[nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, here we go again

[Kirk Harmon]

I was sighted for most of my adult life, and whenever I seen these type of 
shows, I always considered the source. It's all about making drama out of 
situations that are not necessarily so. Ratings, Ratings, Ratings! I would 
like to think that the overall sighted Public is still intellegent enough to 
see thru the hype of it all! KIrk
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kaye zimpher" <kayezimpher at bellsouth.net>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home 
Edition,here we go again


>I think it goes a little beond that though. It would be nice if the general
> public believed as you do that the show is just trying to get the most
> ratings for the time slot, but the bottom line is that the average person
> who watches the show will feel that this guy prepresents the blind 
> community
> because they do not know any better. Now I watched this episode and I have
> to say that it was not as bad as others have been. The guy actually had a
> pretty good out look on life and although stereotypes remain he was not a
> bad piano player. He also had mulitple disabilities which i suppose lent
> well to the underdog theory. One thing I did notice is that Human Ware did
> not get one single plug. I know know if the equipment was shown visually,
> but there was no mention of the items they donated.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kirk Harmon" <kvh54 at cfl.rr.com>
> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 8:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home
> Edition,here we go again
>
>
>> You know guys, the telivision business is all about ratings and profits.
>> If
>> it wasn't popular to show this type of rallying around the underdog, so 
>> to
>> speak, then these type of shows wouldn't be on the air to begin with! It
>> is
>> all about business and the exageration of situations for ratings, which 
>> in
>> turn means profit mentality so I don't think we should be too concerned
>> about anything more than to see it for what it is, getting the most
>> viewers
>> for that time frame than any other network! Kirk Harmon.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "T. Joseph Carter" <tjosephcarter at gmail.com>
>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 6:06 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [Blindtlk] HumanWare, Extreme Makeover Home
>> Edition,here we go again
>>
>>
>>> Ryan,
>>>
>>> It probably already has happened and nobody's bothered to tell us about
>>> it--that would fit my expectation anyway.  Unless your fears have borne
>>> out and Dr. Maurer isn't going to risk that.
>>>
>>> I didn't see the episode last night, but Katie did, if it's the same 
>>> one.
>>> Apparently he's a wheelchair user and most of what they did was renovate
>>> his apartment for wheelchair access.  Very little of it was related to
>>> blindness at all, other than mentioning they got him some technology 
>>> like
>>> a Braille embosser.
>>>
>>> Of course it was syrupy sweet and let's-help-this-poor-disabled-person,
>>> but even Three Wishes was full of that kind of thing.  In fact, they 
>>> went
>>> back to re-shoot parts of it so they could make it more "inspirational".
>>> Certainly we didn't criticize ourselves for taking part in that one just
>>> because the Hollywood people were typically clueless.  Remember,
>>> different
>>> textures in different parts of the park so the poor blind woman won't 
>>> get
>>> lost?  Yeah, and only our involvement that kept them from installing
>>> rubber walkways and guard rails.
>>>
>>> I assume the show, Extreme Make-Over Homes, is a lost cause.  I don't
>>> even
>>> care what they did right or wrong this time.  My concern is entirely 
>>> with
>>> HumanWare's press release, which is a different matter all together.
>>>
>>> Joseph
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, Feb 17, 2008 at 11:05:47AM -0700, RyanO wrote:
>>>> Joseph, your idea is a nice one, but I doubt it will come to pass. It
>>>> was
>>>> a
>>>> nice trip down fantasy lane though.
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>>
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