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Original poster

To HATE Child Genius?

201 replies

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 18/08/2017 20:50

DH and dd are watching and I can't stand it. All those poor kids, crying from the pressure their egomaniac parents have put them under. IT DOESN'T MATTER!! Surely you can be proud of your lovely smart kids without pimping them out to tv. Makes me raging and sad in equal measure.

OP posts:
TheNext · 18/08/2017 22:59

I watched it today for the first time. It was grotesque. When the little girl asked to leave, sobbing, I couldn't watch any more. Memorising lists of complicated words to impress tv viewers doesn't make a child a genius. What a horrid show.

mycatloveslego · 18/08/2017 23:11

I thought I was the only one who hated it, it makes me shudder. Awful to see children put under such pressure. Only watched it once, couldn't sleep afterwards.

Kitsandkids · 18/08/2017 23:12

I really feel for Rahul. He's getting more stressed and anxious as time goes on - purely, I think, because he feels he's expected to win and is so worried about not living up to expectations.

I don't think this competition measures intelligence at all. It tests their memories. Yes, they are all quite clever but whoever has the best memory is going to win - and that's not necessarily the cleverest.

I also don't like the twists. One day making them all nervous because whoever won the first round didn't have to do the second, then the next day panicking them all because whoever was bottom in the first round automatically went out. Personally, I think they should only have about 10 kids, get them all to do all the tasks every day then announce the winner at the very end when all the scores have been added up.

SleepingBooty · 18/08/2017 23:12

I watch it out of fascination. Most of the parents seem crazy, as if they are forcing their children to achieve what they didn't. I admire the children who put themselves through and the parents who support them. My DD(9yrs) watches with me open mouthed that some parents don't allow their children a childhood.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 18/08/2017 23:16

I agree it tests memory not intelligence. There was a question yesterday which was if something travels 43 metres in a second how far does it travel in 0.5 seconds. The 9 year old 'genius' said 9 metres. Fair enough he is only 9 but my 7 year old said 'half of 43' and probably could have done the sum given a a pen and paper. No matter how many long words you can spell or how many train stations you can memorise you surely can't be a genius unless you also get the simple stuff right.

ScarletSienna · 18/08/2017 23:19

I'm deliberately not watching it as I would love viewing figures to go down and thus prevent a new series. This won't stop it happening though, I know. I hate it.

LetZygonsbeZygones · 18/08/2017 23:20

Tiptoe I agree. Rahul looks increasingly at breaking point. His father is unhinged. If he doesn't win the whole thing I dread to think how he and his poor son will cope.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 18/08/2017 23:23

Yes Rahul's father looked like he might combust in the audience tonight!

Booboobooboo84 · 18/08/2017 23:25

I think it's very sad that Rahul won't celebrate until he wins. At least with the other children they knew how to celebrate each accomplishment whereas with that wee mite you just see he's only focused on the end.

That being said I like the premise. At least they aren't being paraded out to sing and be put to the public vote ever Saturday night. It's good to celebrate this form of intelligence and it's good for them to feel recognised for it. At least it's in a controlled environment with a controlled audience.

As for poor nerrisa as hard as it was to watch her first round she should be so proud of her second round. And she learnt a lot about perseverance and not giving up in the competition.

You have to remember it's being shown on channel 4 so they are going to show the most sensationist bits for ratings

OhYouBadBadKitten · 18/08/2017 23:25

I got part way through yesterday's tonight and deleted the series link. It was too distressing.

Jayfee · 18/08/2017 23:28

I agree with everyone but ( blushes with shame) it is my guilty secret. I find myself cheering when the children of the most pretentious parents get beaten. Told my son if it had been on when he was younger I would have taped it and shown him it to let him know how lucky he was not to have a pushy mum like the poor sods on Child Genius

longingformore · 18/08/2017 23:34

I watched some of it yesterday with dh, but we had to turn it off as we felt really sad for the children. I agree that it's great to encourage and support these children who are clearly very intelligent, but I totally disagree this is the way to do it.

I also agree it's more of testing their memories - I remember feeling really stressed about my GCSEs, and my dad saying to me "all an exam is testing what you've remembered, it's not proof of your intelligence" which I think is very true actually.

catloony · 18/08/2017 23:49

Then why did you watch?

I saw the advert it wasn't something I wanted to watch- so I didn't watch, because I disagreed with the way the children are made to perform

You all sat through the whole programme and then decided that you are so much better - but you're still watching - best thing to do is not watch this stuff- but no you posted on social media to complain about something you watch on tv that you had the choice not to watch

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 19/08/2017 00:02

I watched tonight for the first time and was most concerned by Rahul's father. I have no idea how he would gage coped had his very young son failed to win a place in the final.

I wanted to jump up & hug Nerissa when she said "may I leave now?" I understand her mum wants to build her confidence but surely there are easier ways to do it? Girl Guides? Stage Kids? Drama lessons etc?

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 19/08/2017 00:06

Have coped - not gaged coped!

catloony · 19/08/2017 00:07

Wanna go back to the days where we just changed the channel if we didn't like a programme rather than watch it all, get all outraged and post on social media

Even better laugh, trying to change the channel with a romote control with a wire

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 19/08/2017 00:23

I don't remember the remote control on a wire (DH does).

We went straight from a TV with buttons (from Granada) to a normal style remote. Although I was around 25 by that point......

Askingforafriendlyneighbour · 19/08/2017 00:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LenaDunham · 19/08/2017 00:28

Nerissa's mum is a disgrace; this is not a way to build confidence. Stupid woman.

Dixiestamp · 19/08/2017 00:29

Didn't see it tonight but caught yesterday's. This is by no means meant to be a stealth boast (I promise!) but my 9 year old was surprised at how many of the science questions they didn't know, although he appreciated they were under pressure whilst he was sat at home. The cards thing though- wtf? Putting them up there though and pitting them against each other- just cruel.

Dixiestamp · 19/08/2017 00:31

PS absolutely agree with pp who have said it's testing what they can remember (like my DS- who can remember facts...it by no stretch makes him a genius!).

Rhubarbginisnotasin · 19/08/2017 04:19

Dylan is chilling and has all the makings of a seriously disturbed adult in him.

There was something extremely disturbing about him this evening whilst waiting to see Narissa compete again.

Caprianna · 19/08/2017 04:31

The parents are all totally unhinged.

Broken11Girl · 19/08/2017 04:55

Oh FGS the usual hate against kids for being intelligent and for their parents. I can't stand the hate average people have for the very bright, sorry about your insecurities.
If you don't like it, here's a genius idea,don't watch it.
Verging on defamatory comments, you're imagining shit. It's not abuse FFS. Rahul 's dad just misspoke, said well done then thank you, hasn't anyone here done similar. These are 8-12 yo preteens, not 6yos, and there is a psychologist who works with the show. And would several of you stop the mental health related insults, nice contribution to stigma there.

Broken11Girl · 19/08/2017 04:59

Sporty kids have to play matches in front of an audience, musical kids do exams and play concerts...any of you wailing that's child abuse? Why the fuck shouldn't bright kids get a bit of attention for their talent as well, for once?