News Paed-stenders (I should work for The Sun!!!)

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Edmund Blackadder

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I will start by saying I do not watch Soaps, this isn't about watching it, this is about this kind of thing on our TV's.

I have read today about a new storyline in Eastenders in which a 15 year old girl is shown to have been sexually involved with her Step-Dad since she was 12.

Now the BBC has had in excess of 200 complaints already, and they are likely to go on.

The complaints are the standard 'ra ra ra, before the watershed, ra ra ra my children could see this, ra ra ra Barbara Windsor'.

Thing is, I don't agree with the complaints.

I do think that this is a very shocking storyline to follow BUT as it is something that is a problem in society, isn't it a good thing that shows like this can help (this is totally on the assumption it is written/acted correctly) show people the terrifying lengths these sick perverts go to.

If this storyline allows one case to come to light and be resolved, surely that makes it a roaring success.

This kind of abuse in society needs to end and if a show that reaches to around 5 million people an episode helps, then surely that is a good thing?
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Story on Yahoo

Here is a link to a Yahoo story on the same thing
 
I hate Eastenders, I'm never going to watch it, paedophiles in it or not. Only thing is, I don't understand why you think if 5 million people watch it something will change, there's been murders etc going to court and all that in Eastenders and all of a sudden people don't stop the murdering, do they? It will give the majority a greater understanding of what's going on in the world, but really, nothing will change. Unless Barbara Windsor becomes Prime Minister.
 
SpoonsAreCool said:
I hate Eastenders, I'm never going to watch it, paedophiles in it or not. Only thing is, I don't understand why you think if 5 million people watch it something will change, there's been murders etc going to court and all that in Eastenders and all of a sudden people don't stop the murdering, do they? It will give the majority a greater understanding of what's going on in the world, but really, nothing will change. Unless Barbara Windsor becomes Prime Minister.
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At what point did I state it would stop it?

I said 'This kind of abuse in society needs to end and if a show that reaches to around 5 million people an episode helps, then surely that is a good thing?'

If you took the time to read what I said you wouldn't have made the mistake in thinking I believe this one storyline will be the end to Paedophilia.

What this has the power to do is raise the issue to a broad audience AND maybe even (one hopes) highlight this issue just enough that someone who is dealing with this kind of abuse stands up and tells someone.

If this single storyline helps one child then it can only be seen as a success.
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PS - I really do not watch the show either, but as I said 5 million people do.
 
Buffy Summers said:
Really, how much of a leap is it from the Hollyoaks Teacher-Student having a baby storyline to this one?
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I don't watch Hollyoaks and I haven't seen any press on that.

The Eastenders storyline is dealing with the grooming of the young girl, showing her being pressured into doing it.

This is going to delve deeply into the paedophile/child story.

We ALSO have to remember that a paedophile isn't someone who sleeps with a 15 year old. That is statutory rape, but this story line is apparently dealing with the abuse this girl has felt at the hands of one of her 'parents' from the age of 12.
 
Oh, right. Yeah, well - still not too much of a leap lol. But depending on how they treat it, could be a good thing, bringing the WRONGNESS of that out into the open, for viewers who are abuse victims who might not realize they shouldn't have to put up with the abuse.
 
Buffy Summers said:
Oh, right. Yeah, well - still not too much of a leap lol. But depending on how they treat it, could be a good thing, bringing the WRONGNESS of that out into the open, for viewers who are abuse victims who might not realize they shouldn't have to put up with the abuse.
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They have had the NSPCC look over the scripts and even asked them to suggest changes to the scripts (which they have done).

I am not going to watch this show, even though I think this storyline is a good thing as it does give the ability to viewers who may be dealing with this but didn't know it was wrong to understand.
 
I think its a great idea. Things like child abuse are still taboo, and it is good to show people (who watch Eastenders) that it happens and more importantly to confront them with it, to actually show it, you know? Than people will think about, talk about. (but I must admit, Eastenders isn't exactly a very, erm, sophisticated show so I don't know how they are gonna do it. If they do it in a good way, its great, if they do it in a bad way, its just a cheap way to make more people watch it)
 
It's really all around you if news such as that presses your angry button. You don't need art to imitate life when life speaks well enough for itself.

Plus this has been done before, Aerosmith's Janies got a gun, Pearl jams alive, many many more I can't be arsed to mention. It raises awareness? Really? Aren't we allready aware when we here stories like that weirdo who kept his daughter locked up in the basement and did inbreeding activity with her? Everytime I blink around here in the states there is an Amber Alert or a story about a missing child, and the investigative court fiasco/show that run right along with it. It's out there in bulk, I know because it makes my stomache turn and myself have a real inner struggle with that "thou shall not kill' rule I ascribe to.

