Reality TV & Gossip TV
 

Today, Greyson shared a news story about a woman who committed suicide after being involved in a prank call about Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge.

Duchess of Cambridge hoax call nurse found dead

The hospital said in a statement: "We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital.

"She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20645838

I responded with

"I cannot even begin to express how incredibly angry this news story made me. This is the direct result of our society's unhealthy obsession with the lives of other people. We have NO RIGHT to personal information about anyone that they do not care to divulge.

And yet, two DJ's felt it necessary to pose as Royals to get information. From the sounds of this article, this nurse self-terminated because of this.

At what point do we humans get that it's not our right? I blame reality TV and gossip columnists of old for this mind set--this self-righteous sense of entitlement.

Yep. This truly pisses me off."

So I ask you. Do we have a right to condone reality tv/gossip tv/any of the shows that dig and scrabble in other people's lives? Where is the button that we need to switch OFF when it comes to our fascination with other people's lives?

I'm just sick about this. My own son loves all of the reality shows and lives on E! TV.

Our need to know killed Princess Diana. And now it just killed a mother of two. Who else gets to die because we won't turn the TV channel away from these crap shows or tune the radio to something else?

And don't kid yourselves. The gossip fools and reality tv show producers wouldn't be making money if we weren't watching. Ratings pay for advertisers.

I do watch certain types of reality shows but not the ones that want to air famous people's dirty laundry (or clean).

Arwen, thank you for starting this thread. When I read the news this morning about the nurse that was unknowningly, without consent, pulled into this prank and she is now dead, anger shot through me and my heart broke.

I am almost speechless. I don't usually indulge in reality TV nor listen to DJs that use "shock and aw" as part of their gimmick. I am not without my part in this need to know.

What is it about human nature that we seem to feed on this celebrity thing or glued to our TV screens, computer monitors to watch "others" living in a world of "Me, Me, Me." I am special too and everyone will want to know, how I party, use the restroom and try to achieve celebrity at any cost to myself and others?

those dj's have her blood on their hands.......... :(

skeet

We watch the amazing race and the voice and that's it. Red worked in Hollywood in the 80's and she became somewhat star struck for awhile but we don't watch any entertainment news or spend time wondering who's who's is doing what with who's who's

I came back to this thread because the death of the nurse that killed herself has been deemed a suicide by law enforcement in London. This has been on my mind quite a bit and the why did she do it. What made her snap, give up?

Here is what has been spinning through my thoughts. First, when I heard her name before seeing any photos it was clear to me that most likely she was a WOC. Perhaps an immigrant, maybe not but most likely her racial, ethnic, profile would not fit the traditional profile of an English subject, citizen.

Then I read that she was a well respected and liked coworker at the hospital. Her work ethic, impeccable. Again, in my thoughts, yes a WOC and most likely the bar set for her was higher than that of her white counterparts. If not by the greater culture at large, then by her own family and herself, internalized ism.

Why would such an obvious achiever, intelligent professional woman and a mom feel such shame, failure to kill herself over being duped into a prank?

I am not a psychologist or a doctor of any sort but I am willing to bet this woman spent a great deal of energy in her life proving she was worthy, smart enough, "normal" enough, good citizen enough, good wife, mother and daughter enough to make any family proud. Spent her energy proving she was just as good as her white counterparts. To be duped by these DJs and gullible enough to believe that this accented female voice at the other end of the line was the Queen, well it was just too much for her.

These are my thoughts, not based on science, based on my reality of growing up not white and poor in a world that says "First, you must be white, then educated, and with means." If you are not, you are out. If you do aspire to make it into the "club" then the standard will be set much higher for your kind.

I am rambling a bit, but really I was not surprised it was a WOC and killed herself. May she rest in peace. My condolances to her family.

The Austrailian Radio Station
 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates radio broadcasting, says it has received complaints about the prank and is discussing the matter with the Sydney-based station, though it has not yet begun an investigation.

The station has a history of controversy, including a series of "Heartless Hotline" shows in which disadvantage people were offered a prize that could be taken away from them by listeners.

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/08/504...o-station.html


__________________________________________________ ___________

This sort of radio program did not originate in Austrailia. This does not take away from the responsible behavior of any adult and business entity. Does anyone see the connection between this and the "media" being produced in first world nations? Who sets the standard for global programming? Think about it.

