[99gecko]

DSGamby,
I apologize. Now knowing that you are a fellow zebra changes my perspective on your earlier responses. I think I may have erroneously assumed you were the anti-youth sports type, who was hijacking this thread for a personal soap box. Again, my apologies. I'm blaming the anonymous nature of the Internet.

I agree that sports and pageants aren't the only places where this behaviour is but those are the most recognizable ones.

This fact may be due to what you are exposed to personally. I take my kids to the public library, and occasionally see parents pushing books on a specific subject on their kids, instead of letting them find ones they find interesting for themselves. My wife teaches and also tutors high school math and science. She has recounted tales to me of parents (in their home) putting extreme pressure on their kids to learn a subject. This level of pressure is not obvious in the classroom.

DT1, you make an interesting point. But I would be interested to know what the percentage of kids in beauty pageants do it because they want to. How many do it because it pleases Mommy and Daddy? How many do it because they have been told over and over that it is normal and the only way to be a success? And I would like to know how those percentages compare to kids participating in other activities.

I find it interesting because my kids play organized sports because it is what their friends and cousins do. We try to offer alternative activities but they always want to revert to sports-oriented activities.

I'm still having a hard time getting rid of the little boy wearing green nail polish and having mascara to amplify the beauty of his eyes.

I'm thankful I have not been exposed to that image.

 

[DSgamby]

99gecko: No problem.

I do agree that is my personal opinion and I do agree that parents push even for edumaction.

 

[Danster]

Today we were out my wife and I and at Zellers, she pointed out the wacky nail polish they had. What struck me was the same green the little boy wore was there. I guess it will forever be burnt in my head. Working with kids and knowing that parents push them to accomplish what they think they are capable of, seeing them (on TLC programming) in pageants being robbed of their youth, gets me mad.

 

[spensar]

I abhor seeing what goes on in the show with 6 year olds, just as I abhored being at the outdoor rink and the 2 hockey dads had there 6 year old sons doing skating drills.

Give the girls some dress-up stuff they can have fun with the kids, and let the boys play some pond hockey.

What is most disturbing about the tiara show is seeing toddlers sexualized.

 

[Danster]

That's my main point spensar, about the sexualization part of the show. It truely is disturbing. I didn't want to say it but since you mention it, it is exactly what the show is all about, IMHO. They have the talent show where they are barely dressed and strut their stuff as if it was a Adult Video convention. This is really not how little girls should be dreesed or act like. Shame to their parents thinking this is right. Idiots I must say.

 

[TechieFreak]

What's even more disturbing is that there is an executive team at The Learning Channel that has decided to buy this program, and make space on their air time to display this, thinking that's what their viewers want.

When did this channel go from showing kiddie shows in the morning, and home improvement shows during the day and evening, to showing the crap discussed in this forum? I believe that they are far outside the boundaries of their broadcasting license.

Bring back shows like Hometime, This Old House, and for the kids, shows like Sharon, Lois and Bram and Sesame Street. Make the channel something that we can all LEARN from. Why not air shows like Planet Earth?

I agree also with the "Don't like it, don't watch it." statement. However, when did a channel that supposed to specialize in "Learning" become so out-of-touch with its viewers? This kind of stuff has a place, on channels like Spike TV.

 

[wgauci]

i noticed that my two daughters were recording this show. I locked out TLC using parental controls. This is not a Learning Channel anymore. What is next, toddlers and pole dancing?

Funny you should suggest that....

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/...=05f21cc4-2361-4a73-9a46-befdd2bb0c62&k=84339

I really despair for our society sometimes. It doesn't take a psychology degree to tell that most of these parents have serious personality disorders and numerous other issues and are abusing their own children to compensate.

Also TLC has stopped being a learning channel long ago, hence the change to TLC, they want you to forget that their original mission was to present interesting shows that educated and informed. Same goes for A&E and Discovery. The only ones that are really true to their intentions are National Geographic and PBS in my opinion.

 

[PG44]

I remember when the Jonbenet Ramsay case occurred there were video clips played of her at the age of 5 or 6 at the most, strutting on stage wearing a little cowgirl outfit, exercising choreographed moves that any exotic dancer would be proud of. I found that very disturbing, still do. These pageants are not innocent in the least and the parents, organisers, sponsors and the entire industry should be exposed for what they are - seriously disturbed and dangerous. There is a public witch-hunt against child pornography, but this is accepted as part of the American Dream.

And as for TLC, I stopped watching after the first year in Canada when the T began to stand for "trash". I miss those old shows like Connections, which were actually educational.

 

[Danster]

Thanks a lot, Wgauci. The link you posted is worse than the TLC program. Where in the ??? are we heading?

This is just outrageous. No wonder kids don't know how to act their age. They are slowly being turned into small adults at a very tender age. Disgusting.

 

[Blackloz]

One of the worst shows on tv thats for sure.

 

[David Susilo]

First off let me say that I find the whole thing disturbing but to play devils advocate isn't it sort of ironic that later when they are older they are celebrated for what they do whether it is Miss Alabama, Miss America, Miss Universe, etc.

as far as ANY beauty pageant goes, I'm against all of them... but Babies and Tiaras, I can't even stand watching the commercial about that show.

IMHO it should be banned. Showing people making love is not okay on TV yet this is okay? Now that is sick!

 

[jimbo42]

Plain and simple it is exploitation of young children "PERIOD". I just don't know what to say about the parents and the execs that have allowed this on national TV. It disgusts me to no end.

 

[Danster]

Well I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one thinking this show is just not right. It truly is disturbing on all fronts. Exploitation to the max.

 

[99gecko]

If you want it off, write TLC and inform them you will be notifying the advertisers that were sold ad time during the airing of that show, that you will now be boycotting their products until the show is off the air, and encouraging your friends (and e-friends) to do likewise.

I think most companies hate grass-roots bad publicity.

 

[David Susilo]

^^^ I wrote a compain letter to TLC and CCd CRTC (delivered using registered mail to both) regarding Toddlers and Tiaras more than half a year ago and yet to hear anything from them.

 

[01 Boxer]

I must admit that my only exposure to that show are the clips shown on The Soup but i found the people involved quite creepy.

 

[Mixar69]

I'm watching which I guess was a repeat of this show and not 2 minutes into it I heard one mother say; "The only reason I had a daughter is to put her in these pageants". 3 minutes later the mother was blow drying some material on the little girl make her look tanned and later on plastering some thing on her eyes prying them open. OMG That should be grounds in placing the child in family services because the parents minds are clearly not healthy. Demented in my opinion. TLC you hit beyond rock bottom with this one. I was just channel surfing and never heard of this show.

 

[HDTV101]

This is the worst show on TV… truly as sick as it gets. Small children are abused and it’s as if it's allright. Why is this stuff is even allowed?

It’s sad to see the little kids screaming and quivering in pain as their eyebrows are waxed and ripped out. The kid begs for them to stop but they keep at it pulling the other out. YOU SICKOS!!!

I too saw this on the Soup tonight.

 

[Danster]

You should see the mother that had forced her boy to enter.....he looked screwed. Truly a sick show. I had pvr'd it to see what it was.....Shocking is what it was.

 

[Dalek Prime]

I consider that show to be no better than child porn. It's revolting. 'Nuff said.