Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Demand for more ugly people on TV
aftenposten ^ | 10/17/02

Posted on 10/17/2002 1:09:55 PM PDT by Ranger

Lecturer Trond Andresen of the Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim accuses the media of discriminating against the ugly and emphasizing beautiful people whenever possible. Andresen wants higher ugly quotas on television.

"Ugly people should be spotlighted in the media in the same way that the media wishes to emphasize persons from ethnic minorities," Andresen, a lecture at the Department of Engineering Cybernetics, said to newspaper Bergens Tidende.

Andresen blasts journalists, photographers and TV producers for concentrating on beautiful faces and bodies and accuses the press of choosing attractive interviewees from schools or the workplace, and avoiding others.

Andresen compares the phenomenon with racial discrimination. "Ugly people are as ignored today as dark-skinned people. They are told daily that they are inferior. This isn't done openly, but indirectly, by overlooking them, by focusing on appearance in advertising, TV-series, magazines, schools and in groups," Andresen said.

Andresen believes the focus on appearance is a serious social problem that makes young people insecure and increases their own dissatisfaction with how they look. Possible outcomes are eating disorders, psychological problems and cosmetic surgery.

Andresen doesn't find it easy to argue his case.

"If I were chosen for a TV debate I would obviously be assessed by viewers - not for what I had said, but for how I looked," Andresen said.

The academic has suggestions about how to combat the situation; with a choice of subjects to interview, do not approach the attractive ones - instead give the ugly a higher quota. Andresen also advises that media reports ignore mentioning appearance if it is not directly relevant.

Researcher Wencke Mühleisen at the Center for Women and Gender Research backs Andresen and agrees the media should be giving the ugly more exposure.

TV 2 news editor Kjell Oevre-Helland, on the other hand, could not agree less.

"Claiming that we consciously pick out the best looking people to interview is absurd and totally meaningless. That would mean that we depart from the main point of journalism, which is to talk to those who have influence and something important to say. That often means middle-aged men without particularly attractive characteristics," Oevre-Helland said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: buttugly; fuglyquotas; hillaryalert; ratalert; renoalert; television
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-106 next last
To: wardaddy
Judging by Al's hair, he has at least seen Judy naked. However, I don't even want to think about those two being in a bedroom, even with their clothes on. *Shudder!*
81 posted on 10/17/2002 3:10:45 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: Rye
And when she reports on Bubba, she looks as if she is going to burst out loud, like those women in the "Organic Experience" shampoo commercials.
82 posted on 10/17/2002 3:12:14 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: shaggy eel
You're welcome! Just remember, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

With Bubba, it was a thong in booty is a joy for hours.

83 posted on 10/17/2002 3:14:49 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
,,, don't mention that rapist. It will take all the fun out of this thread for me. I feel like I want to vomit now. Ugly was going so well [LOL!]
84 posted on 10/17/2002 3:17:33 PM PDT by shaggy eel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: shaggy eel
Well, he is ugly, inside and out.
85 posted on 10/17/2002 3:19:18 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Ranger
Sound the alarms...Don't you see where this is going???

It is an international conspiracy to force the Hildabeast into our livingrooms with Barbara Streisnad behind her!!

God help us all.

86 posted on 10/17/2002 3:19:38 PM PDT by pfflier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
I hardly ever tune in to the Commie Noise Network, but I happened to flip over there this morning just to find some uptight, young, Woodruff-wannabe anchor yapping back and forth to a similarly tense field correspondent about how "there's no way in the world that the sniper could be an Arab terrorist....It just doesn't fit the profile" (which I'd imagine they think only includes white gun owners). They went back and forth for about 5 minutes spewing their PC bullsh/t, and it took all my strength not to heave my breakfast.
87 posted on 10/17/2002 3:20:27 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
BTTT
88 posted on 10/17/2002 3:22:28 PM PDT by shaggy eel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: Blue Screen of Death
Reminds me of an old joke:

A corporate president was interviewing people for a position as his secretary.

The first candidate had a high school degree, seven years experience, could type 120 words per minute and came with excellent references. Candidate #2 had three years experience, a college degree and could also type 120 words per minute. Candidate #3 had only one years experience, could type at about 80 words per minute but had an MBA from Harvard.

Which one did he hire ?????

And the answer is...................................

The one with the biggest boobs!

89 posted on 10/17/2002 3:23:17 PM PDT by albee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Rye
If anything, we've learned from this sniper ordeal that it is...

Okay to automatically assume that the perp is white,

Okay to profile, given that he is white,

Okay for people to give tips of suspicious activity they see, because he is white.

90 posted on 10/17/2002 3:24:02 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: Ranger
Andresen compares the phenomenon with racial discrimination. "Ugly people are as ignored today as dark-skinned people. They are told daily that they are inferior.

First we have homosexuals comparing themselves to blacks when it comes to discrimination.....
Now blacks are being compared to ugly people being ignored and discriminated against....
Is this supposed to help them feel they are not inferior? Incredible.

91 posted on 10/17/2002 3:27:09 PM PDT by Jorge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paul Atreides
,,, it gets worse.
92 posted on 10/17/2002 3:27:30 PM PDT by shaggy eel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: vollmond
But if you want beautiful, I suggest any Spanish soap opera on American cable television.

Tell me about it....the Spanish stations have some of the hottest best looking babes on TV....especially UNIVISION.

93 posted on 10/17/2002 3:31:10 PM PDT by Jorge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: spoiler2
A "normal" appearing person with sound acting experience could get passed over for an "uglier" person with less experience or skills, because of something like ....Affirmative Appearance Action?

Yep! Gives a whole new meaning to the term "Ugly American", doesn't it?

94 posted on 10/17/2002 3:33:10 PM PDT by albee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy
Laurie is a real cutie, all yall guys are so wild about her. She is also a good news gal, most are on FOX. Did you know that Lauren Green was a Miss America contestant, she is very pretty as well. Yes honey, you are lucky that I like Laurie, you know I like Shep too and Mancow.
95 posted on 10/17/2002 3:48:45 PM PDT by sweet virginia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: LadyX; ofMagog; Scuttlebutt; beowolf; Fred Mertz; michigander; Aquamarine; Pippin; WVNan; COB1; ...
The locals ofttimes recoil at the sight of some of our members, making them feel badly at times.

Heck, I always thought they were cringing in fear!

96 posted on 10/17/2002 3:58:27 PM PDT by humblegunner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: JustAmy
You are indeed beautimous.
97 posted on 10/17/2002 4:21:49 PM PDT by ofMagog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Ranger

Demand for more ugly people on TV

Oak Hay. . . Oak Hay. . . I'll volunteer to appear with Billow Rye Lee !!!

98 posted on 10/17/2002 5:02:01 PM PDT by GeekDejure
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shaggy eel; Jorge
Well if life is too short to dance with ugly women, its certainly too short to watch them on TV. Chelsea is a poster child for birth control as far as I'm concerned.
99 posted on 10/17/2002 6:12:14 PM PDT by Ranger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: DainBramage
"I thought the same for me too, but my wife said I'm over qualified, thats good right?"

um I guess, my question is, and maybe you can help me on this,

(1) why would my wife keep renting me out on holloween for the house of horrors, (no costume required)

and (2) how is it she can afford a new car every year on the 1st of November?

100 posted on 10/18/2002 4:25:45 AM PDT by SERE_DOC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-106 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson