EastEnders paedophilia storyline

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

This sort of storyline should NOT be in soaps, it will be shown as gloryfying a sick part of life, it should be be spoken in schools and community centres, where adults and children should be made aware of what to look for, who to inform etc. l for one will not watch this show, whilst this storyline is on, if it was about anything else such as cancer help, aids help, or alcohol problem, then that helps the public, but about the sickos of this world.

I think you are totally wrong there.

A lot of people watch soaps and if they are bringing up events that do happen in real life it can help people that have been through and are going through similar things and lead to to telling someone and seeking help.

I know someone that was abused by a family member when they were young and it only got brought up a few years back as they were sitting drinking with their mother and Aunt and it all came out and also happened to them when they were younger.

Now if people see this on the TV there is more chance of them seeking help.

But also there are people that will complain as they feel uncomfortable with situations like that.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

It might be a TV show, BUT in this day and age, you tell me how many shows there are on TV where something happens in real life, and you would lose count.

[Xaccers]

I thought they already did something like this with Kat?

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Hi Stephen, l do take your point, and l respect that, my all round opion is that, in case EastEnders take the matter too far, as some soaps do, when l was brought up, l had similar problems, and in those days, it was known as 'the dirty mack brigade' there is a limit, to what can be shown, and l think that this storyline, could be near the bone, You could also have the sicko's of this world, looking, but what we should be doing is teaching people about this sad incident, but l do take your piont and all parts of the media should help to educate people, and a regular basis, but sadly when the prog is over, it will be fogotten, but the sadness is, that people will still be effected - and that is the saddest part.

[idi banashapan]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

It might be a TV show, BUT in this day and age, you tell me how many shows there are on TV where something happens in real life, and you would lose count.

my point is more to the fact that it is, by all intents and purposes, an over-dramatised pseudo 'representation' of real life. in all honesty, it's not even comparable to real life. there are people here saying you can learn stuff from it, and others saying they are going to boycott watching it because of content. to those who think you can learn something from melodramatics, good luck to you.... for those of you who will boycott watching it, get down from the high horse you're on and get to grips with the fact it's not actually real.

---------- Post added at 22:58 ---------- Previous post was at 22:56 ----------

it really is just a tv show. if you really want to make a difference to those who have ACTUALLY suffered from this kind of stuff, do some charity work or something. not watching one of the most watched progammes on tv is really not going to make anyone blink.

Originally Posted by Bender

my point is more to the fact that it is, by all intents and purposes, an over-dramatised pseudo 'representation' of real life. in all honesty, it's not even comparable to real life. there are people here saying you can learn stuff from it, and others saying they are going to boycott watching it because of content. to those who think you can learn something from melodramatics, good luck to you.... for those of you who will boycott watching it, get down from the high horse you're on and get to grips with the fact it's not actually real.

Of course it's not real..however for anyone who has been a victim it is no less trite for it to be used as a form of entertainment..perhaps you should be the one to get down off your high horse?

[idi banashapan]

how can I be on my high horse when I'm the one trying to tell people it is exactly what you just said.... entertainment. a LOT of programmes these days focus on the drinking culture, drug abuse, rape, violence, etc, etc, but I don't see a thread for each of them. people get WAY too intense on this sort of stuff. unfortunately, you simply cannot hide from it. someone is always going to be in some harrowing position, no matter what soap you watch.

yeah, it happens. it's sick. it's wrong. God have mercy on me if anyone ever touched my daughter because I know I'd be the one going to jail as the person who did something would be 6 foot under. but Eastender's portrail of it is just not real and it's just not worth the effort of arguing over. it's only a TV programme...

I personally don't like the idea. I can see both sides of the opinion/argument but I really don't like it. I don't watch Deadenders anyway so it's never going to effect anyone in our house, but if I did, I'd choose not too in this case. The lines are getting greyer all the time these days in terms of what is morally acceptable before the watershed or otherwise. TV isn't the place for this in my opinion. Imagine what kids who have gone through this will feel like. Deadenders is depressing enough as it is for a start. They're not scraping the bottom of the barrel with this, they've gone right through and are now in the crap below it.

Originally Posted by Bender

how can I be on my high horse when I'm the one trying to tell people it is exactly what you just said.... entertainment. a LOT of programmes these days focus on the drinking culture, drug abuse, rape, violence, etc, etc, but I don't see a thread for each of them. people get WAY too intense on this sort of stuff. unfortunately, you simply cannot hide from it. someone is always going to be in some harrowing position, no matter what soap you watch.

yeah, it happens. it's sick. it's wrong. God have mercy on me if anyone ever touched my daughter because I know I'd be the one going to jail as the person who did something would be 6 foot under. but Eastender's portrail of it is just not real and it's just not worth the effort of arguing over. it's only a TV programme...

Intense? I think you are the one who came into the thread rather strongly..if you don't care as you much as you profess to why bother posting?

Anyway I also have the same attitude towards rape,murder,kidnapping etc being trivialised for entertainment and it matters not how bad the writing,performances or how real or unreal the soap is.IN fact the less real the production the more trite it becomes because it's just used for shock value..not to educate at all.

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Anyway I also have the same attitude towards rape,murder,kidnapping etc being trivialised for entertainment and it matters not how bad the writing,performances or how real or unreal the soap is.IN fact the less real the production the more trite it becomes because it's just used for shock value..not to educate at all.

Yes I feel there's a suspicion that the writers/programme makers may indeed be using this very sensitive issue as a publicity magnet to draw attention to the show.

On the other side of the scales there is also the argument that they may actually be taking the opportunity to bring the matter to the attention of a subset of society whos life revolves around soap operas and are generally of touch with what is happening in the real world.

[Hom3r]

The complaints have started

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7622019.stm

Hmm, paedophilia ? Im sure that technically its the correct term, but not what most people would really associate with the term, which is much younger girls. In that picture she easily looks older than 15.

Originally Posted by Paul M

Hmm, paedophilia ? Im sure that technically its the correct term, but not what most people would really associate with the term, which is much younger girls. In that picture she easily looks older than 15.

Possibly because the actress is 17...

[lilcee]

this storyline highlights the fact that this does actually happen outside of our happy home bubble. for people who would normally turn a blind eye & not talk to their children about these dangers, well, the kids will have an opportunity to talk to their peers or elders about it. if the 'do-gooders' dont like it then theres always the off button!!

I welcome anything that encourages discussions withins fanilies etc. well done BBC!

[alferret]

The "character" Tony has been grooming the "charater" Whitney for quite a while and along with the grooming is the maniplulation of Whitney.

Whether the BBC is right or wrong the fact of the matter is that this sort of abuse is happening all the time and if it draws the public's attention to certain traits that can be displayed then there is a very good possibility that someone's life may be changed enough that they break away from the abuse and\or parents\relatives will see these traits that are being shown on Eastenders and then they may be able to help\put a stop to grooming and paedophilia.

The storyline that is being shown is just that a story but it has been put together with the script writers and the NSPCC so its not just some writers thoughts on the subject its been thoroughly researched.

---------- Post added at 18:55 ---------- Previous post was at 18:55 ----------

Originally Posted by lilcee

this storyline highlights the fact that this does actually happen outside of our happy home bubble. for people who would normally turn a blind eye & not talk to their children about these dangers, well, the kids will have an opportunity to talk to their peers or elders about it. if the 'do-gooders' dont like it then theres always the off button!!

I welcome anything that encourages discussions withins fanilies etc. well done BBC!

Totally agree, and as you said there is always that OFF button.