Page 1 of 1
Girls and Boys Alone-Channel 4 doc.
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:08 pm
by NotionPotion
Picking up from discussion from thread in 'Beyond elevenplus' did anyone see the 1st part of the 4 part controversial documentary the other night in which a group of boys and girls were left to fend for themselves? (I think for 2 weeks). They are supervised in 'Big Brother' fashion and parents can intervene if they wish but usually as a last resort.
The boys spent the first 2 days just having water fights, messing the place up, eating very little (apart from crisps and sweets) and eventually missing their parents terribly.
The girls tried to be organised in terms of cooking, etc. but ended up in 2 separate groups, falling out with each other and generally being bossy.
Unfortunately some bullying was evident too.
The parents thought it would be a character-building exercise for their kids.
I think there is a mixed reaction as to whether this 'experiment' should or shouldn't have taken place. The age range of the chilren was 8-11.
How do people think their kids would have coped?
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:10 pm
by Sally-Anne
What a ridiculous idea, to put this age group through an experiment of that sort. It amounts to child cruelty, IMHO.
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:20 pm
by NotionPotion
It was becoming like 'Lord of the Flies'.
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:22 pm
by T.i.p.s.y
I think its not a good idea if CH4 have picked children on the basis that they will probably kick off - that is child abuse on CH4's part.
I'm not anti the idea but I think everyone should have been the same age. The older girl's behaviour was disgusting towards the younger girls. I think the boys, although fairly helpless in practical terms, came out of it quite well which pleased me as boys are IMHO looked at negatively by society. They certainly weren't wilfully cruel.
How would my sons have got on.
One would have teamed up with a nice quiet boy and avoided conflict and looked after each other and worked out how to cook.
The other would have played, eaten sweets and been involved in scraps, probably broken an arm or a leg (his own) and then cried for the rest of the time he was there because he was hungry or everyone was being mean!
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:40 pm
by Ed's mum
I do wonder if the 'idea' for the documentary was presented in a very different way to how it eventually happened. Just the comments from some of the mothers suggested that perhaps their intentions were honourable - one mother said that she did not want to remove her homesick son as he then wouldn't have the opportunity to learn new skills.
I hope I would have had the sense to see what would happen if children in that age range are left 'alone' together, but we should not underestimate how the idea may have been sold to the parents...it's easy to judge after the event (I am referring to my judgements as I watched the programme - I am not judging any comments made above)
How would my children have got along?
Well my eldest is nearly 12.5 but he has been able to cook since he was about 7. He definitely could have cooked for himself (and others if he was being generous). By cooking I mean bacon, eggs, pasta dishes, steak (!), smoothies, sandwiches etc. Foodwise, he would have been fine. I'm not sure how sociable he would have been though, he tends to be a 'my way or no way' character!
My daughter (aged 10)- would be a peacekeeper. She has not a nasty bone in her body. She would make a lot of friends, if others wanted her to, and would be extremely diplomatic and hard working. She probably would help with the cooking but would not take a leadership role. She would definitely be homesick - she hates sleepovers.I hope they would both have behaved themselves. Ed may have been quite aloof with others. Not from snobbery, but from acute shyness and his inability to mix easily with strangers. His language is less good than I would like now, but a year ago it would have been a lot less colourful! My daughter would mix well with all and respect the older ones and mother the littler ones.
I imagine they would not have made me too ashamed, but we never know, until they are put into the situation, how our children really would behave!
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:14 pm
by Sally-Anne
From considerable personal experience of children of this age, not just my own children, this was a truly ill-intentioned and vile experiment.
Lord of the Flies (as Notion Potion says) definitely came to mind before my earlier post, and these children are far too young to be put through this ordeal.
A ridiculous and sick idea.
Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:30 pm
by T.i.p.s.y
This is on again at 9pm tonight. Get ready for your blood to boil!
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:47 pm
by rachelmary
My two older children were fascinated by the idea when they heard us discussingn the programme so I let them watch the second episode. The older one (11) was astonished at the lack of cooking skills present - he would have cooked some really good stuff and looked after the younger ones too. They were both impressed with Matthew who seemed to be a good peace keeper and helped lead the group in a quiet way. They thought the older girls were bullies and should be ashamed of themselves.
They enjoyed watching but won't watch next week as it appears to involve eating rabbits (as rabbit lovers and vegetarians this is certainly not appropriate for them) (or any children of this age especially those in there)
I agree with the person who thought the mixed age range is wrong - I think 8 is too young to be doing this, away without their parents but I think 11 is OK and an age when they should be on their way to being a bit more independant.
The boys and girls behaved totally predictably I think, I wonder why the parents sent their children in the first place, I personally would not put my child in that position, however I do admit to wanting to carry on watcdhing to see how it all turns out...