Luxor4u

Now,before everyone jumps in..I'm not talking about Corrie,Eastenders,etc..because we all know that they are fiction and bear no relation whatsoever to real life and real problems.Let's face it,is there ever anyone in Corrie who CAN'T find a flat or a job?

I'm talking more about these programmes where we see TV celebrities(ahem!)attempting to educate us all on the problems faced by homelessness,poverty,etc.
I actually find these programmes very distasteful and patronising.

Recently watched one for Sport Relief where 4 so-called TV stars decided (or were coerced/paid) to sleep rough on the streets of London.THEY are endeavouring to educate the viewing public on the trials and dilemmas of being homeless...and thus encourage us all to part with our cash.

Do they really think that we are all fooled by their "project?"Cos,that's really all it is to them!At the end of their week (or whatever)sleeping rough,they go back home to their comfortable lives,families and houses..and we are all expected to give them a pat on the back for actually showing us this deprivation and these poor,unfortunate people?

Is this entertainment?Or does anyone think that they are doing a good job..and making us aware?

Wouldn't it be better to commission a proper documentary..with real people,budding new talent in film making and production?

That way,we may just get a better indication of the problems..cos in my opinion,these programmes involving minor TV "has-beens and never wasers"just become instantly forgettable.

I actually watched a whole programme called "Survivor Man " Could not believe how ridiculous this man was and after ten minutes spent the rest of the time hoping he would break a leg or meet a grizzly . . . .

For some reason or other the media companies seem it right to use celebs, or people in the spotlight to promote these things, half of them have no clue, half do not know what poverty and homelessness is, they agree to do it to keep themselves in the spotlight.

Look at some of these Hollywood stars who are envoys for this, and envoys for that. Have they really got a clue, do they really care? or are they just promoting themselves in their twilight years of acting?

Major Thom wrote:For some reason or other the media companies seem it right to use celebs, or people in the spotlight to promote these things, half of them have no clue, half do not know what poverty and homelessness is, they agree to do it to keep themselves in the spotlight.

Look at some of these Hollywood stars who are envoys for this, and envoys for that. Have they really got a clue, do they really care? or are they just promoting themselves in their twilight years of acting?

There's some evidence that celebrity involvement in 'good causes' is of limited benefit :


"The presence of an Angelina, a Bono or a Clooney has been an unquestioned feature of charity fundraising drives for decades. But now British academics have found evidence that celebrities are ineffective at raising awareness of charitable causes.

The chief beneficiaries of star-studded attempts to raise the profile of a good cause are the celebrity themselves, according to sociologists, who say the appearance of altruism makes them more popular with the public.

Two pieces of research by UK academics argue that “the ability of celebrity and advocacy to reach people is limited” and that celebrities are “generally ineffective” at encouraging people to care about foreign causes."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peopl ... 55350.html

On the other hand, there's no doubt that the involvement of some celebrities in fundraising has resulted in huge amounts of money being directed at issues which were previously largely ignored e.g Elton John & the late Elizabeth Taylor regarding AIDS.

To be quite honest about all this, I think that if they were to use a less well known celebrity, say me, they would soon lose the total collected as the flood gates would open. Especially if I donned my paper mache' head as highlighted on one of Zooropa's blog photo's.