Again, see what other program that was being aired on that radio station? Who is the brunt of the joke?

..........
 

Because of this thoughtless prank.....and anyone else who trys maliciously to get info on those in care facilities they have Hipaa Laws,that wont allow info to be given to anyone but immediate family in person.

There are and will be folks with someone near and dear in the hospital/emergency care facility and they will be trying to get information and none will be able to be given until they arrive in person and have proof who they are...

I see it all the time and the flip side is all the anguish that happens needlessly because they must wait due to those that misuse the system.

Sad

Just to be clear, I am not saying this prank was aimed specifically at this nurse because she was a woc. Who picked up the phone was random. I am saying the nurses reaction to the incident could be in part to her life time experience in total as a woc and "successful" professionally by western standards.

The HIPA laws are for medical privacy. I can see how some could see my posts as getting off the original point of the thread, maybe. Anyone want to address some of the points, concerns made about media such as Reality TV, Gossip media, Radio Programs? The impact of media on national and global culture?

I dont think you are off base Grey,What happened is about "gossip" and radio/reality shows.

What folks do and are willing to do and the consequences are "reality"

may not be the popular view but.............
 

i watch the kardashians. but that's because i lust after kris. just something about her. and rob has a sock line.

is dog the bounty hunter considered reality? duck dynasty? dog was canceled. and again, i only watched because i lusted after beth. and, beth called dog, ... big daddy. i want her to call me big daddy.

Belle, I can understand mixed feelings. It is my understanding in what I have read in the media the woman who killed herself was the nurse that talked to the DJ thinking she was talking to the Queen.

Knowing you, I believe you that your personal world view will not change. Sadly, that is not the case for many. Some will watch Honey Boo Boo and it will serve to support a negative stereotype about "Rednecks." I use to watch Cowboy movies as a child and I winced, my stomach would tighten because the mexicans were always portrayed as lazy, dishonet, not so smart, villians, or the mexican people were "simple" and peasants. How do you feel about the stereotypes about people from TN?

Finally, just because I may think something, it does not make it 100% full proof correct. I just don't see the value in Reality TV. I don't even find it entertaining. I think it serves in dumbbing down our thinking skills and expectations of civility.

ahh you mentioned Honey Boo Boo. I am so angry over that show. That poor child will spend the rest of her life tarnished because of that show, all for American Amusement...

While suicide is not usually done on the spur of the moment, there are times of great trauma that can stimulate suicidal behavior out of nowhere. The Stock Market crash brought about a few suicides. In my hometown, when the steel mills told workers that that shift was their last one, and they werent to return because they were closing the mills, men walked home and suicide soared. But was this the case with the nurse? Or was she experiencing other problems, long term depression, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back?

Regardless of which it was, the issue is not why she did this, but why THEY did this. And why does it allow to continue?

I get so tired when I hear that pat answer "because thats what the public wants". I dont think so. I think we are lead to believe this is true. I think we are lead to want to know crap about good people. I think we are lead to want to know the dirt about our neighbors. I think we are lead to want to know others arent just our equals, but our less than fortunates. I think marketing makes us believe its what we want...and we simply buy into because we are sheep. Lemmings. We follow crowds. Because, because of television, we now sit in front of a box that tells us what products we want via commercials. Suffice it to say, it also tells us now, what values we want. Its not US saying this is what we want. Its THEM telling us its what we want...

when they stop pushing it, we will stop wanting it....:praying:

These are from your link, and i've read this other places too....


From what i read she may have truly believed this was the Queen, but only handed the phone to another nurse who did the talking. I may be wrong, but i just think there was way more going on in this woman's life that led her to this place and i have high doubts it was just this prank. The prank was bad, i agree, but from the info that is out there, i can't see it being the only reason this tragedy happened to this person. I have no clue, but i'm holding my judgement till either we get all the facts in this or we may never know.


As far as reality TV. I was under the impression we were discussing reality TV vs. regular TV and that's why i posted what i did. I don't see any difference. Like you said, TV in and of itself has always generalized and categorized people.

