http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News...s_Bulletin

Probably old news, but I just heard about it stongue
So what are your thoughts about this? Good? bad?


I personally think it's about time somebody does something like this, and I hope it goes well for them so that other channels may do similar things.
I'm sick of turning on the TV to see models and "perfect" looking people everywhere.
Everybody focuses so much on looks all the time, and they do it openly. It's practically ok to make a comment like "that woman is so ugly!" (I heard somebody make that comment just a couple of days ago :roll: )
Instead of people getting annoyed at a comment like that, they agree and say that she's ugly. ...is that right? :shock:
I really think we need to put more faces on TV, all sizes and shapes. Hopefully that'll lead to people being more accepting, and focusing less on physical appearance.

In the article I read (on a Swedish paper), it also said that the channel tried something similar a while ago. They let a woman who was born with only one arm host some kids show.
A bunch of angry parents phoned the channel demanding that they stopped airing the show because it "could give their children nightmares".

...that gives me nightmares! :shock:
Would it really screw up the kids that much to see a few "imperfections" on TV? Is it better that they grow up feeling as if everybody has to look like the models they see, thin and beautiful?
That's what's wrong, and yet not a lot is done about it.

So yeah...thoughts?

I wouldn't screw up kids, but there are limits, this is a terrble disfigurement. Caution.

I'd better not, it was bad.

Harold-L Wrote:In the article I read (on a Swedish paper), it also said that the channel tried something similar a while ago. They let a woman who was born with only one arm host some kids show.
A bunch of angry parents phoned the channel demanding that they stopped airing the show because it "could give their children nightmares".

...that gives me nightmares! :shock:
Would it really screw up the kids that much to see a few "imperfections" on TV? Is it better that they grow up feeling as if everybody has to look like the models they see, thin and beautiful?
That's what's wrong, and yet not a lot is done about it.

I think that adults don't give children enough credit. :roll:

We go around pulling people out of the public eye that aren't deemed as fitting into the 'norm' when it comes to appearances, yet we wonder why things are the way they are? Children need to be exposed to real life and the things involved in real life. I'm not saying they should be put in harms way, but I honestly don't see the harm in children watching a TV channel with a host that is disfigured. I actually think it's good. Let the children see that at home where they can ask their parents questions to better understand why the person on TV doesn't look exactly like them. If we don't expose children to these things that are involved in everyday life, how can we expect them to be successful once they become an adult and are exposed to things like that?

I really don't understand the reasoning behind those parents actions. If their child attended a school where they were put in a class with another student that only had one arm, would they ask that their child be put in another class? That seems a little... drastic to me. It's the whole idea of putting your child in a 'bubble'. You can't protect your child from all these things when they're young and not expect them to be negatively effected by it as an adult.

Quote:I wouldn't screw up kids, but there are limits, this is a terrble disfigurement. Caution.

I'd better not, it was bad.

What...do you mean? sconfused

Quote:I think that adults don't give children enough credit. :roll:

We go around pulling people out of the public eye that aren't deemed as fitting into the 'norm' when it comes to appearances, yet we wonder why things are the way they are? Children need to be exposed to real life and the things involved in real life. I'm not saying they should be put in harms way, but I honestly don't see the harm in children watching a TV channel with a host that is disfigured. I actually think it's good. Let the children see that at home where they can ask their parents questions to better understand why the person on TV doesn't look exactly like them. If we don't expose children to these things that are involved in everyday life, how can we expect them to be successful once they become an adult and are exposed to things like that?

I really don't understand the reasoning behind those parents actions. If their child attended a school where they were put in a class with another student that only had one arm, would they ask that their child be put in another class? That seems a little... drastic to me. It's the whole idea of putting your child in a 'bubble'. You can't protect your child from all these things when they're young and not expect them to be negatively effected by it as an adult.

Well put, well put

The worst a kid would do, would be to ask the parents something like "why does that man look like that"
If the parents could simply provide a good explanation, I think the children would grow up to be much more accepting of these things.
Children are curious, so they will ask questions about it. But that doesn't mean that it's bad for them. sconfused

Harold-L Wrote:The worst a kid would do, would be to ask the parents something like "why does that man look like that"
If the parents could simply provide a good explanation, I think the children would grow up to be much more accepting of these things.
Children are curious, so they will ask questions about it. But that doesn't mean that it's bad for them. sconfused

Exactly. stongue A child would ask questions and possibly feel bad for the person once they get an explanation. I highly doubt many children at all would go and have nightmares about it.

I think if I was maybe in my 60's & maybe I don't know, had some tumour on my face, & a child said 'Mummy, what's wrong with that man's face?' it would be OK, but I guess if someone's so much younger, & kids & maybe adults are looking at someone difigured in a hurtful way, that's not good.

Cpt_Stunning Wrote:I think if I was maybe in my 60's & maybe I don't know, had some tumour on my face, & a child said 'Mummy, what's wrong with that man's face?' it would be OK, but I guess if someone's so much younger, & kids & maybe adults are looking at someone difigured in a hurtful way, that's not good.

I can understand how someones curiosity would upset some people that have a disfigurement. Obviously, if you have a tumor on your face and already feel bad about it, a little kids asking "what's wrong with that persons face?" isn't going to go and boost your confidence. So, it's a catch 22. Personally, I think it's a lot better to have children exposed to this stuff and ask the questions rather than become adults and walk around judging people because they've never been exposed to 'differences'. Then again, I'm not disfigured, so I can't speak for how I'd personally feel if I had to deal with something like that on a daily basis.

And when kids ask questions like that, I rarely think there's any hidden meaning behind the question, other than the fact that the child is really curious.