1. Did you go to school when you were on holidays?
2. Did you do you homework when you were on holidays?
3. Did you have to get up very early in the morning?
4. Did you spend a lot of time at your computer?
5. Did you read an interesting book when you were on holidays?
6. Did you go to the cinema when you were free from school?
7. Did you watch new films with your family when you were on holidays?
8. Did you go out with your friends at that time?
9. Did you go to bed late or early?
10. Did you visit your grandparents when you were on holidays?
It is often cruel, exposing the participants to gross humiliation for our amusement. This makes it the modern equivalent of going to laugh at the lunatics in Bedlam. The present row over racism on Big Brother shows how nasty it can be.
It exploits the vulnerable, and has been condemned by the Mental Health Foundation for doing so.
Popularity should not be the ultimate test of what is permissible. Public executions used to be popular and still are in some countries.
It is nonsense to say that broadcasters shouldn't set standards or be obliged to adhere to codes of behaviour. We don't for instance allow them to promote racism or sectarianism or to incite violence. Reality TV is debasing and should be strictly controlled, if not banned altogether.
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