This sort of made my night.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

http://www.upworthy.com/a-boy-makes-anti-muslim-comments-in-front-of-an-american-soldier-the-soldiers-reply-priceless

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I have questionable feelings about that show. I need to think about it, maybe I can say something more insightful later.

[Suu]

I have questionable feelings about that show. I need to think about it, maybe I can say something more insightful later.

I'm not a fan either, however, I think that this does give a little bit of insight into just how things really are. Granted, if this was for real, and it happened in front of me, that kid would have lost teeth.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I've never even heard of the fucking thing.  It was just nice to see a dozen or so people tell the "asshole" off.   If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Well, that's the thing. The show is righteousness porn.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Well, that's the thing. The show is righteousness porn.

Sure.  But given the nature of most porn shoved down my throat, it was a welcome change, at least in such a small dose.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I mean, we've criticized the media for never saying "Things aren't that bad, sometimes".

Here, they're demonstrating that some people are okay, and I approve of it.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Well, that's the thing. The show is righteousness porn.

Sure.  But given the nature of most porn shoved down my throat, it was a welcome change, at least in such a small dose.

I can see that.

I think the problem I have with the show (that clip is from a show called "What Would You Do?") is that most of the time, it isn't a re-enactment of a real incident, it's a "what if" scenario. And, when it is a re-enactment, they use creative license to escalate the situation beyond what happened in the genuine altercation, in order to generate outrage.

So the end result is a bunch of viewers basically feeling outraged and self-righteous and validated while sitting around thinking "what if".

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Well, that's the thing. The show is righteousness porn.

Sure.  But given the nature of most porn shoved down my throat, it was a welcome change, at least in such a small dose.

I can see that.

I think the problem I have with the show (that clip is from a show called "What Would You Do?") is that most of the time, it isn't a re-enactment of a real incident, it's a "what if" scenario. And, when it is a re-enactment, they use creative license to escalate the situation beyond what happened in the genuine altercation, in order to generate outrage.

So the end result is a bunch of viewers basically feeling outraged and self-righteous and validated while sitting around thinking "what if".

I'm just sitting here imagining every person they pulled this on just averting their eyes and waiting for the unpleasantness to go away.

Because that's always a possibility.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

And if the program makes even a few people more likely to speak up in a situation even remotely similar, then I call it a success.

I'd have done it a bit differently, though.  The "friend" who makes racial or gender comments while everyone's out eating, etc.

[Cainad (dec.)]

I mean, we've criticized the media for never saying "Things aren't that bad, sometimes".

Here, they're demonstrating that some people are okay, and I approve of it.

I'm in agreement. If we're concerned about the alienating effects of the "Ain't It Awful" media that puts the biggest loudmouth bigots and scum in front of a camera, then a dose of "some people actually remember what freedom of religion is supposed to be about, and that racism is unacceptable" probably does more good than harm. Even if it is served in a reality tv format.

I can see that.

I think the problem I have with the show (that clip is from a show called "What Would You Do?") is that most of the time, it isn't a re-enactment of a real incident, it's a "what if" scenario. And, when it is a re-enactment, they use creative license to escalate the situation beyond what happened in the genuine altercation, in order to generate outrage.

So the end result is a bunch of viewers basically feeling outraged and self-righteous and validated while sitting around thinking "what if".

Probably also correct. It's not all that different from Facebook-style slacktivism in that regard, providing some moral high ground for no effort.

Still, if we're going to be filling people's heads with fictions and spectacles that are designed to appeal to base emotions, we might as well be filling their heads with fictions about standing up for tolerance. As opposed to scaring them with "gun-crazy genocidal racist conservatives run the country!" or "freedom-fucking socialist liberals run the country!"

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Well, that's the thing. The show is righteousness porn.

Sure.  But given the nature of most porn shoved down my throat, it was a welcome change, at least in such a small dose.

I can see that.

I think the problem I have with the show (that clip is from a show called "What Would You Do?") is that most of the time, it isn't a re-enactment of a real incident, it's a "what if" scenario. And, when it is a re-enactment, they use creative license to escalate the situation beyond what happened in the genuine altercation, in order to generate outrage.

So the end result is a bunch of viewers basically feeling outraged and self-righteous and validated while sitting around thinking "what if".

I'm just sitting here imagining every person they pulled this on just averting their eyes and waiting for the unpleasantness to go away.

Because that's always a possibility.

That's usually exactly how it is, until they artificially escalate the scene beyond believability.

The program is dismal. Scene: everyone ignores it. Escalate: everyone ignores it. Escalate again: everyone ignores it. Continue all day, escalating until you have enough footage of people being decent and doing something.

All the unwitting participants are upset, all the viewers feel warm and fuzzy. I fell for it completely the first few times I saw it, like the episode where the black shopper is asked to leave the store and the breastfeeding in public one. Subjects near and dear to my heart. But then I saw a few more and started to think a little more about what was actually happening there, to deconstruct it and think about how, exactly, my chain was being yanked.

No shame in liking that episode, but the series itself, the very premise of what it is and why it's successful, makes me feel a little sick.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Well, that's the thing. The show is righteousness porn.

Sure.  But given the nature of most porn shoved down my throat, it was a welcome change, at least in such a small dose.

I can see that.

I think the problem I have with the show (that clip is from a show called "What Would You Do?") is that most of the time, it isn't a re-enactment of a real incident, it's a "what if" scenario. And, when it is a re-enactment, they use creative license to escalate the situation beyond what happened in the genuine altercation, in order to generate outrage.

So the end result is a bunch of viewers basically feeling outraged and self-righteous and validated while sitting around thinking "what if".

I'm just sitting here imagining every person they pulled this on just averting their eyes and waiting for the unpleasantness to go away.

Because that's always a possibility.

That's usually exactly how it is, until they artificially escalate the scene beyond believability.

The program is dismal. Scene: everyone ignores it. Escalate: everyone ignores it. Escalate again: everyone ignores it. Continue all day, escalating until you have enough footage of people being decent and doing something.

All the unwitting participants are upset, all the viewers feel warm and fuzzy. I fell for it completely the first few times I saw it, like the episode where the black shopper is asked to leave the store and the breastfeeding in public one. Subjects near and dear to my heart. But then I saw a few more and started to think a little more about what was actually happening there, to deconstruct it and think about how, exactly, my chain was being yanked.

No shame in liking that episode, but the series itself, the very premise of what it is and why it's successful, makes me feel a little sick.

I can see your point.  But consider:  We have been conditioned in exactly the same manner to ignore our own rights and our fellow man.  Now the bit is being run backwards, encouraging positive behavior as the model, instead of "Fuck you, I got mine" or "Crazy Woman From Alaska Represents YOU To The Rest of The World."

But I AM operating off of a single data point.  Tonight I shall watch a few more of these, to see if it's valuable, or if it's just a big sack of saccharine.

[Cramulus]

I think if the show gets people to visualize how they would react in those situations, and in doing so predisposes them towards more moral or responsible outcomes, it's a win.

One of the best ways to counter the bystander effect is to educate people about it, show it to them in action. Maybe Kitty Genovese would be alive if her neighbors had been exposed to one of these "What Would You Do?" scenarios.



that being said I'm not a big fan of the show anyway 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I think if the show gets people to visualize how they would react in those situations, and in doing so predisposes them towards more moral or responsible outcomes, it's a win.

One of the best ways to counter the bystander effect is to educate people about it, show it to them in action. Maybe Kitty Genovese would be alive if her neighbors had been exposed to one of these "What Would You Do?" scenarios.



that being said I'm not a big fan of the show anyway 

The after-interviews are kind of smarmy.  BUT STILL.