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Original poster

Families who appear on TV programmes

17 replies

hunkerpumpkin · 03/10/2005 22:47

I can understand this (just about!) if you are at the end of the line with your children's behaviour, your weight problem, etc, etc.

But what in the name of all things holy does appearing on Wife Swap achieve?

It makes you look like either a control freak wanker or a downtrodden skivvy and your children are very likely to hate it or be confused by it (depending on their age).

OP posts:
Janh · 03/10/2005 22:48

Well we wouldn't want to but I bet a lot of the kids involved love it!

lockets · 03/10/2005 22:50

This reply has been deleted

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NannyL · 03/10/2005 22:51

i agree... i dont understand why people put their children through it.... especially the little ones

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 03/10/2005 22:51

I suppose some of the older ones are probably asked if they want to be on TV (I'd hope they are!), but the little ones surely can't understand much about it except their mum's not there for a week.

OP posts:
sweetkitty · 03/10/2005 22:52

Bloke I used to work with's neighbours appeared on this, he reckons they got paid about 20K for doing it and Wife Swap threw a huge party for all the neighbours on the last night.

Might be the reason they agree to appear on it?

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 03/10/2005 22:54

Really, SK?!

Well, they want new families...if this is true...I'm sure DS wouldn't miss me too much. LOL!

OP posts:
magicfarawaytree · 03/10/2005 22:54

how much of a bonus do you thing the maid ( sorry v good unpaid 3rd generation friend) get

edam · 03/10/2005 22:55

Can you imagine the conversations, though, at the end of this programme when they put up the call for new contributors?

"Darling, having watched those two couples make such prats of themselves, do you fancy having a go?"

People must assume that their way of living is RIGHT and think they'll have the chance to instruct someone who is not up to scratch in the proper way to conduct themselves. I mean, apart from supreme arrogrance, what other reason would you have?

buffytheharpsichordcarrier · 03/10/2005 22:55

it makes me feel very uncomfortable too. the worst was a "Little Angels" with a 4 year old girl who was not toilet trained and was still breast fed - they filmed her mother fighting her off (not opposed to extended bf btw, just these were really unpleasant scenes to watch). I thought it was an appalling breach of her privacy and vowed never to watch these programmes again.
but I do of course, mainly because dh loves them...
horrible though - what must that girl feel like to know that she appeared in front of millions of people messing in her pants.

magicfarawaytree · 03/10/2005 22:57

buffth - pmsl at those images.

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 03/10/2005 22:59

Yes, the toddlers having tantrums for the viewing public's amusement - doesn't seem right, does it?

I suppose they're educational on one level...maybe?

OP posts:
AnnieSG · 04/10/2005 13:42

Even though I watch Wife Swap, I do feel uncomfortable when I see really small children being part of it. I don't think a child younger than five could possibly understand that mummy hasn't been swapped with another lady for good. Know what I mean? That's just the kind of mental leap small kids make.

FIMBObbingforApples · 04/10/2005 13:44

Its the older kids I feel sorry for - they must get some ribbing about it at school.

WigWamBam · 04/10/2005 13:49

Some people just seem to buy into the celebrity culture and want their 15 minutes worth of fame. It's a shame that they often seem to want it at the expense of their children.

auntymandy · 04/10/2005 13:58

its good viewing makes you think about your life, but I do feel sorry for the children it must be so confusing. That poor little girl last night being told she was horrid etc by a stranger!

flamebat · 04/10/2005 14:01

I sat watching wife swap last night feeling sorry for the kids too. They always whinge "the children won't live by my rules" and I feel like "What did the poor children do to end up stuck with a film crew and some total opposite to mummy being there in the first place???"

The one the other week did seem to help the family (the ones not at school, but not being home ed either) - they all seemed so much happier and more sane afterwards (didn't see the marriage lasting with the changed spirit mum though ), but the rest of the time, some stranger comes in, turns their home upside down, and the kids are either miserable, or are happy in some new way of life to get it taken away again (one where the new wife bought em bunnies springs to mind... they had pets for a week, only to have them taken away again )

Even for the 20k, its not worth it.

3PRINCESSES · 04/10/2005 14:02

Caught bits of last night's Wife Swap-- enough to see one of the wives calling the other one's 13 yr old daughter (to her face) a spoilt, selfish little bitch or words to that effect.

Nasty, hurtful and damaging. And in front of millions. Ouch. Wouldn't put my dd up for that kind of abuse for any amount of money!

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