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Title: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 26th, 2008, 9:17am Finland's public service broadcaster, YLE, is now looking for regular joes and janes for a reality show with a difference. This time you do not need to be cute, sexy and young, but just ready to tell your intimate thoughts in front of a TV crew - and be permanetily ill and dying for sure. This new program is based on a Dutch TV show format, in which dying bunch of people will tell about their thoughts and last wishes to viewers. Why on earth YLE decided to pick this one up is anyone's quess, but the whole idea has caused a lot of discussion in the media, most of them are against the show. So, what do you think, is this program a nice way for a dying person to share his/hers legacy and take away some of the fears the rest of us might have towards dying or a clear sign that the reality TV has simply gone too far? In the other news: 2 current Miss Finland candidates are members of a erotic dance group and their chances in the traditional contest is at stake. Political satire show had a rough pilot: the show is just 15 minutes long but it had so many swearing words in it that the viewers gave record breaking amount of complaints to the network (which just happends to be YLE as well) The female staff at Finland's parliament have been sexually harrased. Two female members of the parliament share their stories at daily papers, 2 female members of the parliament have not heard that something like this could happen in Finland. It's been a slow week. ;;D Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Sean_C on Jan 26th, 2008, 9:36am on 01/26/08 at 09:17:41, sandie99 wrote:
My thoughts? It disgusts me that the media will stop at nothing to make a buck. Sorry Sandie, but you asked. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 26th, 2008, 9:42am Sean, no need to say you're sorry. I don't like the idea at all myself. I know what it's like to watch a loved-one fight a terminal disease and pass away. I don't need to watch the same story on TV. Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Sean_C on Jan 26th, 2008, 9:48am on 01/26/08 at 09:42:10, sandie99 wrote:
Its an emotional roller coaster, there's nothing entertaining there. If it was a soap like ER, where death wasn't the main focus, it could play a role. But to watch someone on thier journey isn't for me. ;) Cheers Sanna ;;D Sean................................. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Groov on Jan 26th, 2008, 11:16am My friend Terry died 2 years ago from cancer. It was very unpleasant for me to watch him wither away & die. I cant see that being something I would enjoy watching. If I had terminal cancer and was on that show, I would likely get arrested for what I would have to say about politicians and those who have screwed up my country. SIGH.... |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 26th, 2008, 11:29am When a journalist asked cancer survivor, a young woman, if she would watch the show, she hesitated. She said that if she would be fighting the cancer currently, she certainly would not and now, she's not sure. I'm not sure if this show is a desperate attempt to get more viewers or what... YLE has been struckling a lot lately and even more since the digital age begun last August and lots of Finns who used to pay licence fee to YLE (for the priviledge to watch TV) decided not to watch TV and quit paying the TV permit and didn't purchase digital device (digi box or digital TV) which would allow them to keep on watching. Commercial networks have survived nicely for several years without the need to do anything like this. It's time for YLE to think of new solutions into their problems. Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by vietvet2tours on Jan 26th, 2008, 11:52am It would only sell in the states if ya actually died on camera and then they cooked ya and ate ya. Potter |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Woobie on Jan 26th, 2008, 11:56am WOW would anyone really wanna watch that?? People are sick |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 26th, 2008, 12:06pm on 01/26/08 at 11:56:46, Woobie wrote:
Good question... Aguess we'll find that one out once the show airs one day... :-/ One thing is for sure: no matter how much YLE gets critical feedback, it will not change its mind and cancel the show. Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Sean_C on Jan 26th, 2008, 12:26pm on 01/26/08 at 12:06:47, sandie99 wrote:
My guess is YLE is canceling itself, its future is grim. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Mosaicwench on Jan 26th, 2008, 12:32pm Both birth and death are very private things. Broadcasting them is an invasion of privacy of the worst kind. What's next - broadcasting executions? |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by brewcrew on Jan 26th, 2008, 12:36pm While I agree with the general sentiments expressed in this thread, I disagree with one thing: it will be popular. People will do anything when they think their neighbors aren't aware of it. Watching someone die via television is a sanitized version of the real thing. They'll watch. And yes, there are some sick m***** f*****s in this world. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 26th, 2008, 12:53pm It looks like that 2008 will be a year in which all sorts of lines are defined what comes to privacy. This show will be one case. Right now I find it hard to believe that the show would turn into a huge ratings success. Year ago we were horrified that our prime minister's ex wrote a tell-all book about their relationship and included lots of text messages and emails the PM had sent her. Prime minister got angry and sued. We'll find out later this year what the court thinks about PM's right to privacy. Because PM has been pretty quiet about his private life all through his career, he has advantage - and so far it has been illegal to print someone's private writings without their permission. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by The mad viking on Jan 26th, 2008, 1:22pm on 01/26/08 at 12:32:47, Mosaicwench wrote:
