Fringey's taut-abbed painter

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Well, think of the kids. I know it's not a kids' show, but when kids see that kind of behavior, aren't they more likely to emulate? I mean, to see him winning week after week and to see her not really standing up for herself and saying stupid shit like "he gets mad when I do stupid things, he's really a nice guy most of the time" won't that be confusing to them?
Sorry, didn't mean to get all preachy, but my best friend works in a domestic violence office and when kids see this behavior from the male in the family, they're more likely to do the same thing. That's all I'm saying.

Behavior from a male in the family is a little different from behavior of a guy I saw on tv, who people universally concluded was an asshole. Have they not had a quote from every single other person on the Race about what a dick they think he is? Apparently I am watching a different show.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
Its fine to shoot the shit about reality tv, but getting bent about such a show - or even providing in-depth moral analysis of such a show - is like pitching a fit because your McRib is overcooked.

I'm not that bent; there is plenty of reprehensible shit on tv. But I think you underestimate the extent to which tv affects societal behaviour, and this is a show that's otherwise portrayed as kind of wholesome and innocuous; kind of a family show. So Suzy Redstate from Kansas watches it and decides that she should just shut the fuck up and wait to get hit? "After all, that gay guy with the Ferraro even yells at his wife, and she's prettier and a faster runner than I am." Maybe not, but there are some topics our society does a horrendously poor job of addressing, and the fact that TAR might eventually do a little 30-second "domestic violence is bad, mmmkay" piece at the end of the episode they get eliminated on doesn't really make up for the fact that DV is one of them.

[ltl/fb]

fuck it. I don't feel like being an asshole today. merry holidays.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Behavior from a male in the family is a little different from behavior of a guy I saw on tv, who people universally concluded was an asshole. Have they not had a quote from every single other person on the Race about what a dick they think he is? Apparently I am watching a different show.

Yeah, the effect of the behaviour is different in those two situations. The message is at the margin. I'm not suggesting censorship or a boycott or anything. I'm just saying that it's disappointing.

Everyone thinks he's an asshole, but no one really ever does anything. No one ever talks to her about it* and nothing ever changes; there are no consequences. Unlike some crime or cop shows where the implication (an implication that I think even people suffering from that kind of act in real life or young kids pick up on) is that the featured behaviour or act is wrong, TAR just seems to accept it: "Will Jonathan and Victoria stop fighting and get it together? Or will he give that bitch the beating she deserves for carrying his bag when he told her not to? Will Lori and Bolo get eliminated? Find out next time on the Amazing Race!" In particular, the comments they traded about pulling the cannon (she said "Why don't you be the man and get up here and pull the cannon?" and he said "Why don't you be the woman and shut up?") resonated, I thought. And they would definitely resonate with people who were deciding whether that was really the way that women should be (kids or abused women, maybe).

Anyway, that's my point. You're right; we disagree about their treatment of the issue so far. We're obviously going to see it get addressed somehow pretty soon.

* Of course, this is as far as we can tell. Maybe it's a major topic during the breaks. But we have to go on what they show us.

eta Different behaviour, not different show.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by Mister_Ruysbroeck
Happy Holidays, Motherfuckers.

I hope you're all working your pathetic, hourly billing asses off right now while I run around my house in my wife-beater and boxers, eating christmas cookies and farting loudly.

Hey, I forgot to mention it in my Christmas card, but we're raising our rates again.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by dtb
Dude. How do you make this shit up?

I don't understand exactly what you mean (whether this is complimentary or truly inquisitive). Just pops in. Don't know where it comes from.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by mmm3587
Given the way that he pushed her intentionally at the end of the last episode and is constantly verbally and emotionally abusive, if TAR doesn't actually address the behaviour, they're doing a serious disservice.

This is the first real beef I've had with this show.

Why does TAR have any social obligations other than to generate ratings for advertisers? Viewers aren't tuning out of the show because of the abusive behavior. The trainwreck is probably bringing in more viewers. TAR's producers must have been delighted to have a team like this one.

[soup sandwich]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Well, think of the kids. I know it's not a kids' show, but when kids see that kind of behavior, aren't they more likely to emulate? I mean, to see him winning week after week and to see her not really standing up for herself and saying stupid shit like "he gets mad when I do stupid things, he's really a nice guy most of the time" won't that be confusing to them?
Sorry, didn't mean to get all preachy, but my best friend works in a domestic violence office and when kids see this behavior from the male in the family, they're more likely to do the same thing. That's all I'm saying.

