[billy123]

It is designed to make working class people feel better about their lives even though they are a lot worse off than they have been for a long long time.
Giving them a section of society to look down on makes them feel relatively superior even though it isnt a true reflection of the world.
The sad thing is that so many are willing to put the blinkers on and lap it up like good little citizens.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by bobnot

It is designed to make working class people feel better about their lives even though they are a lot worse off than they have been for a long long time.
Giving them a section of society to look down on makes them feel relatively superior even though it isnt a true reflection of the world.
The sad thing is that so many are willing to put the blinkers on and lap it up like good little citizens.

Exactly. Working class pride. An effort to make people feel proud and superior just because "they go out to work", even if it's for peanuts. Keeps people quiet.

[Ammi]

...but then that's also stereotyping a 'public mindset' when a vast majority of the public do realise that it's only a tiny minority of people on benefits who aren't genuine and who are shown in these programmes...to describe 'public mindsets' as trash is equally stereotyping in a very negative way..no 'public' that I personally know is in any doubt that benefit fraud is a tiny percentage ...

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...but then that's also stereotyping a 'public mindset' when a vast majority of the public do realise that it's only a tiny minority of people on benefits who aren't genuine and who are shown in these programmes...to describe 'public mindsets' as trash is equally stereotyping in a very negative way..no 'public' that I personally know is in any doubt that benefit fraud is a tiny percentage ...

So you are genuinely trying to tell me that in the last five years, there HASN'T been ANY trend toward the vilification of benefits and benefits claimants? Nothing about the recession has been scapegoated onto benefits claimants? There isn't an increasing atmosphere of animosity around the subject?

...are you asleep, Ammi? Are you actually asleep?

[Ammi]

..that's not what I said though, that people on benefits aren't sometimes often portrayed in a negative way but that to also stereotype a public mindset as 'trash' is exactly the same as thing being objected to..?..in the same way as the majority of people on benefits are genuine..there is also a vast public who realise that and realise the slant of it/the programmes etc...


..I'll ignore the last little condescending bit of your post ...

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Exactly. Working class pride. An effort to make people feel proud and superior just because "they go out to work", even if it's for peanuts. Keeps people quiet.

Is that such a bad thing though that people should feel "pride" in earning their own money? These programmes are made because they are cheap to make and get reasonable ratings so its win win for the channel, I doubt there is a government initiative driving them, I would like a similar type of programme to be carried out on the Lords and how much money is wasted on them but I guess they are too canny to get involved.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Is that such a bad thing though that people should feel "pride" in earning their own money?

It is if that stops them from realising that they are being exploited by people who are laughing at them all the way to the bank. Or if it makes them feel morally superior to anyone else.

I'm not a religious person... but "Pride" is considered to be a sin for a very good reason.

These programmes are made because they are cheap to make and get reasonable ratings so its win win for the channel, I doubt there is a government initiative driving them, I would like a similar type of programme to be carried out on the Lords and how much money is wasted on them but I guess they are too canny to get involved.

Yes, and there's a reason that they get those ratings. People whipped up and ready for a witch hunt. People realise that things are ****, it makes them angry, and they want someone to blame. That blame has been shifted - for obvious reasons - onto the people who are least likely to have the resources to do anything about it.

That's why you don't see three hours in a row of these shows about the lords or the corrupt MPs or unscrupulous bankers. They have the money to stop it.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It is if that stops them from realising that they are being exploited by people who are laughing at them all the way to the bank. Or if it makes them feel morally superior to anyone else.

I'm not a religious person... but "Pride" is considered to be a sin for a very good reason.




Yes, and there's a reason that they get those ratings. People whipped up and ready for a witch hunt. People realise that things are ****, it makes them angry, and they want someone to blame. That blame has been shifted - for obvious reasons - onto the people who are least likely to have the resources to do anything about it.

That's why you don't see three hours in a row of these shows about the lords or the corrupt MPs or unscrupulous bankers. They have the money to stop it.

So anyone who goes out to earn a wage is being exploited? I don't feel morally superior for going to work, I go to work because I want to pay my bills, keep a roof over my head and have a certain standard of living and I would rather work for "peanuts" and I have done in the past than sit at home watching daytime TV. It used to be called a work ethic!


I think you underestimate the viewing public we are not all brain washed idiots, the programmes could not be made if people didn't want to be the next "White Dee" or see a freebie landing in their lap, so you have to lay as much blame on the participants as the programme makers.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by bobnot

It is designed to make working class people feel better about their lives even though they are a lot worse off than they have been for a long long time.
Giving them a section of society to look down on makes them feel relatively superior even though it isnt a true reflection of the world.
The sad thing is that so many are willing to put the blinkers on and lap it up like good little citizens.

