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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not understand the hatred for the Jeremy Kyle show?

133 replies

ThereWasOnceAGirl · 01/12/2013 13:48

Lazy Sunday with a slight hangover and watched a couple of repeats.

I really don;t understand the criticism for the show. I mean you might not like Jeremy Kyle himself but the show?

No one is forced to go on and they seem to provide excellent aftercare for people. I saw one where a guy made the choice to go to rehab straight after the show (funded by them) and he came back on and had got his life back together.

OP posts:

MinesAPintOfTea · 02/12/2013 16:02

Would you go on it Limited? And can you explain why if you would/would not.

As for the "getting to the truth": it was mentioned upthread that there is no such thing as a reliable lie detector, so all "truths" found that way have a fairly high chance of not being. And I'm not convinced that a paternity test done in the public eye is in the best interests of the children who's father is in question.

Then there's the aftercare, also discussed higher up as being woefully inadequate and leaving people's lives in more of a mess than they were in to start with.

LimitedEditionLady · 02/12/2013 16:08

Id go on it to find someone but not for the anything else.I dont think I would benefit from going on it really,I dont have any story to tell tbh,im not in turmoil and I dont desperately need help.I dont need a DNA test and could afford one myself and im not in a situation where I would need to.BUT I dont think if someone feels itd help them to do so that they should feel silly for doing so.If you need help,you need help,one of the bravest things you can admit is that you need help.

Callani · 02/12/2013 16:12

The JK show tried to draft in my cousin who has had documented mental health issues since she was 14 after one of her friends went on the show and "recommended" her.

The people who phoned her were very manipulative, really flattering her and basically giving her tripe about "having her day to speak out" about her idiot boyfriend / father of her kids. They phoned more or less constantly for 2 weeks, offering money, luxuries pre-show and feeding her lines about it being "the right thing to do for the children" (yeah right). Thankfully she realised that she was getting far better support from family and friends than she would get being paraded on the show, but I was really shocked at the tactics they employed.

I also naively thought there would be ethical implications about exploiting people with known medical problems, and I have a horrible feeling that, had she gone on the program, these issues would have been used against her.

onlysettleforbutterflies · 02/12/2013 16:12

I can't stand it but each to their own. I don't personally get entertained by watching a load of people shouting at each other, I find it quite upsetting and wouldn't have it on with children around, even if they don't understand what it's about, they would hear the raised voices.

BertieBowtiesAreCool · 02/12/2013 16:20

If you read the rest of the thread you'll see that they most definitely do headhunt, in fact, this is how they get the majority of their victims clients.

Rehab isn't a magic bullet, either - someone really has to want to change for it to help and if they want to do that they can walk into any GP surgery or ring the rehab centre themselves and be admitted on the NHS. You don't need to go on a TV show to do that. And even if JK appears to persuade people that they need rehab, if they could be persuaded that easily by a TV presenter it's likely they either won't stick it out or just said that they would, but won't bother in the first place.

As someone else said above, they give them a hotel room and pay "expenses" - not the best thing to offer to substance dependant people.

BertieBowtiesAreCool · 02/12/2013 16:21

I don't watch it. Every time I come across it I half expect to see my ex on there

AmberLeaf · 02/12/2013 16:22

LimitedEditionLady have you read the rest of the thread yet?

MrsBungleScare · 02/12/2013 16:23

callani exactly the same with my uncle. They tried to flatter him, hounded him on the phone, offered him money and the opportunity to tell "his side of the story".

I think jk is a smug, judgemental, horrible twat personally. He is demeaning to guests who appear not bright enough to stick up for themselves - I think it's abusive, personally.

MinesAPintOfTea · 02/12/2013 16:26

People who are in turmoil and desperately need help are exactly those who shouldn't be exploited for entertainment. They are not helped as promised, they are used to make 'good' television, irrespective of the long term impact this has on their lives. They are also not in a good position to judge what is a sensible course of action by definition.

