Gold Post Box

[Banker]

12 minutes ago, kevster said:

Is the telephone box still gold?

Do we still have telephone boxes & does anyone use them?

[De nada]

13 minutes ago, kevster said:

Is the telephone box still gold?

Yes

[Roger Mexico]

3 minutes ago, Gladys said:

No, they look OK, the gold paint looks better. 

But that suggests the problem is with IOMPO's purchasing rather than the gesture itself.  Hopefully know they'll ring up to see what is used in the UK before repainting.

What this otherwise insignificant row illustrates is two things.  One is the inability of those running Manx public services to think about the effects that even their simplest actions will have.  It's so obvious that this would offend a lot of people and get the politicians up on their hind legs.

The second is their inability to ever really admit that a mistake was made.  Even when there's an obvious and complete u-turn, as here, no one will ever say "Sorry this was a bad decision".  No one will ever try to explain why the bad decision was made or to make sure that the same processes aren't repeated in the future.  At best there will be a non-apology apology ("We're sorry people were offended").  You see this in much bigger catastrophes - the Liverpool landing stage, the Prom and so on.

[Stu Peters]

6 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

But that suggests the problem is with IOMPO's purchasing rather than the gesture itself.  Hopefully know they'll ring up to see what is used in the UK before repainting.

What this otherwise insignificant row illustrates is two things.  One is the inability of those running Manx public services to think about the effects that even their simplest actions will have.  It's so obvious that this would offend a lot of people and get the politicians up on their hind legs.

The second is their inability to ever really admit that a mistake was made.  Even when there's an obvious and complete u-turn, as here, no one will ever say "Sorry this was a bad decision".  No one will ever try to explain why the bad decision was made or to make sure that the same processes aren't repeated in the future.  At best there will be a non-apology apology ("We're sorry people were offended").  You see this in much bigger catastrophes - the Liverpool landing stage, the Prom and so on.

That may be your intepretation Roger. I'm told (and have no reason to doubt) that aware of the significance of the gold box - albeit 10 years on - IOMPO staff talked to the family and contacted the Commissioners and Sub Post Master - none of whom objected to it being returned to post box red. So it was repainted red, which after all is the colour people expect their post boxes to be.

Then some people complained, those that had (I'm sure) been contacted denied any knowledge and a mountain was created out of a molehill built on a foundation of social media offence. I don't seek to dismiss the importance of the initial achievement, but if it was so noteworthy you'd have thought someone might have thought to erect a plaque explaining the significance.

A mistake wasn't made and in fact all reasonable steps (short of a full public consultation) were taken by IOMPO in good faith prior to wasting a tin of red paint. But once the torches of outrage were lit it was just easier to get the paintbrush out again. So please accept this as a non-apology from me (because I don't believe an apology is necessary or appropriate).

[Mr Helmut Fromage]

27 minutes ago, Banker said:

Do we still have telephone boxes & does anyone use them?

The underpaid teachers do - they give 3 rings to home when they need a lift as they can't afford the 10 pence call.

[Max Power]

I walked into Onchan PO as the box was being returned to red...I was there!!! 

Do I get anything for that?  

[tucker]

I dont see what all the fuss is about ,the way they are going on all the postboxes will be ripped out soon anyway !

[wrighty]

2 hours ago, Roger Mexico said:

 the Post Office have claimed they consulted both the Kennaughs and the Commissioners, both of whom deny that.

Probably got the wrong Kennaughs (there's a few around) or the wrong address. Typical government incompetence.

Am I doing this petty sniping over a non-issue right?

[Itsmeee]

2 minutes ago, wrighty said:

Probably got the wrong Kennaughs (there's a few around) or the wrong address. Typical government incompetence.

Am I doing this petty sniping over a non-issue right?

Almost. You forgot to blame Rob Callister. 

[Mysteron]

2 hours ago, Numbnuts said:

Its all a bit pathetic really. Post boxes all need painted from time to time. I would imagine the price of gold paint wont be much different from red paint. And the claim that Onchan commisioners and Pete Kennaugh and family were consulted seems to be a lie too. Can any dept of Government get anything right ?? .

Government might start getting a few things right if it stopped listening to noisy minorities, and listened to the silent majority instead - the vast majority of which probably don't give a toss what colour the postbox was/is painted.  

[kevster]

Paint it dog-shit brown. It's what TJ would have wanted

[The Phantom]

59 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said:

What this otherwise insignificant row illustrates is two things.  One is the inability of those running Manx public services to think about the effects that even their simplest actions will have.  

Paying attention to what happened in UK Govt today?  It's not just the IOM.

However flip it around, look at the positive.  It's not often that Govt actually listen to the people and U-turn. 

Although the reality like a lot of this is the vast majority of us couldn't really give a fuck either way, you're just bowing to the baying outraged mob again. 

[0bserver]

End of the day... does it really matter?&

[quilp]

Comedy gold... 

[Gizo]

5 hours ago, John Wright said:

Why aren’t we ( or UK ) painting post boxes gold for medals won in 2016 and 2020.

Because 2012 was the Home Olympics. That is significant. 
 And WE aren’t painting any further post boxes because an IOM sportsperson didn’t win any.