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Old 02-12-2007, 21:01
tilleygirl
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Did anyone else feel hugely uncomfortable last night during the Mr and Mrs Malcolm segment?

We appreciate that failed auditionees appearing are supposed to be fun but I would have thought that people with genuine difficulties would not be a source of fun.

Mrs Malcolm appeared, to us, to have slight Downs Syndrome and Mr Malcolm learning difficulties.

I presume the producers would have some background on their guests and if, as I suspect, the couple do have disadvantages, then last night was nothing short of disgraceful. If the producers knew, they could have had them on but treated them with some respect. Fearne Cotton, I hope to God, had no knowledge but even so, I feel she treated them as some sort of Victorian Freak Show act.

Really, disappointed. There was nothng funny in that last night as far as we could see, we positively shuddered. I think Sharon guessed at some stage but even so, by being kept out of the loop (I am giving them the benefit of the doubt) the Judges were made to look unkind and vicious.

Were we the only ones to have felt this way?.
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Old 02-12-2007, 21:31
beast1982
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It didnt sit easy with me either
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Old 02-12-2007, 21:45
cath99
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They both very clearly have learning disabilities - disgusting that they were ridiculed in that way. It wasn't funny, big or clever.
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Old 02-12-2007, 21:47
diamond1
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Obviously people know what they are getting into when they audition for these shows, but it did make uncomfortable viewing and was taking things too far.
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Old 02-12-2007, 21:59
Liz G-S
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Obviously people know what they are getting into when they audition for these shows, but it did make uncomfortable viewing and was taking things too far.
But do they - it is exactly the type of vulnerable people they use. I once read about a 17 year old who was thrilled to sing in front of the judges, but she was being used as a comedy interlude - she thought she was brilliant but couldn't sing a note in tune and looked a bit different. She has been bullied ever since.
I doubt if these people really understood what was going on, they probably believed he sings really well.
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Old 02-12-2007, 23:39
Froggie72
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Obviously people know what they are getting into when they audition for these shows, but it did make uncomfortable viewing and was taking things too far.
Exactly right, Liz. People with learning difficulties would not necessarily know or understand what they are letting themselves into. They would take everything at first degree and believe what is said to them, and end up being used and abused by the producers unscrupulously ... Which is utterly disgusting.
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Old 03-12-2007, 00:34
Green Goddess
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It made for very bad TV for me, itwas not funny, it was not nice and it should never have been allowed, you cannot know these people are aware of what is going on as I am sure they did not. Shame on the whole show , judges, producers Fern, I hope you are proud f yourselves, and for me an apology should be made.

Never take the pee out of people who are not able to take the pee back
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Old 03-12-2007, 00:59
Alrightmate
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I didn't sit right with me either.

I find something inherently wrong with celebrities on television mocking 'normal' people.
It just seems....really wrong.
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Old 03-12-2007, 01:03
cute chick
 
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It also made me feel uncomfortable. It was so obvious that those people had learning difficulties. It was just so out-of-order ridiculing them in this way.
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Old 03-12-2007, 01:05
diamond1
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But do they - it is exactly the type of vulnerable people they use. I once read about a 17 year old who was thrilled to sing in front of the judges, but she was being used as a comedy interlude - she thought she was brilliant but couldn't sing a note in tune and looked a bit different. She has been bullied ever since.
I doubt if these people really understood what was going on, they probably believed he sings really well.

Sorry, I probably didn't really express myself very clearly. I meant to add that even if the contestants aren't aware themselves that they may be being made fun of, I would have thought that family members or friends would have perhaps thought that they would be made laughing stocks and advised against going on the show.

A very cheap shot at entertainment by the producers though, and I don't think they realise that the majority of the public feel uncomfortable with it and don't find it entertaining in the slightest.
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Old 03-12-2007, 02:13
The Spoon
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Obviously people know what they are getting into when they audition for these shows, but it did make uncomfortable viewing and was taking things too far.

being on TV is about 'informed consent' but people with learning difficulties, they cannot give informed consent to being mocked.
my wife works with such people and I have met many over the years, so I understand their limitations of understanding. I didn't see the show, but if people without proper capacity were being publicly mocked and humiliated, the producers deserve to lose their jobs. there are laws to protect the vulnerable and there is a difference between mocking people with no talent (and lots of ambition) and those who do not understand.

a new low in reality TV?
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Old 03-12-2007, 05:56
trollface
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A very cheap shot at entertainment by the producers though, and I don't think they realise that the majority of the public feel uncomfortable with it and don't find it entertaining in the slightest.
Is this true, though? I'm not sure the majority of the public care. This is the only place I've seen it mentioned. Has anyone posting in this thread, for example, emailed the programme makers? Because if you really do find it that objectionable (I'm reserving comment until I've seen it for myself, something this thread has inspired), then that's the way to get something done about it, if there is one. It'll certainly be more effective than posting about it here. Actual, real, pen-and-ink letters are even better, but I'd be surprised if anyone was actually outraged enough to go to the lengths of spending 10 minutes writing and posting a letter.
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Old 03-12-2007, 22:58
tilleygirl
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I am sorry am I missing something here?. I thought that this site was to discuss diverse topics and I was under the impression that people do actually read this, including "the powers that be". I do not understand your criticism. Have YOU emailed the production company?. This is, as I understand it, a discussion site, not a place to blame and denegrate people for not taking to the streets with placards and inciting riots?.

Did you even see this piece?
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Old 05-12-2007, 16:20
trollface
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I am sorry am I missing something here?. I thought that this site was to discuss diverse topics and I was under the impression that people do actually read this, including "the powers that be".
Of course you can discuss anything you like here, but if you're seeing it as a conduit by which to get your views to the producers, then there are better ways to go about it.

I do not understand your criticism.
I haven't made a criticism. I questioned diamon1's assertion that the majority of the public would not have found it entertaining in the slightest. As I said, if they had, then I imagine that there would be much more of a stink about it.

As it is, I've seen one thread on here with 13 replies. I've not heard anything about anyone actually complaining to people who are in a position to do anything about it, be that the programme makers themselves, or a relevant anti-discrimination group. Which suggests to me that the general public actually don't see it as that much of an issue.

Have YOU emailed the production company?
No, but I very well might. I'm 99% sure I'm going to.

This is, as I understand it, a discussion site, not a place to blame and denegrate people for not taking to the streets with placards and inciting riots?.
My point was that it's all very well to start a thread about it - there's nothing wrong with that at all - but that if you are truly concerned about the treatment of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm, then it might be more constructive to contact someone who is in a position to ensure that nothing like it happens again.

Being annoyed by something and saying so is fair enough. But actually doing something about it is much better. Especially if that "doing something" only requires as much (or a tiny bit more, in the case of writing a physical letter) effort as making a thread about it on a message board in the first place.

Did you even see this piece?
As I said, I hadn't. I've just finished watching it this moment, which is why I've come back to the thread, and I agree with you completely. I thought it was utterly disgraceful and one of the most uncomfortable things I've watched in quite a while.
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Old 05-12-2007, 17:32
shn321
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I just saw the clip .. it's just disgraceful and it wasn't funny in any way.
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Old 05-12-2007, 18:11
ZipGypsy
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It's unforgiveable. I was disgusted. Trollface does make a good point, maybe we should actually complain, rather than just discuss the issue.

I'm fed up with ITV doing this to people like that. It's sickening. Says a lot about the powers that be.
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