Posted on 09/07/2012 11:01:54 PM PDT by This Just In
Is Honey Boo Boo A Scam?
In our home you will not find televised programming. No Nightly News (or as some would say-Nightly sNewz), no game shows, no DIY, no infomercials or reality TV. I’ll admit that there are some drawbacks. No golf, no Olympic coverage, no football, baseball, or basketball. There’s no live coverage of any sporting events, but these drawbacks are of little consequence. On each and every occasion in which we travel, and are provided with the opportunity to sit in our hotel rooms and stare at the one-eyed monster, my family and I are reminded of why we dumped televised programming in the first place many years ago.
Case and point: ‘Here Comes Honey Boo’
This program is just one of a plethora of examples as to why we believe detriment far outweighs the benefit public television offers society today. The fact that TLC, as well as Honey Boo Boo’s family, appears to have no problem in exploiting this “6 year old pageant sensation” is reason enough to be appalled and motivation enough to "Just Say No" to tv. What is more striking to me is the fact that many in our society fail to realize that this program is designed to actually ridicule and mock the “country folk“ in “flyover country”, or as some would like to say, “hicks” and “rednecks”, as well as reinforce the stereotype. If viewers fail to see the correlation between the timing of this program and this election cycle-and its historical significance, it’s no wonder America is in over its head.
Such programming has enabled the media to successfully normalize ease dropping, if you will. In fact, they’ve glorified it. A right to personal privacy? What’s personal privacy? Respect for ones space? Who cares about ones space? After all, aren’t we a “community”? The deterioration of the concept of personal privacy has been perpetuated no thanks-in part-to these influences and the mindset by which they are created by.
Americans are more than happy to sit on their couches and allow TLC and the programs creators to mock them. All the while saying that it’s just “entertainment”. Watching a precocious 6 year old strut her stuff down the catwalk while dressed up like Lady Gaga (I use the term “Lady” lightly) on steroids is hardly entertaining. It’s disturbing.
And yet viewers settle into their cozy living rooms week after week, in the privacy of their own homes, and peer into the “personal” business of what has become a very public life. Honey Boo Boo and her family are more than happy to please our curiosity, and their narcissistic naval gazing. I'm sure Momma Honey Boo Boo's bank account is living pretty large as well (no pun intended).
In her comments concerning ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’, Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski stated, “…sums up everything I have to say about America, and what we need to do.” EVERYTHING about America? What-exactly-does Ms. Brzezinski and the “we” she’s referring to need to do? What is she eluding to?
Mika Brzezinski’s comments encapsulates the mindset of those on the Left, and their disregard, if not disdain, for “flyover country” Americans. And reality programs like ‘Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’ attempts to reinforce and justify that mindset, as well as the supposed “need to do” something.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is not just about a little girl. It’s about a societies descend into indifference, complacency, and indecency. The mainstream media has been our tour guide and instructor in taking us by the hand and leading Americans down that path of destruction.
It’s time to tell the tour guide to take a hike, and take the lead, America.
As you can see, I really didn’t proof-read my own post. It’s one of those situations in which we all give one another a little latitude. Freepers have given me some slack on the errors.
I appreciate the comments.
Thanks, Smokin’ Joe.
As I stated in a reply to another Freeper; I’m not suggesting Americans disconnect. That’s an individuals choice. I’m suggesting that we, as citizens, should be more selective and discerning in recognizing the ideology behind such programming (the writers and producers), and what the bigger picture is (no pun intended) and its implications and ramifications.
“What is “ease dropping”?”
Ease dropping is the action by which the producers of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo subtly insults a particular demographic without the knowledge of the viewer. :^)
I don’t have a problem with those shows per se because they don’t involve the exploitation of a 6 year old child, and “hicks”.
“... laugh at himself.”
I laugh at myself every morning.
Green Acres is one of only a handful of programs that would be worth watching.
“Meanwhile the author also apparently has no problem with the internet and it’s misinformation, propaganda and need I mention PR0N? Don’t like Honey Boo Boo? Don’t watch it. It’s Freedom to choose.”
Easy on the Part-to-Whole fallacies. You’ll note that I didn’t say that ALL televised programming was detrimental.
Read post #100.
No, it is better training to watch with the children, see what they are seeing, and when appropriate, debunk the 'message'. Few things age appropriate have been banned for our kids, but the shows often leave open opportunities to discuss ideas. Captain Planet was an exception, and any show which tries to mainstream homosexuality will be absent from our TV.
You have a junk room? Maybe you should watch Hoarders and see how a junk room can lead to a junk house.
I can watch one episode of Hoarders and be inspired to clean out 3 closets and get ride of the junk. Try it, it works!
You people who have thrown out your TV are so pure that you probably will never post to me again when I confess we watch the History Channel, NatGeo, Fox News, Science Channel, SNL, The Weather Channel, the local news and the PBR bullriding regularly. Oh Yeah I love some of the ghost stories, not all of them are entertaining. The ones where people are walking around in dark rooms screaming are not fun.
I have seen an ad for Honey Boo Boo but I don't think that will appeal to us.
Dang! Fired up, huh? Sorry I (we) got you worked up.
It’s not really junk. We downsized to half the area and got rid of a lot of stuff. 30 years and 3 kids worth of stuff. Still working on it and don’t need a TV show to tell us how.
Pure? No, just have a lot of other things we want to do more. Sat through too many shows and said after, “What a waste of time!”
As we get older, we are more selective with how we spend our time.
LOL! You didn’t fire me up with your “one” room full of stuff. You called it junk first remember?
I disagree.
We read the news and current events via internet. This includes visiting blogs and other resources concerning what’s going on in the world, films, television programs, etc.
There are several film critic websites we frequent (excluding Roger Ebert, of course). Some are conservative, and some are not so conservative. Our family’s able to read a broader perspective and discuss the differences along with the various films which are being reviewed.
It is our family’s practice to discuss topics after viewing each and every film we watch. We also discuss issues while reading books, and articles or stories via the internet. These discussions include socio/political and historic topics.
This approach is ideal because you don’t have to pay for programming you’re not viewing or not wish to support, and there’s no waste of time in wading through all the garbage to find something edifying or worth watching.
You’re not forced to endure offensive commercials and film/program trailers while channel surfing.
Just FYI, “The New Normal” is about a gay couple trying to have a baby with a surrogate mom.
From what I saw, I figured it must have been something twisted.
” THIS is what you were talking about it?
EEEEEghad!”
Still, it beat Bill : )
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.