Were The Producers Of Eastenders Right To Broadcast This 'brexit-Related' Storyline?

[sp1814]

http://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/eastenders-writer-defends-racism-storyline-over-poles-go-home-backlash-a3472836.html

Apparently, people are 'outraged' (again).

[ToraToraTora]

In my opinion the producers of Eastenders and for that matter any of the soaps are not right to broadcast any story line. Utter garbage the lot of it and most of it should be on after the watershed anyway. No idea why the soaps are exempt.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Richardson hit back: “So are you saying that racism doesn't exist? And that this isn't a very real problem in Britain today? ///

/// “What you saw on screen was a fictional character expressing his own belief. The side of a under represented group of people, I might add. ///

/// “This troll. Criticising the show I work on because it did a story about the very real racism Polish people have experienced post-Brexit.” ///

A Left leaning BBC soap should not try and get political messages across to their unsuspecting audience.

If such messages need to be given realism, they should show both sides of the coin.

And since Richardson chose to label his critic "a troll" makes him a typical lefftie, because when they are brought to task, it is then they revert to insults.

[youngmafbog]

Couldnt agree more. Utter rubbish, and in this case paid for by the tax payer as it is the Biased Broadcasting Corporation.

[anotheoldgit]

allen

/// They should catch themselves on and see who the real enemy is, and it ain't the BBC, and it ain't Poles! ///

Now, now, we are not discussing Muslims on this thread.

[sp1814]

AOG

In fairness - the word troll has been used at various points by both the Left and Right when dealing with those who have opposing views.

And is Eastenders really 'left leaning'?

In terms of drama, what does that mean?

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

If it comes to that it is not only the soaps who are left-leaning it is the whole of the media and films.

Although it is perfectly in order to show Whites, Christians, Heterosexuals, and males in a bad light, when do we ever see any of the mentioned shown likewise?

There is a continues shout for equality and quite rightly so, but it is all one sided.

So let us have true equality and so feel free to criticise all groups if the need be, without the usual labels being dished out to a certain few.

Surely that has got to be fair, hasn't it?

[sp1814]

AOG

Don't you think that may be a product of your perception, rather than reality?

For instance you could hardly decribe the portrayal of minorities in Homeland, Moonlight, 24, Line of Duty, Olympus Has Fallen, London Has Fallen, American Gangster, American Hustle, Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleavland Show or Breaking Bad to have been particularly positive?

Likewise, there are plenty of portrayals of women shown in a very bad light.

Is it possible you may be a victim of confirmation bias? You see what you want to see, and because you don't consume that much media, you have no idea that your point of view doesn't really match up to reality?

[Samjenko]

AOG is, of course, quite right and I suspect you know it, Sp. (unless you've overdosed on that 'confirmation bias' of your's)
If you've been unfortunate enough to catch any awards ceremony, you'll be left in little doubt.

[sp1814]

samjenko

I don't understand your point about awards shows.

Do you mean the Academy Awards, the Brits, the Country Music Awards, Mojo, NME, Kerrang or all award shows generally.

I honestly don't understand the link.

[sp1814]

AOG

You put forward:

So let us have true equality and so feel free to criticise all groups if the need be, without the usual labels being dished out to a certain few.

I think we can both see the irony here.

[Samjenko]

The third question in the (Spicer) press briefing.
"It's the Oscars next week. Is the President worried about a 'Streep moment'?
Spicer, 'No'
"Why, does the President think, our artistic community protest against him at every award ceremony"?

It pays to pretend to be left-wing in the entertainment industry.

[sp1814]

samjenko

Describing the entertainment industry is left wing is a little reductive. Whilst it's true that performers are mostly liberal in outlook, if you look at the way the industry is run, in the background it is extremely conservative both in outlook and application (believe me - I know what I'm talking about here...I'm connected to the UK industry).

Also, is it not entirely possible that performers (who have support liberal views) are not actually pretending? In the same way that those who hold conservative views are too sincere?

[-Talbot-]

Well there has been a large influx of eastern europeans round here and I haven't seen any anti EE graffiti or witnessed any anti EE abuse.
That said the media tell me it is rife, so why not.

I have however witnessed and intervened when EE's are hassling women in the town centre pub scene. This is a regular occurrence but maybe that is just their culture and I really ought to ignore it?

Or maybe Eastenders should run a story-line based on that to balance things up a bit?

Or maybe I have made it up because I am a xenophobic bigot?

[sp1814]

-Talbot-

I have no idea whether you are a xenophobic bigot, but I don't think that the point of drama is to have balance. It's to tell stories.

Balance needs to come from news and current affairs, but not soap operas.

Just because JR Ewing was shot by a woman at the end of the first series, doesn't mean that Miss Ellie had to be shot by a bloke the following season.