In the end this show, for all the awreness it may or maynot cause, is just a soap opera, it's imaginary and there is a disconnect. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the sentiment, but it's no magic bullet. News programs run in conjuction with the show sponsored by the actors talking about the many real life trajedies would be the better approach.
 
Relic said:
It's really all around you if news such as that presses your angry button. You don't need art to imitate life when life speaks well enough for itself.

Plus this has been done before, Aerosmith's Janies got a gun, Pearl jams alive, many many more I can't be arsed to mention. It raises awareness? Really? Aren't we llready aware when we here stories like that weirdo who kept his daughter locked up in the basement and did inbreeding activity with her?

In the end it's a soap opera, it's imaginary and there is a disconnect. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the sentiment, but it's no magic bullet. News programs run in conjuction with the show sponsored by the actors talking about the many real life trajedies would be the better approach.
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Erm, I think you're actually missing the point. Yes it will raise awareness within the adult community, but one of the things this storyline is aiming to do is raise it to the younger audience, perhaps the very people who are being abused in this way but don't fully understand that it is wrong. Soap Operas, especially in this country, do aim at a familial audience and will draw people from the age of around 10+.

If they are the ones reached then it is very possible that they can/will do something about it.

Plus, that last bit is what they do.

The young girl who is the victim in this, as well as the mother, will do the circuit, will give talks in schools and become the figure head in a campaign aimed at children and will likely, after the storyline has been completed, host some kind of awareness event.

I don't think anyone believes this will solve the issue BUT what it might do is inform just one person enough to end a cycle of abuse, and TV has a way of giving people the courage to stand up and say something.

On a different subject, Joss Whedon, Amber Benson and Aly Hannigan received alot of emails/letters from fans saying that because they saw the lesbian relationship done so well on TV, it gave them the strength and courage to admit to their loved ones who they were.

If that storyline can make people stand up and tell the world something about them, then this paedophile story line has that ability too, except the end result in this case is more important as it is to do with the abuse of a child.
 
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Relic
I'm not missing your point, just doubting its sharpness. Rock is geared toward younger kids too, so are a host of school educational activities. Abuse is not like sexual orientation it's much more actively discussed
Do you have school aged kids, BOTD? I do. I can't speak for everyone, but its pretty common knowledge to me that my children are taught at a very early age about the different kinds of touches and have the motto of "Say no, then go, and tell." when somethings wrong. This is done publicly and privately with school involvement, cartoons, books, etc. etc. long before a typical ten year old sneaks a look at a soap operas racey content. Unlike discussions over sexual preferance, this is discussed at a very early age, and discussed repeatedly.

In fact, children have been doing such a good job at outing the skeavy soul less degenerates, that across the board a trend is rising among repeat sexual abusers, they are adding homicide to their wrap sheets so their victims remain silent.

Unlike issues pretaining to sex ed, protection education focuses on telling the child what was done to them is a crime, that they are in danger, and are not responsible for what has happened to them.

I appreciate what the soap operas goal is, but realistically, it is sort of beating a dead horse. (Though I agree that this horse can't be dead enough.) Even if it helps one child its worth it, but this sort of thing, as I mentioned with music,(and cartoons and books and school lectures) has been done many times before.

The real story to me is the broadcasters, or 'concerned viewers' trying to muzzle the airing of the issue.
 
Relic said:
Do you have school aged kids, BOTD? I do. I can't speak for everyone, but its pretty common knowledge that children are taught at a very early age about the different kinds of touches and have the motto of "Say no, then go, and tell." when somethings wrong. This is done publicly and privately with school involvement, cartoons, books, etc. etc. long before a typical ten year old sneaks a look at a soap operas racey content.

In fact, children have been doing such a good job at outing the skeavy soul less degenerates, that across the board a trend is rising among repeat sexual abusers, are adding homicide to their wrap sheets so their victims stay silent.

I appreciate what the soap operas goal is, but realistically, it is sort of beating a dead horse. (Though I agree that this horse can't be dead enough.) Even if it helps one child its worth it, but this sort of thing, as I mentioned with rock, has been done many times before.

The real story to me is the broadcasters, or 'concerned viewers' trying to muzzle the airing of the issue.
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Actually, one of the most shocking statistics to be released with this storyline is that 65% of reported cases of child abuse are done when the child has become an adult and fully realised what happened was wrong.

