Comic Relief before 9pm

[TittyGolightly]

6 year old DC came out of school full of Comic Relief chatter and asked to donate their week's pocket money to the charity. Fine and dandy, we switched on at about 8pm and they showed a short film about a child and their grandmother collecting rubbish in Nairobi. DC was even keener to donate, so we texted in to donate money from all of us. Watched a couple of skits and then they showed a video of a 13 month old girl dying of malaria. Actually dying on the screen despite CPR and being put into a body bag and wheeled away. You can imagine the effect that had on a 6 year old. We've been up half the night with them having nightmares about dying babies.

AIBU to think that wasn't suitable viewing pre-watershed?

[SparklesandBangs]

The whole show was appalling in terms of comedy, quality of presenters and sound quality from 7-10pm, I kept it on only because I was cooking and clearing up etc.

In the day I was a Vic&Bob fan and enjoyed French&Saunders but last night was just poor and forced. I still enjoy comedy, often see stand up live but prefer the fresh new material.

Fortunately my DC are now grown up, if they hadn't been it would have gone off at innuendo bingo or maybe earlier.

Whilst the films are hard hitting, they need to be as we are so comfortable in our western lives, did the film where the child dies need to go so far so early, no - there are boundaries that we have to preserve so that we can let the younger generation see the suffering without traumatising them.

What we do need is a programme that is family friendly with age appropriate 'comedy' sketches and hard hitting films that make us stop, think and donate. You just can't expect the schools etc to participate and fundraise then put on a show that was only appropriate for late night viewing on an obscure chanel.

[TittyGolightly]

And you know this as fact do you? I have watched various films this week showing what last years money did. Do you have insider info on where it goes or you think people should stop giving?

Their costs are enormous (and published). I researched them thoroughly in order to apply for a grant. I have already explained some of this in the thread.

[TittyGolightly]

I think with children in need there is a ramping up post 9pm. It didn't seem to happen on the BBC.

They're both on the BBC.

[PacificDogwod]

I am deeply, deeply uncomfortable about the Comic Relief/Red Nose Day TV show - the work the charity is doing with the donated funds seems to be a force for good, I have no issue with that, but the combination of awful 'comedy' and the tear-jerking of the world's misery is just appalling IMO.

Having said that, IMO we should ALL see more of children dying for lack of pretty humble funds - I am sorry, OP, that your DC was so upset by what they saw, but it does prove that they have normal human feelings. We should ALL be fucking livid that this kind of thing happens, all over the world, ALL OF THE TIME!! Yes, I am shouting. It would not take much to allow more people to have cleaner water and access to mosquito nets.

Malaria is the biggest killer world wide, but it does not affect the rich West, so who cares?!

I think the distress of a 6yo pales in to insignificance compared to the distress experienced every 2 minutes when a child dies.

So, YABU in your upset (although I have every sympathy about the disrupted night) and I don't see how the watershed comes in to it. I was more uncomfortable about the Innuendo Bingo with all sorts of dodgy references...

[SookiesSocks]

Whats with the wink face? You are not in some secret club of knowlege. I work for a very large charity I know how it works, costs are always incurred but that does not mean people should stop giving.

I would rather some money reach those that need it rather than none at all.
"The it all goes on costs" argument is usually used by those who do not give as some lame excuse.
Give dont give. What dont watch. Its entirely your choice.

But as i said I would rather give knowing they will get some of the money than not give them anything at all.

[HalfShellHero]

Do you think it's acceptable no warnings were given when children were watching Pacific?

[SookiesSocks]

Pacific????

[SookiesSocks]

Oh you meant Pacific the poster

[Sahara123]

Oh for goodness sake I don't watch any of the fundraising programs either, not be cause of any kind of disapproval, but because I have disabled child and watching those bits makes me cry, it's like looking at my life. I wholeheartedly support however, donating or becoming involved in school activities. ( I did walk in when my daughter was watching Take That & James Cordon however, gawd bless ' em, I was singing away!) disabled daughter's groups have received funding, it's much needed. I do however know that these stories are unlikely to have happy endings, they tend not to encourage people to donate. It's hard hitting for that reason, so I would have thought at any of the stages showing the little girl it would be obvious that you either turn over, or use it as a discussion point to explain, depending on your child. Whilst the fun bits of Red Nose Day etc are great I think it does no harm at all to show the tougher sides of life. As a parent you have to use your own judgement, either turn over when things start to look difficult( you weren't near the remote ? !) or watch and talk. I've just heard on the radio the total stands at £71 million at the moment, which is fantastic. As I have said, my daughters group has been in receipt of money from these fundraisers over the years, it is so much appreciated, we are partly council funded but no where near enough to provide the service needed.

[Asmoto]

Why not just find some worthwhile causes and give to them directly - the fewer middlemen, the more the cause will receive?

[TittyGolightly]

That's exactly what we usually do.

[bornonvalentines]

Upthread, a poster said that her charity work wouldn't be supported by CR due to their funding criteria. I'd be interested to know more, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

[AndKnowItsSeven]

My six year old is in bed at 7pm sometimes 6.30 every day of the week. 8pm is very late.

[bornonvalentines]

Ah, it was the OP. Still interested to know more x

[TittyGolightly]

Upthread, a poster said that her charity work wouldn't be supported by CR due to their funding criteria. I'd be interested to know more, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

It's a children's charity that educates children in a fun (using sport) and age appropriate way how to be healthily. (The country concerned has an HIV epidemic due to cultural reasons and so changing the culture is key to reducing HIV deaths and hundreds of thousands more orphaned children). Comic relief won't find education projects for HIV/AIDS, even where there is documented proof that it works. They're only interested in drugs.

(Guessing its similar with malaria - they want to buy things.)

Our charity uses 100% of donations on the ground. Everything done in the UK is fine by volunteers.

[TittyGolightly]

*done by

[TittyGolightly]

*wont fund

[Asmoto]

Stay with that approach, then, and next time just give any money you'd have donated to Comic Relief to your usual causes.

I understand that some people seem to need celebrities and organised buffoonery to encourage them to give to charity, so Comic Relief has its place, but if you're the sort of person who'd rather just quietly give what you can afford with minimum fuss, I don't see the need to get involved with or watch any of the big televised events.

[TittyGolightly]

My six year old is in bed at 7pm sometimes 6.30 every day of the week. 8pm is very late.

It would be late for your child. It's early for mine and her friends. So what?

[bornonvalentines]

Thanks Titty - that seems a rather short-sighted view from CR.

[TittyGolightly]

It's only the school hyping these things up that means DC has any interest at all.

[Morphene]

I think showing a anyone actually dying live on TV is disgusting.

The BBC regularly sensor videos published so that it goes blank at the crucial moment, I can't imagine what has gone wrong with society that we would all tune in to watch a baby die.

[TittyGolightly]

Thanks Titty - that seems a rather short-sighted view from CR.

We think so too.

[wereachforthestars]

I agree. I donate to comic relief and still will, but the film of her actually dying onscreen was a step too far without warning- especially pre watershed.

[Sillysausage123]

AndKnowItsSeven just because your kids are in bed for 630 and 8 is late for your kids doesn't mean it's late for others.
Some kids stay up longer if their parents finish work later and it works for them as a family or many other reasons.
Your post sounds a bit judgemental