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Original poster

Absolutely furious

38 replies

eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:15

Our aussie version of pop idol was on tonight and a judge referred to a contestant as the 'full mong'!!!! I was absolutely gobsmacked. To make it worse - another judge asked him to define what the 'full mong' was - she seemed very uncomfortable with their use of the term. To which the other male judge just points at the first judge and says that is a 'full mong'!!!!!

I texted the show which you can do to leave feedback.

I have written to the TV channel expressing my disgust and have asked that it be passed on to the producers of the show.

I have also emailed the two biggest sponsors - Mazda and a telecom company!!

Any other thoughts on who I could express my disgust to???

OP posts:
Original poster
eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:16

oops and writing a letter to the editor as we speak.

OP posts:
moondog · 01/10/2006 12:16
Shock
Saturn74 · 01/10/2006 12:18
Angry
lulumama · 01/10/2006 12:19

get a petition going to get a public apology...... and make the guy go and work with some special needs kids ...unbelievable this is still 'acceptable' to joke about! stand outside TV station with a big placard!

Original poster
eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:19

I am beyond furious!!!!!

here is my letter to the editor:

OP posts:
Original poster
eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:20

How shocking it is to hear Kyle Sandilands on Australian Idol refer to someone as the full mong. I thought the use of such offensive and derogatory terms was archaic, but I was wrong. No doubt it will become cool. With the start of Down syndrome Awareness Week almost upon is - it is apparent that there is still so much work to do.

I am stunned he is not aware that 'mong' is an abbreviation of the term 'mongoloid' which was used historically to refer to people with Down syndrome. The term is no longer used as it is seen as both offensive and derogatory.

Shame, Australian Idol, Shame.

OP posts:
lulumama · 01/10/2006 12:23

that is remarkably restrained ! you could take it up a level...

Original poster
eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:27

changed my letter a bit:

How shocking it is to hear Kyle on Australian Idol refer to someone as the full mong. I thought the use of such offensive and derogatory terms was archaic, but I was wrong. No doubt it will become cool. With the start of Down syndrome Awareness Week almost upon is - it is apparent that there is still so much work to do.
I am stunned he is not aware that 'mong' is an abbreviation of the term 'mongoloid' which was used historically to refer to people with Down syndrome. The term is no longer used as it is seen as both offensive and derogatory.

It makes me wonder what society we still live in where terms such as this are seen as acceptable and even perhaps 'cool'.

OP posts:
aitch71 · 01/10/2006 12:30

i'd be demanding an apology at the front of next week's show as well. that is an outrage. have the papers picked it up yet?

Original poster
eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:33

nah - only just happened in the last hour. ( 9.32pm here!)

Oh just remembered he is a DJ on some sad radio station - better get on to them too!!!

Oh - see dh goes away and I go on a mission!!!

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 01/10/2006 12:33

Shock Sad Angry

littleducks · 01/10/2006 12:39

Don't watch the show myself but am , are you allowed to post the text number, then i would text in my disgust.
A little while ago on here there was a thread about children using the word 'spastic' in the playground wondering where they picked it up from, a few weeks later i caught a few minutes of some ali g programme where he was 'interviewing' an olympics offical and he referred to contestants in the special olympics as 'spasticated' . To make it worse the olympic official kept on smiling and sort of said hmm, yes, maybe (can't remember exactly so don't quote me but he didn't voice even a mild objection!)
So i would agree that tv glamourises these horrible words.

Socci · 01/10/2006 12:39

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Message withdrawn

hunkermunker · 01/10/2006 12:39

He sounds like a real charmer...

littleducks · 01/10/2006 12:40

Sorry just realised from last post your are in Aus, i thought you were watching on sky, oops!

Original poster
eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:41

he is horrid and one is not surprised what spews from his mouth but i am still furious.

OP posts:
Original poster
eidsvold · 01/10/2006 12:47

have just emailed his radion station and suggested they contact the DS association in their state and 'assist him with his education.

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Original poster
eidsvold · 02/10/2006 23:33

no apology on the eviction show lst night but when they recapped judges comments - they did not recap his.

Article in our paper

here calling for the judge to be axed.

My Letter to the editor has not appeared - but who knows maybe tomorrow in response to their news story.

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Original poster
eidsvold · 03/10/2006 01:35

i also just got an email from Mazda one of the major sponsors of the show who expressed their disappointment in the comment.

To quote the amil

"However, we concur with your view and we have passed on your comments along with Mazda?s own disappointment that such an inappropriate term was used on the show. As you can appreciate, Mazda buys TV shows for advertising purposes many months in advance and based on previous reputation and ratings. However, such a relationship does not provide us with any editorial rights over the show. As I indicated we have expressed our extreme disappointment, and requested that the person involved be counseled accordingly. Should this type of language continue, we would obviously review our relationship with the show."

well getting some response - quite surprised.

Have found the code of practice info to use in my letter to TV station.

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mamamaaargh · 03/10/2006 02:19

How disgraceful. So glad Mazda agree that it was unacceptable. I am always amazed at what is deemed acceptable - I'm in the states and am often horrified by some of the terms used. Hope the TV people & the judge issue a public apology.

Original poster
eidsvold · 03/10/2006 06:34

just had a call from the local paper asking if I had in fact emailed the letter - so it should be in the paper tomorrow.

ALso people from our association are appearing on current affairs shows tonight regarding the matter.

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HauntedsandCastle · 03/10/2006 06:45

eidsvold, so glad you took this further, this sort of thing shouldn't be able to slip through the net. There is noe excuse for this type of language!

Will let you know If I hear anything down here

Original poster
eidsvold · 03/10/2006 06:50

it is on today tonight and a current affair apparently - tonight - might watch one and tape the other for dh.

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HauntedsandCastle · 03/10/2006 07:28

will be watching....

FioFio · 03/10/2006 08:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn