is it just me or does anyone else think that drinking alcohol is featured far too much on time Team? they're forever referring to or going to the pub. it doesn't add anything to the programme imho and will be putting the idea in the minds of younger viewers that going to the pub is what people have to do after a days work. i feel the producers use the pub all too often as a lazy way of filling minutes.
not as bad as the soap operas admittedly who would convince any alien viewer that we all lived in the pub all the time
A game that gives you a good reason to get drunk and argue about archaeology!
Preparation:
Assemble a group of mates in front of the TV just before 'Time team' begins. (Alternatively, video a few episodes and have a mammoth session; be warned, this may cause psychological damage.)
Make sure that all the necessary equipment is present. You will require:
alcohol -- strong spirits have the best results, but beer is more authentic; (If you're feeling adventurous, why not join in with the 'Time team' by matching the alcohol to the period being investigated. You could even brew your own using traditional methods. This is interactive TV.) assorted snacks, mixers, and ice cubes (for sustenance and variety); glasses; archaeology reference books -- for research and refutation purposes. Ensure that everyone is seated comfortably.
The Game:
Everyone must have a drink to hand. Then, merely watch the programme, taking the required number of sips as events unfold!
Take 2 sips if:
they open another trench. Tony Robinson interrupts someone else in the middle of a sentence or train of thought, or obviously isn't listening. resistivity meters or magnetometers are shown. people working feverishly on computers to no obvious end are shown. Tony steps into a recently cleaned trench. Phil frets until he is allowed to do some digging. volunteers and non-team members are seen trowelling. volunteers are seen using spades, mattocks or shovels. the historical re-enactment group are shown. sweeping generalisations are made. archives are shown or mentioned. Take 3 sips if:
the inflatable tent is used the local archaeologist is asked to comment on the excavation. 'Time team' members are seen digging. the historical re-enactment group recreate one of the artefacts found on site or otherwise associated with the dig. the geophysics results are amazingly clear and beautiful. we see the 'Time team' 'discussing the day's events' in a pub or round a fire (with alcohol). someone gets to go for a jolly in the helicopter. members of the public are involved in events at the site. celebrity guests attempt to dig or understand the archaeology. artefacts or costumes or the site are recreated in great detail on computer from a few fragments or ideas. Take 5 sips if:
anyone is shown planning or otherwise recording a trench or feature. any of the volunteer diggers is referred to or questioned. the preliminary summary of what they expect to find is proved to be completely wrong. any major questions are answered by the 3 days' excavation. any member of the team is dressed in 'traditional period costume' at some point in the programme. any of the team is injured, ill or incapacitated during the programme (hangovers count in this category). deturfing is done manually by members of the team. any exotic technique is used during the course of the excavation (eg diving, dowsing). Take 7 sips if:
the 'Time team' actually finish and backfill the site at the end of the programme. you see a context sheet at any point in the programme. Tony makes a valid point.
Extra points for 'Time team' live editions:
2 sips everytime:
the screen goes black. anyone manages to finish a sentence (except Tony). they rush off to another area without satisfactorily explaining events at the first. main points are repeated during each programme. walkie-talkies do not work. 5 sips if:
a camera manages to focus adequately on any mentioned find or feature. 7 sips if:
I think to a certain extent, the pub culture of archaeology has diminished somewhat over the years, compared to the carefree days of the 1970's. We used to think nothing of sinking a few pints at lunchtime and then going back to work. Nowadays, we work under the same stringent H & S regs that the construction industry do, where even the faintest wiff of alcahol on your breath can mean instant dismissal.
I suspect there's still the same convivial (or not ) atmosphere on University training digs and volunteer projects, though.
IMHO some of the best episodes of Time Team are those which end with the whole team enjoying a pint or three in the local hostelry. Rather reminds me of a bonding outing. Let them drink, after a hard days digging they deserve to relax and chat about the proceedings.
Originally posted by Ann Wilkinson: Can't wait to see you do the exotic dancing Chris..........
Ahh...Now that you really wouldn't want to witness. I'm built in rather the same manner as the late Peter Ustinov was when he played Nero in Quo Vadis.
