Sweeps! A televised seance to communicate with those lost on Sept. 11!
October 25, 2001 3:59 PM Subscribe
Sweeps! A televised seance to communicate with those lost on Sept. 11! [Drudge Report now reports that it's nixed b/c of a "public outcry." You don't say....]
Skallas, give it up, man. First, John Edwards IS always exploitative. He exploits the hopes of ignorant people for money. But the people who go to his show go their by their own volition, so I can't get too upset.
However, making a tv special to milk money out of mass murder leaves a bad taste in my mouth. And it should leave a bad taste in yours.
You're also working from the false presumption that people don't see other cases of the media exploiting the tragedy. I see it happening all the time.
posted by Doug at 5:50 PM on October 25, 2001
However, making a tv special to milk money out of mass murder leaves a bad taste in my mouth. And it should leave a bad taste in yours.
You're also working from the false presumption that people don't see other cases of the media exploiting the tragedy. I see it happening all the time.
posted by Doug at 5:50 PM on October 25, 2001
"the difference is now it just won't be advertised that way."
And to me, that makes all the difference.
People can go see John Edwards, I don't really have a problem time with that. I had a family member die in recent years, and lied to my mother about my belief in an afterlife to make her feel better. Sometimes people just need to hear things that make them feel better. BUT, this interaction isn't just between Edwards and his customer. It's broadcast on national television. Advertising it as, "John Edwards talks to victims of the WTC" is, to my mind, horribly exploitative. It's not a charity. He's not doing it to help people. It's a television show, and its sole reason for existing is to make money. So in this case, he is making money from people's sadness and loss.
I can't imagine a better definition of exploitation than a special episode of a tv show in which family members of the WTC talk to their dead loved ones via some shmuck from LI.
posted by Doug at 6:59 PM on October 25, 2001
And to me, that makes all the difference.
People can go see John Edwards, I don't really have a problem time with that. I had a family member die in recent years, and lied to my mother about my belief in an afterlife to make her feel better. Sometimes people just need to hear things that make them feel better. BUT, this interaction isn't just between Edwards and his customer. It's broadcast on national television. Advertising it as, "John Edwards talks to victims of the WTC" is, to my mind, horribly exploitative. It's not a charity. He's not doing it to help people. It's a television show, and its sole reason for existing is to make money. So in this case, he is making money from people's sadness and loss.
I can't imagine a better definition of exploitation than a special episode of a tv show in which family members of the WTC talk to their dead loved ones via some shmuck from LI.
posted by Doug at 6:59 PM on October 25, 2001
Agreed. Pretty vile.
posted by ratbastard at 9:16 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by ratbastard at 9:16 AM on October 26, 2001
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I think that's logically impossible.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 4:59 PM on October 25, 2001