They both display wrong representation of all people. It's no worse now, IMO, than it was when stuff like Bonanza was on and how it represented the Native Americans. It's all bad, not just in 2012. That was what i was getting at.

Thanks for the dialog Greyson...

I have not had a television in 10 years. It is a mind sucking, poor replacement for life. That is just my opinion. I have friends who complain of the things they need to do, say how bored and dissatisfied they are........and then tell me about the 4 hours they spent watching tv.......

I have to disagree. It doesn't make sense to me that just because the media tells us that we want it that someone would want it.

I have no interest in watching any reality series, any celebrity stuff, etc. None. I think that the only reality show that I have ever really watched was the first and second season of Survivor. Oh, and I did watch half a season of American Idol, once more than several years ago.

I had to google "honey boo boo".

I believe with any reality show with children, blame the parent(s), not the audience.

I watch reality shows. I had a huge fascination with Real Housewives of New Jersey. Not a thinking person's show, but fascinating to me. And entertaining.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it.... any talk show that has guest stars is kind of a reality show in my mind because people go on public television to display their lives. Does anyone think Ricky, Oprah or Dr Phil watchers are bad? No.

And Facebook and Twitter and MySpace are pretty much the same thing....people putting their lives out in public for all friends/ and the public to see, every single day, all day long. To me there is no difference between social media and reality shows.

I won't feel guilty or ashamed because I watch reality tv and no one else should either because there is nothing wrong with it. Hey, I'm a nosy person, I love to know about other peoples lives and if I get that with reality tv, then so be it.


And darn it, I will never be ashamed of my love for Judge Judy.

I watch TLC alot..Sister Wives,The Little Couple,Little People Big World..also the History Channel and Animal Planet oh and true tv's Baitcar..I wont watch the beauty pagent kids or Honey BooBoo or the Kardashians

There's a lot of good and bad and complex outcomes that arise from reality t.v. imo. And I think it also depends on what we label reality t.v.

Some good:

Shows like "Intervention, "Obsessed," and "Addiction," sometimes touch me in how they have the potential to turn a life around for the good. It's sad that it takes a show to get someone the help they need, whether it be drug addiction or OCD, but to change one person and their family's life in such a profoundly positive way is a good thing no matter what IMO.

Sometimes reality shows bring different identities out of the closet so there can be a sense of relating especially for young people. In the MTV true life series they've covered kids who are gay, Deaf, stutter, have seizures, and a whole host of differences in a positive way.

Some bad:

It's been hard for Cindy and me raising Jacob and him seeing this plethora of MTV reality shows that center on filthy rich kids. It makes him demanding and expecting of things we can't provide. That may sound simplistic but it's how I experience it.

I know there was a mentally ill (maybe Bipolar?) young woman on AI who committed suicide after being put down after her singing.

There was a straight guy who went on the Jenny Jones show because he was told someone had a crush on him and wanted to reveal it on air. It ended up being a man who had a crush on him. The straight guy happened to be someone with a psychiatric history felt humiliated and killed himself. Then Jenny Jones was sued.

Some more complicated:

I read the memoir of the Beverly Hills housewife who said that she chose to be on the Real Housewives series because she was in the midst of a marriage with kids where she was victim of extreme domestic violence, and she figured she'd be safer with the t.v. crew around and everything public. Then during the series it did come out, along with all the shady things her husband was into (scams, etc.), and he ended up committing suicide. When someone's dirty laundry is public for the whole world to see I do think that's a big trigger for suicide.

Me either, LOVE JUDGE JUDY! She should run for president!

OK, so I know for a fact that I am not a bad person... I watch a few things here and there. Project Runway, FaceOff, America's Funniest Home Videos, and dare I say it? Reruns of The Girls Next Door. Those are the more reality type shows I watch. (Well, the first two are really more competition shows.)

But, What I find myself doing is comparing myself to these people and what would I do differently - or the same for that matter. Would I have used the silk chenille or gone with an impish feline-like monster theme? I digress...where The Girls Next Door show is concerned ...I just like nice asses.

It's all about the people I am watching and a thing called social anthropology.

Am I curious what my neighbor does? Hell yeah. I want to see if they do things like I do or do they have a better way of washing windows or a better way to set up the furniture in an L shaped room or if they have a better way of being romantic? Yeah, I wanna know. But I have my line.