I watched it a few times then realised what I was supporting so stopped. People who genuinely want help would be much better turning to their GP who can signpost to genuine resources.

fluffyraggies · 02/12/2013 16:33

I feel so so sorry for all the children who might grow up and see their parents shouting abuse at each other and arguing the toss over DNA tests when they were still tiny babies. Seeing their father call their mother a slag on TV, etc :( :(

So glad the over-riding opinion here is that it's exploitative shite.

LimitedEditionLady · 02/12/2013 16:36

I havent read every post amberleaf.Its very interesting though reading peoples real experiences,obviously theres a lot more to it when you know about behind the scenes.I dont know anyone whos been on the show so I dont know any of the things people are posting.Its all very valid.I seemingly am the only person that thought that any if it was positive.Very interesting thread,enjoyed reading the posts.

LimitedEditionLady · 02/12/2013 16:37

I do have to say i do feel for the children with the DNA tests,imagine in ten twenty years....

basgetti · 02/12/2013 16:40

Ah yes Limited, they chose to go on the show so they are fair game for your entertainment. Like the woman I mentioned upthread who was bullied onto the show by her abusive boyfriend and ended up in hospital. Or the other female guest who was clearly being emotionally abused (at the very least) and when she fled the stage Jeremy Kyle personally threatened to drag her back on whilst his baying mob cheered. But they got 5 minutes aftercare from 'the genius' so who cares what they are being sent back home to once JK has wound up their partners and validated their paranoia?

Fecklessdizzy · 02/12/2013 16:40

It's vile. Mocking the afflicted. Jezzer is a scumbag's scumbag!

BOF · 02/12/2013 16:43

do have a read of this article about how the show works, from a former producer.

BOF · 02/12/2013 16:44

Whoops, sorry- this it it.

ShinyBauble · 02/12/2013 16:49

It's all been said, really.

I just feel so sorry when I see a family with maybe learning difficulties or low intelligence, sitting there dead eyed bleating 'We want the haalp', as if they think a ten minute chat with 'Genius' Graham will solve all their problems. They are being exploited.

Genius Graham probably spends most of his time counselling Jeremy from the looks of it. Then they cherry pick a lucky few to spend some time on, who can come back at a later date and make the show look good.

Plus I hate the way someone's reputation can be smashed to bits via lie detector test. I tried out those tests in sociology class. They are incredibly unreliable. Someone who is staking their relationship or credibility on that test will probably be very nervous, which helps to produce a guilty verdict. I know this, because I failed the test, though I was telling the truth It's horrifying to me that someone can be labelled an adulterer or a thief or in one case, a prostitute, on the basis of how their pulse and sweat glands reacted to a question.

BOF · 02/12/2013 16:49

This is even more damning. Seriously, if you genuinely believe Kyle is about helping people, you should read it.

SouthernComforts · 02/12/2013 16:55

I know a few people who have gone on the show, they play out there endless family dramas all over facebook and Twitter for the world to see so JK is just a step up from that.

SouthernComforts · 02/12/2013 16:56

their*

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 02/12/2013 16:56

If they really wanted to help people they would do it without slapping them all over the TV.

LimitedEditionLady · 02/12/2013 18:27

Im not a horrible person who wants to see people ridiculed for MY entertainment,i like real life things i like documentaries,true life films,i just like watching things with real people in.I also liked trisha?was trisha like this too?

Crowler · 02/12/2013 18:29

Can't you maybe consider upgrading to the Real Housewives for your hungover TV?

basgetti · 02/12/2013 18:38

I like real life things too. But I don't like watching real life domestic abuse victims being put further at risk by a shocking lack of safety measures, or real life people with addiction or mental health issues being shouted and snarled at by an unqualified bully. There are plenty of programmes focusing on real life situations that don't rely on exploitation, humiliation and goading vulnerable people as their main premise.

LimitedEditionLady · 02/12/2013 18:38

Haaa i cant stand the housewives of wherever they are ones.

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