Space Cadets ethical concerns
Endemol, the producers of Big Brother, have come up with another reality TV concept in which nine people will be told they are to take a trip into space courtesy of the Russian tourist industry. The Space Cadets however, will be flying in a Hollywood-created space shuttle, with a custom-built screen outside the windows which will give the appearance of being in orbit around the earth.
Sounds like a bit of harmless fun? Not to the Sage of Ashford, John Beyer, for whom the Channel 4 production raises deep moral concerns. From the Austin American Statesan:
I think ethical questions need to be raised about the idea of duping a group of people into believing they are going into space. Broadcasters are supposed to be focusing on better programming that elevates our society, and not on tricking people.
Strangely, a site-specific Google search of Mediawatchuk.org reveals no comments from Massah Beyer on previous shows which relied on “tricking people”, such as Candid Camera or Beadle’s About.
To be frank, if anyone is actually stupid enough to fall for this Space Cadets show, then they deserve to be duped/tricked/whatever you want to call it.
Elevate our society? Can’t TV just entertain us Mr Beyer? Or does it only have to show programmes that you approve of?
how retarded would you have to be to think a tv company had forked out billions to put a bunch of morons into space!?
‘ethical questions need to be raised about the idea of duping a group of people into believing they are going into space.’
?????
Hmm, how about asking ethical questions about duping people into believing there’s life after death, and getting them to spend their lives paying for a timeshare there?
ALL the answers are in the VITC. Use an underscanned monitor and ALL will become very clear.
Perhaps some ethical questions need to be raised about the idea of duping millions of viewers into believing that Channel 4 has duped 9 people that they are going into space.
It’s a hoax folks – but the joke’s on us!