I saw less than a minute of Big Brother last night and am now very angry...

[Brucelles]

My idea of reality TV is Springwatch. I watched it for the first time last night and it's nice. Animals are way cuter than people.

[TooNice]

You only have to look at the lapse in peoples knowledge of the english language over the past five or so years to see the effect that the environment we've created is having on people that are growing up within it, as a singular example of the way that mass media outlets have changed the way the general public go about their day it's nigh on unbeatable.

I don't know of there is any solid evidence that literacy is decreasing in this country. The ease of internet access has made it easy for even people with questionable writing skills to join online communities, so I reckon that we are simply more exposed to them.

I am not writing off all negative influence of the media on society. But I'd say there are a lot more factors to consider and still reckon that Big Brother is no better nor worse than 'unproductive' pass time people have enjoyed over the years. I don't know what your stance is regarding the effect of violent entertainment/video games on society, but if you happen to agree that the effects are most likely marginal (many here may even say utterly inexistant), and politicians too eager to find a scapegoat, then I'd say the same applies here.

I can say that I know reasonably intelligent adults (probably no less intelligent than the people who despise the show) entertain themselves watching that show. And I am sure there are people who can't spell who despise Big Brother. Ditto for the other way round (intelligent folks despising Big Brother, illiterate folks loving it).

[spiral out]

It's not really reality TV though is it, as it's all scripted.

It's pure drivel.

[Brucelles]

It's a callous manipulation of the idiot public's emotions. The inhabitants are always chosen for their ability to polarise opinion and cause controversy. I have only seen it once (The Shilpa Shetty Show) and have no intention of doubling that score.

[iranu]

My idea of reality TV is Springwatch.

My idea of reality tv would be something like Gladiator. Jade Goody v anotherwannabe in a fight to the death. The public gets to vote on a thumbs up or down decision.

Or how about something like "The running man".

Incidentally here's a nice bit of trivia and a good quote with regards to BB.

In the early 19th Century the Thames was basically an open sewer system. Cholera was at an all time high, killing thousands of Londoners a year. Finally, in 1856 the problem became so great the parliament decided to do something about it. They got civil engineer Joseph Bazalgette to design and implement the system. What's amusing is that the reason they did this was because they thought that illness was carried by smell. The fact that the river smelt bad meant that the bad smell made you sick. They made the sewers to keep the bad smell away from the people. Right action, wrong reason. I won't complain.

There is, however, one more amusing, and a good deal more recent twist to this issue. Peter Bazalgette, Joeseph's great-great-grandson, was responsible for brining Big Brother (the TV show) to the BBC, causing Stephen Fry, on QI, to muse that while his great-great-grandfather pumped s**t out of the peoples homes, he is pumping it right back in.

[nope]

Its sad that tv has got to this , its manipulating humans , we watch it and think its a show, i can see if it goes good for you you have the nation cheering you and when it goes bad for you we have the whole nation booing you.

Give it time and i think there will come a time when someone assaults or nearly kills someone , it has the perfect ingredients for this to happen , its just a matter of time

[JPreston]

If you don't like it, don't watch it

The majority of TV scheduling is pitched at the lowest common denominator, i.e the very thickest. It's no good swimming against the tide, you'll give yourself an embolism. Read a book or something instead!

[atifds9]

I must confess I feel more sad then angry when BB returns, how can such a worthless program have the audience it does I fear for our future.

[nope]

It wont be right me saying that its rubbish TV for i for one be a hypocrite in saying that cos i do sometime watch it but lately I don't make time for it like I did before.

It makes good tv but its not right cos we start to judge people and boo them , but i guess thats the price you pay for coming on such a show i guess.

we the public loved jayde at one time but because of what happened with shilpa it all turned pear shape. Big brothr made her and broke her.

I personally did not think she was racist though but her being upfront took its toll and it wasn't a good thing we saw.

I do agree that if you don't like it then don't watch it but that said i wished t had the sparkle like the time Kate ,Alex,johnie and jayde year , which was a magic year

[Tarffie]

I think I'd rather watch Big Brother than read one of these topics again.

Broken record etc.

[shelley bda]

I think I'd rather watch Big Brother than read one of these topics again.

Broken record etc.

Oh definately! it's acheived it's aim on way or another and it's got People talking... love it or hate it it's got your attention!

I can't stand the constant "Did ya see Big Brother last night?" from everybody I see, and even when I tell them that i'm not interested in it, they still prattle on about who did what! and she said he said! as if i'm missing out on something absolutely fantastic!this is the time my eyes glaze over and I start wishing I had a gag! or a gun or something equally destructive! it turns the most intelligent of minds into jelly

There's just no getting away! it seems to be worthy of 3 threads, and endless articles in papers and magazines.... negative as the threads may be, it's still giving BB attention it certainly does not deserve.

[MadduckUK]

Oh definately, I can't stand the constant "Did ya see Big Brother last night?" from everybody I see, and even when I tell them that i'm not interested in it, they still prattle on about who did what! and she said he said!

less talk more headbutts, or alternatively from a pacifists perspective "la la la la la la laaaaaaa!"

[ACiD303]

I think I'd rather watch Big Brother than read one of these topics again.

Broken record etc.

Agreed, first sensible post on this thread.

Like a lot of things, don't bother moaning about it - just don't give hoot, it's much easier and you'd probably feel better. And if it's worth moaning, then it's worth doing something about it.

Much more pressing problems in the world worth moaning about than a TV show.