I don't think it's the network's job to worry about what kids are emulating. It is the job of the kids' parents to worry about what the kids are emulating.

If the networks programing is so objectionable, change the fucking channel. Suzie in Melvern who watches TAR would, unfortunately, be just as likely a candidate for abuse whether she watches the show or not.

[LessinSF]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?



MR: edited to fix pic

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by mmm3587
I'm not that bent; there is plenty of reprehensible shit on tv. But I think you underestimate the extent to which tv affects societal behaviour, and this is a show that's otherwise portrayed as kind of wholesome and innocuous; kind of a family show. So Suzy Redstate from Kansas watches it and decides that she should just shut the fuck up and wait to get hit? "After all, that gay guy with the Ferraro even yells at his wife, and she's prettier and a faster runner than I am." Maybe not, but there are some topics our society does a horrendously poor job of addressing, and the fact that TAR might eventually do a little 30-second "domestic violence is bad, mmmkay" piece at the end of the episode they get eliminated on doesn't really make up for the fact that DV is one of them.

Understood. I consider broadcast tv as akin to the music playing in a doctor's waiting room. White noise. Analyzing it earnestly seems absurd. You're critiquing the brush strokes on a velvet Elvis. The person who might be effected consciously or unconsciously by the moral lessons of reality TV was probably long ago damaged beyond repair from other much more direct negative influences (meth, gas sniffing, kicked in the head at a honky tonk, had the bible drilled into his cranium). A Mark Burnett soap opera is the least dangerous influence in his skull. You're concerned about a non-problem.

[Not Bob]

Originally posted by mmm3587
blah blah blah behaviour blah blah blah

This is like the 800th time you've done this. I have no dog in your substantive fights with people, but this drives me nuts. The word is spelled BEHAVIOR.

Here's a newsflash: we kicked John Bull's ass twice* so that our children could spell this word (and "color") correctly. You're in America -- love it or leave it, Anglophile Boy.

*Yeah, twice. The burning and looting of DC? Big whoopee. See the Battle of New Orleans (yes, it still counts as a win, since no one knew about the Treaty of Ghent) and the exploits of the USS Constitution.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Not Bob
This is like the 800th time you've done this. I have no dog in your substantive fights with people, but this drives me nuts. The word is spelled BEHAVIOR.

Here's a newsflash: we kicked John Bull's ass twice* so that our children could spell this word (and "color") correctly. You're in America -- love it or leave it, Anglophile Boy.

*Yeah, twice. The burning and looting of DC? Big whoopee. See the Battle of New Orleans (yes, it still counts as a win, since no one knew about the Treaty of Ghent) and the exploits of the USS Constitution.

NB! Kicking ass and taking names! I'm all shivery now.

[mmm3587]

[behavior, you nincompoop!]

No Anglocentrism, just spelling incompetence. I dislike those rotten-toothed bastards as much as the next guy. I regularly fuck up committee and necessary just as badly. Maybe I did right there.

That stupid squiggly underline for misspelled words function in Word has fucking ruined me. And the -ior just looks wrong. As does "misspelled." Maybe that's wrong, too.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Not Bob
This is like the 800th time you've done this. I have no dog in your substantive fights with people, but this drives me nuts. The word is spelled BEHAVIOR.

Here's a newsflash: we kicked John Bull's ass twice* so that our children could spell this word (and "color") correctly. You're in America -- love it or leave it, Anglophile Boy.

*Yeah, twice. The burning and looting of DC? Big whoopee. See the Battle of New Orleans (yes, it still counts as a win, since no one knew about the Treaty of Ghent) and the exploits of the USS Constitution.

Brilliant!

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally posted by Not Bob
The word is spelled BEHAVIOR.

Here's a newsflash: we kicked John Bull's ass twice* so that our children could spell this word (and "color") correctly. You're in America -- love it or leave it, Anglophile Boy.

Much as I despise mmmmm (and I do), this is cyberspace, not America, and people should feel free to spell how they wish. I say this in part because to me, words like behaviour, colour, flavour, etc., look much more natural with the "u" and I like seeing them spelled that way.