The uncensored epidemic of Syndicated bullying…
I’ll admit with a large degree of shame I once color-coded my habit of “trash-TV” enthusiasm for watching any and every reality TV shows as my well-earned mental stress relief, just a bit of mindless and harmless entertainment to slow the mind.
My first encounter with VH1’s Basketball Wives was shockingly less than cozy; I honestly watched in horror. It was the train wreck I shamefully just would not turn away from; jaw dropping scandalous behavior of women with more money than they know what to do with… I don’t know if I was drawn to watching in furry over the access to things, I thought they ought not to devalue by purchasing or if it was the shame of the ignorant black-chick rage. Whatever the lure is drug me back week after week shaking my head and screaming at the TV; like the heifers could hear me in my rage?!
I was disgusted by the first and second seasons and humiliated with the LA version. This year’s season however, crushed my spirit as a woman, a friend, an acquaintance, and a mother. Each episode imploded to more and brasher behavior. Aside from all the morality, issues let us be honest about today’s world we live in; it is a-moral… Just about anything is acceptable with a glossed over excuse. Nevertheless, the trademarked sensationalism of open bullying portrayed and in my humbled opinion exploited by VH1 and the cast members, crushed how I once viewed myself as a morally conscious member of society. Considering the times, we are living in today when measly words spoken and spewed between children are directly causing a pandemic of child suicides… How is it fathomable that women would actively and or, inactively participate in bullying in any shape or from? From Evelyn’s violent criminally physical attacks, Suzie’s implicit and obviously strategic situational plays to antagonizing relationships, I lost it!
As a parent, as a woman, as a human I will no longer sit with any degree of complicity (get a Webster and it up you don’t know what it means) while programs of this nature continue to in my opinion advocate by way of airing to ignite ratings anything harmful, destructive, indecent and criminal in a reality setting. Today, I lodged an informal complaint with the FCC regarding VH1’s Basketball Wives Programming Series. I told the FCC I felt as a concerned consumer who understood and backed their expedient and harsh actions regarding Janet Jacksons Super Bowl breast exposure; at a minimum it should be expect and practices in place random reviews reality programming. There should be a well documented easily consumer accessible publication outlining acceptable airing rules in relations to reality programs.
Today, I made the personal decision to magnify the issue of reality programming appropriateness, specifically where Bullying is an underlying entertainment factor. It is my number one priority to desensitize our society on the acceptance of “anything” goes in reality television programming in every household regardless of any social economic dynamics and differences.
It is vital to understand and accept that bullying is a layered evil that manifest in many forms of intimidation both in and outside the thought to be safe-place of one’s “home”. Social Medial has forever complicated the impact of bullying. Bullying can come from know, unknown, family, friends, siblings, parents… anyone. Bullying fosters fear, insecurity, secretes, trust, and distrust. Bullying can be physical, emotional, psychological, both conscious and unconscious. What we are missing is Bullying is all forms is a salient, cruel killer both in reality and emotionally.
I have children, and I LOVE them with my every thought and breath. They are my air and my only purpose for existing. I will not tolerate intimidation of any of my children in any form much less turn a blind eye to their participation whether deliberate or in compliancy. My children were taught at early ages that are each other’s keeper… In the wake of the growing global crisis, we need to take that a step further and teach our children that they are each other’s keepers regardless of relation, race or economic diversity. As George Bernard Shaw once said “I am afraid we MUST make the world honest before we can honestly say to our children that honesty is the best policy”.
Please take the time to can read VH1’s parent company VICOM’s Corporate Social Responsibility thoughts or what I found as blurbs… consider the statements in view of the aired programming… the contradictions are ridiculous…
http://www.viacommunity.com/
…It’s so easy to concede alongside the majority crow but terribly difficult to stand along as the minority for anything right; thank God Stanley & Diana Perry taught me so very much better.
Domonique L. Perry-Banks… I have no need to hide behind “ghost” names!
