*rant* Wife Swap

I just watched this!

I have to say they really do find stereotypical families. For example, a family from the South being over the top religious. I think they did a family from Boston that was very self indulgent and self centered. We're all not like that either!

BTW, I think Maine is one of the most beautiful states. Jeremy and I went to Bar Harbor last summer and hiked around Acadia Park. GORGEOUS!

 LOL! Sorry 'bout that.  I haven't watched it in a while, but they always seem to pick families representing the worst stereotypes, Long Island, money hungry JAPs, Southern rednecks, southern CA plastic surgery barbie dolls, etc.   Good for laughs sometimes, but really a disservice to most locations, ethnicities, and genders.

Yet again, the ridiculous irony of "reality" TV.  They can make anyone look like anything, with enough footage and creative editing.  Not to mention multiple takes.  Yes, much of it is staged.  Entrances and conversations repeated and shot multiple times, ostensibly to get multiple angles, but really to restructure reality as a bigger or different reaction is paired with a milder statement or a different event, to create more interesting TV.  Watch for it.  If you are watching a scene where the camera is looking over the shoulder at another person, and then you see the reverse angle (over the shoulder of the other person at the one that was closer in the first shot) - and you don't see a cameraman, or lights or sound or gaffers, then the scene was repeated at least twice.  The scene must then be reshot for every additional angle that doesn't have lights or camera equipment in it.  Reality TV is meaningless.

Many of the families they pick, homeschool.  There was only one time I saw before I stopped watching TV, that it didn't make homeschoolers look idiotic.  For instance, the time they had the Pagan family - I seem to remember they also homeschooled.  I think the Pirate Family homeschooled too.

The time that the homeschoolers didn't look silly was when the whole point of the show was to force the homeschool kids to go out into the "real world" - go to school, get jobs, etc.  they were sort of normal people, just really hyperprotective. 

I think they were almost disappointed when the overinsulated homeschool kids didn't self-destruct through lack of "social skills."  In fact, they sort of shrugged and said, "Well, if you insist," and did quite well.  Afterwards the family allowed the kids to continue the activities they had begun during the show - the girl took some kind of dance I think?   The girl was allowed to have friends - but they had to hang out at the home.  And the boy had gotten a job and continued to work there.

The comments I get about how nicely my kids behave in public, make me think that the only "social skills" kids learn in school are ones that make adults hate kids. 

Off topic sorry.

A couple of years ago, many of us that had been knocking around the dog world a while (rescue, breed club directors, etc), got a "cattle call" from the producers of this show, looking for a family that was really into dogs.  I don't know whether they ever did that one - most of us were like, "As if!" 

No way would I ever let the "anti-me" walk in here and rearrange life to her specifications - who knows what she'd say about the dogs.  At the time I had three different dogs with special needs, and had more rescues typically than I do now - usually with severe behavioral issues. 

If they never did that show, that's probably the problem they ran into.  You can get a human family to agree to be knocked around a bit in the name of entertainment, I suppose (I'd NEVER do that to my kids), but dogs wouldn't understand why they were locked in kennels, or in the backyard, or sent away, or something.

brookcove

The comments I get about how nicely my kids behave in public, make me think that the only "social skills" kids learn in school are ones that make adults hate kids. 

I don't think that's true at all. IMO, that's like saying kids in public school are out of control. Or, all kids in private schools are brats. None of which I believe is true. Kids are kids- with all different personalities and characteristics- no matter what environment they're schooled in. I'm in favor of *ALL* education- public, private, home, charter, etc.

There's no single right way to teach individuals.

brookcove

Many of the families they pick, homeschool. 

This is why I never watch these shows. It literally makes me want to puke seeing the homeschooling families they pick. They always seem to either be extremely sheltered fundementalist Christians, or the weirdest most radical people you've seen in your life. And they hardly EVER have any social skills. It's like, thanks TV for making the stereotypes of homeschooling even HARDER to get past. Luckily I don't have to deal with it anymore, the topic of how I was schooled doesn't come up much in conversation these days...but I'll be dealing with it again when I have kids, and dang it made my childhood difficult to have everyone assume I was uber sheltered and socially retarded...

brookcove

No way would I ever let the "anti-me" walk in here and rearrange life to her specifications - who knows what she'd say about the dogs.  At the time I had three different dogs with special needs, and had more rescues typically than I do now - usually with severe behavioral issues. 

If they never did that show, that's probably the problem they ran into.  You can get a human family to agree to be knocked around a bit in the name of entertainment, I suppose (I'd NEVER do that to my kids), but dogs wouldn't understand why they were locked in kennels, or in the backyard, or sent away, or something.

I was under the impression that the incoming person had to follow your routine exactly. My daughter and I were just talking about it the other day. (I would never do it either!!) I've actually never seen the show, she has though. But I had to laugh just thinking about it...

