What’s the point of BBC Licence when there’s Netflix?

It disproportionately burdens the vulnerable, particularly women, who make up a high percentage of prosecutions for non-payment, creating a PR disaster for the broadcaster.

The rise of alternatives like Netflix, YouTube, and commercial radio makes the compulsory funding model an archaic anomaly.

Furthermore, persistent questions regarding political impartiality, coupled with high-profile scandals, have damaged public trust, making it unfair to force funding from the public.

The licence fee is simply an unworkable, coercive mechanism that should be replaced by a competitive, voluntary subscription model, ensuring the BBC remains accountable to viewers rather than regulators.

Doug Clark, Currie, Edinburgh.

More letters...

Claim that Brexit will be an economic disaster is irrational

BBC channel plan is a shameful ploy to quell Scottish aspirations

Church leaders need to get rid of the assumed superiority and become part of the people

Church members deserve better

John Milne describes the Church of Scotland as being "far too timorous and conservative compared with Jesus" (Herald Letters, February 12).

Fair comment.

The lack of comment, and thereby guidance, on national and international social issues is disappointing.

There is an ever growing chasm between the Church of Scotland ‘hierarchy’, presbyteries, local kirk sessions and the ordinary lay member.

Communication is woeful. Even the monthly ‘Life and Work’ magazine ceased abruptly last August.

I appreciate a drastic revision of church buildings and properties is necessary.

Equally so, members deserve better than the current deafening silence.

Allan C Steele, Giffnock.

Humanist education isn’t neutral

The Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS) has already won.

Across Scottish schools in general secular moralising dominates, and explicitly Christian activities are marginal.

The issues that the HSS campaigns on, such as gay rights, trans rights, climate change and feminism, already dominate the moral landscape.

LGBT Inclusive Education - which the Government demands in every school at every level in every subject - flies in the face of the teachings of the Catholic Church, for example.

It is theoretically possible for a school to be neutral on matters of religious faith, non-religious faith, morality and questions of meaning and purpose.

But it would provide a pretty hollow and barren education.

If schools seek to mould character and instil virtues, they must draw on philosophical resources that are often contested in wider society.

The Humanists want education to be conducted on the assumption that humanism is true.

Christians might prefer their beliefs to infuse the curriculum.

Whatever our view, we should not be so naive as to believe that humanistic education is somehow neutral.

The Humanist Society of Scotland does not embody a positive vision of secular virtue.

Instead, it is a coterie of embittered anti-religious zealots.

Richard Lucas, Scottish Family Party, Edinburgh.

Improve stroke acronym

The story of Gordon Robb and his stroke experience struck a chord with me (“"Stroke victim with just one rare symptom highlights unusual signs of condition", The Herald, February 13).

.I, too, had only one symptom when my stroke occurred three years ago… I fell over.

My balance was normally good and there was no reason, like accidentally tripping, for what happened.

Just an unexpected fall.

Knowing there was a family history of heart attacks and strokes, I had memorised the FAST acronym: Face drooping; Arm can’t be fully raised; Speech problems; Time to call emergency services.

However, since ‘balance’ isn’t listed, I did not recognise this as a symptom.

It was only after a second fall, and on advice from NHS24, that an ambulance was called.

It’s been suggested that FAST be replaced by BE-FAST, adding Balance (loss of).

Had this new acronym been in place, and well publicised, I suggest that Mr. Robb and I, and no doubt many others, would have known to call for assistance sooner.

Surely even 1% of stroke victims getting timely treatment is worth achieving?

H. Shearer, Cumbernauld, Glasgow.

The rain reigns

Ian Gray from Croftamie discussed inclement weather in a recent missive (Herald Letters, February 14).

He might appreciate that locals in Bergen tell me that the Good Lord likes their town so much that he washes it twice a day.

Peter Wright, West Kilbride, Ayrshire.

Mind your language

I cannot pass any meaningful comment upon the thesis expounded by Brian Forsyth in relation to Queer-led Saunas (Herald Letters, February 14) as, frankly, I did not understand 60% of the words he used.

But I was reminded of the preface to The Social Construction of Reality by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann, where they affirmed (with tongues firmly in cheeks): “Not being convinced, however, that theoretical lucidity is necessarily enhanced by terminological ponderosity, we will attempt to avoid the use of jargon for which sociologists and phenomenologists have acquired dubious notoriety.”

Quite!

Eric Begbie, Stirling.

Raising a stink

Solving the Herald’s Wee Stinker crossword was a cinch, compared with even trying to understand most of Brian Forsyth's letter. I quote: "Develop an explicit consent pedagogy (consent as relational, revisable, and collectively scaffolded)."

Eh?

It is said that every generation has its own imperatives different from their parents. I shall stick to the Wee Stinker.

David Miller, Milngavie.

February flubbed

As the years pass, I increasingly feel conscious of a transformation into a grumpy old man.

Nevertheless, I realised a long time ago that I ought to resist the temptation to be critical of other people’s accents, though phrases like “lawranawda” continue to irritate me.

But the month of February prompts a more legitimate complaint: I often hear people referring to this month as: “Febyewry.”

This is not just a matter of one’s accent. It is mis-speaking.

Do people not realise that in this word there are two occurrences of the letter ‘r’?

Alan Hamilton, Uddingston.

An example of busy professionals, though not every worker is so productive... (Image: Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com)

Men at work?

I think Mr Flinn of West Kilbride is being rather unfair (Herald Letters, February 14) regarding the three men in the Herald photograph, who are not being particularly active, as they work on the A9 duelling process.

To me it is quite clear that the men in question must be the Health and Safety Consultant, the Diversity Adviser, and that essential key employee on all construction sites… the ubiquitous Stauner Abooter.

Ian Craig, Strathaven.