The Oxford Union held a debate on Tuesday on the motion ‘This house
believes it’s good to talk’.
Yes, the discussion was indeed triggered by that most favourite of IPA
effectiveness Grand Prix winners, BT’s ‘It’s good to talk’ campaign.
Several hundred spotty and impressionable youths witnessed history in
the making (it being the first advertising slogan to be granted such an
honour by the debating society) as various celebrities and egg-heads
discussed communication and scrutinised Abbott Mead’s award-winning
work.
Those speaking ‘in proposition’, as it is termed in brainy circles,
included Maureen Lipman, a former face of BT, and the public speaking
expert, Peter Settelen, who has helped hone Princess Diana’s enviable
speech skills.
Against the motion were the self-styled slang and swearing expert,
Stephen Burgen, and the TV psychologist, Dr Aric Sigman, who has been
quoted recently as saying: ‘Whatever Bob Hoskins claims, it is not good
to talk.’
The organisers had tried to book Sholto Douglas-Home and Gary Duckworth
for the pro-camp and Andrew ‘I throw my slippers at the telly every
time’ Cracknell for the anti-lobby, but they were busy.
Either way, the debate thankfully focused on ‘the validity of the slogan
rather than the advertising campaign itself’, according to one clearly
unimpressed student, who denied the rumour that he and his friends
planned to spend next term’s grants on mobile phones.
