To feel a programme dramatising Shannon Matthew's disappearance is in poor taste?

[Annie592]

I watched it. I quite enjoyed it. (I think Sheridan Smith is amazing.). But it doesn't sit quite right with me. I want to be able to say why, but I can't explain it. Maybe because a real life case of a nine year old's abuse doesn't feel like something that should be used for entertainment? Wondering if anyone agrees and can articulate it better? Or whether it's actually an important topic to talk about and I'm being stupid. I honestly don't know. Would appreciate mumsnet thoughts!

I'm with you OP. I dislike the fact that the media / TV / film feel that it's always OK to boost their careers out of other people's misery. I think that we should accept that some things are 'out of bounds' on occasions and wish that there was an acceptance that, especially where children are involved as in this case, the rights of producers, writers, actors and film companies to make their profits and names should come second to Shannon's rights.
I know that's a futile wish - business, egos, money and a rather tedious 'it's MY right to do whatever...' will always outweigh these sentiments. A child's rights will be mere nothing compared to these forces. Which is not right.

It IS about Shannon. How fucking dare someone decide they have the power to make what happened NOT about that poor child. You can tell a story from many angles, but you cannot just delete the victim. It shows such a lack of respect or humanity.

Exactly this.

Hypocritical thread.

A TV programme that seeks to explore and debate issues around the Shannon Matthews case for people's entertainment is in poor taste.

But a messageboard thread that seeks to explore and debate issues around the Shannon Matthews case for people's entertainment is just fine?

What's the difference?

What because said.

The difference is EastMidsMummy those who virtue signal comment on here are superior in some way because clearly no member of the Mathews family will search the internet for recent commentary ergo no harm done.

Actually the difference is my comment on a website does not put the whole story back on the front page of all the red tops, this programme has.

I think there's a degree of hysteria in comments on the Front Row interview. It was pretty clear that the interviewer didn't understand the point the producer was making, but it was a valid point: the programme is undoubtedly primarily about the community response and Karen Matthews. Of course we cannot ignore what Karen Matthews did, but we wouldn't, for example, claim that "Appropriate Adult" was about West's victims, and I doubt that most people watching could even name them.

The difference is that a message board is very easily ignored. Shannon is highly unlikely to overhear a conversation about this thread. She's very likely to be aware of the TV programme and perhaps hear people discussing it at work or college.

Owen Jones explores class issues and the class issue around this case in his book........Chavs. The Demonization of the Working Classes,

Chavs is a terrible book, like a really bad persuasive essay written by a 14 year old.

It's an excellent book. Why Dixie?

I've read that Shannon herself has agreed to the programme so it's her story to tell. Whatever anyone else thinks doesn't matter imho.

Its being put around on my home town's Facebook selling page that Karen Matthews is living in the town (under her new identity I believe). All sorts of things being said. People say they've recognised her in her place of work.

So it's definitely dragged things up again there.

Happened in my town too, with the bulger boys, innocent boys assaulted and harassed. I hate Facebook jury! That's what the law court is for.

I never watch things like this because I am strongly opposed to the idea of anyones suffering being recreated for "entertainment." This is not entertainment fodder. I know the basic story, I read it on the news. It's a horrific story. Why on earth would I want to watch it? Especially if it's a show which is causing distress to a family who have suffered enough? If people stopped watching this shit they wouldn't make it. If she wanted to tell her story in a book or something I still wouldn't read it (or watch if it was dramatised) but it would be her choice and I'd respect that. This isn't her choice and I suspect it could actively endanger her and certainly upset her. It's irresponsible and unnecessary.

Im not a grouch, I watch tv, but I watch fictional programmes. I stay away from anything like this as well as car crash shit shows like Jeremy Kyle and any TVs reality shows where they encourage nastiness.

Dixie, the title is like... reclaiming the word. The book is about why the people in charge want us to turn on the working classes. It's very interesting and I think more relevant today than ever (sadly).

Dear me And they say the Americans dont understand irony.

I didnt watch it either Wells A few of us discussing it on this thread didnt.

I'm still puzzled that this level of indignation doesn't apply to other cases.

There was a musical about the Ipswich murders........

Well, I'm from a sink estate too, although I don't live on one anymore. I found the book interesting.

And where I grew up chav was probably one of the nicer things we were called!

Haven't read through the whole thread, but it was discussed on Radio 4's Front Row last night. Programme maker was asked if he thought it was too soon, especially as the daughter is just 18. He obviously disagreed and said he was trying to show it from a different perspective etc. He hadn't contacted/talked to grandparents