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Post by chonies on Oct 24, 2014 21:01:54 GMT -4
I'm sick and tired of the glorification of white trash on channels that used to be about education and sophisticated entertainment. Hasn't this ship sailed, though? A&E started showing reality tv more than ten years ago. I'm pretty sure TLC's money maker has always been not-especially-educational shows like "A Wedding Story," "Let's Watch A Live Birth (or whatever)," "A Baby Story," and so on, with rebroadcasts of slightly more educational shows about tumors or bedbound people who need weight loss surgery. I don't like that SO MANY OMFG shows of Honey Boo Boo/Duck Dynasty/Call of the Wildman/Toddlers and Tiaras exist, but it seems they're here to stay. Well, the reality-product at least. I hope the jus' folks southern thing blows over soon, although I didn't like the Gene Simmons or Gotti iterations, either. ETA: I was just discussing this with a friend. The only educational things we can think of from TLC are "edutainment" like Holy Blood, Holy Grail type things, and the more pseudoscientific strains of evolutionary psychology. Anyway, I think it's a big consumeristic mess. The tv stations are making the shows, but people are watching when there are literally thousands of other things.
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Post by SweetOblivion on Oct 25, 2014 8:29:06 GMT -4
chonies, I get what you're saying, but highondegrassi is right; there's a lot of willful ignorance at play here, and I am also tired of the glorification of ignorance. My extended relatives are exactly like this. Some of them are not just willful, they're practically defiant. "Book learning", education, knowledge- all things to be reviled, because...well, I've never really understood why. And I come from exactly the same background. So, June swears all over the place people are lying and she is not dating a child molester, yet here they are, house hunting and holding hands.
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Deleted
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Apr 25, 2024 16:54:14 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2014 11:32:03 GMT -4
Wow, I feel terrible for her kids (and especially the daughter who was molested). I can't imagine what it must feel like to see their mother dating this man. She is a piece of shit mother, that's for sure.
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Post by angelaudie on Oct 25, 2014 11:47:25 GMT -4
chonies, I get what you're saying, but highondegrassi is right; there's a lot of willful ignorance at play here, and I am also tired of the glorification of ignorance. My extended relatives are exactly like this. Some of them are not just willful, they're practically defiant. "Book learning", education, knowledge- all things to be reviled, because...well, I've never really understood why. And I come from exactly the same background. So, June swears all over the place people are lying and she is not dating a child molester, yet here they are, house hunting and holding hands. I feel ya. I know many people like you described. They view being educated as being snobby. For some reason they link humility to ignorance. What in sweet Jesus is wrong with this woman? People have eyes. We can see her and this guy together. Does she think if she keeps denying it TLC will give her the show back?
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Post by chonies on Oct 25, 2014 11:57:34 GMT -4
chonies, I get what you're saying, but highondegrassi is right; there's a lot of willful ignorance at play here, and I am also tired of the glorification of ignorance. My extended relatives are exactly like this. Some of them are not just willful, they're practically defiant. "Book learning", education, knowledge- all things to be reviled, because...well, I've never really understood why. And I come from exactly the same background. I want to be clear--I'm not Bambi-eyed about the situation, or ennobling willful or defiant ignorance, and like I've said, I'm not sure what's actually happened on this show and what is projected by viewers (fans or those who are hatewatching). I have seen several episodes of Duck Dynasty and found it enraging for many of the same reasons that the Duggars make my brain explode, although there's a substantial gulf between the Robertsons and all the other crackerish families or groups on tv. My own family has moments of ignorance-seeking (conspiracy theorists, choosing a 'religious values' school for their children with minimal science education, parroting radio bullshit, etc.) but nothing systemic, and everyone aspired towards institutional educational achievement. Because of this, I can't speak to the reality of the rejection of education in an insider way, so instead I wonder why this is and how it happened, and continues to happen. I don't think it's an endorsement or an excuse, but it is a research question, (for me, anyway). NPR weighs in: TLC's 'Honey Boo Boo' Cancellation Shows Dangers Of Exploitative TV. and, From 'Good Times' To 'Honey Boo Boo': Who Is Poor On TV?
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Post by narm on Oct 25, 2014 13:33:45 GMT -4
I tend to blame Palin for a lot of this "just plain folks" BS that seems to have inspired, at least in part, some of this glorification of being anti-"elitism".
But I will look for any excuse to blame her, for most anything. I do respect her though, for enduring Levi without having his knees whacked or something. Julianne Moore did her a world of good.
Maybe a lot of it rests in a basic insecurity- food insecurity, jobs, homes? The events of 2008 really created a perfect storm for the kind of glorification of Po' Folk, on several levels, not the least of it being somewhat based in racism.
It's a fascinating topic for sure. I don't really ever watch any reality tv because it just makes me feel anxious. Except Rock of Love. That tells you everything you really need to know about me.
I actually would like to flesh all of these ideas out more- they are freaking fascinating! Important too- as the wealth gap grows.
This June lady needs to protect her children, and probably could use a little guidance herself.
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Post by Auroranorth on Oct 25, 2014 14:27:26 GMT -4
Good Lord. This just gets worse and worse.
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Post by sardonictart on Oct 25, 2014 19:56:39 GMT -4
I don't really ever watch any reality tv because it just makes me feel anxious. Except Rock of Love. That tells you everything you really need to know about me. It tells me that you and I need to be roommates in the old folks home. ;-) I'll decorate our walls with posters of Henry Rollins and Nuno Bettencourt in their heydays. Ha. I have never watched any of the 'white trash culture' shows (except Rock of Love.) I grew up with that crap all around me and don't need a refresher course. Hope that the kids are safe in this situation.
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Post by narm on Oct 26, 2014 1:19:14 GMT -4
sardonic, you got yourself a date! I worry about the kids, too. They all deserve safety and while the mom is a major part of the problem, I think her complacency speaks volumes about her boundaries and ideas for her own self-respect. If it's true that she is mucking around with this guy, she needs HELP. And someone to really check her, not just TLC.
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Post by bklynred on Oct 26, 2014 2:43:33 GMT -4
This is all grotesque & a sad light on those who must have companionship whatever the cost. (I may not like being single, but I'll take it any day over the many, many lesser alternatives. And do.)
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