Boys and Girls Alone

334 Words2 Pages
The first text, which is a letter, is called “Boys and Girls Alone is child cruelty, and has no place in research or TV” is regarding Dr. Richard House’ criticism of the reality show “Boys and Girls Alone” shown on British television. He directly compares the reality show to the book, “Lord of the Flies” which is about a group of boys who are left to their own devices, alone on an island to fend for themselves. A theme that he claims runs through “Boys and Girls Alone”. Dr. House thinks the program is simply a grotesque experiment, conducted on children-guinea -pigs, marketed as entertainment. He has invited the experts, who earlier screened and tested the children to see if they were capable of coping with the experience, to come forward and be accountable to the public. This would facilitate a proper open discussion about the ‘show’, or as the good doctor puts it, “experiment”. The second text is about a mother to one of the participants in the show. She explains that the experience was wonderful but that she was shocked by the negativity surrounding the show. To answer one of the Doctor’s criticisms, she explains that the children where never actually alone, but chaperoned 24/7. Also, In addition to their being a high level of security, the parents could watch their children on CCTV. There was only one “incident” which, in her opinion, was blown completely out of proportion by the way it was portrayed on the television. She found that her child, TJ, personally grew from the experience whilst she, herself learned that he could cope without her, that he had leadership qualities and was comfortable shouldering responsibility. The two texts are in contrast with each other; on the one hand we have the opinion of Dr. House which is very negative and dismissive of the entire concept. On the other we have one of the contestant’s mothers who can only sing the
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