Don't like being preached at in TV shows

[NutellaEllaElla]

Is it just me? Has it always been this way? There seems to be a moral to every story. Try not to judge my TV watching habits but i'm thinking Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor, New Amsterdam. There's probably more i'm not thinking of right now. Was it always so heavy handed on social issues?

Oh my god, yes the adverts, every single advert, from supermarket to bank, and everything in between, is about the deeper meaning of life, friendship, love, death, the universe. Even a bloody coffee advert is about how many people are really there for us. Bring back inane jingles and 'it does what it says on the tin'.

I think the point is we all use single use plastics way too much (even David probably) a lot of which does end up in the ocean.
But our plastic goes to landfill, not the ocean, except the tiny minority that's dropped near a beach. I can't find the statistic now, but the majority of plastic in the ocean comes from about 10 rivers in Asia and Africa. Yes we should reduce single use plastic as it's wasteful and contributes to global warming, but our macdonalds straws don't end up in the ocean.

Yes. I love Nee Amsterdam but it’s ott and patronising

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh8iXc2d71U

@DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult thanks for the recommend!

@GreenTeaPingPong

I think the point is we all use single use plastics way too much (even David probably) a lot of which does end up in the ocean. But our plastic goes to landfill, not the ocean, except the tiny minority that's dropped near a beach. I can't find the statistic now, but the majority of plastic in the ocean comes from about 10 rivers in Asia and Africa. Yes we should reduce single use plastic as it's wasteful and contributes to global warming, but our macdonalds straws don't end up in the ocean.

According to the Guardian , "more than half of the plastic rubbish the British government says is being recycled is sent overseas, often to countries like Turkey, without the necessary infrastructure to deal with it in an environmentally sustainable way."

So the UK is absolutely part of the problem.

Also, "when rubbish is being transported to landfill, plastic is often blown away because it’s so lightweight. From there, it can eventually clutter around drains and enter rivers and the sea this way.

Litter dropped on the street doesn’t stay there. Rainwater and wind carries plastic waste into streams and rivers, and through drains. Drains lead to the ocean!"

@GreenTeaPingPong

I think the point is we all use single use plastics way too much (even David probably) a lot of which does end up in the ocean. But our plastic goes to landfill, not the ocean, except the tiny minority that's dropped near a beach. I can't find the statistic now, but the majority of plastic in the ocean comes from about 10 rivers in Asia and Africa. Yes we should reduce single use plastic as it's wasteful and contributes to global warming, but our macdonalds straws don't end up in the ocean.

Remember all of those single use bottles the council takes away for recycling? In many cases it just gets dumped in Asia.

What annoys me is the very obvious mix of ethnicities and sexual orientation in every single programme and ad now. It’s like painting by numbers. It’s like the programme makers have a specific ratio they have to adhere to. It doesn’t seem inclusive, just contrived.

Clarkson's Farm manages to cover important subjects regarding the environment. Clarkson is never going to be lecturing you about climate change but it was enormously entertaining to watch a builder pointing out to him that the delays in constructing his foundations are his fault because of global warming.

I don't mind moralising per se, I just hate bad writing where they assume the viewer is thick as two short planks and whack you over the head with the moral. Writing 101 is 'show don't tell'!

I think what I object to is the assumption that everyone is a racist bigot, a chauvinist pig, homophobic etc etc. The moral of the story is that the refugee always becomes a doctor and saves the bigot etc etc. Actually most people are not bigoted and don’t need to be taught otherwise. It’s so transparent!

Farfalle88

Obviously drama on radio, screen and stage is not natural. What it feels like it due to state, Social media and businesses training staff and the public to behave in a certain way, so much seems contrived.

We are compensated financially to wear a costume and "act" a professional role in our paid employment.

People enjoy raiding the shop drrssing up box for events like weddings.

There are few places we could be our true selves, I wonder how many people are able to really relax and not feel pent up holding in who they are and what they think because of social pressure to be a certain way.

Adverts like that JR Hartley were gentle, a little puzzle, a little smile at the end.

One advert sticks out now, it has lots of children telling us off that they shouldn't have to fix environmental issues. What is relaxing, amusing and attractive about that advert, as I say I don't watch much TV anymore, it's not the experience it once was. The same with certain brands, I will not buy them anymore, I have looked after the earth, I don't like being lectured to and the ones who need to change will not change, Harry and Obama are still there guzzling more fossil fuel than all of us on this thread, they can't claim ignorance.

The other one is the adverts. Every single couple is in a mixed race marriage. I don’t give a damn about mixed race marriages and I don’t think the majority do but please give it a break - most of the UK are not racist and do not need to be preached at. It’s like they daren’t have a white couple in case someone thinks they are not being inclusive.

@Libraryghost

I think what I object to is the assumption that everyone is a racist bigot, a chauvinist pig, homophobic etc etc. The moral of the story is that the refugee always becomes a doctor and saves the bigot etc etc. Actually most people are not bigoted and don’t need to be taught otherwise. It’s so transparent!

