Refuse to Watch (or promote) Bullying TV Shows
Years ago, everyone on TV shows was nice (remember Bullseye, with Jim Bowen engaging with guests, who were never humiliated, even if they missed the dartboard, and lost the speedboat?)
Today, many TV shows echo social media, offering lazy programmes built on cruel jokes, exclusion and public humiliation. They (sadly) draw big crowds and advertising pounds, creating a society obsessed with bullying, ‘winning’, empty fame and prize money.
It may seem harmless to watch or support such media. But the trouble is that by watching (or even talking about and promoting) such shows, it’s giving ‘quiet approval’ to bullying in disguise.
What we watch and promote, carries real weight, to the kind of society we wish to create. If you care about kindness, the right thing to do is clear: don’t give your support to TV shows that encourage meanness.
Isla St Clair (not impressed by reality TV)
Many people loved The Generation Game TV series a few decades ago, presented by Larry and his beautiful co-star Isla St Clair. She was a Scottish folk singer (she still is! – listen to beautiful songs at her site for free).
However like many, she is not impressed with modern reality TV (from bullying TV shows to ones that millions inexplicably seem to find entertaining). She writes that people long for a light entertainment show that ‘doesn’t involve eating worms or awful revelations that should be kept indoors’.
A view shared by TV wildlife presenter Chris Packham. He recently wrote an open letter to Ant and Dec, asking them to not promote a show where native creatures are scared (or eaten) for ‘entertainment’.
Each year, Ofcom receives thousands of complaints about the ‘I’m a Celebrity’ show, which also disrupts local ecosystems (these are creature that in nature, would be food for other creatures).
The programs also sends the message that insects are of no value. In fact, insects vital to ecosystems (and likely a more important range of species than humans!)
Understanding Bullying in TV Shows
If you were ever bullied at school (or in the workplace), you will know the deep lasting damage that it can do. Sometimes for life.
But bullying on screen (just as in real life) wears many masks. It’s more subtle than stealing someone’s lunch money. Sometimes it’s a clever ‘dig’ at someone else’s expense, or contestants ganging up on someone, for cheap laughs. Often it’s mockery dressed up as ‘banter’.
It’s not just ‘harmless fun’ to promote such programs. The producers go out of their way to ensure people are humiliated, and supporting them means you are encouraging them to do more of the same.
It may not affect you, but the after-effects will harm others.
Bullying on Popular Reality TV Shows
Bullying on TV doesn’t always involve shouting or physical fights. Sometimes, it’s hidden as jokes, clever editing, or competitive strategy.
- Britain’s Got Talent: Judges often embarrass contestants. They laugh at talentless acts or make cutting remarks, all while the crowd jeers.
- Come Dine With Me: Sarcastic voiceovers and contestants mocking each other over meals might seem funny, but it usually ends with someone feeling isolated and ridiculed. Interestingly, the European versions of this show are good, with everyone being nice and pleasant to each other .
- Big Brother: Housemates face constant public judgement and pressure. Tasks and arguments are designed to trigger fights and embarrassment.
- The Traitors: The format pushes players to isolate, deceive, and shame each other. Hostile whispering and plotting, leads to cruel behaviour. It spills over into real life, when people forget that honesty is a require character trait for decent people in everyday life.
And the obvious too – all of these programmes are unoriginal, non-creative and incredibly boring!