I watched Toddlers and Tiaras a couple times...but I just ...can't ...watch it. It's not the little girls that get to me so much as the snarky moms. But I do HATE the hyper sexualization of those little girls Ugh! It's gross. Yes, they look like little dolls and I am sure for some of them it is kept in check, but in THIS society in THIS world where it is already so hard for girls, and in turn women, to have healthy self images, WHY I wonder, WHY ON EARTH would any woman put her daughter through something that might further skew her self worth and self image?

I HATED the Real L Word... I thought... damn, ya'll I've been a lesbian for almost- OMG, uh, ok- a really long time- and I have NEVER seen women like this and the catty, crazy crap they dish out onto one another.

As far as HRH The Queen of England prank and the suicide that followed...well those people should be ashamed of themselves for doing it, but I doubt they ever thought it would end like it did. (I am not excusing their behavior, but simply stating that I seriously doubt either DJ woke up that morning with a plan to prank someone in hopes it would end in a tragic death.) But, maybe their previously base choices that center around preying on unsuspecting others, for sheer entertainment, will change due to it. (One can only hope.)

In the end, no matter what the world throws at us, we each have the ability to make choices about it. Whether we watch reality shows or not, or how we let the things that the media bombards us with change us. We have a choice on how we let it all effect us. It's up to each of us as individuals to take the information or not and let it seep into our psyche and change us...for better or for worse.

*whew* I need chocolate.
:eatinghersheybar:

~Bleu

P.S. I love Sister Wives, but I think it is because I have poly tendencies. I find them to be so complex and beautiful and deep. Wow.

Isn't it better in a way to watch real people then to watch the Brady Bunch and leave it to Beaver and all these sanitized scripts?

Oh yes!!! So much more fun to watch. And how many times have I watched something and said to myself "thank goodness I/ my partner/my friends don't do/ act like/ that". And how many where I have thought, "hmmm I'm not the only one......"

Belle, I do not think you or anyone else is "bad"for watching reality T.V. maybe I am being to general with the term "Reality T.V." There are some shows, and not Sister Wives, Survivor, nor Amazing Race that has gone beyond the pale, IMO.

I will have to admit, I have never watched some of these reality shows all the way through because I just could not. I still think some of them serve no purpose, not even entertainment. Like many things in this world, perhaps the pendelum has swung far in one direction and will come back to the middle.

Bleu, I did not realize "Judge Judy" was considered to be reality T.V. I watch her too. Everyday if I get home from work early enough, I turn her on and watch her for one hour. I am amazed how Judge Judy can hear some of this stuff and keep a straight face. I do worry at times that some of this ignorance she must hear and rule on day in and day out is going to cause her to stroke.

Yes. But, I think the types of shows that are available are like art, in a way. They are indicative of a collective path that society is taking. My curiosity is how do we, as butches and femmes, on a very specific sub-culture site, such as this lovely Planet, how do we filter all this?

I do not think we (BFPers) are really exactly part of mainstream society. I am thinking, I could be wrong, but... I think the way we think and feel is inherently different than your average person on the sidewalks of America. We were raised in the mainstream, very probably mostly by mainstreamers, but we are not of it.

In it, but not of it.

I dunno.... anyone, anyone? Bueller? Bueller? ;)

I think of reality t.v. as everything that is not ENTIRELY scripted. So reality t.v. imo includes court shows (love Judge Judy!), talk shows, documentaries, and anything that isn't 100% actors spouting memorized lines.

Dude! Where am I when you are watching all of these shows? :blink:

Things you learn about your girlfriend on the internet....:|

We see each other friday through sunday.... I have a whole lotta time in between. And you know how much I love my judge shows.... And Maury when I am home during the day. :)



Thank goodness, at least that 's out in the open now.

Reality shows BB refuses to watch with me under any circumstances: Wife Swap, Trading Spouses, Real Housewives, and My Shopping Addiction :|

Oh well, see, I am thinking she is a pioneer of reality TV. She is a strong and intelligent vessel that shines a huge spotlight, a magnifying glass really, on the stupidity and pettiness that can infect some people. I find her fascinating in that she can spot a liar or a cheat in a second and her logic is flawless.

I dunno... that is how I take it.