[rubymoo]

I watched the first 5 minutes then thought..."why the hell are you watching 2 strangers getting married, who are on benefits????? Is this really what tv has come to????"

So i switched off, grabbed a glass of red wine and did a few suduko puzzles in silence

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by rubymoo

I watched the first 5 minutes then thought..."why the hell are you watching 2 strangers getting married, who are on benefits????? Is this really what tv has come to????"

So i switched off, grabbed a glass of red wine and did a few suduko puzzles in silence

Do you watch BB Ruby? more strangers doing stuff on TV

[rubymoo]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Do you watch BB Ruby? more strangers doing stuff on TV

Complete contradiction i know

I'm bored of the whole benefits thing, Channel 5 needs to put something else on.

They could come round to mine and spend a day in the life of a mum/dog walker/wife

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by rubymoo

I watched the first 5 minutes then thought..."why the hell are you watching 2 strangers getting married, who are on benefits????? Is this really what tv has come to????"

So i switched off, grabbed a glass of red wine and did a few suduko puzzles in silence

Me too but i played some Xbox rather than the Soduko

[smudgie]

Anyone thinking of getting married would be well advised to watch the programme.
It was utter garbage the way it was presented (sorry Matt), the stopping and interviewing during the service etc, but the way the couple planned the wedding on a shoestring was amazing.
I absolutely loved the way the shop bought cake was customised to look simple but very classy, everything about the actual wedding looked amazing.
I don't see any problem at all hiring a sunbed for a month, works out at about £3.75 each a week, hardly excessive spending to make them feel good for the big day. Ok, they went into a little bit of debt to help pay for it, but they said they would cut back a bit to pay for it, they didn't ask for extra handouts.
The worst thing about the show was Matt constantly asking throughout what they think the public will think about them having a wedding on benefits, throwing a negative slant on it. Insinuating that they were wrong really.
I for one thought it was great, given the chance I reckon the wife could make a go of a business for budget weddings, talented lady the way she managed to make those little baskets etc out of next to nothing.
Good luck to the happy couple.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by smudgie

Anyone thinking of getting married would be well advised to watch the programme.
It was utter garbage the way it was presented (sorry Matt), the stopping and interviewing during the service etc, but the way the couple planned the wedding on a shoestring was amazing.
I absolutely loved the way the shop bought cake was customised to look simple but very classy, everything about the actual wedding looked amazing.
I don't see any problem at all hiring a sunbed for a month, works out at about £3.75 each a week, hardly excessive spending to make them feel good for the big day. Ok, they went into a little bit of debt to help pay for it, but they said they would cut back a bit to pay for it, they didn't ask for extra handouts.
The worst thing about the show was Matt constantly asking throughout what they think the public will think about them having a wedding on benefits, throwing a negative slant on it. Insinuating that they were wrong really.
I for one thought it was great, given the chance I reckon the wife could make a go of a business for budget weddings, talented lady the way she managed to make those little baskets etc out of next to nothing.
Good luck to the happy couple.

Your maths are a bit out Smudge 30.00 for 4 weeks works out at 7.50 which would equate to about 10 per cent weekly benefit, I agree with your other points though I feel they would have been aware of the slant of the programme they just weren't bothered, I also think going into debt for a wedding is not the wisest move working or not!

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I also think going into debt for a wedding is not the wisest move working or not!

That much is true but then, I've known working couples to go £30,000+ in debt for a wedding which as A) insane and B) irresponsible (both personally and socially). People just go overboard with weddings in general, IMO. Plus the catering at these expensive weddings, sometimes running to £50 a head or more, is utterly insane! It's never even good! Dry chicken and cold veg... and not enough of it... mmm! Put out massive platters of pizza and snack-sized sausage rolls (bag of 50 for £1 from Morrisons...) and everyone will be happier and fuller, and the happy couple will be better off .

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Your maths are a bit out Smudge 30.00 for 4 weeks works out at 7.50 which would equate to about 10 per cent weekly benefit, I agree with your other points though I feel they would have been aware of the slant of the programme they just weren't bothered, I also think going into debt for a wedding is not the wisest move working or not!

Nope, nothng wrong with my maths, I said it worked out at £3.75 each. ( unless they paid £30 each)
We are both right.
The way the lady had everything in such tight control. I wouldn't be surprised if it had been budgeted for a good while.
I was well impressed with the £30 each for their hen/stag nights as well.
I am not into wearing a ruddy meringue and walking down the aisle so our wedding cost next to nothing, but I can see that a lot of people like to do it in style so as to speak, some people need a second mortgage just to pay for the day