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BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted?
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Subject: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: artbrooks Date: 24 Feb 09 - 07:05 PM Apparently there is a major fuss over a one-armed host/hostess on a BBC children's program. Somehow, my mudcat friends from the right side of the pond had convinced me that color/shape/age/sex bigotry was vanishingly rare over there. Please tell me that it isn't true that people really want to get a cute blond kicked off the air because she has only one hand! |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Rapparee Date: 24 Feb 09 - 09:41 PM These sound like the same sort of people who would think that FDR couldn't be President because of his polio-based problems, or Lincoln because of his height, or.... These are called "parochial little minds" and they are not found only in one place. Growing up one of my neighbors wore a special "polio shoe" and another had lost a leg in WW2. We didn't think anything of -- that's just the way things were. I wore glasses, my mother had false teeth, my g-g-aunt walked with a cane. I think we have a rather warped idea of what an ideal body is and we don't look beyond the externals. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Gurney Date: 25 Feb 09 - 03:23 AM What sort of world is it becoming when parents think that their children should be protected from the sight of an amputee or disabled person! Would anyone really think that kids would be scared of a missing hand? More likely to be fascinated, I should think. When you think about it, statistically the average person has less than two legs, arms, eyes, etc., so where is the 'average' then. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Andy Jackson Date: 25 Feb 09 - 04:47 AM And of course some have no brain! |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: meself Date: 25 Feb 09 - 10:35 AM Reminds me of when my eldest was a wee little package of trouble, and we stopped into a hardware store. There was a fellow working behind the counter who was missing both his hands. My son looked at him and, in all childish innocence, asked, "Where are your hands?" Without missing a beat, the fellow said, "Oh, I left them at home today!" |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Rapparee Date: 25 Feb 09 - 10:57 AM And yet Long John Silver and Captain Hook are childhood legends. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: SINSULL Date: 25 Feb 09 - 11:10 AM I guess it depends on how she lost her hand. If she chewed it off, maybe she shouldn't be around children. If she was born without it or lost it in an accident, then shame on them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: GUEST,heric Date: 25 Feb 09 - 01:32 PM Bree Walker had a pretty good career in the states with "ectrodactyly," -fused fingers- that she didn't hide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bree_Walker |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: GUEST,heric Date: 25 Feb 09 - 01:38 PM I misremembered. She did hide it. A few years back she played a part on a tv show and didn't hide it - resulting in nasty e-mails |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: SINSULL Date: 25 Feb 09 - 02:13 PM I went to the link. It sounds as if some parents are uncomfortable with the missing arm and passing the fear onto their children. Tabloid crap. She is not losing her job. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Donuel Date: 25 Feb 09 - 04:19 PM My 8 year old did fifteen 2 by 3 foot crayon portraits of all the famous TV game show hosts. Give your kids art supplies and you get what you get. I was surprised. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 25 Feb 09 - 04:29 PM A few uncalled for comments on an Internet forum aren't exactly a major story. The real story that has been there all along, and hasn't been picked up is the fact that there so few people with any kind of physical impairment are ever seen on TV in the first place. I don't mean in special programmes about disability and so forth, I mean in ordinary programmes doing jobs as presenters and so forth, like this lady. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Mrrzy Date: 25 Feb 09 - 05:00 PM Yes, people with missing limbs can be very nice to kids who are busily embarrassing their grownups with frank commentary. I remember one of my nieces commenting loudly that "that man should be TALL!" when seeing a guy with no legs, and they guy just said yes, I used to be taller, but now I'm not, and that was fine with her. I, of course, was mortified, as the adult in charge of the loudmouth kid, but the fella made me feel a lot better. It is up to the parents to react appropriately, like No, she isn't hurt, she's different, and isn't that interesting that someone with one arm can do all she does? |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 25 Feb 09 - 05:16 PM I have a good friend who has a similar condition. She was born with her forearm missing and only vestigial fingers. When she was younger her parents forced her to wear a prosthetic arm - thus necessitating the removal of the fingers - which she hated. Since her late teens, she has refused to wear the prosthetic, saying that if people can't accept that's who she is, then they're not worth knowing. She works with children in our local primary school and not once has any child or parent made a complaint. The problem here is with the narrowmindedness of the parents who cannot be bothered to explain to their children that the lady on the telly is perfectly well, doesn't hurt and is not frightening in any way. Frankly, having seen some of the mindless tripe and tat that CBeebies has produced over the last few years, I'd be more worried that my child was having nightmares over that! A quick think tells me that there are/have been only a few 'differently abled' presenters or actors on TV, and at least 3 of them were in children's programmes or presenting children's shows. ('Big Ron' - dwarf in 'Maid Marion and her Merry Men'; the wheelchair using presenter of CBBC and sometimes 'Blue Peter' whose name escapes me; 'Rachel Burns', a character in 'Grange Hill' with cerebral palsy, actress Francesca Martinez, a cerebral palsy patient) although there is presently airing a fictional programme about a wheelchair basketball team, which I've not seen. Children often have a much more 'down to earth' approach to disabilities that should be encouraged and supported, rather than the object of their curiosity be hidden away and shamed. Good luck to this presenter, may she be just one in a long line of normal people to educate our children. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Don Firth Date: 25 Feb 09 - 08:53 PM I never got much feedback on this, so I don't really know how people felt about it. I had polio when I was two years old and all my life I've walked with a leg brace and a pair of forearm crutches. I had private tutors early on, but entered public high school at the age of sixteen. The other kids didn't make any big deal out of the fact that I used crutches. I had friends like any other kid, wound up with a couple of steady girl friends (not at the same time, however), and, in general, everything was pretty normal. When the high school drama group was trying to put together a cast for the following year's senior play, "You Can't Take It With You," the faculty drama advisor asked me if I would be willing to play Grandfather. "But I walk with crutches," I said, having already given up the idea of going on stage. "That's no problem," Mr. Hanawalt said. "In the movie, Lionel Barrymore played the role from his wheelchair." It occurred to me that Lionel Barrymore played all of his later movie roles from a wheelchair (broken hip followed by severe arthritis). Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres): Shall I bring the patient downstairs, Doctor?"You can use your crutches," Mr. Hanawalt continued, "or we can rent a wheelchair if that would be easier." Unfortunately (?), I was already a senior, due to graduate in June, so I wouldn't be around for the following year's senior play. Bang goes my Tony and my Oscar. When I started singing in public, the issue of the crutches, image and all that, just never occurred to me. And it never gave me any kind of problem. On television, when the camera moved to me, I was already sitting down with my guitar, so probably a lot of viewers didn't even know. When I went out on stage, I lumbered out on my crutches, sat down, and either my guitar was already sitting there on a guitar stand or someone would walk out behind me carrying my guitar. I noticed that violinist Itzak Perlman does it the same way. Same deal in the coffeehouses. I think the only time anyone ever commented on it was a fellow who'd contacted me after one of my concerts and asked me if I gave guitar lessons (which I did). After we'd known each other for a couple of years, he mentioned to me that he had been surprised when I walk out on stage on crutches. He said that he went to the concert because he was interested in folk music and a couple of people (bless their hearts!) told him that I was someone he ought to hear. He said that no one ever mentioned that I used crutches. "It just wasn't important," he said. "I noticed them at first. But since we've gotten to know each other, I can see that your crutches and leg brace are of no more significance to you than my glasses are to me. You can't walk without the sticks, and if I didn't have my glasses I'd be bumping into the walls." The shoulders gave out some years ago, so now I use a wheelchair. Still sing in public from time to time, and other than limiting the places I can perform (access, etc.), as Loren said, it just isn't that important. Somehow I've just never really regarded myself as "handicapped" or "disabled." But it can be damned inconvenient sometimes. But obviously there are people who seem to fixate on the unimportant. That can be a worse handicap than a limb or two that's missing or doesn't work as it's supposed to. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Catherine Jayne Date: 26 Feb 09 - 06:03 AM I've been watching a lot of kids tv recently while staying on a childrens ward with the twins, Kids just don't care whether the tv presenter has one, two or three arms. She's good at her job, where's the problem? Some people just have to pick fault. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Musket Date: 26 Feb 09 - 06:19 AM Shocking that some parents feel responsible enough to complain about their children being exposed to this young lady, but stupid enough to complain about their children being exposed to this young lady...... Mind you, although the BBC ran stories about how wrong the parents were to complain, making the presenter do the rounds of talk shows to discuss her stump etc Let us not forget this is the same BBC that sack female news presenters for looking too old.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: DMcG Date: 26 Feb 09 - 06:28 AM This a good time to remember Patrick Campbell, who was a team captain on a television quiz show for many years, despite having a speech impediment. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Sleepy Rosie Date: 26 Feb 09 - 07:19 AM My Mother told me about the first time I as a little tot, saw a man with only one leg. She said I gazed at him in some amazement but said nothing. I don't think the experience was particularly traumatising... Of course if my Mother had reacted with horror, shock and surprise at seeing a man with one leg, then I would no doubt have realised something was wrong and become distressed and upset myself. And of course having learned from this, continued in future to find the sight of people with missing limbs disturbing and upsetting. Parents need to be very careful about how they react to things in front of their small children. Phobias, hatreds and predjudices of all kinds, can be learned from parental behavioural cues, very early on. That's one of the reasons it's so useful to have minorities appearing in safe normal contexts in media such as childrens telly, so that they learn early on that these are not strange alien creatures to be hated or feared, when they become adults. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: GUEST,Nelson Date: 26 Feb 09 - 07:41 AM This is strange thinking from a country who's greatest admiral had only one arm and one eye..... Just an observation... |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: SINSULL Date: 26 Feb 09 - 08:40 AM Barbara Walters' speech impediment was fodder for the comedy crowd but didn't interfere with her career. I am fascinated by the progress of toothpaste commercials in the US. Gleem was the first to introduce Hispanic actors who brushed their teeth "con Gleem" and a few were outraged. Eventually, blacks appeared - seems they brush their teeth too. Go figure! Now some toothpaste companies are using Down's Syndrome children and young adults. I wonder if this is an attempt at being totally PC or is it that handicapped children are no longer tucked away in the upstairs bedroom? |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: DMcG Date: 26 Feb 09 - 09:58 AM I don't know Barbara Walters but the Wiki for her suggests her impediment is on the pronunciation of 'R' as more like 'W'. The UK equivalent would be Jonathan Ross, I guess. Non-UK readers (and young UKers!) will probably not know Patrick Campbell had the sort of stammer that makes you unable to speak for a second or two. Hence the title of his autobiography p-p-Penguin Patrick Campbell. That was published in 1950; I wonder if it inspired the UK advertisment many years later "If you feel a little p-peckish, p-p-p-pick up a penguin". Anyway, it's hard to imagine anyone with such a pronounced stammer making it on mainstream TV now. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler Date: 26 Feb 09 - 01:11 PM I seem to remember there being more amputees around when I was little, the result of World War 2. Presumably the same would have been true in the 1920s. My grandfather had a couple of fingers missing, he was a butcher and had a mishap with the sausage machine, but it never bothered either of us. |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Don Firth Date: 26 Feb 09 - 03:10 PM Country singer Mel Tillis, who was a frequent guest on "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour," had a substantial stammer. But it didn't bother him when he sang. He used the stammer in comedy routines. Standard gag: H-h-he would m-m-m-make s-some c-c-comment, to which Glen Campbell would respond huffily, "Well, that's easy for you to say. . . ." Comedienne Geri Jewell has cerebral palsy and appeared in a number of television shows, and she also used it in her stand-up comedy routines. "I have pierced ears. I hadn't planned on it. I was trying to pluck my eyebrows. . . ." And then, there's Josh Blue. The wheelchair (polio) doesn't seem to inhibit Michael Flanders much. He just ignores it and goes ahead and does his thing. Don Firth |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 26 Feb 09 - 05:39 PM BBCW - we're all aware that years ago one saw more 'amputees' around, but the lady in question has a genetic birth difference, rather than a deliberate act of removal. We don't see so many of these 'defects' any more because we have better overall health, better facilities, care and screening. Many parents make the heartbreaking decision to terminate a foetus that is seen to be 'deformed' or suffers from certain genetic traits that will make life extremely difficult and unsatisfactory for all. That is their decision and not one we should condone or condemn out of hand. Tips of fingers are neither here nor there - the late Jeremy Beadle had a right hand that was differently shaped with fingers all the same length, but it was never used to ridicule him or as a reason to ban him from TV... The parents who have complained are the ones who need the 'diversity lessons', and are probably the ones who are frightened of something that is not their version of 'normal'... But then, who is to say what is normal?! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: GUEST,lox Date: 26 Feb 09 - 05:44 PM Long John silver was a legend? I put it to you that he lost a legend ... leg - end ... ... I'll get my coat ... |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: Folkiedave Date: 26 Feb 09 - 07:01 PM There was Django Reinhardt: http://www.redhotjazz.com/django.html |
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Subject: RE: BS: No One-armed TV Hosts Wanted? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Feb 09 - 08:03 PM "I wonder if this is an attempt at being totally PC or is it that handicapped children are no longer tucked away in the upstairs bedroom? " That seems to me an example of how people can get hung up on terminology - the implication being that if it's possible to stick a label on something as "PC", that has to mean it can't be sensible, humane and the right way to behave. Give anything or anybody a label that has the wrong associations, and you're most of the way to being able to write them off. Still true today, and ironically that label "PC" is a case in point. Much better to avoid the term and take the time to explain that what you mean is using language in a way that is sensible and humane, rather than the opposite. (But then my impression is that these days the only people using the term "PC" - setting aside when they are talking about police officers or computers - are using it pejoratively. And frequently aren't too worried about the business of being humane and sensible.) |
