Big Brother TV's evil eye (U.K. hit program accused of using mentally ill contestants for ratings)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | May 31, 2006 | EMMA COX

[Stoat]

EXCLUSIVE

Big Brother TV's evil eye

Paranoid ... Sam
 

By EMMA COX

Deputy TV Editor

 BIG Brother was blasted by mental health chiefs yesterday — after ANOTHER vulnerable contestant was put into the TV house.

Show bosses have sent in pre-op transsexual Sam Brodie.

He’s the fifth housemate — along with Shahbaz, Pete, Lea and Nikki — to have mental issues.

One charity warned it was “only a matter of time” before the show was responsible for a tragedy.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of Sane, added: “The show is playing fast and loose with people’s lives.”

Sam, 18, has already told housemates: “I’m the most paranoid person ever.”

He was booted out of home at 14 after telling his family he wanted to become a woman, say his pals.

 

Suicidal ... Shahbaz
 

 

His appearance comes after Shahbaz threatened to kill himself on live TV before walking out.

Lea has tried to commit suicide and suffers from body dysmorphia — hating her looks.

 

Sectioned ... Nikki
 

 

Nikki has been sectioned over her anorexia and Pete has Tourette’s Syndrome.

Ms Wallace said: “Housemates with vulnerable mental conditions are being used for entertainment. A trigger for suicide is putting these kind of people under stress. It is very dangerous.”

 

Dysmorphic ... Lea
 

 

Mental health charity Rethink said: “The programme should not profit from people having a breakdown.”

Dr Dee Dawson, of Rhodes Farm eating disorder clinic, added: “This appears to be seeing how people with different psychiatric problems behave in an abnormal environment. Many of them are clearly not managing well.”

 

Tourette's ... Pete
 

 

The Tourette’s Syndrome Association accused the Channel 4 show of “using” Pete, 24.

The storm came as George quit the house yesterday, saying he could not cope.

BB says a psychologist is on hand for housemates.

[Stoat]

Although one can easily say that you'd HAVE to be crazy to want to go on a TV show like this, I'm surprised that there are not either laws or industry codes of conduct that prevent a TV network from taking advantage of medically diagnosed mentally ill or unstable people in this way.  I suppose that it's a matter of them not being declared mentally incompetent by the courts....until that happens, they are as free as anyone else to make their own decisions about what they do and how they do it.  It seems pretty sick though, for the network to do this.....utterly cold and heartless.

[dead]

Crazy people make great television.

[FreedomNeocon]

I can think of ONE in particular...

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Crazy people on reality television shows -- what's next!? /s

[AmericanChef]

B-b-but I thought transexuals were normal - at least that's what the lefties would have us believe.

Other than that, these shows are purely disgusting in their desperation for ratings.

[Stoat]

Crazy people make great television.

Agreed; but I think that it's particularly strange in the UK, with the TV networks being essentially an arm of the Government as well as the healthcare system being a government entity in large measure.  An interesting ethical issue but it seems cruel and exploitative for the contestants.

[Stoat]

I can think of ONE in particular...
 

Agreed, although I would only be concerned that labeling Galloway as mentally ill, while probably quite true, would have the undesired effect of rendering him immune from prosecution for crimes such as treason and sedition,,,,

[dead]

You've got a point. It's one thing to put crazy people on television. It's quite another to manufacture crazy people for the same purpose!

[Stoat]

Crazy people on reality television shows -- what's next!? /s

Yes, I have no doubt that without them the entire genre if not 98% of television would instantly dry up for lack of 'talent'   :-)

[Republicus2001]

Crazy people make great television.

Isn't Andy Rooney supposed to be the first nutter to come out on network TeeVee?

[Stoat]

B-b-but I thought transexuals were normal - at least that's what the lefties would have us believe.

Yes, they will be paraded and thrust into our faces as being "normal" until one of them is put on one of these shows and suffers a complete psychotic meltdown or suicide and then the same Leftist apologists will turn around and sue the Government for taking advantage of an at-risk person.  They love to have it both ways.

Other than that, these shows are purely disgusting in their desperation for ratings.

