Community Chat

[sylviahomeatlast]

I'm little----4'11"". and small ---I don't make fun of other people

[June Lands]

On 2/7/2015 NoelSeven said:

On 2/7/2015 annabella said:

On 2/7/2015 colliemom3 said:

I think TLC exploits many of these people. You can learn from some of the shows but definitely not all of them.

I remember the show a few years ago called Dance Your Fat As**s Off. They had these very obese people stuffed into tight belly exposing outfits,dancing. It was awful and hard to watch. It was not inspiring all. Anyone who enjoyed it had to just get off on it.

It seems you're the only one who watched those shows, with what seems to be a certain amount of disturbing glee.

Oh Noel, get off your high horse of being the psychiatrist of the boards..... You always seem to have something to say about anything... another Dr. Phil. Just what we need

[birkin baby]

I used to be a fat,really fat person. I felt like many people viewed me as a joke and was the butt of many cruel jokes,rude comments,and embarrassing public humiliations. It made NO matter that I was smart,attending law school, funny, and pretty (yep,such a pretty face ,lol) . But the difference for me is I sure didn't get on a tv show where I could not controll how the producers portrayed me. I am now a very healthy average sized woman. These shows can't exploit unless the people sign on to do them. But I do think that the shows about fat people,little people, hoarders, and other things outside the norm are more often than not watched for the same reasons I watch Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and New Jersey and the Kardashians...I watch for the drama and craziness and I often shake my head and say thank goodness I'm not a hot mess like those women. I think that's just a part of human nature.

[MarthaStewardess]

One show about large or little people is ok, but then they run with it and we have too much of those kind of shows. Same goes for the people with large families. Lol, I think trashy reality shows are the reason why programs like Downton Abbey, etc are so popular. A great show that's well written with great characters. .....what a concept!

[Suziepeach]

On 2/7/2015 sylviahomeatlast said: I'm little----4'11". and small ---I don't make fun of other people

I don't either, it isn't right. I'm over weight & have had people make hurtful remarks right to my face. Some people are so rude & don't care.

[VioletEyes]

Although I am sure there are some individuals who watch these shows to see how the other half live, I seriously doubt there are not an equal number of people who watch to laugh at or set themselves up as being so much better than the crew who appear on these shows.

If I wanted to "learn" about any group of people, the last place I would look would be a scripted reality show.

[blackhole99]

But for the grace of G-d go I. Being too fat is a choice in most cases, but being a little person is not. We all know how hard it is to fit in especially when you are young, so I can't imagine how hard it is for the little people. My friend told me most women are repulsed by men who are shorter than them, I feel repulsed by that way of thinking.

[Mominohio]

On 2/7/2015 NoelSeven said:

On 2/7/2015 annabella said: The little people thing and the fat people kind of bothers me. It seems exploitative. I think in the long run it does not help their plight to fit in and be accepted. People just enjoy watching like a freak show.

Neither are "freaks."

I didn't take the statement to mean they are freaks, She was saying people want to watch this, like they can't take their eyes off a freak show.

And in fact, many these people who do reality television in general, often do tend toward the 'freakish' end of the spectrum in their group, because they seem to be willing to do about anything for the attention and money. This goes for anything from the Housewives to the Amish, to the Boo Boo's, and many others. Those not fitting that 'freakish' end of the scale category, are often just plain exploited for profit, while the public does sit, like an old circus side show, with their mouths agape and tuning in over and over.

[Free2be]

Little people are teachers to the world, in a way, and have used or been forced into the entertainment industry. This will probably always be until all of civilization treats them no different other than compassionate assists out of respect for their dignity.

I'm not sure that humanity as a whole will ever completely understand we are all the same, skinny, fat, tall, short, fair, dark and anywhere in between.

[madzonie]

On 2/8/2015 SoftRaindrops said:

Although I am sure there are some individuals who watch these shows to see how the other half live, I seriously doubt there are not an equal number of people who watch to laugh at or set themselves up as being so much better than the crew who appear on these shows.

If I wanted to "learn" about any group of people, the last place I would look would be a scripted reality show.

Thank you!! Great comment!