The Traitors is both racist & ageist?

I am not sure I agree with the comments about Jessie.

It is easy as a viewer to say "Oh Jessie has it spot on, why don't they listen to her?" But I think the thing that would make me take her less seriously is nothing to do with the stammer. It was the tremendous over-acting / over-reacting to everything. It was particularly noticeable when they played a clip of her time in the castle. She seems to be always screaming, gasping or falling to the floor in astonishment or overwhelm. I would find that tiresome. Maybe that is my unconscious bias towards demonstrative people!

Some seasons have more puzzles. This season not so much. Though frankly I am crap at those too!

The initial selection of players is more diverse than the make-up of the whole UK, like a lot of programmes that have more of a London cohort. And now half the contestants left are non-white.

I would love to go on the traitors, but as an overweight 63 yo, I know I would be a hindrance in the really physical challenges and so would likely be voted out in the first episode. Would I say this is ageist? No, because in a game where your ability to make money relies on your being able to keep up with your team you get rid of the least able to achieve that. This is a knock out game, why would you keep anyone in who is a threat or is weak, either physically or mentally?

Its impossible to stop unconscious bias, unless we bring up all children in a homogeneous environment. It certainly needs to be addressed and maybe a bit more encouragement to listen to others. As said above, once people get through the first few rounds the bias disappears as people get to know each other. But all races are ' racist' to some extent, and all people have unconscious bias.
Im not sure about the 'stop talking about it' thing. One one hand, ignoring a problem doesnt solve it, but then otoh if you look at politics, the Labour Party spend a huge amount of time talking about equality and diversity yet they have elected white middle class man after white middle class man as leaders. I think out of the major parties only them and Reform have not had a female leader. There is very clear unconscious bias at play amongst Labour members, who would baulk at being called sexist or racist. Whereas the Tories, who largely have no truck with 'dei' elected a female leader nearly 50 years ago and have had an Indian descent leader and a Black female leader. If I was a woman or POC and was politically ambitious, I wouldn't be looking at Labour.

No, not to pretend discrimination doesn't exist. I wouldn't be so ignorant to suggest that and doubt that's what Morgan meant. These reality programmes get the same criticism because imo people are looking for it.

I think this is exactly it 😂

Stop talking about 😂😂😂 that’ll fix it, I’ve heard that pretending something isn’t happening usually sorts it out

Not read the whole thread but I’d love a series of all 55 (give or take) year old middle class woman

Unconscious bias is a myth. It’s a way of veiling conscious bias.

it’s interesting that you say that people are thought to be faithfuls because they are seen as non-threatening - people will have conscious bias about people from other ethnic backgrounds being threatening, especially black men. It’s nothing to do with white people being seen as dull.

Maybe behind the scenes he had said something she didn't like about her (secret) son. Obviously, I'm just guessing but it could be something as simple as maternal protection.

To stop racism we pretend that it doesn’t exist?

To stop unconscious bias in particular, we just ignore it?

I won’t be subscribing to that.

Thank you

I think it would be edited to ‘protect’ contestants from backlash on social media.

Today in focus podcast yesterday had some interesting points on this - not necessarily racism/ ageism - more about the in and out group - worth a listen

That's OK 👍

Oh ok. Well I disagree then.

To tackle racism, stop talking about it. How are things ever going to progress with regressive thinking? I thought the whole idea of this show was to be calculating, manipulative and backstabbing. I don't understand how fairness and equality fits in with that.

I think the advantage of unconscious bias training is just making you aware that it is a thing and hopefully makes you stop and think for a moment when you instinctively dislike or disagree with someone.

I think of myself as pretty unbiased (mixed race if relevant) but it was still helpful to recognise common patterns.

What was his take?
I don't think this thread is divisive. Not sure if there are any other PoC on here, but as I have said, we also have our biases.

There's an evidence summary on this here but the short answer is that no, there's no evidence it 'works' in terms of changing behaviour.

Morgan Freeman had the best take on racism. It's a shame the dividers can't feel the same, instead of searching for bias at every turn.

I think it's obvious that unconscious bias has an impact on decision making, as it does throughout most aspects of our society.

It's an issue that we need to tackle as a society, but I'm not sure how. Has anyone ever done any research into whether unconscious bias training actually makes a difference?

I can't comment on this series because I'm not watching it but I was seriously uncomfortable with the way Diane behaved towards Anthony in series 2. She was so aggressively gunning for him over nothing and when she found he was faithful never explained her behaviour or apologized (although I guess it could have been edited out).

Another example of my unconscious bias. I underestimated Jessie. Not because of her stammer. But because of her kids TV presenter dress sense! Sorry, Jessie.