UKTV Gold Finds Interesting Perception of Reality

***CaptHayfever*** · 02-03-2008, 11:38 PM

Quarter of Brits think Churchill was myth: poll - Yahoo! News

Quote:

LONDON (AFP) - Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.

The survey found that 47 percent thought the 12th century English king Richard the Lionheart was a myth.

And 23 percent thought World War II prime minister Churchill was made up. The same percentage thought Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale did not actually exist.

Three percent thought Charles Dickens, one of Britain's most famous writers, is a work of fiction himself.

Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi and Battle of Waterloo victor the Duke of Wellington also appeared in the top 10 of people thought to be myths.

Meanwhile, 58 percent thought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Holmes actually existed; 33 percent thought the same of W. E. Johns' fictional pilot and adventurer Biggles.

UKTV Gold television surveyed 3,000 people.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

***The Doctor*** · 02-04-2008, 03:36 AM

I'd like to find out where they surveyed these people. Because I've never heard of this poll taking place.

Although I bet it would have taken place in London. And begs the question "Why the hell are UKTV Gold doing polls?" all they play are old reruns.

***Ace Mercury*** · 02-04-2008, 07:26 AM

Huh. Reminds me of another "news" article I read: Not Depressed, Just British!

Quote:

Not Depressed, Just British!

George Farthing, an expatriate British man living in America, was diagnosed as clinically depressed, tanked up on antidepressants, and scheduled for a controversial shock therapy when doctors realized he wasn't depressed at all, he was just British!

Farthing, a man whose characteristic pessimism and gloomy perspective were interpreted as serious clinical depression, was led on a nightmare journey through the American psychiatric system. Doctors described Farthing as suffering from pervasive negative anticipation: a belief that everything will turn out for the worst, whether it's trains arriving late, England's chances of winning any national sports events, or his own prospects of getting ahead in life. The doctors reported that the satisfaction he seemed to get from his pessimism was particularly pathological.

'They put me on everything -- lithium, Prozac, St. John's wort,' Farthing says. 'They even told me to sit in front of a big light for half an hour a day or I'd become suicidal. I kept telling them this was all pointless, and they said that was exactly the sort of attitude that got me here in the first place.'

Dr. Isaac Horney, a psychotherapist, explored Farthing's family history and couldn't believe his ears. Farthing spoke of growing up in a gray little town where it rained every day, of treeless streets lined with identical houses, and of passionately backing a football team that never won. Although Farthing had six months of therapy, he mainly wanted to talk about the weather. 'I felt he wasn't responding to therapy at all,' says Horney, who recommended electroconvulsive therapy.

Farthing takes up the story: 'Hopeless case? I was all strapped down on the table, and they were about to put the rubber bit in my mouth when the psychiatric nurse picked up on my accent and said, 'Oh my God, I think we're making a terrible mistake!'' Identifying Farthing as British changed the diagnosis of clinical depression to rather quaint and charming. He was immediately discharged from the hospital with a selection of brightly colored leaflets and an I Love New York T-shirt.

***the Octopus*** · 02-04-2008, 12:01 PM

Comedic value is through the roof, especially if you live anywhere heavily influenced by the English.

Wyborn · 02-04-2008, 12:40 PM

^ Like the entire Western hemisphere + Australia?

Yeah, that....that's just absurd.

Robotazy · 02-04-2008, 02:11 PM

^^ That town description....it reminds me of somewhere....

Rain....

Identical Houses.....

Sports Team that never wins.....

OH!

It's Louisiana

***Booyakasha*** · 02-04-2008, 02:21 PM

Feh. You Britons. Next you'll be telling me you think King Arthur and Robin Hood were made up, too. ("Is Boo joking around, or is he just stupid?" "Beats me. Probably both.")

***the Octopus*** · 02-04-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyborn

^ Like the entire Western hemisphere + Australia?

Yeah, that....that's just absurd.

So you know some English people?

***CaptHayfever*** · 02-05-2008, 01:01 PM

Here's a wire that gives more detail: Winston Churchill didn't really exist, say teens - Telegraph

Get it? I said "wire" because the paper's called Telegraph! HA!

Oh, and more British craziness from 60 years ago: Mixed-race babies 'were sent to the US' - Telegraph

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

02-04-2008, 03:36 AM	#2
*The Doctor* The Last Timelord. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: In the TARDIS Gender: Posts: 13,819 Thanks: 869 Thanked 647 Times in 421 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I'd like to find out where they surveyed these people. Because I've never heard of this poll taking place. Although I bet it would have taken place in London. And begs the question "Why the hell are UKTV Gold doing polls?" all they play are old reruns.

02-04-2008, 12:01 PM	#4
*the Octopus* THE PRESIDENT OF FUN Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 27,475 Thanks: 1,973 Thanked 5,121 Times in 2,320 Posts	Comedic value is through the roof, especially if you live anywhere heavily influenced by the English.

02-04-2008, 12:40 PM	#5
Wyborn Zelda Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: All over the place Gender: Posts: 12,387 Thanks: 87 Thanked 469 Times in 281 Posts	^ Like the entire Western hemisphere + Australia? Yeah, that....that's just absurd.

02-04-2008, 02:11 PM	#6
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,247 Thanks: 521 Thanked 1,238 Times in 885 Posts Blog Entries: 43	^^ That town description....it reminds me of somewhere.... Rain.... Identical Houses..... Sports Team that never wins..... OH! It's Louisiana

02-04-2008, 02:21 PM	#7
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,653 Thanks: 153 Thanked 1,385 Times in 703 Posts	Feh. You Britons. Next you'll be telling me you think King Arthur and Robin Hood were made up, too. ("Is Boo joking around, or is he just stupid?" "Beats me. Probably both.")

02-05-2008, 01:01 PM	#9
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,004 Thanks: 1,780 Thanked 2,370 Times in 1,423 Posts	Here's a wire that gives more detail: Winston Churchill didn't really exist, say teens - Telegraph Get it? I said "wire" because the paper's called Telegraph! HA! Oh, and more British craziness from 60 years ago: Mixed-race babies 'were sent to the US' - Telegraph And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"