This subject can be seen with different eyes i think. Birth we can see on the TV almost every day so thats nothing to talk about,but what are we humans most afraid of?? yess death We humans have done the mistake and put that word in the taboo-box for decades,and that word scares us so much today that we refuse talk about it. The way i see it we can learn that death "natural death" is not dangerous at all but only 1 of the 2 things we are certain to experience from day one.birth and death yess.What is done between those 2 is entirely up to us as individuals to do. You may agree or disagree with me on this subject but this is the way i see it Svenn |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Mosaicwench on Jan 26th, 2008, 1:31pm Indeed Svenn, they are the two events in our lives that we all share. We can't get away from them and the latter, death, is scary to most. I was lucky enough that my father died a "natural" death in our home and my teenager was a part of the process. It's important to understand the process and be comfortable with it's outcome, but I won't abdicate my responsibility as a parent and a citizen to the MEDIA to pass along those values. They are in the business of making money, not upholding or teaching values. I still don't believe either event should be televised. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Jonny on Jan 26th, 2008, 1:59pm on 01/26/08 at 12:32:47, Mosaicwench wrote:
Now that I would pay to see, but im just one of those sick MoFo's in this world. ;;D I felt cheated when I didnt get to see the rope snap Saddams neck! >:( |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 26th, 2008, 2:16pm I'm all for shattering all the fears about death, but still... I don't think that this show will help with that. Naturally, so much depends on how the show is done and what kind of people are participating. If I'm not mistaken, it will be done in documentary style. Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by barry_sword on Jan 26th, 2008, 2:23pm That is very sad and I will not watch it at all if it airs here. :P |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 26th, 2008, 2:36pm And just because some country somewhere has developed a new TV show format, that does not meat that it should be brought to Finland. ::) Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by monty on Jan 26th, 2008, 4:26pm It depends on how they treat it. The 'Make-a-Wish Foundation' here does something similar. They deal with death in a positive way and put dying kids on display, but not in bad taste. Not saying that the TV will end up doing something in good taste, but who knows? I remember when I first heard about a show called Wife Swapping - I thought it was ridiculous and disgusting. I ended up watching it one night while in the urgent care waiting room, and it wasn't at all what I imagined. It was ok. I watched a few more episodes but it became boring and formulaic quickly. But most shows are like that for me. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Rosybabe on Jan 26th, 2008, 5:21pm I get nightmares with regular movies..I just can't imagine watching something like that [smiley=nono.gif] |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Charlie on Jan 26th, 2008, 10:02pm on 01/26/08 at 11:56:46, Woobie wrote:
Sure. George Carlin has gone into this...albeit a tad rougher than this idea :o Sounds pretty creepy to me but reality tv is cheap and very attractive to sellers of erectile disfunction drugs. Be prepared for more to come. Charlie http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/remote.gif |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Melissa on Jan 27th, 2008, 8:13am Stations are always trying to stay on top in the money/viewership market, so I'm not surprised at this. I really don't care if they broadcast it, but I for one, would not watch it. I've seen too much of my family die that I am more drawn to stories of LIFE. Re-populate the earth dammit!! ;;D ;) [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jan 27th, 2008, 9:04am " Reality " shows are sickening to begin with. A show like this is out of all realms of common sense. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 27th, 2008, 9:12am Another interesting thing about all of this is that YLE's CEO decided not to make any comments about the planned show. That is new, because the man in question has hurt the broadcasting company's reputation with his comments about other YLE- related things several times within the past year. So when he actually keeps quiet about it, that tells something. If I'd be interviewing him now, I'd like to know if he plans to watch this controversial show - he is a cancer survivor himself and his new wife nearly died last fall because of odd disease. Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by wildhaus on Jan 27th, 2008, 9:29am I think it was Shakespeare that said The moment we are born we start to die and I believe it was Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D. (July 8, 1926 – August 24, 2004) the Swiss-born psychiatrist and the author of the groundbreaking book On Death and Dying, where she first discussed what is now known as the Kübler-Ross model. As she began her practice, she was appalled by the hospital treatment of patients who were dying. She began giving a series of lectures featuring terminally ill patients, forcing medical students to confront people who were dying. Her extensive work with the dying led to On Death and Dying in 1969. Back to your question as I don’t think I have any interest in any of these reality TV shows, or in TV as a whole (but a few series like House and Boston legal) so I don’t think I would watch it to start with….. And still I think we do need to look at reality and dare to deal with Birth, Death, and most important of all Life in between, but not as a TV show…… Michael |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by George_J on Jan 27th, 2008, 11:23am on 01/27/08 at 09:29:50, wildhaus wrote:
I think that is a profound answer, Michael, and your point about Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's book is very well taken. I'm thinking also of Sherwin B. Nuland's book--"How We Die". As a society, we seem to treat death and dying as the ultimate taboo, but I do not think it ought to be. Understanding the processes of human life can only make us more human and more humane. But there are approaches to this that have value, and approaches that do not. Spending time with the dying, we confront the human being--it's one thing to see the image of a dying person, and quite another to be with him. Reading about the progression of death allows us the time and the distance to understand those processes more fully--in a non-trivial way. But a "reality" television show about death, it seems to me, is both distant and trivial. I cannot see how it increases understanding, nor do I see how it augments our capacity for humanity. It is death as titillation. I would not watch it. Best wishes, George |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Charlie on Jan 27th, 2008, 1:22pm Some reality shows are great. Give me all the history, war stuff, most politics, science and rail tours all over the world but I'm really tired of car chases, tours of prisons, hour long explroations of SWAT team tactics and drug busts. Read about this crap in the paper. If I want this kind of stuff, I watch a movie....sometimes documentaries. I'm worn out. I like House though. You need a serious suspension of disbelief but it's good. I think Monk is very funny but don't tell anybody. Charlie |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by fubar on Jan 28th, 2008, 12:43pm Maybe I'm just a simple guy with simple answers to complicated questions... please don't take this the wrong way. I don't see any reason to spend even one second of my time being offended or upset by what others choose to put on the air or what others may choose to watch. If a show looks interesting to me, I might watch it. If it turns out to be uninteresting or offensive, I use that amazing little control that (gasp!) changes the channel or turns it off. This seems to be a skill that people have completely forgotten about. I suppose throwing a fit about it makes some people feel better about it, but I'd rather just move on. Simple. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 28th, 2008, 1:14pm Fubar, you'd think that people would get that they don't have to watch everything which in on...especially when many of us Finns gave up watching TV all together since August. But the "big issue" is probably the fact that the channel, YLE, is not a commercial one, but public service broadcaster, which gets is revenue from us regular Finns, from our pockets (via TV permit payments). THAT makes people angry - they are forced to pay for this channel, so naturally everything YLE broadcasts is watched a lot more closely than what commercial channels MTV3, Nelonen, Sub and Jim will broadcast. And that's why people complain more about YLE's programmes. Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by Annette on Jan 28th, 2008, 3:19pm I think we get upset about watching someone dying because our society and culture tell us that dying is a "bad" thing, or at least its a sad thing. In general, in Western countries, we dont want to die, we see dying as a lost. In many other countries, death is welcome and is an opportunity to celebrate, as they believe in an afterlife, they see death is but a passing from one life to another. My Chinese great grand mother started to prepare for her death 3 years before she actually passed away at age 86 as soon as she was diagnosed with cancer. The process involved the whole family and was very carefully planned. Everything was done her way, she chose the coffin which was bought and stored in her bedroom next to her bed, she had special clothes made with her choice of material and style to be buried in, she chose the music to be played at the funeral,etc. Everyone was being extra kind and gentle to her and she simply appreciated it all. There was apparently no sadness or fear in the house, only respect and love. Her death was commented on by relatives and neighbours for years after as a most peaceful and beautiful passing. I see death and dying almost every day now so I guess I am desensitized to it. I dont think I will have a problem watching such a show, as long as its done with respect and give some deeper meanings to the whole experience. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by fubar on Jan 28th, 2008, 5:51pm on 01/28/08 at 13:14:17, sandie99 wrote:
