Reality’s Believe It or Not

Posted By: PositiveAction1 @ 09/30/2008 1:30:38 AM

Comment: Are you joking. I watched that show in admiration of what they have accomplished. I am a Mother of 4 children and 1 disabled little boy I have had since he was 5 weeks old. They said he would never walk and might never talk. But today at 14 he is nearly 6 feet tall and is a wonderful and happy kid that EVERYONE loves. I admir Abby & Britneys courage and wish them nothing but the VERY best.. God understands why everything is the way it is on this earth, someday I have some questions I would like to ask why about. But for now I am content to live everyday and love everyone to the absolute best of my ability. With ALL my heart.

Posted By: Ranger69 @ 03/22/2008 2:52:27 AM

Comment: www.NeilsHealth.com (regarding obesity). Check it out (seriously)!

Posted By: justcuz @ 02/29/2008 6:22:53 PM

Comment: wow talk about picking the wrong soap box, the article above is simply a discussion on the morality of a few television shows ,not a political venue to vent whatever rage you have clearly surpressed.

Posted By: eddiewhere @ 02/29/2008 2:19:36 AM

Comment: IN THIS ENVIORNMENT OF ECONOMIC FEUDALISM WHERE THE MIDDLE CLASS MUST SUFFER IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE pROFITS OF MULTINATIONAL CORpORATIONS, WHO BENEFIT FROM CHEAp LABOR, THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS BEEN LOST.
MULTINALTIONALS FROM INDIA HAVE BROUGHT THEIR CHEAp WAyS TO AMERICA. WE NOW HAVE AMERIANS GOING TO GET HEART SURGERy IN INDIA BEAUSE IT IS CHEApER. OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLy JOBS HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCED TO INDIA.
CHINA WAITS UNTIL WE INVENT IT AND THEN THEy STEAL IT. WHy REINVENT THE WHEEL.
ARABS FINANCIERS OWN OVER TWELVER pER CENT OF OUR ECONOMy AND IN RECENT MONTTHS HAVE "BAILED" OUT OUR BANKS. IN ADDITION, ARAB INTEREST FROM DUBAI AND KUWAIT HAVE FINANCED OUR pOLITICAL LEADERS ENDEVOURS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE pOLITICAL SpECTRUM.. IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

We have been fooled by our own government and there is no way any Republican is going to win this election. THE Middle class has had it with all this Bin LADEN terrorist crap. WE are now scared of our own government more than we are of the terrorist because the decisions this government is making on our behalf is not in our best interests and it is killing us. The government is now dominating our civil liberties. They are giving the states millions for Real ID Cards. This is just the start of government intrusion. Combine this with the misuse of the Patriot Act and the future Plans of insurance comPanies and corporations to have full access to our personal records and we have a real crisis.
Credit Card companies have already started selling and sharing our personal information with the private sector. We really have to wake up and protect our constitution it is all we have to defend ourselves against interests that become too rich and powerful in this country. The government keeps expanding and is being predominantly controlled by special interest and lobbyist. The middle class is being weakened and our civil liberties are being threatened. Real ID Cards will not make "us safer" infacat terrorists can obtain fake ones and move about freely. The American people did not vote on Real ID Cards, we need a vote. Our constitution would have to be ammended in order for Real ID's to become legal. I do not know what has happened in Washington but it is getting out of hand. They know what they are doing is unconstitutional so they are trying to bribe the states by offering them money. I hope every state agrees with me and Prevents the federal govenment from imPosing THIS unconstitutional law. If the states allow the government to do this then they would have set a bad Precedent that could lead to further government violations.
WHy IS THERE A NEED TO WIRE TAp EVERy CITIZEN. ARE yOU KIDDING ME. yOU NEED A WARRANT. THIS IS MADNESS. GOVERNMENT IS USING TERRORISM AS AN EXCUSE TO INTRUDE ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES. THIS IS INSANE.

McCain will continue to implementt these misguided REpublian policies. McCain's ONE HUNDRED year agenda is not in AMERICA"s BEST INTEREST.

Posted By: EE7011 @ 02/28/2008 10:39:24 AM

Comment: I have no problem with channels like T.L.C. following a family, such as the Roloff's for a few days, and documenting an uncommon family dynamic to help others build tolerance and decrease ignorance, however we don't need them to turn into the Keatons. Once a few episodes turns into many seasons the show stops serving educational purposes and turns into a sitcom. At that point the family is just pure entertainment for viewers. I think the networks have a responsibility to forget about greed and ratings for a moment and say enough is enough.

Posted By: lilyleon @ 02/28/2008 2:38:47 AM

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Posted By: ermnews @ 02/24/2008 10:25:51 PM

Comment: Did newsweek pay the people whose stories they alluded to and quotes were used in this article? If it did, how many millions, thousands, hundreds or maybe just in the 10's? Thanks to newsweek, can Michael Hebranko now afford a more suitable transport service? The underlining question is did Newsweek really improve the conditions described in this article in relation to how much money this article made newsweek. I am of the opinion that these people were interviewed and their information taken for pennys if anything at all on every dollar gained by newsweek. Who/what is the next monkey of newsweek?

