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[sophiaserpentia]

"Reality TV" is quickly becoming a venue, like the Coliseum in ancient Rome, where the human spirit is demeaned and desecrated.

This was mentioned today in transgender:

A controversial new reality series is expected to bring huge ratings to Sky One this autumn.

Find Me A Man, due to begin on November 15, features seven "lively and outgoing" young men competing for the affections of a lady whom, unbeknownst to them, is actually a man.

The six-episode series was recorded in Ibiza last summer. According to this week's Broadcast, the men were asked to select the woman they found most attractive from a lineup which included Miriam, a pre-op transexual. All seven chose Miriam.

Before Miriam's secret was revealed, the contestants had to sign eight-page consent forms allowing the footage to be shown. A Sky spokesperson told the magazine that no complaints had been received from any of the participants afterwards, adding that all those involved had been offered psychological counselling before and after the show.

I'm not sure where to even start pointing out how many ways this is demeaning and insulting. Not just to the men involved, or to Miriam, or to transsexuals. What saddens me is that at the moment they met her, Miriam struck the men as charming and attractive, yet when her "secret was revealed," this suddenly meant nothing. It really is too bad that we don't have a model of attraction that teaches us that we are attracted to people, not things, because of who they are, not because of what they can do for us. A model like that would be far more respectful on many different levels.

Comments

[herbalgrrl.livejournal.com]

completely agreed & sickened

[mb2u]

FYI, SkyTV is owned by News Corp, who owns Fox...Needless to say, tact isin't high on their list.

Who's worse:

* Sky for exploiting a pre-op TS for ratings?
* Miriam for allowing herself to participate in this>

I imagine Sky paid her enough to make her happy. Hope it was enough to pay for the bad karma she's inherited...

[alobar.livejournal.com]

I have no interest in viewing the show or judging its merits, but I would not be overly concerned about Sky's karma. What is going on is most probably twisted (most TV situations are twisted), but it opens people to thinking about that which may not have been thinkable before, and may even promote discussion & debate.

[mb2u]

Sky's karma concerns me not; I'm sure their fair and impartial owners don't care either. I was thinking more about Miriam's karma. My bad for not making that clearer...

If this does open up rational discussion and debate by open-minded people, that'd be good. But I think what will happen is it will reinforce stereotypes and reassure "normal" people that transsexuals are still "men who dress like women for sex." Your usual level of discourse found on Springer, Maury, etc...

I'm being cynical, but it's because I'm finding that for every step forward, we fight through yards of underbrush and crap...

[alobar.livejournal.com]

I read too fast. I answered your comment without checking the original. Like you, I was really referring to Miriam, but I just botched her name.

I was referring to debate amongst people not open minded. Debate will bring out opposition. People who had not yet considered anything different will be made uncomfortable by extreme bigots. It prods people to think. I am old enough to remember when all homosexuals were in the closet & nobody would hire or socialize with someone who even hung out with such people. I am continuously amazed at how much gays & lesbians have been able to get jobs and be themselves in some communities. Certainly not universally true. Sure a long way still to go. But it is still a big change from 50-60 years ago. Portraying a transsexual as being convincing enough & pretty enough to pass as a woman is possibly a novel concept for a lot of straight people. They gonna have to wonder about every woman they see but do not know. Soon some will be going to be seeing transsexuals everywhere -- Oh! the Horror! Some will be adventurous enough to contemplate experimentation -- even if far fewer actually do attempt to date a transsexual. But in the long run, I think the TV series, if if really bad, may wind up opening doorways in many peoples' minds which are now locked shut.

[mb2u]

'sokay, it's easy to misread stuff. No harm, no foul.

Okay, now I understand a bit more, and I do agree with your point. Transpeople have made so many strides in the past few years, but there is so much farther to go. Going to meetings like Southern Comfort has been an experience in learning how to expose people to TGism in a more positive light.

[alobar.livejournal.com]

While I think of myself as 99% hetero, I make a point to point out that I am attracted to people for reasons unfathomable to myself, then worry about how the plumbing fits together later.

[akaiyume.livejournal.com]

There are many very GOOD reasons why my television set functions soley as a screen for watching DVD's and playing games.
This show sounds like one of them.

*stands up and volunteers to be a role model for society*
(uhmm, ignore the lack of modesty)

[archanglrobriel.livejournal.com]

There are no words for how disgusted I am by this, but yet, not surprised. I figured something like this was in the works since there was such a big ruckus raised about "tricking" the gay boy by throwing straight boys into the mix on "Boy meets Boy".
What better way to "trick" straight boys than with the ultimate taboo..and it's a lot more settling to middle america to be shocked and horrified by this than by say, having an episode of "The Bachelor" in which femme lesbians have been hidden and should he choose one, she'll get $10,000 and he'll get bubkis.

And of course, the executives will try to justify their actions by talking about how they were just trying to "show how you really can't tell and that we should all treat each other equally because transsexuals are people too..." blah blah blah all the while playing the whole situation for laughs.

We can't have a respectful or accurate model of attraction, this is television after all...

[susiebeeca.livejournal.com]

Okay, I have a new theory: idiotic men who go on Reality TV shows aren't homophobic. They're just terrified of penises.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

How about this, which is my current working hypothesis: anyone who goes on a reality TV show at this point without expecting a mega-fuck-over is an idiot?

[sinpar.livejournal.com]

Good grief. Did we learn nothing about toying with people fron the Scott Amedure/ Jonathan Schmitz (http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/files/120996.html) tragedy??????

I don't watch reality TV. I don't like practical jokes. Isn't there enough misery in the world without creating it for public entertainment?

::mutter mutter mutter mutter::

[kidarrian.livejournal.com]

its a shame that society cannot seem to accept those whom fall outside the norm.

its a shame that there are people out there who are willing to exploit themselves just for the money, even when they ruin there lives in the process.

someday humanity will be open and love will return to the tribe...someday soon I pray.

[aubreycolors.livejournal.com]

I read about this earlier today and I completely agree with you. Well said!!


xoxo

Reality TV = Satan laughs at you! (no, but really--)

[ex-mommybir.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's *becoming* a desecration; I think it started out there and rapidly descended into outright abomination. Please, bring back reruns of Star Trek, Barney Miller, and Taxi instead!

[mb2u]

FYI, six of the contestants are suing SkyTV to prevent the episode from being aired:

Read here