Do you mean the programme Transplant? I think it's refreshing to have an Arab Muslim character (and a refugee to boot) as the lead in a prime time show, and not playing a terrorist.

it's sad that it has taken decades for this to happen and yet your response is a dismissive 'the moral of the story is that the refugee always becomes a doctor and saves the bigot'.

@Libraryghost

The other one is the adverts. Every single couple is in a mixed race marriage. I don’t give a damn about mixed race marriages and I don’t think the majority do but please give it a break - most of the UK are not racist and do not need to be preached at. It’s like they daren’t have a white couple in case someone thinks they are not being inclusive.

On the contrary, the UK does have a racism problem, it's just more covert than in the US.

I think if kids are watching stuff like Doctor who, which I kinda think it's for, then it's great to have strong moral messages

Morality is not a universally uncontested concept. We all hold our own views on different matters and rightly so - some opinions being more widely shared than others.

Perhaps Dr Who is an opportunity to teach our children what brainwashing looks like and the importance of critical and independent thinking.

The problem is bad writing.
And yes the adverts too lack subtlety and humour.

@takehomepay I havent seen the programme you are talking about. It’s a ubiquitous storyline. I have seen it a million times. That is the point I am making, it’s the same moralistic story over and over again. As for the UK being racist I would never deny there are racist people but I actually thing the majority are not. The outcry over racist tweets to footballers etc proves that most of are fundamentally decent. While tv dramas and adverts should most definitely be inclusive they also need to be realistic and less preachy. A racist will not see a mixed race couple in an advert and suddenly not become racist- they are preaching to the wrong people.

It’s like the programme makers have a specific ratio they have to adhere to. It doesn’t seem inclusive, just contrived.

I think it's good to include everyone.

The problem is that they are getting the proportions wrong in relation to the UK market. I wonder if they care about the fact that 80%+ of the people they are trying to sell to cannot see themselves identified in their ads at all (as they appear to always be leaving out certain majority groups)

I think everyone is a bit abilest and I say this as a disabled person. Surely there is an evolutionary revulsion of illness that we saw the past year or so, revolt response is apparently stronger in women. Most people don't on a basic level want to get sick and die, and there is in some people a waryness that they don't want to catch what others have, you can see people relax when I tell them what I have isn't catching. I don't mind.

I think most people are a little bit racist, evolunatory tribes had to protect their resources to survive, you see it with rivalry between regions and counties in England and the French type jokes. Apparently it's tribal and very emotional people who are into football teams because they feel they belong to a big group and get to let off emotional steam.

We all know Harry's history in the army and environment yet he is telling all of us off.

I have had enough of it all. Who hasn't bought something that came from china, been in a flight, eaten Quinoa etc, and how can they say they are perfect environmentally? Who can say they didn't cheer an Olympic athlete who shares their nationality? People avoided others , took vaccinre and wear masks out of choice since March 2020 in varying ways because they don't want long covid or to be on a ventilator, they don't want to be disabled.

@Libraryghost

The other one is the adverts. Every single couple is in a mixed race marriage. I don’t give a damn about mixed race marriages and I don’t think the majority do but please give it a break - most of the UK are not racist and do not need to be preached at. It’s like they daren’t have a white couple in case someone thinks they are not being inclusive.

Alternatively, perhaps having a black person in the advert means that black people are more likely to purchase the product?

As for racism, there is plenty of it in the UK. Just sticking with the theme of the thread, I've seen plenty of racism from a vocal minority of Doctor Who fans who strongly objected to Yaz and Ryan because they weren't white.

When I was a kid in the 80s watching Grange Hill and the ‘Just say no’ storylines about drugs it always made me want to try drugs. I really do not like being preached to 😂

[quote Libraryghost]@takehomepay I havent seen the programme you are talking about. It’s a ubiquitous storyline. I have seen it a million times. That is the point I am making, it’s the same moralistic story over and over again. As for the UK being racist I would never deny there are racist people but I actually thing the majority are not. The outcry over racist tweets to footballers etc proves that most of are fundamentally decent. While tv dramas and adverts should most definitely be inclusive they also need to be realistic and less preachy. A racist will not see a mixed race couple in an advert and suddenly not become racist- they are preaching to the wrong people.[/quote]
I haven't seen that trope a lot (just in Transplant) but I don't think there has been much representation of Muslims/Asians/Arabs to date, and hopefully that will change.

Whilst it was good to see the outcry over racist tweets, it really doesn't mean that most BAME people don't experience racism in their every day lives. They absolutely do. It really is everywhere.

@GrolliffetheDragon what a black person will not buy a bog roll unless they are featured in the advert? A white person will stop watching sky because it’s got Idris Elba promoting it? Can’t watch Sky , it’s for black folks. Now that’s racist!

I stopped watching New Amsterdam when I realised that what they actually wanted was socialised healthcare and yet for some reason Americans are so against it. Began to find it a bit infuriating!