Has Reality Tv Gone Too Far?

RyoOhkiRyoOhki Join Date: 2003-01-26 Member: 12789Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Adopt a baby show</div> <a href='http://entertainment.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4459,9429801%255E10431%255E%255Enbv,00.html' target='_blank'>Click</a>

The article pretty much says it all. A new reality show in the US is based around a pregnant mother chosing from competing couples about who will adopt her child.

Now frankly I find this a bit sick. These people are playing around with a child's life; imagine if you were the child in question and you grew up to see that you were a pawn on a TV show. Reality shows previously have consisted of contestants who make a choice to be on the show: a baby has no choice about whether it would like to be auctioned off in front of millions of viewers.

I don't like reality TV full stop, but that's because I find the shows boring and pointless. I object to this show though on moral grounds.

So what's everyone else think about this?

Comments

  • CMEastCMEast Join Date: 2002-05-19 Member: 632Members
    You could argue that the baby has a higher chance of getting the best parents available... although what makes that baby so special from all the other ones (probably that it has greedy parents that are willing to basically sell it).

    I think it's pretty dodgy for the kid but then every child is screwed up... at least this way it will have something concrete to pin the blame on rather than spending years trying to invent a reason for all its psychological problems.
  • SalvationSalvation Join Date: 2003-11-21 Member: 23300Members
    i never liked reality tv, mostly because it all seems so fake...
  • KungFuSquirrelKungFuSquirrel Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    edited April 2004
    This "reality show" nonsense is just cheap marketing that backfired into **** people off.

    The show is a <b>documentary</b>, not a true "reality show." The reality of it is that the girl <i>is</i> picking from people who <i>do</i> want to adopt the child. That's how this sort of process really works.

    It's pretty pathetic that they have to market this like some big deal game show. It's just showing a girl trying to find a good home for her child - nothing more.
  • Soylent_greenSoylent_green Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11220Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    It's the Truman show!!!!11... OK maybe not... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • AegeriAegeri Join Date: 2003-02-13 Member: 13486Members
    I find that completely abhorrent.
  • Boy_who_lost_his_wingsBoy_who_lost_his_wings Join Date: 2003-12-03 Member: 23924Banned
    I agree, this is totally deplorable.
  • TrevelyanTrevelyan Join Date: 2003-03-23 Member: 14834Members
    the only reality TV show I'd watch is where the contestants kill each other to advance to win cash or something. A B-movie did a thing off of reality TV shows that did exactly that (it wasn't real of course).

    Honestly i think reality TV shows suck... and i wish for every participant a swift and painful death... which is why i think i would watch one only if it was a Deathmatch between contestants.
  • Bo_SelectaBo_Selecta Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9374Members, Constellation
    I wouldn't call Battle Royale a B-movie..
    But yeah, this is insane. the saddest part is that people are actually going watch this.
  • RyoOhkiRyoOhki Join Date: 2003-01-26 Member: 12789Members
    He might be referring to <a href='http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251031/' target='_blank'>Series 7</a> , which is a B-grade movie, if a fairly ok one.
  • HawkeyeHawkeye Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
    Well this is a "ends justify the means" question.

    I mean, the end of this case is that the baby gets the best possible future. However the means of that is something dishonorable and "sick" to a lot of you. But think what the kid is getting!

    If you don't like the means, don't watch the show. But competition is a part of life. In the trump show, I mean you seriously think this doesn't go on already? It's called the interviewing process, and subtracting the corny "you're fired" and cameras, everything else is normal.

    Hell, that's why it is called reality television!
  • laggerlagger Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1805Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Hawkeye+May 1 2004, 04:54 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Hawkeye @ May 1 2004, 04:54 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well this is a "ends justify the means" question.

    I mean, the end of this case is that the baby gets the best possible future. However the means of that is something dishonorable and "sick" to a lot of you. But think what the kid is getting!

    If you don't like the means, don't watch the show. But competition is a part of life. In the trump show, I mean you seriously think this doesn't go on already? It's called the interviewing process, and subtracting the corny "you're fired" and cameras, everything else is normal.

    Hell, that's why it is called reality television! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Reality tv is in no way close to reality.

    I'm going to have to agree with kung fu here though.
  • KungFuSquirrelKungFuSquirrel Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Yes, let me just state again for all of you flying past and ignoring it...

