The Scheme and programmes like it (depicting 'real' gritty life)

[fartmeistergeneral]

Think this may only be on in Scotland but it's a programme about a scheme in Scotland, I've never seen it - only trailers. It's 'gritty' for want of a better word, portraying life on a council estate in an area of deprivation.

My boss, living in a fabulous house in a great seaside area, middle class (do we say this any more?) well educated, etc etc - he watches it, he says, to 'challenge' himself. Not in a voyeuristic way, not for schadenfreude, not to feel smug about his own cosy life - but simply to enhance his education about how other people live.

I don't watch it because it just doesn't seem right to me, unfortunately I'm not articulate enough to really express why. I also think he watches it in a voyeuristic way, like I used to watch BB about 8 years ago.

Does anyone agree with me? I don't go for the whole 'challenging' thing, and it annoys me a bit that he won't come out and admit it!!!

he must have lived a very sheltered life not to realise the conditions people live in!

I don't watch it because I'm not keen on the concept of someone else's very tragic life being entertainment for the rest of us. Doesn't matter whether they are rich or poor, same principle applies.

I tried to explain to someone at work why I didn't watch it and that I was so sad for people living in utter poverty, barely educated, with terrible judgement and no aspirations for anything better. She just kept going on about how they were scummy, how they didn't deserve anything better, they are druggies, they treat themselves and others like crap and have no respect for anything or anyone. Well, be that as it may, so might I if I had been born into that situation!

In saying that, on the other The Scheme thread expatinscotland(?) was saying her life has been made hell by her horrible neighbours, and I can't imagine how awful that must be!

I've watched it this time around and am quite hooked. Not in a sneery way ( I hope ) but because I have found it compulsive viewing. I am genuinely interested in the stories of the families involved.

I was really hopeful for the boy who had got a place in college and then at the end they mentioned he hadn't taken up the place and was in prison. . I just felt awful for him and his mum.

Compulsive but not enjoyable.

I saw a bit of this last night. Disgraceful. No kidding but it proves the point that there is self-inflicted poverty.

I've lived in an area where the majority were on benefits long-term and I've been on them myself for a couple of years. I didn't get as much, didn't get full housing benefit or council tax benefit because I had worked for years before having dts. I know people find this a hard concept to grasp but look at how they were living.

Constantly getting offered a way out, a chance to change, a way to make things better. The old guy who did his garden up - he should be a role model for them in not feeling sorry for yourself - imagine the area if they all had his attitude. But no, it is better to give up. This is the problem of dependency, be it drugs or benefits - people giving you an excuse to live your life like that rather than saying if you don't like it do something about it.

Seriously, if they were poor they wouldn't spend all day at the bookies (and there is a business who must have no shame.) The young lass who got the flat, hope she copes because plenty who moved into my street only lasted a few weeks of drunken boyfriends showing up, midnight arguments in the middle of the street, police cars every few hours before leaving to their next fully paid up place.

If they were told they had to look after themselves what would they do? Rely on the do-gooders who enable them to continue this existence by perpetrating the poverty myth? You have a huge telly, you are not poor ffs! You lack nothing but morals and the ability to do anything for yourself.

Im in scotland and seen this for the 1st time last year, only 2 episodes were shown because of legal matters of people involved in the show. now we have seen the lot with the exeption of 'the year after it was filmed' which is on next week.
I must admit i found this really entertaining due to the fact that the people on it were just living out their day to day lives and was intrested in their stories also. Everywhere around the country has places like this with people like that its not just a localised thing.
They just dont do anythng to help themselves get out of their situation but then again its all they know and have been brought up with.
I actually found myself lol at some parts because of attitude etc but other parts where a disgrace like the drug addict who lived with his mum! all 3 of her children have had a prison sentence(libbys daughter was in a program called girls behind bars last year).
Kay the mum who takes in all her daughters friends but then kicks her own daughter out because shes pregnant is shocking!
Cant wait to tune in next week to see the finale of how they have turne out over the last year.