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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that Eastenders portrayal of MC is shite.

51 replies

sunburntats · 27/12/2009 13:08

Because it is!

Its not real BUT dear God, could they not have put a bit more effort into it??!!
Or at least research it!

Why do they on telly show someone having a quick sudden pain....then its all over with?

I dont mean show the ins and outs, but why the fuck is she strapped to a heart monitor?

OP posts:

PixieOnaChristmasTree · 27/12/2009 17:53

Oscar is still treated as a new baby, even though it was his second birthday party the other day.

Abbie Branning annoys me. Just leave you father, girl.

MrsMattie · 27/12/2009 17:53

It was very silly. Clutches at belly on stairs as if in labour. Then ten minutes later she is strapped to a monitor in a mahoosive private room for (seemingly) several nights stay (she discharged herself after the first night, didn't she?.

I miscarried towards end of second month and got told not to bother coming in to hospital initially. When I did go in eventually, I was in and out within the hour and never had a single follow-up call, let alone appointment. Everyone was very matter of fact about it.

Georgimama · 27/12/2009 17:59

I know. If she was suffering some complication whic merited this level of medical intervention for such an early MC (which can of course happen - as we all know) then why didn't they take the opportunity to inform about it?

claraquack · 27/12/2009 18:03

aaaagh! it's not medical information show!! stop taking it so literally!!!

Georgimama · 27/12/2009 18:04

No, it isn't, but the EE producers do a great line in self justification for writing story lines about all sorts of things - AIDS, homosexuality, religion - on the basis that they are effectively being educational. I think they are just being titilating, but should admit it.

MrsMattie · 27/12/2009 18:17

If they scriptwriters are going to bang on about their worthy social justice storylines and have helpful 'action' phone lines at the end of the programme, they can at least make an effort not to write clownish storylines about serious issues, imo.

The bipolar thing was a joke, too.

Ach, well.

claraquack · 27/12/2009 18:17

Georgimama - yes I totally agree. Long ago I do think they thought, as they were funded by licence, they had a requirement to be educational. That has long been forgotten and it is now entirely about entertainment. Because it is meant to be a "realistic" show (eg not bright and shiney like American soaps) we sometimes forget it is, after all, just a load of silly made-up storyines.

Swedington · 27/12/2009 18:19

In Dallas, S'wellen kept on her knickers to give birth.

Georgimama · 27/12/2009 18:29

So did daphne in neighbours.

claudialyman · 27/12/2009 18:49

daphne kept on her tights!

Fibilou · 27/12/2009 19:06

The problem is that a lot of people do think that how the tv presents things is real. I'm a police officer and if I had a quid for the amount of times I've heard "but they did it on CSI/Eastenders/Life on Mars" i'd be a rich woman. I've had people refuse to give evidence in court due to ridiculous storylines on telly because they think it's an accurate reflection of real life.

Until every viewer understands they need to suspend belief when watching tv then i think broadcasters have a duty to at least make a fist of presenting things realistically

claraquack · 27/12/2009 19:11

Unfortunately to be realistic, EE would be very boring. Everyone would be at work all day and not in the square, or at home/park/other people's houses looking after children. People would only be in the pub once or twice a week at most and then not at the same time as the significant character they are meant to be interacting with. There would only have been one, possibly two, murders in the enire 25 years the Square has been in existence. And NO-ONE would have EVER shagged Ian Beale, let alone four or five (I lose count) reasonably attractive women.

beanie35 · 27/12/2009 20:27

Totally agree. During both my mcs I was given as little medical help as they could get away with. Mind you, don't suppose it would make for avid viewing if Ronnie had got the same sympathetic suggestions as I did,
'go home take some nurofen and buy a pack of nightime sanitary towels'.
Or my favourite,
'If you get any bad pain in your ovaries, give NHS direct a call!'
(Both said by doctors).

Georgimama · 27/12/2009 20:27

I agree with Fibilou. So many people seem to live their lives in the style of a soap opera, and I can only conclude that's because soap operas make them think it is normal.

chegirlwithbellson · 27/12/2009 20:49

The storyline that really upset me was the one in Neighbours. One of the children had leukemia and needed a BMT (Natch!).

Lo and behold they found one next door (unrelated, seemingly different ethnicity).

Boy gave BM, child got BM, Boy died horribly.

Proper upset me. DD had just died without a match. I could almost hear people across the land saying 'see! told you it was dangerous to give bone marrow! That bloke on Neighbours died!

I was treated like a loon when I made a fairly mild complaint. I have heard anecdotal evidence from medics that donations/registering rates drop after a major soap/tv storyline like this.

If we doubt it what about how the uptake for smear tests rocketed after Jade Goody died? SShe was a living soap opera. People related to her in the same sort of way they relate to their favourite soaps.

lolianja · 27/12/2009 22:30

chegirl - the boy in neighbours who donated the bone marrow was the brother of the ill baby girl's father. Not that it makes any difference whatsoever to your point and I do agree that although in an ideal world they shouldn't, soaps really do have an obligation to be responsible when it comes to storylines which will probably alter public attitudes.

It seems so daft on paper but when I think about it, it doesn't really surprise me that human empathy is sufficiently easily manipulated that things like Eastenders and Jade Goody can cause dips and rises in national medical statistics.

chegirlwithbellson · 27/12/2009 22:41

Didnt realise that Lol, am very impressed at your knowledge of vintage Neighbours . Still wouldnt be much chance of a match though (unfortunately).

Just remember it making me bloody furious and feeling so frustrated that no one seemed to think it was a important as I did.

claudialyman · 27/12/2009 22:57

that is irresponsible of them at best and you were right to complain chegirl. i dont doubt it has an effect. when they depict a mental health diagnosis storyline on a soap, the numbers of people turning up at drs suspecting they have the same problem goes up. the soaps are being used as a source of information so if they want praise for their realistic storylines they also need to accept they cant go for the cheap melodrama without looking at the impact of what they are saying

scottishmummy · 27/12/2009 23:15

yabu is only tv fiction,isnt meant to be realistic. if you want accurate evidence based narratives dont watch EE.people expect too much of fiction.holby city isnt realistic of hospital work, nor is EE an accurate portrayal of life or mc

NancysGarden · 27/12/2009 23:18

It is crap but escapism for me.

Have to agree about their portrayal of bi-polar: makes me mad too. Crap or not, they have a big audience and it's a bit irresponsible/ offensive

scottishmummy · 27/12/2009 23:22

Tv fiction portrays all life as high octane histrionics.they dont owe it to anyone to be accurate or representative

people need to remember it is schlockathon daft stories for viewing figures.dramatic stories purely for effect

girlsyearapart · 28/12/2009 08:06

I thought there would be a thread on enders this week but not this one- more because on xmas eve Heather shows Shirl a batch of expressed milk meaning she is STILL breastfeeding the baby! shock horror

ps - the best thing about enders is how they all have low paid jobs/no job yet still afford to have tea and toast at the caff everyday

pippaNnippa · 28/12/2009 08:34

I think hollyoakes are portraying eating disorders really well with the Hannah story line BTW

Isawlissiekissingsantaclaus · 28/12/2009 09:30

totally agree with what has already been said. because of my history i now getr a scan with every mc and tbf the last 3 did start off in a simillar way but the mw said that was because my body is getting so tired now. it makes me v cross, even after my EP they would still have sent me home after one night if we hadnt had complications. the soaps portray infertility, pregnancy loss really badly and the woman inevitably ends up stealing a babyand turning into a nutjob. dont feel that storylines should be handled sensitivly or know how to? then dont do them!!

agree though that the HO ED storyline is brilliant, her breath smelling, hair falling out ,relapsing under pressure... all v accurate and well handled.

Triggles · 28/12/2009 10:53

The medical storylines as well as police involved storylines make me a bit crazy, having had a background in both fields. I just keep reminding myself "only in tv land, only in tv land..."

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