't you just "borrow" one :?:

 

[anat0l]

The problem is they rarely stage manage the intervals. As I said there was one season with at least one team one or two stages behind. As with any race of this type there are choke points, which have probably increased after that season with teams stages behind.

As frequent travellers I thought we all knew that there can be limited options between some destinations. I think about the time I spent 4 months trying to find the best option between Barcelona and Nice. Turns out the best option was 2 connections on regional trains, including changing stations in Avignon. What makes it race worthy for me is the teams have to do that type of searching in about 30 to 60 minutes.

What makes it amazing for me is seeing the world, even if it's via limited editing at times. The show does give info about the destinations and I see it as a long version variation of travel shows like getaway.

I also like some of the bickering between teams. That stuff can't be scripted.

You can do a little bit of searching around the internet to find there are particular tricks involved in TAR which are never exposed to the viewers. It does, to a particular degree, have an influence on the "reality" of the race. In particular, artefacts related to the actual filming of TAR have effects on team times which are compensated either by deliberate delays or arbitrary credits.

"Scripted" is the wrong word to describe it all; the more accurate term is "editing" and that can make all the difference, from how you perceive a team to be doing (i.e. how bad or how good versus the rest of the pack), to whether a team is viewed as the villains or the underdogs (when they may in fact be anything but).

As for the flights detail, well of course it's not entirely surprising if all the teams end up on the same flight. In many cases they have to travel long distances, and as any frequent traveller will know, there aren't often more than one flight option per day for long haul flights in cases, especially direct ones. There may be some fluidity in cases but we all know more often than not that there are few direct options, and the further or more esoteric the destination, the more so this is true. The problem is further compounded by the constraints on which flights the contestants can actually book (and we never hear about these rules on TAR).

The fact that there is only one flight option per day means that either teams will "level out" in timing, or some will be horribly disadvantaged (through having to wait). A similar thing happens for other transport or challenge items. For example, winning team checks out at 0400h local time with a 4 hour advantage on the next team. Their instructions tell them they have to take a ferry to some place and do a challenge there. They get to the ferry point. The first ferry leaves at 1000h. See what I mean?

What great service on SQ so far. We are actually being addressed by name instead of Sir and Ma'am. Qantas hasn't done that for me in premium cabins in a long time...

You see on a recent trip for me it was the reverse: SQ perhaps greeted me once by name but then after it was either no name or Sir (rarely). QF, on the other hand, continued to address me by name until I told them that it was unnecessary for them to do so.

 

[JohnK]

Yesterday was 10 years since I gave up smoking after 25 years.

Interesting how I can remember most of that day clearly.

 

[medhead]

The fact that there is only one flight option per day means that either teams will "level out" in timing, or some will be horribly disadvantaged (through having to wait). A similar thing happens for other transport or challenge items. For example, winning team checks out at 0400h local time with a 4 hour advantage on the next team. Their instructions tell them they have to take a ferry to some place and do a challenge there. They get to the ferry point. The first ferry leaves at 1000h. See what I mean?

I do believe I mentioned flights and opening times were levellers.

 

[serfty]

Yesterday was 10 years since I gave up smoking after 25 years.

Interesting how I can remember most of that day clearly.

Congratulations!.

For me it was the day I met SWMBO well over 20 years ago, but really she had naught to do with it.

 

[anat0l]

I do believe I mentioned flights and opening times were levellers.

Apologies for the sloppy editing (pun intended); that quoted statement was more for the benefit of SeatBackForward.

 

[JohnK]

In fact all sport on tv must be reality tv by definition and hence scripted in accordance with Johnk's law.

No, no, no!

Sport is real. Most times it is believable. Unfortunately some of it scripted as mentioned earlier.

"Reality TV" is a poorly used reference to poorly scripted fairytales....

 

[SeatBackForward]

Apologies for the sloppy editing (pun intended); that quoted statement was more for the benefit of SeatBackForward.

I don't really see how I benefited from it. In fact id say you confirmed what I said earlier. TAR is managed to produce a particular result. If it was merely edited they'd let the so called "race" run its course and then show selective elements of it.

 

[Flashback]

When in J, all MH, CX and SQ staff have referred to me by name, even the ones who've had nothing to do with me on the flight (say if I pass them in the Galley).

All I've received from QF is the welcome aboard handshake that every other J customer gets.

I've experienced it many many years ago with QF, but certainly not in the last 5. Anyway, flight was quite decent - food was very good I thought, especially Mrs Flashback's vegetarian choice!

 

[tuapekastar]

My goodness.

Only on AFF. Now we are comparing professional sport to the rubbish that is referred to as Reality TV.