I shall just stick to lounging decadantly and watching others better qualfied do the dancing, I think
Originally posted by what the world needs: is it just me or does anyone else think that drinking alcohol is featured far too much on time Team? they're forever referring to or going to the pub. it doesn't add anything to the programme imho and will be putting the idea in the minds of younger viewers that going to the pub is what people have to do after a days work. i feel the producers use the pub all too often as a lazy way of filling minutes.
not as bad as the soap operas admittedly who would convince any alien viewer that we all lived in the pub all the time
I think drinking is still quite a big part of archaeological culture. When you are stuck away from home four nights a week in indifferent digs, a cosy pub with some good food and a beer generally offers the only comfort.
I have learnt more about archaeological practicalities having a pint than I ever could at University.
Saying that, I know a couple of tee-total archaeologists.
I think the initial comment was uncalled for. As for putting ideas into the heads of younger viewers, my parents and family drank in front of me as a child. Putting it on TV is not going to make much difference!
It all depends on how it's portrayed. No-one is ever shown as reeling drunk or making out it's big & clever, it's just a very civillised, social drink. It's refreshing in the summer & warming in the winter.
This has cropped up on the forum before, except that it was complaining about the pub scenes being dropped. They did indeed disappear for a while and were missed. The end of day one and end of day two summaries and re-caps took place over a glass of plonk or beer either in a nearby pub or at a farm etc. I remember Tony and Robin looking quite rosy cheeked at a farm near Navan. That seemed to have little to do with the archaeology apart from a tenuous link to a black drink in the Tain.
i'm fully aware that drinking is part of real digs ..and i'm not some anti alcohol prude either
i just feel that the drinking culture is being encouraged by these scenes..they don't add anything to the educational side of the programme and it is watched by huge numbers of children who are already being bombarded with images of drinking by TV and advertisers and unliike my generation they don't have to put up with their frist alcoholic drinks tasting awful to teenage taste buds thanks to the evil that is alcopops
i'm in my late forties and friends have been dropping dead from drink related illness for years now...and that's from a generation who didn't grow up with alcopops..last time i visited a friend dying in hospital i was shocked to see the ward was half full of kids in their 20's
i just feel that aprogramme targetting youngsters and attempting to be educational should be a bit more responsible
I take your point, but I don't see that TT is really going to have that much influence on teenage drinkers campared to programmes like Big Brother, Hollyoaks etc
Is TT really targeted at youngsters? There seem to be more adverts in the breaks for Sun Life, Stannah Stairlifts, etc than for WKD and Bacardi Breezers.
Originally posted by Steffan: I take your point, but I don't see that TT is really going to have that much influence on teenage drinkers campared to programmes like Big Brother, Hollyoaks etc
Is TT really targeted at youngsters? There seem to be more adverts in the breaks for Sun Life, Stannah Stairlifts, etc than for WKD and Bacardi Breezers.
and i take your point...my point is really that TT is adding to the influence that those programmes have... TT is by no means the worst offender...just part of the cummulative trickle of propoganda that the drinks companies are rubbing their hands in glee at while the next generation is drinking itself to death...mind you..if the next gen are all going to die young from alcohol and obesity it'll mean more room on the planet for my generation in our old age
Surely to teach youngsters to drink responsibly is the answer -to see Phil etc enjoying a drink after a hard days graft in the rain was not encouraging drink but relaxing in a natural manner to discuss the day's work.
Imaturity is the problem -encouraged by a nanny state. No one takes responsibility for their actions , other people are always to blame.
If they can see adverts for drink they can also read the warnings on over indulgence.
When young in the so called swinging sixties -I was offered drugs at parties -but I knew the results if I went down that path, we drank a lot perhaps -but were aware of what happened if one got paralytic. The choice was ours, the responsibility was ours and no one elses.
Originally posted by Ann Wilkinson: Imaturity is the problem -encouraged by a nanny state. No one takes responsibility for their actions , other people are always to blame.
A spell in the army, that's what they need, Ann. Immaturity, that's the problem with kids - they don't behave like adults.
And furthermore the army is finding it difficult to recruit youngsters who can take the life.
I have spent time with young people who have not been given the proper guidance and necessary 'know how' to survive unscathed in the modern world. The drug addicts being particularly distressing. What to us was common sense seems completely missing. The immaturity comes from their parents and self appointed gurus. And yes - my generation has to take a certain amount of responsibility for that and yes, so does the media but I still don't think that Time Team relaxing in the pub encourages binge drinking.
Nowadays, we work under the same stringent H & S regs that the construction industry do, where even the faintest wiff of alcahol on your breath can mean instant dismissal.
I'm built in rather the same manner as the late Peter Ustinov was when he played Nero in Quo Vadis.
