Friday, January 25, 2008

Good Reason Not To Listen To ABC


Jas Oakley, originally uploaded by ddbsweasel.

Her date had the ABC (Australian one) on a speed dial and dialed them, instead of his intended date.

The ABC got the message, realized it was a mistake, and broadcast it anyway.

Turns out she was an ABC listener, as were her colleagues.

Tomorrow is Australia Day. Let's support Australia, tomorrow, and not listen to, or watch, an ABC program.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Internet dater humiliated on ABC
By Tim Martain
A TASMANIAN woman has been publicly humiliated on ABC radio after a friend she met on an internet dating site accidentally sent a text message to the station.

Jas Oakley says she was deeply humiliated when ABC Radio breakfast show announcer Andy Muirhead read out a private text message on air that was intended for her eyes only, the Mercury website reported today.

Ms Oakley, who has a professional management job, said a friend accidentally sent a private SMS to the ABC Radio text message line instead of to her mobile - and the ABC host read it out on air.

"I met someone on an internet dating site and we were due to meet and catch up for a drink," Ms Oakley said.

"The message had my name in it, it was clearly not intended for the ABC, but they made a big joke about it."

The message read: "Hey Jas how was your day? Still right for tomorrow night or has my pic scared you off?"

Muirhead made a talking point of the message, inviting listeners to phone in with their stories of accidentally sending a text message to the wrong number.

Because of her unusual first name, Ms Oakley said she was easily identifiable as the intended recipient of the message and by the time the sender contacted her to warn her, the damage was done.

"I walked into a morning meeting and everybody in there knew about it and were laughing at me. Someone said 'somebody's had a good night'," she said.

"My mobile was overflowing with messages and missed calls from other friends who had heard it. I even heard from my ex-husband who said he was concerned about the impact it would have on our children."

She went to the ABC's head office in Hobart, demanding to speak with the station manager. Acting state director Andrew Fisher personally apologised to Ms Oakley for any distress or embarrassment.

But Ms Oakley wants an apology on air from Muirhead and said she was considering legal action.