Recently I’ve been watching Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
This isn’t my normal Friday Thought.
I saw the panorama documentary on BBc1 many years ago – 2015 I think it was. When watching it then, I thought to myself – wow. They haven’t really got to grips with the technology that’s been rolled out. Hope something is done.
It’s the hope that kills us.
January 2024, and there’s an ITV drama about the whole Post Office scandal. And there’s two things I’d like to explore –
- Why has it taken a TV drama serialised on true events to wake the nation up to a disgraced organisation and the events that took place?
- Why did the technology not be stopped?
Let’s look at the first one – the TV programme.
We know, that you can read something – but our attention spans are not what they used to be. You can see something, like pictures, videos, documentaries, etc… and alot of it you’ll notice, appreciate and get to know.
It’s when it’s brought to a ‘real-life’ drama, that it sinks in. When you see emotions on the people – that’s when it hits.
Emotions you can’t really get through text.
Emotions you can’t really get through a documentary.
Emotions you can get whilst watching a drama based on true events.
And it’s when these emotions hit us, then there’s outrage. And it’s the outrage that is currently occuring. It shouldn’t have taken a TV drama…
Secondly, there was so much money invested in the computer system – hence they didn’t stop. But… that to oneside, the human element is what took over. Greed.
It’s unbelievable that an organisation such as the Post Office could carry out such behaviours. No one thought to look at the trends, the data and moreso, the people that have served their communities. Instead, each one was told… it’s just you. When it clearly wasn’t.
Everything comes from the top. The behaviours, the attitudes and the way people act. So many homes and families were destroyed.
Not to discuss now, but will be on a future blog… is the Post Office fit to continue?