Reality show ... with a heart.

[ShyGuy68]

I know, that almost sounds like a contradiction doesn't it?

Last week while I was channel surfing I came across an episode of the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on a Danish channel. I don't know why it caught my attention, but soon I found out they were going to help a girl who was allergic to the sun (it was this episode). Then yesterday they had a marathon on the same channel, where they showed 3 or 4 episodes of the show again, and I have to admit that I was very pleased to see that in episode they were helping familys who needed their help. To me it's a pleasant surprise to see the help reach people who need it in some way.

 

[sunfox]

I agree, in part.. they've always done worthwhile home building episodes.

But the pastor's kid side of me says, "If you've got all this money to build gigantic houses filled with expensive furniture, you can afford to build low-income housing for the thousands who live in horrible pits with dirt front yards filled with broken glass, or new schools with better facilites and new books/computers, to replace all the crappy schools we have now."

I'm never satisfied.

 

[stingray61]

yeah that show is a good un. I also agree with sunfox and where were they when I needed help?

 

[arctic-stranger]

I agree, in part.. they've always done worthwhile home building episodes.

But the pastor's kid side of me says, "If you've got all this money to build gigantic houses filled with expensive furniture, you can afford to build low-income housing for the thousands who live in horrible pits with dirt front yards filled with broken glass, or new schools with better facilites and new books/computers, to replace all the crappy schools we have now."

I'm never satisfied.

There is a special place in heaven for pastors' kids...at least i hope so

 

[catalina_francisco]

I saw the programme too and thought it was a nice thing to do in a situation where help was needed and appreciated. I have been guilty at times of also asking 'why' and 'what if', but have realised it is human nature to look at the negatives, and far easier to criticise good actions than contribute to them ourselves. It is said there will always be suffering so to deny some because the whole cannot be helped does not decrease the burden, nor is it easy to decide who is worthy and who is undeserving.

I have only met one person in my life who honestly clipped their own lifestyle so as to give what was saved and more to those in need throughout the world. She was my feminist studies lecturer at University and she not only got her hands dirty doing manual work in third world countries, as well as raising awareness of the plight of the poor worldwide, but she put her money where her mouth was by contributing most of her monthly salary to organisations who were genuinely helping the disadvantaged. She bought a house with her partner and her way of deciding on the house for them was by buying a small inexpensive house which would not be huge or fancy but serve their purposes for daily living thus saving more money for the people she felt needed it more. She also would not buy from supermarkets, chain stores, or buy products from multinational brandlines because she felt so strongly about the way that contributed to worldwide poverty and oppression of those less powerful. I would love to be able to be as self sacrificing as she was/is, but I cannot at this point in my life.

Catalina

 

[sunfox]

There is a special place in heaven for pastors' kids...at least i hope so

*laughs* I don't know if I'm likely to go to heaven, but I cannot be said to be uncharitable, by any stretch. I learned very well that I can do without all the flat-panel tvs and expensive clothes so that I had money left over to give to the charities of my choice.

Like Catalina, I'm not in a place where I can travel to third world countries to help, though I do give to church charities for those countries, and since I lack a green thumb, I can't grow my own food and avoid going to stores, though sometimes I'd like to with prices the way they are.

But I do therapy work with my dogs, and used to take inner city kids riding at the stable I worked at when I was younger.. I plan to do some Search & Rescue and Disaster training with my newest dog once he's fully mature (I should say grown.. he's a doberman.. he'll never be mature. ), so I'd say I do a decent share. I give to animal shelters and dog rescues, as well as horse rescues... animals are my soapbox much more than humanitarian issues, but I still feel strongly about helping the less fortunate. It is, I think, a benefit of growing up in a household where others always came first.

 

[graceanne]

This is actually the only reality show I will watch. I don't approve of shows that make their money being cruel. I also won't watch most sit coms for this reason.

As for the charity thing, yeah, they should spend that money helping people who really need it. But the fact is that they (the producers and television people) aren't doing this out of the good of their hearts, they're doing it for ratings. If they weren't making money on this, they wouldn't do it. I like watching it cause the people are so happy at the end, but frankly I quite often roll my eyes. Like the one time they had a tv in every room of this house they built. If I were to have a house built for me, I'd be embarrassed over those kind of things. I personally want a simple house with just the necesssities, and a few luxuries, like dishwashers. Some of these houses they build are just flat out ridiculous.

 

[catalina_francisco]

This is actually the only reality show I will watch. I don't approve of shows that make their money being cruel. I also won't watch most sit coms for this reason.

As for the charity thing, yeah, they should spend that money helping people who really need it. But the fact is that they (the producers and television people) aren't doing this out of the good of their hearts, they're doing it for ratings. If they weren't making money on this, they wouldn't do it. I like watching it cause the people are so happy at the end, but frankly I quite often roll my eyes. Like the one time they had a tv in every room of this house they built. If I were to have a house built for me, I'd be embarrassed over those kind of things. I personally want a simple house with just the necesssities, and a few luxuries, like dishwashers. Some of these houses they build are just flat out ridiculous.

LOL, my mother in law was horrified when F told her I had protested long and strong against him getting a dishwasher put in our new kitchen. She thought I had rocks in my head as it has been her dream to have a dishwasher. He did explain to her my reasoning was environmental.

Catalina