Posted By: ermnews @ 02/24/2008 10:07:54 PM

Comment: I am not sure about the exploitation claimed in this article. The actors consent to the filming of there stories. In fact the program on dwarfisim has run for at least 3 or 4 years. However it is disconcerting that the claim that the actors are not paid but I doubt that the actors in fact need to be paid. Most seem to be well off. The lady with the lymph node disorder seemed to be helped in finding doctors although it was odd that she had to use public phones to call them. The issue that the actors do not control what the narrator says is perhaps the most valid critiscism in this article. In any case, I do believe that the millions made on these shows is not fairly distributed to the participants but that has been the case with entertainment business for forever minus movie acting once the actor has reached the big time. Perhaps there should be a reality tv actors union which would then have to have a show about itself and its own awards show. I think the attention of the writer of this article and that of newsweek is better focused elsewhere rather then on the cliche of reality tv and whether it is reality and exploitation or not.

How about changing education so that it is effective with different races and economic situations? Effects of TV and Interent on current generations knowledge of the outdoors and its future environmental effects?

Posted By: Silentmajority @ 02/24/2008 9:52:14 PM

Comment: How Politically Correct NEWSWEEK is! What's wrong with freak shows, after all? They make money!

Posted By: GreatDane @ 02/24/2008 5:36:04 PM

Comment: Of course it's exploitation~~on your part as well, if you watch them. I choose not to watch this stuff. The fact that something is broadcast is not the same as "it must be part of my thoughts and my day or I will not be able to go on"....Exploitation such as this requires marketing, contracts, advertisers, audience, a whole lot of staff, etc. etc. So if you're watching it and providing the bottom line, please don't act like it bothers you. You're the reason it succeeds.

Posted By: LymphedemaPeople @ 02/24/2008 7:24:47 AM

Comment: The sad reality about the condition called lymphedema is that there are literally millions of lymphedema patients, even though it is a misdiagnosed, misunderstood and improperly treated condition. We represent a multitude of "types." Some of us, like myself have it because of genetic malformation. Others have it as a result of cancer treatments from removal of lymph nodes, radiation and even chemotherapy. Anything that damages of injures the lymphatic system can trigger lymphedema. Also, most of us are not over weight or obese. We come in all sizes, shapes, gender and race. Not only is this condition a mystery to the medical community, but there is massive difficulty in getting insurance to cover the proscribed protocol treatment and supplies. Clearly, this is a medical condition that is in desperate need of recognition, research and funding. Yes, I cringe when I see these types of programs, because I am concerned about sensationalism, but I am willing to accept and welcome it, if it brings knowledge of lymphedema. Pat O'Connor; Lymphedema People website and global lymphedema resource support network. We sponsor 14 online support groups in three countries, maintain 14 related medical blogs in addition to the main website. I also serve on the board of directors of various lymphedema organizations. Thank you, please consider doing an entire program on lymphedema.

Posted By: LymphedemaPeople @ 02/24/2008 7:23:36 AM

Comment: The sad reality about the condition called lymphedema is that there are literally millions of lymphedema patients, even though it is a misdiagnosed, misunderstood and improperly treated condition. We represent a multitude of "types." Some of us, like myself have it because of genetic malformation. Others have it as a result of cancer treatments from removal of lymph nodes, radiation and even chemotherapy. Anything that damages of injures the lymphatic system can trigger lymphedema. Also, most of us are not over weight or obese. We come in all sizes, shapes, gender and race. Not only is this condition a mystery to the medical community, but there is massive difficulty in getting insurance to cover the proscribed protocol treatment and supplies. Clearly, this is a medical condition that is in desperate need of recognition, research and funding. Yes, I cringe when I see these types of programs, because I am concerned about sensationalism, but I am willing to accept and welcome it, if it brings knowledge of lymphedema. Pat O'Connor; Lymphedema People website and global lymphedema resource support network. We sponsor 14 online support groups in three countries, maintain 14 related medical blogs in addition to the main website. I also serve on the board of directors of various lymphedema organizations. Thank you, please consider doing an entire program on lymphedema.

Posted By: herbiemax @ 02/23/2008 8:48:45 PM

Comment: I do find the show Little people inspirational, they "as they say" can do anything anyone else can just in a different way, and they prove it with each show. Cuddo's to them. You didn't mention John and Kate husband and wife with twins and sextuplets, Both good shows. I suppose that shows in which people manipulate others to win the big prize are the good ones? And anyone who slants the news the way that you do has no right to talk badly about any tv program.

Posted By: tinabudde @ 02/23/2008 8:19:28 PM

Comment: It is very sad that people have to feel that desperate to go on tv to start with in order to educate people and/or get the help that they need but if that'st he only way we can educate people then that's what we have to do. You do what you have to do to get what you need.

Posted By: tinabudde @ 02/23/2008 8:12:53 PM

Comment: There's a fine line between reality and entertainment, I would prefer to call it sensationalism but if it gets a condition noticed then that's what we have to do. I watched My Big Foot. I have lymphedema. I am the owner of Lymphland International Lymphedema Online support group and the New York State Lymphedema Network. For years we have been misdiagnosed, ignored, blown off, told there was nothing we can do for you, and basically were left alone to deal with our health issues. We've been called "fat" when we carry several hundred pounds of fluid. Try to live with this and feel good about yourself? It takes advocates like us and shows to publish lymphedema information to initiate change. It doesn't matter how it's done only that it is done. If someone thinkgs it's amusing, they are a strange person. Mostly, it's shocking situations where people learn what a true health issue is. I would like to applaud the Big Foot Lady, she had guts to go on the show and show her foot to all of us, to make us aware of how she lives, and she is getting help now for it. That's the goal, to educate and help others. That's what my network and support group does and we invite anyone with lymphedema to join us.

Sincerely, Tina Budde, New York State Lymphedema Network, Lymphland Website and Lymphland International Lymphedema Online