    <b>The show is a <u>documentary</u>, <u><i>not</i></u> a reality show. The "reality show" term was used in a poor marketing strategy trying to play on the success of other shows. The adoption process is no game - this is the actual process of choosing adoptive parents for one's baby.</b>
  • HawkeyeHawkeye Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-KungFuSquirrel+May 1 2004, 09:27 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (KungFuSquirrel @ May 1 2004, 09:27 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Yes, let me just state again for all of you flying past and ignoring it...

    <b>The show is a <u>documentary</u>, <u><i>not</i></u> a reality show. The "reality show" term was used in a poor marketing strategy trying to play on the success of other shows. The adoption process is no game - this is the actual process of choosing adoptive parents for one's baby.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Thank you for repeating your statement. Now I shall believe what you say, cause I mean all I really needed to believe your statement was some good ol' fashioned repetition to kick me in the rear. Thanks!
  • MavericMaveric Join Date: 2002-08-07 Member: 1101Members
    It was bad enough with Fear Factor. Eating <b>live and/or dead, and <u>uncooked</u></b> bugs and body parts of animals which could contain <b>toxins, parasites, and diseases</b> is just too stupid. I'm not afraid of eating a chunk of raw meat -- it's eating something <b>in</b> the raw meat and <b>"what could it do to me?"</b> that scares me. Even if i signed a waver, i'd still kill the hosts and execs if i got infected/ill.


    But this... this... this would be suicide for <i>any</i> company to attempt. Thank goodness it's just a documentary!
  • HawkeyeHawkeye Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
    Well it isn't like they make you eat dirt or eat raw chicken. The things they make you eat, believe it or not, are things considered safe to eat and are actually eaten in places around the world already. Americans have this preconceived notion that eating raw things is definitely going to make you sick. Not necessarily so.
  • TrevelyanTrevelyan Join Date: 2003-03-23 Member: 14834Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Ryo-Ohki+Apr 30 2004, 10:35 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Ryo-Ohki @ Apr 30 2004, 10:35 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> He might be referring to <a href='http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251031/' target='_blank'>Series 7</a> , which is a B-grade movie, if a fairly ok one. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    yea thats the one... not a bad rent... nothing more.
  • ThE_HeRoThE_HeRo Join Date: 2003-01-25 Member: 12723Members
    Ever since survivor, which is the one of the first reality TV shows (I think?), I've hated reality TV in all shapes/forms/walks of life. Just the fact that people are stupid enough to watch it makes me want to poke my eyes out.
  • v4rAv4rA Join Date: 2003-11-28 Member: 23672Members, Constellation
    Do anyone say The Truman Show? , im just waiting to watch smthing like that on tv, but till that day, Paris hilton is enough for me <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • 2_of_Eight2_of_Eight Join Date: 2003-08-20 Member: 20016Members
    The saddest part is that people <i>do know</i> that what they're watching isn't real... yet they still enjoy their fake entertainment.
    Whee!
  • JezpuhJezpuh Join Date: 2003-04-03 Member: 15157Banned
    TV channels in the Netherlands are loaded with this stuff.
    Spend 10 weeks in a house and get filmed.
    Spend 10 weeks in a bus and get filmed.
    And countless "couple on an island" reality shows.

    Don't they get it? People don't watch it.
  • DrSuredeathDrSuredeath Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
    edited May 2004
    Everytime I see these **** poor excuses of a TV show, I pitied Mark Burnett.
    A grand concept, trashed by cheap lame wanna-be.

    I still think Mark Burnett is the only one who gets it right (usually anyway).
    Hate Reality shows that awarded the lack of talents like William Hung.
  • XzilenXzilen Join Date: 2002-12-30 Member: 11642Members, Constellation
    Ryo, I think it is disguisting. Being adopted myself, what kind of thing is it for one to choose? I don't know, I just don't feel its right.
  • KungFuSquirrelKungFuSquirrel Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <!--QuoteBegin-Xzilen+May 3 2004, 05:03 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Xzilen @ May 3 2004, 05:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Ryo, I think it is disguisting. Being adopted myself, what kind of thing is it for one to choose? I don't know, I just don't feel its right. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Someone had to decide to authorize your parents to get you or not - children generally aren't handed out like candy. There are often multiple couples trying to get a single adopted child - one gets it, the others don't.

    Once again, this is not a contest, it's a documentary. It's the real process with crappy sensationalist marketing.
Sign In or Register to comment.