Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Dutch TV Producers Aren't Fooling Anyone, Are They?
Inclusion Daily Express
Dutch broadcaster SBS 6 is creating quite a stir with the announced February 20 launch of "Love at Second Sight", which news sources are describing as a television dating show for "the visibly disfigured".
"Do you have a visible serious handicap and are you looking for a partner?" the producers reportedly ask on the program's website.
It remains to be seen how many people will answer the producers' call to appear on the so-called 'reality' program.
A recent poll would suggest that most prospective viewers -- 85 percent -- don't like the idea.
That's interesting, considering that the Netherlands was the birthplace of "Big Brother" and other famous 'reality' shows.
It's also interesting, coming from a country where much of the population seems to support euthanizing babies with disabilities, along with allowing doctors to assist adults with disabilities to commit suicide.
Reuters news service noted that SBS 6 says the program is designed to "remove prejudice about these people, to create more acceptance and respect, and, of course, to find the love of their lives" and would allow such people to "share experiences and feelings in a positive way with the rest of the Netherlands and to show that they are absolutely not pitiful."
I wonder how genuine those intentions are, considering that the producers originally wanted to call the program "Monster Love".
Dave Reynolds, Editor
Inclusion Daily Express / Inclusion Weekly Review
International Disability Rights News Service
http://www.InclusionDaily.com
News@InclusionDaily.com ¶ 8:35 AM
Dutch broadcaster SBS 6 is creating quite a stir with the announced February 20 launch of "Love at Second Sight", which news sources are describing as a television dating show for "the visibly disfigured".
"Do you have a visible serious handicap and are you looking for a partner?" the producers reportedly ask on the program's website.
It remains to be seen how many people will answer the producers' call to appear on the so-called 'reality' program.
A recent poll would suggest that most prospective viewers -- 85 percent -- don't like the idea.
That's interesting, considering that the Netherlands was the birthplace of "Big Brother" and other famous 'reality' shows.
It's also interesting, coming from a country where much of the population seems to support euthanizing babies with disabilities, along with allowing doctors to assist adults with disabilities to commit suicide.
Reuters news service noted that SBS 6 says the program is designed to "remove prejudice about these people, to create more acceptance and respect, and, of course, to find the love of their lives" and would allow such people to "share experiences and feelings in a positive way with the rest of the Netherlands and to show that they are absolutely not pitiful."
I wonder how genuine those intentions are, considering that the producers originally wanted to call the program "Monster Love".
Dave Reynolds, Editor
Inclusion Daily Express / Inclusion Weekly Review
International Disability Rights News Service
http://www.InclusionDaily.com
News@InclusionDaily.com ¶ 8:35 AM