Apologies but I dont see the similarity.

But lets not get too confused as there is some scripting in professional sport which I think is totally wrong more so when people are betting on these events.

One is the practice of "tanking" in Australian sport. Another is Formula One where the team issues instructions finishing order. I am sure you think of a few more situations.

Golf a sport? Don't think so.
Good golfers are extremely talented at what they do, but so was Jack the Ripper, and I don't think disembowelling women is considered a sport.

 

[medhead]

No, no, no!

Sport is real. Most times it is believable. Unfortunately some of it scripted as mentioned earlier.

"Reality TV" is a poorly used reference to poorly scripted fairytales....

Reality TV by definition is real life shown on TV. If sport is real, then sport on TV must be reality TV. Therefore by your definition sport is poorly scripted fairytales.

Still given your proclaimed avoidance of reality TV, I'm not sure that definition is authoritative.

 

[anat0l]

I don't really see how I benefited from it. In fact id say you confirmed what I said earlier. TAR is managed to produce a particular result. If it was merely edited they'd let the so called "race" run its course and then show selective elements of it.

I was more addressing the part where you claimed that everyone on the same flight seems to be convincing proof that TAR is a wholly edited, when that's not really the element which subverts the reality.

If we had a real life TAR (one where we didn't have to worry about production artefacts and even lifting the restrictions on which flights we can take), we'd probably still have "levelling" aspects like flights / ferries taken.

The elements which subvert the reality of TAR is the accommodation of production artefacts and portrayal of the characters (both of themselves and their actual progress) through editing.


Now an "Amazing Race" for AFF... that would be quite a riot (but fat chance to have enough money or resources to pull it off).

 

[SeatBackForward]

I was more addressing the part where you claimed that everyone on the same flight seems to be convincing proof that TAR is a wholly edited, when that's not really the element which subverts the reality.

My argument wasn't about editing, selective or however. It was that the TAR is scripted, essentially its managed so that the dramatic elements remain the primary focus of the show, which is why I giggle at the idea that TAR is somehow about traveling or about cultural awareness. Its a well managed production to ensure that it *doesn't* turn into a travel/culture show. It is a true modern "reality" show, that is, its not really real, but scripted to appear as such.

If we had a real life TAR (one where we didn't have to worry about production artefacts and even lifting the restrictions on which flights we can take), we'd probably still have "levelling" aspects like flights / ferries taken.

The elements which subvert the reality of TAR is the accommodation of production artefacts and portrayal of the characters (both of themselves and their actual progress) through editing.


Now an "Amazing Race" for AFF... that would be quite a riot (but fat chance to have enough money or resources to pull it off).

We already have Status Runs' which are kind of the same! now all we need is a camera crew and a voice-over with far too much testosterone saying "will AFF'er turn against fellow AFF'er"

 

[coolumbla]

We already have Status Runs' which are kind of the same! now all we need is a camera crew and a voice-over with far too much testosterone saying "will AFF'er turn against fellow AFF'er"[/QUOTE]

he took 1a before i got there!
my upgrade didnt come through and i looked through j and there were empty seats
There was no lounge access and i saw (nominate affer) coming out of there


Nahhh!!!!!!
we wont turn on each other

C

 

[medhead]

My argument wasn't about editing, selective or however. It was that the TAR is scripted, essentially its managed so that the dramatic elements remain the primary focus of the show, which is why I giggle at the idea that TAR is somehow about traveling or about cultural awareness. Its a well managed production to ensure that it *doesn't* turn into a travel/culture show. It is a true modern "reality" show, that is, its not really real, but scripted to appear as such.

The show definitely isn't about cultural awareness for the participants. It is a dramatic show and it is edited (not scripted) to heighten the drama. However, as a viewer I'm listening to the cultural information provided by the voice over (a little bit as its fairly lite culture) but I am especially looking at the scenery and what is in the background. It's a case of what you take from the show or whether you just accept their presentation.

 

[anat0l]

We already have Status Runs' which are kind of the same! now all we need is a camera crew and a voice-over with far too much testosterone saying "will AFF'er turn against fellow AFF'er"

I was thinking more along the lines of a modern version of the Queen's or Governor's race, or something like The Wacky Races or Around the World in Eighty Days....


There's just not enough money and joy in saying, "Everyone meet at Sydney Town Hall station. The first one to the steps of the German Bundestag wins."

 

[SeatBackForward]

I was thinking more along the lines of a modern version of the Queen's or Governor's race, or something like The Wacky Races or Around the World in Eighty Days....


There's just not enough money and joy in saying, "Everyone meet at Sydney Town Hall station. The first one to the steps of the German Bundestag wins."