Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: New Zealand Weekend Television

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  • Lucy Stewart,

    The early promos said they were not doing the pledge requests this time - people didn't always pay up.

    Hey, I'd be happy to front up in advance.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I reckon John would do it for fun, expecially after his recent gushing on-air praise of many a "gorgeous" man. Might attract a Hayley Holt smackdown, but.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    In response to feedback from fans of Dexter, all new episodes of Dexter will commence Monday Oct 12, @ 8.30pm on C4
    7:15 PM Aug 6th from web

    What episode is it at? I can help if you want any update.It's good, right through to the end.Yeah yeah, I know.....:) Has anyone seen Wilfred?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I have managed to avoid the entire Telethon, thank God. And since my day consists of making blackcurrent liquer and then having a brunch that will include lashings of bubbles as a reward for being good and staying home last night, I should be able to keep up avoiding it until it is over.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Why are people so down on Telethon? Bit plebby is it? Not a good enough cause?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Why are people so down on Telethon? Bit plebby is it? Not a good enough cause?

    For t'other 1/2, he feels it's lame,outdated due to the technology not new anymore and he's over being fed foolish behaviour that is a dime a dozen these days and lost the public interaction by taking away pledges which gave the public a real chance to interact and contribute.For me, nothing against it at all except, cheesy people who I seldom engage with anyway and would rather be in the garden.At the end I'll hear what has been raised for needy and I'll probably think' that's nice, wish the government cared'.(but you knew that, right? :))Hope you are having fun Jackie.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I watch a Telethon and think that making a big deal over your $20 donation when on the balance of voting probabilities you also voted for a tax cut last November is the height of hypocrisy.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    I watch a Telethon and think that encouraging people to give charitably to kids who have shit is a good thing. I watch Telethon, and think that, in a society which is about taking, it's nice to see some giving on a large scale. Most of all, though, isn't it, at the end of the day, about community, and helping each other? Don't you want to encourage kids to think about giving to other people? And yes, the government should not be making cuts, so that kids aren't going hungry, but they have, and they do. So wotcha gunna do? Minge about it or make a donation? Be all political, or really, do something useful? It's not all up to the gummint to make sure we're okay. Community is about us all making sure of that. I am sure that most people here are charitable, and do good things for other people. Why is this different?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Why are people so down on Telethon? Bit plebby is it? Not a good enough cause?

    Better Half's birthday yesterday, so you know something -- I had (and have) better things to do. And while I'm sure you didn't mean to go there, Jackie, guilt-tripping as a fund raising mechanism is really really counterproductive. The Telethon is to benefit a perfectly "good enough" cause, but we've decided that our (pretty tight) charitable giving budget is going to stay focused on hospice, and various cancer and literacy charities.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    I was objecting to Tom's comment, Craig.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I've never liked telethons much but I don't mind the focus on the issue being fundraised for. The one raising money for disability in 1981? was quite a landmark in the growth of the disability rights movement, and provided vital resources.

    I don't think there is any real difference between today's one and the ones in the past. They have always been a bit tacky and populist, but great if your get into the spirit of it all. Maybe some of the PAS readers are just 15 years more older and cynical than the last time. I am disappointed in the low total raised so far but is this because in our current beneficiary bashing resentment society poor kids are not seen as a worthy cause?

    My son has taken a keen interest in it all and went down to the St James this morning to check it out, and give his money.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Be all political, or really, do something useful?

    I didn't realise this was an either/or proposition.

    I know there will be lots of good people who will take a day off from their normal charity activities to do something a bit different, but those people also work day in day out without the benefit of celebrity T.V.

    For most, it is just a chance to make tem feel good about themselves, not help poor children.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    And while I'm sure you didn't mean to go there, Jackie, guilt-tripping as a fund raising mechanism is really really counterproductive.

    Actually we think it kinda does work.The dog agrees as I write,(it goes like aru ru ro ro followed with awaruo aru) We get door knockers asking for donations and I consider that on par with reminding others to be charitable to those in need.Nothing wrong with asking, I think.Perhaps many on PA are actually watching it because Jackie inquired.Perhaps the total will leap because Jackie inquired. Perhaps more are really struggling than The telethon anticipated.i don't watch much tv,especially during the day so just haven't noticed it.I know I care about many issues we have in NZ and reminders for one via a telethon is no different to me as other reminders but I got no problem with choice of delivery. I think Tom meant that if we didn't have the tax cuts there should have been more in the kitty for the likes of the needy, as there should be.Jus' sayin'

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Rex Widerstrom,

    guilt-tripping as a fund raising mechanism is really really counterproductive

    An opportune moment, perhaps, for me to introduce those who haven't seen it already to the skit that resulted in "The Chaser's War on Everything" stood down for two weeks from the ABC and then finally canned for good.

