Some interesting points about reality tv

Quote from Dr. Laura Schlesinger, "Reality TV is Child Abuse"



"The children in any and all of these family reality shows are being abused and I can’t understand why Child Protective Services does not see fit to act to protect these children from the juvenile and selfishly exploitive motivations of their parents who are using their children like circus animals, to entertain the base instincts of an audience.

I think we should consider as “abuse”: having a minor child’s personal home life exposed on television for entertainment purposes; having a minor child’s inherent right to privacy breached…by their own parents!; having a minor child’s normal behaviors and emotional responses to family and life stresses perverted by the needs of producers and parents for “good television” – children will, of course, be pressured to be entertaining - that immediately distorts normal dynamics; the minor child exposed publicly and on tape.

This will certainly come back to haunt them in the future as people will form opinions about them which are based on these contrived and “unreal” extraordinary circumstances. Their futures likely will be negatively impacted by this exposure and humiliation.
Bottom line, the minor child’s welfare is clearly not the top concern of their parents, who are exploiting the dependency, love and innocence of their own children for an opportunity to be “celebrities.”
Please don’t give me the argument that any money that might be earned from the television experience or interviews or appearances, book deals, or endorsements are for their college fund. That would mean that damage we do to children today is okay as long as there is some long term financial benefit.
It is not enough to argue that these children have their parents’ permission – parents cannot legally pimp their children, yet this is precisely what is going on here.
The privacy and dignity of these children have been stripped from them. They are hawked by cameras as their so-called parents push the envelope farther than any responsible, loving, protective parent should, in an attempt to gain ratings and increase celebrity status. These children are left to deal with disturbing private matters in a public forum with the sole purpose being entertainment.
Certainly, there can be no pretense at education or spiritual elevation. This is pure, unconscionable, abuse of parental power and influence. "



Note that this article was written in 2004, before the G's had a show. It was not written by a "jealous hater" of the Gosselins. Also, I am not a total follower or in agreement with everything that Dr. S says-- but I do feel she makes some very good points on this issue.

Jon and Kate's Infinite Playlist

Songs that should be played for the show promo:

"Money (That's What I Want)"-- The Beatles

"Little Miss Can't Be Wrong"-- Spin Doctors (dedicated especially for Kate-- "She holds the shotgun while you doh-si-doh")

"I Want it Now"-- sung by Veruca Salt in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

"Money" -- Pink Floyd

"Big Time" -- Peter Gabriel

"Movin' on Up" -- Theme from The Jeffersons

LOL- just snarking--couldn't help myself after their recent purchase of a 1.3 mil dollar home and a condo in Utah!

"God's Plan"

OK--I wasn't gonna go into the whole "God" thing in respect to the Gosselins--but the recent interview and book statements that Kate Gosselin has made has caused me to abandon my better judgement and address the issue.
First of all, I respect everybody's right to their beliefs. If your religion/belief system does not condone or promote harm to others, then more power to you.
But please, do not tell me it is somehow God's plan to steal your children's childhoods away from them for your own gain. Yes, the children indirectly benefit materially from the show. Is that a good enough reason to exploit them?
When God offers us choices or opportunities, does he always want us to choose the path that WE want? If we find a bag of money on the street with a bank logo on it, shouldn't we return it to the bank? Or, does one say, "God wants me to have this money. He knows how much I need it! Thank you, God"? Hmmm.
Why do bad things happen to good people? And conversely, why do good things happen to bad people? Why does it seem that bad behavior often is rewarded? Hmmm. I don't think God is that easy to figure out, after all.

More things...

More things--
Quick use of fertility treatments at a young age--always kinda wondered about that.
Kate was hospitalized for hyperstimulated ovaries (too many mature eggs about to be released), but then went ahead with the insemination anyway (it has been debated whether the insemination was done by a doctor or the "natural" way.)
If they were struggling financially (so they have stated) after the twins were born, why try for more children, knowing the risk of having multiples?
It just strikes me as extremely irresponsible to use fertility treatments in this way--the Gosselins were very young, newly married, and not financially stable, yet they decided to hurry the fertility process. Perhaps there was good medical reason for their hurry--I don't know.
However, after giving birth to a set of beautiful, healthy twins, Kate still wanted more. Ok--I get that the urge to have children is very strong in many people--and it is a very personal choice.

Some people have strong religious beliefs about procreation--I know. However, if one wants more children so badly, and feels that they are a blessing, why does Kate Gosselin frequently carp and complain when she has to fulfill her motherly duties? Why all the "woe is me" and "we went through hell?"
Many things about the Gosselins "inspirational" story don't add up to me. I'm not trying to judge their immortal souls-- I just wonder about seeming contradictions in what they say/write and in what they do.