The Crazy Rants of Samantha BurnsA Dopey Idea From The Dutch
Them Dutch are trying to outdo us Canadians in the drug arena again. How dare they; don't they know that Canada IS the pot capitol of the world?
It's been reported that a Dutch talk show reporter plans on taking heroin and other drugs while on the television airwaves.
It is an attempt at bringing awareness to youth on the dangers of drugs.
The reporter plans to tape segments of drugging himself up and getting drunk while another reporter will show clips "about engaging in sex acts, but not on camera".
It's too darn bad it's not the other way around. I think they would have more young viewers if they actually showed clips of people, including the reporter, having sex.
If anything gets kids interested in watching the news, this has got to be it, but I just don't see it being effective in its pursuit to caution kids on the dangers of drugs, drinking, and sex.
On the contrary to bringing awaresness, these weekly broadcasts will likely aid in showing kids how to use drugs instead - an instructional guide.
If anything, they will see that it is acceptable: if the reporters themselves are doing it, why can't they? Not only that, but if society allows this to be shown on tv, then it will only make sense to the kids that they be allowed to do it, too.
Stick to what you know best, ya, all of which happens to be located in the red light district.
Comments
Damn. How is this acceptable, even to the Dutch? Has drug abuse pervaded their society so much they've totally lost control of their senses?
Posted by: Billy D | September 23, 2005 02:50 PM
Omigod you put me on your randome blogroll. Thanks. Is that a photo of you in the upper left corner ? If so you are definitely the best looking woman who has ever paid that much attention to me. I could try shooting heroin on Dutch TV but I'm not that desperate yet.
Thansk again
Robert Waldmann
Posted by: Robert Waldmann | September 23, 2005 04:15 PM
By the way, I read on the web and I'm not 100% sure it was a joke that the Dutch state hires prostitutes for the disabled so they can have sex which is now recognised as a positive human right in Holland.
Posted by: Robert Waldmann | September 23, 2005 04:17 PM
Robert - ya, I believe that's a fact. Great, we're going to lose all our men to Holland because they are going to move there and claim to be disabled. Heck they'll probably cut off a limb just for that "human right".
Yes, that's my photo, and thanks for such a kind compliment.
Posted by: Sam | September 23, 2005 04:46 PM
Interesting, maybe sex is cut as unable to perform after all the drugs in system
using drugs to compensate perhaps
Posted by: Alan Kennedy | September 23, 2005 05:57 PM
This reporter is a young guy who wants to make a name for himself. Seems to be doing allright in that sense. After the 'giving birth live' in the Big Brother house, there's not much that surprises me anymore from our TV makers.
Sex doesn't score on Dutch TV, there's no big deal there. Might explain the fact that the teenage-pregnancy figure in Holland is one the lowest in the western world. They actually know what they're doing (or are too bored with it to have sex).
So I suppose this new 'show' falls into that category too: "let's get this drug-thing out of the closet and make it less 'mystical' and 'cool'". Actually show what happens. And show that it's actually a fairly messy and scary world.
But the fact that it is another Dutchman who seems to want to make a programme that to a certain degree is beyond taste does get a bit boring. Why not a Dane for a change?
The Red Light District is indeed what we're good at, it's a nice tourist trap and the businesses (including prostitutes) even pay tax. So when your Canadian men visit one of them, they are indirectly paying for that drug-TV programme (BNN-channel is state funded).
So let that be a lesson Canadian Men, do not visit prostitutes!
Posted by: minispace | September 24, 2005 02:08 PM
@mr. Waldmann: the Dutch State doesn't hire prostitutes for them, but disabled people can save coupons in the Supermarket.
Posted by: minispace | September 24, 2005 03:13 PM
Perhaps it was too expensive to license the right to show movies like Traffic or Requiem for a Dream on Dutch TV. I would think those films demonstrate the downsides of drugs quite well.
Posted by: PG | September 28, 2005 11:58 AM
Assuming that Reuters is accurate, here's an even better instance of Dutch oddity...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9514879/
Posted by: PG | September 29, 2005 07:35 AM