It is all well and good that kids are taught what is a right kind of touch and what is a wrong kind of touch BUT what if the person telling the child is the person doing it?

This storyline is tackling that of a father figure, someone important in the life of the child and the one who should be teaching right from wrong.

How can a child differentiate between the two when one of the people they unconditionally love and trust is the one causing the abuse - this is why things like this are so important.

While no one is denying there haven't been attempts before, this is the first time, at least in this country, that a Soap Opera has taken on this kind of story, with this kind of scope with a view to further the education at an early point in the evening.

This isn't something generally discussed and usually finds its way onto late night TV.
 
Well, that 65 percent is reported, eventually, correct? So why do you think it takes so long?

Much of the time fear and shame are the reasons why the reports only show up after the child has emotionally matured. They either fear for their lives or worry what will happen to their victimizer. A teen watching a soap opera might identify with the roles there, but this identification is nothing new, and I'd wager a soap operas audience is actually smaller than some of the other media out there. (Music primarely, blogs and chat rooms probably a close second)

I don't think such an outlet should ever become something old/rare and can appreciate the sentiment, but the issue of silent victims are a problem far beyond a soap opera or any media to address, as I've said other media has allready been there and done that and the silent victim problem still goes on.

From preschool teachers and movies of the week, to Steven Tyler, to now soap operas the issue is out there. From blogs to actual government sponsered programs support is out there. Do you expect the soap opera to eat into that 65 percent anymore than childrens heroes running infomercials and mentoring kids on saturday morning? Or how about Rock music telling you to do anything from kill the piece of crap hurting you or running away?

You have a good heart BotD, you don't want kids to suffer in silence. Soap Operas might let a kid know they are not alone, but this has been done repeatedly before in many ways; I honestly don't think a soap opera differs from many of the other approaches tried.

In most cases of abuse intervention its an outside source that pays attention and sees a difference in the childs behavior, gets involved, and gets the child to open up about. If they take this tour seriously in support of the soap opera more good will come of it. The issue is in the light often enough.

Ultimately, Kids going through that kind of hell have a hard time relating even to the relatable, that doesnt mean we should stop trying; it does mean that we should take account of what works the best (personal involvement and looking out for others)and what works so-so (media trying to motivate others to stand for themselves.)

Sometimes the onlyway out...especially when you are little...is a real hand up.

It's been nice talking with you about this, even if the subject is a sad one. 😉

who knows, by us becoming media and talking about it, maybe some good will come from it.
 
I dont understand why people are complaining either. As long as the story is kept realistic as it can be (and it sounds as if it is going to as the NSPCC are involved) then this can only be a good thing.

Unfortunatley this is the reality of life, this stuff is realy going on ! It could be someone at school or your next door neighbour!

Bored of the Dead said:
If this single storyline helps one child then it can only be seen as a success.
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Exactly!

I dont watch soaps much either, I might watch eastenders once in while maybe but alot of people including teenagers watch it religously! And just like some us take Buffy very seriously they take a programmes like EE very seriously! What I am trying to say is that if a poor kid at home who is being abused who thinks it the norm see the girl on tv going through the same thing and see the outcome that the girl gets help (and I am sure that is what will happn in the programme) then they will hopefully speak up themselves and get help!
 
The fact of the matter is that people will complain because they want to shelter their kids from these attrocities. But of course that means they would rather deny that it happens than deal with it head on. I think that it's a good thing that these shows are bringing in stories that are potentially real. If kids happen to see it it will possibly give them an insight into how to deal with it if it ever happens to them. Or at least it'll prepare them for when their parents can no longer protect them from the real world. So, in short, I'm with you on this one BOTD. Some of the worst cases are those kids who don't know any better because the person they look up to most in the world is the one who's doing the abusing. Sometimes they need something on the outside informing them of their rights, etc.
 
Must resist urge to make sick jokes.

I can only applaud the production staff at easties with their futile attempt to raise viewership.. I mean awareness, to raise awareness. I said viewership, I meant awareness. Although one might ponder...resist.. what else... it might..raise.

We certainly wouldn't want this to backfire.. you know, an teach a generation of wannabe pedophiles how to groom a child.

Seriously, I'm all for raising awareness..(yeah..good luck) I'm just not sure I believe some trashy soap is the platform to do it.

In fact, I'm all for eastenders doing this.. just as long as the kid's hot and the sexy scenes are tastefully done..lol.
 
E
elmo
Oh you rogue, you!
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