Agreed, I generally avoid all TV except for South Park and an occasional episode of Mad TV.  I find the internet far more entertaining and informative.

[magslinger]

Two things occur to me here.

If mentally ill people were barred, someone would sue for discrimination.

Mentally ill people are probably under representative of the mentally ill applicants. IMO you'd have to be crazy to want to be on a show like this.

[Stoat]

Two things occur to me here.

If mentally ill people were barred, someone would sue for discrimination.

Spot-on, as our British Friends say.  I recall that here in the USA, the event that essentially created the "homeless" problem as it exists today was the ACLU suing the State of California (Under the legendary Governorship of Ronald Reagan, may he rest in peace) to release people from involuntary psychiatric commitment....it's now FAR harder to force a deranged person into getting the help that he or she needs as a result.  When you see a mentally ill "homeless" person on the street, you can thank the ACLU for that.

Mentally ill people are probably under representative of the mentally ill applicants. IMO you'd have to be crazy to want to be on a show like this.

Agreed....as I joked earlier in this thread, without the mentally ill you wouldn't have much television left   :-)  But joking aside, I think that it becomes a much more serious matter when you have truly medically diagnosed mental illnesses in people who are exploited for money by putting them into an emotional pressure cooker like one of these stupid shows.  I think that it truly crosses the line when that is done.
 

Two things occur to me here.

If mentally ill people were barred, someone would sue for discrimination.

Spot-on, as our British Friends say.  I recall that here in the USA, the event that essentially created the "homeless" problem as it exists today was the ACLU suing the State of California (Under the legendary Governorship of Ronald Reagan, may he rest in peace) to release people from involuntary psychiatric commitment....it's now FAR harder to force a deranged person into getting the help that he or she needs as a result.  When you see a mentally ill "homeless" person on the street, you can thank the ACLU for that.

Mentally ill people are probably under representative of the mentally ill applicants. IMO you'd have to be crazy to want to be on a show like this.

Agreed....as I joked earlier in this thread, without the mentally ill you wouldn't have much television left   :-)  But joking aside, I think that it becomes a much more serious matter when you have truly medically diagnosed mental illnesses in people who are exploited for money by putting them into an emotional pressure cooker like one of these stupid shows.  I think that it truly crosses the line when that is done.
 

[magslinger]

as I joked earlier in this thread, without the mentally ill you wouldn't have much television left

What you wrote is no joke. There are very few people on television who are not mentally ill. Liberalism is a mental disease.

[Stoat]

Liberalism is a mental disease.

Truer words have never been spoken.

[durasell]

I have seen this on television here in the states. The Jerry Springer show had folks suffering from FAS and those damaged from drugs on regularly.

[Xenalyte]

Maybe that's why Michael Weiner - um, I mean Savage says it about every six minutes.

[Stoat]

It's one thing to put crazy people on television. It's quite another to manufacture crazy people for the same purpose!

Since what this network is doing apparently passes the legal test in Great Britain, how long before this sort of thing happens (if it's not already going on)?

• A network casting director who is in need of new contestants for a show phones a friend of his who just happens to be a doctor or nurse in a psychiatric hospital and asks if any over-the-top yet not immediately dangerous psychotics are expected to be released soon?  And if so, how about arranging a meeting?  And of course, there will be a very nice kickback for you when the patient signs the contract.
• The casting director promises a particularly nice kickback to a doctor if a promisingly delusional patient could possibly be released earlier than planned,  and a meeting arranged.....we must keep to the shooting schedule, after all.
• Perhaps a similar kickback to directors of homeless shelters, for putting the show in touch with delusional and paranoid yet good-looking and funny people?

Somehow, these scenarios don't seem so very far-fetched to me, given this article.

[Stoat]

I have seen this on television here in the states. The Jerry Springer show had folks suffering from FAS and those damaged from drugs on regularly.

I wasn't aware of that.  How very sad.

[Xenalyte]

A pre-op trannie, a suicidal gay Pakistani, a suicidal dysmorph, an anorexic, and a Tourette's sufferer.

Now THAT's TV!