    While it arguably crossed lines of good taste, it certainly mocks the use of guilt to extract money from donors.

    (Haven't figured the embedding thing yet. A FAQ would be nice :-P)

    Perth, Western Australia • Since Nov 2006 • 157 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    It's not all up to the gummint to make sure we're okay.

    Yes, in this case it is. The government is responsible. The fact that children in poverty is seen as an issue for charity is an utter disgrace.

    The idea that we have what boils down to children begging on national television shouldn't make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside that we are prepared to give money; it should make us ashamed that that's the sort of society we live in. That's what I don't like about the telethon: the idea that it is an appropriate reaction to child poverty. It's not.

    I'd also argue that the telethon isn't about community; it's the illusion of community, the replacement of an actual community with stage managed corporate `community', where the only thing that really joins anyone is the cash nexus.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Why am I agreeing with everyone here?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Thanks for the Chaser clip, Rex. I had heard about it but not seen it. Very clever and boundary pushing, and I presume they had the kids in on it beforehand.
    I write as a parent of a child who has been the recipient of such well-meaning benevolence. It's a strange conflict. You really want the child to get the benefit of what those nice people are fundraising for, but it is still charity and to get it you have to be both powerless and grateful.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    (Haven't figured the embedding thing yet. A FAQ would be nice :-P)

    On the to-do list. But the trick to embedding clips is that there's no trick. Just paste in the URL.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Im not going to argue with anyone here. It's all about perception, isn't it? I liked Telethons in the past, I like Telethons now. I do not like that we have child poverty and I do not think that Telethons are the answer. They do, however, fill a gap. They are one of the things that fill the gap. If I were to be cynical, I would say that many companies got great publicity from this telethon, and that the feelgood factor is somewhat superficial. I could say many things that were cynical. But you know what? They made almost a couple of million bucks for this particular charity - a charity that benefits a lot of kids in NZ. Does it solve child poverty or is it a bandaid? I don't care. At least it's something. You can feel as bad as you want but lots of people rely on charity. Hospices, kindergartens, schools, hospitals, old people, young people........it is as it always was.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Charity is sponsorship. Sponsorship is charitable. I guess TV3 was doing what it could. $1,990,000, great effort, even if it feels corporate.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    TV3 should have another one next weekend and give it's proceeds to the disabled kids that just had their funding cuts.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Just paste in the URL.

    Might be an improvement if YouTubes were able to be previewed.

    great effort, even if it feels corporate.

    It sure did. I'd be interested to find out just how much cash AirNew Zealand, FlyBuys, The Warehouse, 2°, ASB, Mazda, etc. put in - and I don't just mean that colected from their customers - because they sure got a truckload of coverage.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    It sure did. I'd be interested to find out just how much cash AirNew Zealand, FlyBuys, The Warehouse, 2°, ASB, Mazda, etc. put in - and I don't just mean that colected from their customers - because they sure got a truckload of coverage.

    FlyBuys' "change your card and we'll donate TEN WHOLE CENTS!" in particular felt like a cheap advertising gimmick.

    OTOH, as others have mentioned, it was also a chance for lots of groups to have a moment on the national stage, and I found the cultural groups especially quite neat. Yes, the government shouldn't be leaving kids in the position where this was necessary; yes, it's silly; but that doesn't mean that the $2 million which did get raised is going to a bad place. Maybe I'm too young to be cynical, since I don't even remember the last one, but I quite enjoyed what I saw.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    I don't understand some of the criticism and cynicism directed towards the Telethon.

    Of course the Government should do more to alleviate child poverty. But because no government has ever done enough to help the poor and needy, charities exist.

    The Telethon was nothing more than a fundraising exercise for a deserving charity. A whole bunch of people and communitiy groups got together to help. A whole pile of corporates got involved (I get the feeling some people think that is a bad thing. Why?). And it raised awareness of a major problem.

    By all means attack the Government on its inaction in alleviating child poverty. But why not support the people trying to do some good?

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    But why not support the people trying to do some good?

    Because the idea that child poverty should be a matter for charity is disgusting. The Telethon normalises itself; it makes it seem like there's nothing odd about John Key doing a sausage sizzle for child poverty. It's not the Telethon that gets me exactly; it is the relentless happiness & seeming normality of the whole thing. You're begging that children can have shoes --- in God's own country! --- don't look so damned pleased with yourself. It's the idea that the correct response to children going without food and clothing is for us to choose to help. It isn't. We shouldn't have that choice to help or not, any more than we should have the choice to provide due process or not.

    Nothing against the people involved. It isn't their fault & I'm sure they are marvellous people doing the best job they can. But the whole thing is still depressing.

    (And of course, if they were to be honestly angry about the whole thing, people would just tune out. Which is another depressing thing.)

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

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