Sanna, A lot of people might argue that the topic is one that would never fit into the commercial realm. These same people use that argument as a mandate that it must be supported with 'public' funds. This particular show doesn't sound like a game show or exploitative format. So, I guess there are folks who may benefit from seeing how other people deal with terminal illness. Public broadcasting is probably the only natural forum for this topic, and I doubt you'll ever get 100% ageement on how to spend public monies anyway. As long as they aren't making a sport of it, what's the harm? People aren't forced to watch, are they? -Shawn |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by midwestbeth on Jan 28th, 2008, 5:56pm on 01/27/08 at 11:23:36, George_J wrote:
ITA |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by fubar on Jan 28th, 2008, 6:22pm Is it? Really? My best friend in the world died a horrible lengthy painful death from terminal illness. I could see a reason to produce a documentary abut this subject, and I would think the idea that this is 'titillating' is kind of offensive to those who have been through it. It's a tremendously difficult situation for all concerned, and some of the best documentaries I've seen in my life are about hard subjects like this. My opinion is not based on seeing the show, just on the idea that a show about this subject isn't necessarily all bad. Unlike a show on, say, religion, which would never apply to 100% of the people, *death* pretty much is going to affect 100% of us. -Shawn |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by sandie99 on Jan 29th, 2008, 11:21am Shawn, you're right: nobody is forced to watch the show once it airs one day. But in here, YLE used to be the channel for quality programmes, many of them educational and even its entertainment was done with good taste. Now people are shocked, because YLE has not had any kind of reality shows before and it is marketing this show as reality TV show. Usually, back in here, all the shows with something controversial and risky are made by commercial channels, never YLE. So people are reacting strongly, because they see a clear conflict in between how this show is marketed and how YLE usually conducts things and in comparison to the other shows the difference is clear. I'm not sure if this show is part of some campaign to get younger demographics or what, but so far most of the comments are that youngs are not interested and the older, loyal viewers are hurt and angry, so I'd say that there has been some mistakes with the show's marketing... Sanna |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by JimLaff on Jan 29th, 2008, 3:25pm I guess you really cannot answer this question unless you are staring down the barrel of that 12guage shotgun, which unfortunately I am. Would I watch a television program about death, knowing that sooner rather then later I will be in the same boat? I believe that I would for a couple of reasons. The thought of my cancer ramping up, causing pain, causing heartache, and eventually death terrifies the shit out of me and as much as I try to put it in the back of my head it always seems to pop up. I would like to see how different people deal with this situation. Also, I believe that a show like this could possibly cause more public interest in not only cancer research, but also other terminal illnesses. For the most part, people here that someone has cancer and dies from it but most people never see, or do not want to see the journey. With more exposure comes more public interest and a stronger voice to find a cure. I do believe that there is a cure for most cancers but due to the money generated from research and treatment we will never see it, but I won't get started on that soapbox. To answer your question.... Yes I would watch it. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by LeLimey on Jan 29th, 2008, 3:26pm Jim ((HUG)) How are you doing? I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are? Last I knew you were headed back for some more treatment. I'm glad to see you Helen x |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by JimLaff on Jan 29th, 2008, 3:37pm Helen ((hug,kiss,pintch,spank,tickle)) - I just got back from the Bahamas again but unfortunately my levels are a little out of control. I have to go to MD Anderson in Texas at the end of the month to be evaluated. I have a bone scan set for Thursday due to some pain in my hip. The doctor thinks that it is a tumor but I told him that it is either from falling down from drinking too much ;;D or from too much sex ;). I will find out on Friday. Other then that things are good. By the way, Thanks for sending me thoes naked pics. I may have to schedule a trip to England 8) (kidding) - about the pics - I still have to get over to England. |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by LeLimey on Jan 29th, 2008, 5:03pm Jim you little shit - you're crusing for ANOTHER bruising young man! :o |
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Title: Re: Dying on TV - your thoughts? Post by JimLaff on Jan 29th, 2008, 7:30pm PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES |
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