Why are television companies allowed to exploit people that are obviously ILL in this way??

[VictorianSqualor]

My Fake Baby last night was another sad 'Look at these freaks' documentary, and I got quite angry about it tbh, those women were ill.

They aren't harming anyone, and it's much better than stealing a baby, but that's the same frame of mind IMO.

It was dreadful to watch such people exploited and laughed at as a 'documentary'.

There was another one I watched the other day that was similar, 'Help.....I've got a high maintenance wife'. I put it on to show DP how great I am

But anyway, out of four women one was your typical high maintenance 'I must have that £24637946327657 handbag' type.

The other three were one who was suffering from terrible OCD, one who had a severe phobia of dying that was restricting her whole life, so much so she sat in the car outside the doctors during the day, and the other was a body builder who could quite possibly have had a form of body dysmorphic order.

Surely these people should not be allowed to be plastered across our tv in their worst moments for peopel to laugh at??

i agree, i try not to watch this trash. but occassionally on a weak moment i will get sucked into watching 'the woman with 5 ears' or 'the 2mm children' and hate myself. it is pornagraphic.

I saw the fake baby programme last night as well. The lady who looked after her Grandson made me cry. My heart went out to her.

and X factor contestants who clearly have learning difficulties

Yes, these 'documentaries' are exploitative and facile. Very few documentaries genuinely inform these days, like they used to.

Often I've started to watch some medical doc, in the hope of getting some real, scientific, information. And all you get is this formula:

"Billy has Such-and-Such Syndrome. It makes him look unusual and feel sad. We flew Billy to Los Angeles to see a doctor who told him that Such-and-Such Syndrome typically makes sufferers look unusual and feel sad. He had an operation, that made him feel a bit better. Here is the surgeon at work, in close-up. Meanwhile, back at home, Billy's mother and dogs were missing him."

Stop fuelling the ratings and switch it off. 'tis all shit.

Are ratings actually gathered by how many people watch it though? I thought it was those box things people have and a percentage was gatehred.

if people didn't watch it, they wouldn't produce it.

it's shite all of it.

i love x factor but dont watch the auditions for that reason, Capp. its v unhappy and i find it uncomfortable to watch

(im not stalking you!)

I think it is box things VS, but I imagine TV companies also get a lot feedback from ensuing media coverage/discussion.

So in case they're lurking on here for opinions 'IT'S SHIT. MAKE SOMETHING CLEVER'.

I do love x factor but there is absolutely no reason why people that have obvious learning difficulties should be put forward for audition in front of the judges. All contestants audition in front of the producers first so it would be easy enough to just not put them through.

But as for the likes of these documentary type shows, and I would go so far as to include big brother in this trash-fest, they serve no purpose what so every other than some sort of freak show.

also with digital tv such as sky/cable/freeview it's easy enough now to establish how many people are watching, without having to have those boxes on top of your tv.

ah is that how they do it wannabe. ive always wondered