Why is it child bride and not child rape victim? Seriously. Bride has a totally positive, wholesome connotation so attaching "child" in front of it doesn't change it (think: "junior version of bride," rather than, you know, child rape victim). It's a horrible euphemism, like, child prostitution, child sex, and, of course, child porn. All those italicized words are seen as just standard sex or even raunchy good fun. Putting "child" in front of only succeeds in blurring children into that concept, rather than exposing the horror of it: rape.
Whatever, I'm guessing because I don't have some stupid golden star, this comment won't be shown fully on the screen (When the hell did that happen by the way?).
On one of the episodes a few weeks ago (the nanny segment), one of the bystanders who did nothing was a social scientist. ABC didn't know it but it is really interesting that someone with a PhD in this kind of stuff didn't step forward.
This situation is ridiculous and would never happen, but I like the fact that this show exists (even though I don't really watch it). Most people think they would step in, but in reality they wouldn't. Actually watching people step in could show people how to step in.
What I find interesting is how few men seem to help. Maybe its the episodes I've watched or the editing, but the women helpers seem to out number the male helpers 3 to 1. I don't think it is because men are more worried things might escalate physically, I'd guess it is that men are less willing to get involved in general. But I think a lot of men must kick themselves later for missing the chance to be a hero on tv.
@thatonegirlsays: Their marriages are not state recognised, apart from the first in most cases. Spiritual or religious unions are not the business of legality.
@thatonegirlsays: The cops and city council are all polygamists too, usually powerful ones within the community, so they aren't arresting anyone. The Utah attorney general has been trying to go after them for years, but short of a huge gov't raid on the town (which was tried and failed miserably in the fifties) there is really no way to get at them. And because they aren't legally wed to more than one wife, they can't even prosecute except in cases where the girl is very young.
I'm going to do my own version of this. I'm going to go to a local diner and start saying very loudly, "OH GOSH I BETTER GO GET AN ABORTION BECAUSE MY DRUGGIE BOYFRIEND WILL BEAT ME IF I DON'T! WHAT SHOULD I DO?"
Of course, then I might be kidnapped by zealots who wait for me to give birth, refusing to believe that my belly is just the result of eating a Snickers bar for breakfast.
"What Would You Do" if you found out what you were lead to believe was a dangerous and serious situation was revealed to actually be a hoax for a crappy reality TV segment?
I really hope Mr. Smarmy Reporter Man never tries to dupe me on camera, because I would kick him in the balls. On camera.
@syneblue: Yeah, this has the potential to be eye-opening if done correctly. I've watched a few episodes of this show and found it be uncomfortable. The host comes out laughing and all "You're on candid camera!" in some very serious situations. It just doesn't work.
@syneblue: That's what I always wonder about. They put people through an emotional wringer so they can get ratings and get rich. I would be very angry.
@AthertonMerriweather: This reminds me of an episode of My Name is Earl I was watching last night. I don't watch it a lot, but Earl and his brother were trying to set up a cop to be a hero, so they wanted to lure the town scumbag into falling for their trap. It amused me how they were loudly talking about their "plan" for a great crime, hoping of course that the scumbag would pick up on it.
Anyway, my point is, that felt more realistic than this does.
Honestly, no. I would not rescue a polygamist child bride. I am really scared of getting murdered to death by church members. If they're crazy enough to think that God wants little girls to do it with Warren Jeffs, they're crazy enough to do most things.
This is a totally unbelievable situation. It's like "Would you stop a terrorist bomb plot?" and then having a bunch of people discussing their bomb plot openly, or "Would you stop someone from dealing drugs?" and the "dealer" was publicly declaring their intent to sell later. I think that if a lot of things were discussed in open society, there would be interventions, but it's because of their secret nature that they are not.
@PreposterousHypothesis: I can safely say I would not. All one has to do is drive down a particular street in Austin and look for guys with the towels on their waistbands to figure out who is dealing drugs.
Would I approach these guys and say stop? No, I would prefer NOT getting shot or beaten up.
@maggeimerc: Right! If I heard some skeezy dealer discussing how he was gonna offload a pound of coke I would not march up and try to perform a citizens arrest.
I only hope I would be as brave in my attempts to help someone. I'm curious, though. If this was a real situation, could those women who helped be arrested for kidnapping? Or is overhearing the family's conversation, and the fact that the girl went willingly enough?
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Whatever, I'm guessing because I don't have some stupid golden star, this comment won't be shown fully on the screen (When the hell did that happen by the way?).
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This situation is ridiculous and would never happen, but I like the fact that this show exists (even though I don't really watch it). Most people think they would step in, but in reality they wouldn't. Actually watching people step in could show people how to step in.
What I find interesting is how few men seem to help. Maybe its the episodes I've watched or the editing, but the women helpers seem to out number the male helpers 3 to 1. I don't think it is because men are more worried things might escalate physically, I'd guess it is that men are less willing to get involved in general. But I think a lot of men must kick themselves later for missing the chance to be a hero on tv.
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B. that girl would not be complaining in public.
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Of course, then I might be kidnapped by zealots who wait for me to give birth, refusing to believe that my belly is just the result of eating a Snickers bar for breakfast.
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I really hope Mr. Smarmy Reporter Man never tries to dupe me on camera, because I would kick him in the balls. On camera.
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I hate television.
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Anyway, my point is, that felt more realistic than this does.
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Would I approach these guys and say stop? No, I would prefer NOT getting shot or beaten up.
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*Sorry, wasn't all that clear about what I was asking.
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