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AIBU?

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Original poster

tv documentary/benefits/through a childs eyes

31 replies

ghostspirit · 30/05/2015 16:34

I went to get sons hair cut on way home. i get stopped by a couple of people. it was me and 3 kids. she was telling me they are doing a documentary about familys on benefit/topups through the eyes of a child. to high light the difficulties familys are having because of all the cut backs.

i said so you want me to be part of the next benefits street or simlar...she said oh no no we are the complete oppisit. its all about the familys and showing the day to day living and struggle.

so should i agree to do it.? if so do i make sure my tatoos are on display.should i have a fag hanging out my mouth. even though i dont smoke. just for the cameras....

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2015 16:38

All you need is a goat, no fags needed.

professornangnang · 30/05/2015 16:40

Don't do it. You will regret doing any kind of reality TV.

SalyCinnamon · 30/05/2015 16:47

Someone knocked on my door yesterday and asked me the same Shock

ScorpioMermaid · 30/05/2015 16:49

I've been approached a couple of times to do tv. my DH and I have 8 children (9th due in 6 weeks) it was for a "16 kids and counting" type show. We declined. its our family and we are not a circus side show for people to leer at. our kids go to school I don't home school as I like the 6 hours of relative peace when the 6 older ones aren't home and I couldn't bear the thought of people making fun of them because of the size of our family. It would break my heart. paid or not I couldn't do it.

obviously that's just my point of view and if you decide to go ahead then Good luck to you Smile

tametempo · 30/05/2015 16:53

Is this a genuine post? If so, definitely not! They portray people horribly and will lie to them.
I can't understand why these families go on these shows/ magazine articles etc. Just horrible.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 30/05/2015 16:59

They'll film you for a week and then edit it all into one hour.

They'll pick your worst moments. You won't recognise yourself.

foslady · 30/05/2015 17:02

When they did Skint in Scunthorpe they said they wanted to show the real life of Westcliff. Shame they ignored the footage they filmed of the boy who's been that successful at his ballet classes hd been picked up by the Northern Ballet School.....

fiveacres · 30/05/2015 17:03

How did they know you were on benefits? Hmm

YouPooPooBumBum · 30/05/2015 17:18

i said so you want me to be part of the next benefits street or simlar...she said oh no no we are the complete oppisit. its all about the familys and showing the day to day living and struggle
That is probably what the told the families that were on Benefits Street - then they edited what they filmed.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 30/05/2015 17:24

haha yes it is a geniune post...they gave me a leaflet with contact detales. i was going to post that but was not sure if was a good idea fiveacres i guess it was an assumption.

where can i get a goat.

she asked my kids what do you like doing. 8 year old said playstation.she asked do you have hobbies no just play station. do you play out...no thanks for that son.

OP posts:
hibbledibble · 30/05/2015 17:26

Not all shows about benefits are like benefits street. BBC did a very different style documentary.

I wouldn't appear on reality TV however no matter what, I value my privacy.

justownit · 30/05/2015 17:27

fiveacres Precisely my question!

WorraLiberty · 30/05/2015 17:29

It came up on my council's FB page recently that Channel 5 are doing a documentary, about people on benefits who are planning their wedding Hmm

I can just imagine how that's going to go...

expatinscotland · 30/05/2015 17:31

NFW I'd subject my kids to any of this poverty porn propaganda. They will exploit children, they already do.

Stitchintime1 · 30/05/2015 17:34

It's like that fake a Daily Mail headline. How many combinations can you come up with benefits in the title?

Benefits by the Sea
Fat and on Benefits
Fat and on Benefits by the Sea
Romanians on Benefits
Fat Romanians on Benefits.

And so on. I hope you laughed in their face.

chickenfuckingpox · 30/05/2015 17:34

hell no never ever ever would i do anything like that even if you put on your best face for seven days they will still find a way of making you look bad

its not in the nations best interest to feel sympathy for people on benefits

when people find out im on benefits they assume many things a, my children need extra help at school (they dont the ones at school are very bright a* students) b, i have many many pets i treat better than my children (i dont have any pets) c, i smoke (strike three) in reality i do none of these things and none of the stereotypes apply the only way they think they have "got me" is my third child has a speech delay apparently if i was working he wouldn't have that Hmm

Original poster
ghostspirit · 30/05/2015 17:35

liberty i think it was with channel 5 she had said they have done some before. about young carers and they got great feed back.

indeed scotland its using the kids and like you say exploiting them without a choice and them not really understanding

OP posts:
Capricorn76 · 30/05/2015 17:39

No don't do it you'll be stitched up and ridiculed in the Daily Mail. These type of programmes will die off once nobody volunteers to be part of them.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 30/05/2015 17:42

capricorn i agree but sadley be many people on this estate that go for it :(

OP posts:
Mistigri · 30/05/2015 18:27

It seems to me that one of the problems with these programmes is that anyone with any sense turns them down, with the result that the only people prepared to participate are the most naive, the most vulnerable and the least clued up - in other words the very people that make the best car crash TV :(

drudgetrudy · 30/05/2015 18:31

If this is genuine do NOT expose your child to any form of publicity-he is not old enough to consent to it.
A psychologist colleague of mine made a TV documentary on managing children with behavioural issues. They were really exposed and gossiped about locally (as were their parents).
I was appalled at the way she promoted herself without thinking of the effects on the kids.

NinkyNonkers · 30/05/2015 18:41

Er no, no, no and fuck off no. If you are even contemplating this you are bonkers!

nemo81 · 30/05/2015 18:56

I've been messaged through another site before asking if i'd take part in a large family documentary. Didn't even reply to the message.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 30/05/2015 19:24

drudge they said they have a psychologist thats there to support and help us. i thought yeah after you have fucked up my family.

OP posts:
dancestomyowntune · 30/05/2015 19:33

My brother did a documentary about teenage gamblers about 12 years ago. It wasn't that bad and has been repeated several times over the years. Most of them were slot machine addicts, my brother was playing poker and blackjack, and had a full time job and no dependants. I wish they would do a follow up. My brother is now a top croupier (and very boring to boot! With his obsession with percentages and when you should fold and not.