Offence Programmes

Caoimhgh1n

I keep seeing an advert for a new programme "The Undatables".

They are people who have deformities.

Am I the only one who thinks this is extremely rude? Have you saw any other offencive programmes like this?

Edit: Spelling error.

martinedwards

I'm assuming that all the folks on the program have signed up and they don't just chase less attractive folks down the street with a camera?

if so it's their choice to be on it, and your choice whether on not to watch.

petrolcan

Why is it rude? Are you taking offence because it is the latest 'in' thing?

FWIW, people with disabilities (learning or physical) and deformities would like to be in relationships too.

Caoimhgh1n

petrolcan wrote: »

Why is it rude? Are you taking offence because it is the latest 'in' thing?

FWIW, people with disabilities (learning or physical) and deformities would like to be in relationships too.

They are calling these people "Undatable". I don't see why they would use this term.

kneemos

Caoimhgh1n wrote: »

They are calling these people "Undatable". I don't see why they would use this term.

They have a right to express their opinion.

Everyone has rights.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

I saw a programme before called 'Trainspotting' Naturally I assumed it was going to be a documentary about locomotives.

I was extremely offended to see it was a film about heroin.

endacl

Caoimhgh1n wrote: »

They are calling these people "Undatable". I don't see why they would use this term.

Because a lot of them would be considered, by your ordinary Joe or Jane in the street, to not be a prospective romantic partner. I'd imagine the title is a play on a prejudice few of us have even considered, let alone would own up to.

Can't wait for the 'ginger' episode!

Severard

The reason why they would use the term "Undatable" is to catch people's eye. The media has been doing this for years - Just look at the headlines on the front of the Sunday papers as a prime example. As for it being offensive, offence cannot be given, it can only be taken, in this case you are choosing to be offended. If you don't like it, you don't have to watch it.

One eyed Jack

Caoimhgh1n wrote: »

They are calling these people "Undatable". I don't see why they would use this term.

Simply because of the participants lack of success in the dating arena. They see themselves as undateable because of their various disabilities and ailments and so on. There are dating agencies in the UK that cater specifically to people with disabilities and the programme is just highlighting the difficulties they face on the dating scene.

I imagined it would be crass, exploitation "reality" tv, but the producers and programme makers actually handle the participants issues very sensitively and with tact.

ShoulderChip

Stephen Fry says it best in the attached (for some reason I can't embed an image anymore)

endacl

ShoulderChip wrote: »

Stephen Fry says it best in the attached (for some reason I can't embed an image anymore)

No images in AH. The Unpostables.

5starpool

Caoimhgh1n wrote: »

I keep seeing an advert for a new programme "The Undatables".

They are people who have deformities.

Am I the only one who thinks this is extremely rude? Have you saw any other offencive programmes like this?

Edit: Spelling error.

It's been on a few years now, it's not new. It's no worse than any of the other programmes about travellers or benefits receivers that are on C4.

Azalea

I found it uncomfortable viewing when I first watched it - bit of a "freak-show" quality to it. These vulnerable people on display for people to have a laugh at (not saying everyone would laugh at them, but you can be sure there are plenty who would). But maybe it says more about me, to interpret it that way. I just don't watch it now.

ShoulderChip wrote: »

Stephen Fry says it best in the attached (for some reason I can't embed an image anymore)

He has also gotten offended himself though, so does he only mean other people when he's talking about people taking offence? I think it's pretty dismissive of him. Just because there are habitual offence-seekers, doesn't mean it's never possible for offence-taking to have legitimate grounds.

jimgoose

Deformed people are funny. The notion of deformed people having sex is even funnier. Rough, but true.

sonny.knowles

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

I saw a programme before called 'Trainspotting' Naturally I assumed it was going to be a documentary about locomotives.

I was extremely offended to see it was a film about heroin.

Is that the one where Spud sh1ts the bed after a night out and Renton sticks the opiate suppositories up his arse?

Capt'n Midnight

Caoimhgh1n wrote: »

I keep seeing an advert for a new programme "The Undatables".

They are people who have deformities.

Am I the only one who thinks this is extremely rude? Have you saw any other offencive programmes like this?

Edit: Spelling error.

Channel 4 have a mandate to produce minority interest programs. And thank goodness for that, and TG4 play a similar role here, because there is far too much lowest common denominator rubbish out there for the plebs.

So yeah chances are that 95% of viewers don't want to watch any particular Channel 4 program , to the point that they even had to fight to keep Brookside because it got too many viewers. Really. Having a program that's too popular is a problem peculiar to Channel 4.


So if you are offended by what is meant by of interest to a minority, in a sea of mediocre programming on hundreds of channels, that says quite a bit about you.


Like TG4 I don't like most of the stuff they show, but I can see that some people would like it just as I value some of the stuff that I consider top notch.


BTW:
They aren't funded by the UK TV licence, so they still have to show commercially viable stuff. And unlike BBC and ITN they are quite happy to deal with ROI viewers. They even sent me out some 3D glasses years ago

Azalea

Channel 4 may have been a bastion of the off-beat and the leftfield before the 2000s, but ever since Big Brother, things have gradually changed.
Benefits Street is a perfect example - right voyeuristic rubbish, designed to outrage the left and the right.

kneemos

Azalea wrote: »

Channel 4 may have been a bastion of the off-beat and the leftfield before the 2000s, but ever since Big Brother, things have gradually changed.
Benefits Street is a perfect example - right voyeuristic rubbish, designed to outrage the left and the right.

It's a good day when you offend everyone.

Irish Steve

Caoimhgh1n wrote: »

I keep seeing an advert for a new programme "The Undatables".

They are people who have deformities.

Am I the only one who thinks this is extremely rude? Have you saw any other offencive programmes like this?

Edit: Spelling error.

Based on comments in another thread, there are some people who would regard the Angelus as an offensive program, I guess it just depends on your personal views and attitude towards life.

I happened to catch a little of tonight's episode earlier, and I guess that there are 2 criteria that need to be evaluated.

Were any of the participants forced to take part against their will, or in contravention of their stated preferences. If either of these are true, then there is a problem.

Were the program makers trying to present a distorted view of the issues being faced by people who (for whatever reason) are "different", or were they trying to accurately present the situation that is faced by some people every day, but which most viewers would be unaware of, because of the rarity of the conditions being discussed.

The snippet I saw didn't offend me, because it appeared to be presenting the problems faced by the participant at that time in a respectful and sensitive manner.

In the same vein, I wasn't offended by the presentation on a number of different programmes over the last while of the life, experience and achievements of Joanne O' Riordan (most prominent probably being the Late Late show) her determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles has been massively inspirational to many, and been the driving force behind some significant changes in direction by the political system, and at the time, she was 15.

La Fenetre

Caoimhgh1n wrote: »

I keep seeing an advert for a new programme "The Undatables".

They are people who have deformities.

Am I the only one who thinks this is extremely rude? Have you saw any other offencive programmes like this?

Edit: Spelling error.

Trash TV is race to the bottom, and best ignored.