Morning routine... kids off to school... do some training with the dogs... housework... doggie playtime... housework... All the while checking the forums throughout the day. Can you imagine it?? You just couldn't pay me enough to disrupt my household for that period of time and we're on the verge of poor.

i know there was a kentucky wife swap a few years back...i don't remember it but i can't imagine!!! Yes, there are deliverance type places in ky, but for the most part it is just like anywhere else

 I've watched a few of the shows and I never got the impression it was about highlighting different parts of the country but rather having people from different backgrounds, ideologies and beliefs interact and learn from each other. Even those with the most opposing views can find common ground and appreciation for each other's life style. They use families with very rigid and somewhat extreme ideas but that is the whole point of the show IMO. 

The whole point is to max out viewers and sell commercial time.  LOL  Which means maxing out entertainment value. 

I don't mean that the schools DO teach social skills that make adults hate kids.  The assumption is always that school is the only way that kids can develop properly.  On the other hand, the reality is that there's nothing intrinsically valuable about the school environment that magically turns all kids into ones that can function out in the real world, with impulse control, people on people skills, and the ability to look beyond the whim of the moment and selfish desires.

The first half of the show shows the guest woman tailoring her life to the demands of the home/lifestyle she has entered, following the instructions of the resident woman.  In the second half, the guest orders things to her way of thinking, handing out new rules which must be obeyed - including things like destroying (apparently) valued objects and forcing the kids and husband into new routines.

brookcove

On the other hand, the reality is that there's nothing intrinsically valuable about the school environment that magically turns all kids into ones that can function out in the real world, with impulse control, people on people skills, and the ability to look beyond the whim of the moment and selfish desires

Excellent point. I went to public schools and I can irk people with ease and regularity. I think homeschooling is great. In some of the schools I've been to, one may or may not learn the 3 R's but a number of kids can strip a Glock 10 in 3 seconds. What kind of skill is that?

I think homeschooling is great since there are less distractions. And the kids still get social activities when they go to the church or park or dog event to play. Being forced to get along with 2,000 other people is not a guaranteed way to becoming a valued and sociable citizen. Being educated and polite is a good start, though.

My younger brother lives in a little town about 40 minutes from Bangor, Maine. But he can fake a redneck accent when necessary.

Most reality shows aren't. And now, they've become a cottage industry for quirky people and celebrities that can get a regular acting job. Oops, I said that out loud, didn't I?

Thank you for your comment.  As a life time employee in public schools, who has worked to the best of my ability to support kids, parents and teachers, it is really discouraging to see people bash my work place (and in some cases my profession).  It pains me to see people complain about schools and vote against levies without even considering the possibility that their opinions or impressions are from a very narrow sample.  If you believe there is something wrong with any public agency or service, complaining changes nothing.  There are many ways for an indivudal to influence public service agencies in a way that builds not alienates or destroys.

 I do take a bit of exception to the last line.   There is a single way to best teach any individual; and it is not the environment in which the teaching occurs.  It is the method that brings about change in skills that can be generalized from one setting to another.  Teach those skills that  what will translate into an adult with the skills to both enjoy and manage their lives after school.

BACK ON TOPIC,, if you are going to watch reality shows, Try  Dancing with the Stars LOL

The Amazing Race is really the only reality show that "seems" interesting simply because of the travel...but I still don't watch it LOL. As a mom of two smart well behaved and normal public schooled kids...I can say "whatever floats your boat...but don't assume your boat is the only one floating at a given time".

brookcove

The first half of the show shows the guest woman tailoring her life to the demands of the home/lifestyle she has entered, following the instructions of the resident woman.  In the second half, the guest orders things to her way of thinking, handing out new rules which must be obeyed - including things like destroying (apparently) valued objects and forcing the kids and husband into new routines.

This is always the point I cringe too, they are supposedly allowing the visiting Wife to make changes she feels are needed and better.... yet without fail they all go neo nazi and tear up the old lifestyle while trashing valued routines and even belongings. Some of the families make you shake your head and wonder, the houses are trashed and cluttered to the roof, they are not clean enough for them to live in yet they welcome cameras into the place??  The two worst parts for me is if you are trying to teach children there is a better way to live then why on earth you you do so in such a destructive and mean spirited manner? and the other is that this stuff is sent all over the world, it was humiliating enough when Baywatch was the most viewed tv series exporrted to other countries I always crossed my fingers that who ever saw it thought it was a joke not how we actually saw ourselves!!

I understand people thinking some families may be too rigid but messing with a child's faith or taking kids who are pretty decent to start with and teaching them chores are not part of a child's life... that is just asking for therapy!

Bonita of Bwana