Addict
06-02-2007, 11:53 AM
There was a thread a few days ago called 'CRAZY Dutch TV show' about a show in which a terminally ill woman would give her kidney to one of three applicants who have some kind of kidney disease for which they needed a new transplant.
Now you should know that when they announed this show all hell broke loose, not only in here in the Netherlands, where media and politicians alike went on-camera and told everyone this was dispicable and unethical. CNN had a topic on it, in which similar terms were used, the EU (European Union) chairman had a press conference over it and even on our boards (there was a thread) it was subject of discussion. Basically, everyone was in a hurry to tell the world they disagreed with the idea of this show. In Holland it even ended up in the Second Chamber (which is... well I guess it's Congres in the US, or Senate, whichever one's more powerful). Politicians discussing this, wether or not they could STOP this show from airing.
It was broadcasted last night. 1,2 million people watched it.
The show was fake. One big PR stunt to catch people's attention. On the climax of the show (where the 'terminal lady' (an actress) decided to which of the three sick people (who were actually sick and on the waiting list to recieve a donor kidney, they did of course know it wasn't going to happen) the host of the show stopped her, and turned to the camera, telling people it was fake and that he hoped that it had caught their attention. They showed footage of the Dutch politicans saying it was 'disipcable' and 'unethical' and said they hoped their reaction to the fact that over 1,200 people are on waiting lists would be the same.
And the PR-show worked. For a week, Organ Donation was the talk of the day. Everybody was discussing not just the show, but the problem that created it: the shortage of organs and organ donors.
Since last night, an estimated 25,000 people (last number I heard) have applied for organ donation, and god knows how many will follow because of this show.
I just wanted to give the people who had this idea (and the balls to keep going even though the whole world was against it) some props.
Now you should know that when they announed this show all hell broke loose, not only in here in the Netherlands, where media and politicians alike went on-camera and told everyone this was dispicable and unethical. CNN had a topic on it, in which similar terms were used, the EU (European Union) chairman had a press conference over it and even on our boards (there was a thread) it was subject of discussion. Basically, everyone was in a hurry to tell the world they disagreed with the idea of this show. In Holland it even ended up in the Second Chamber (which is... well I guess it's Congres in the US, or Senate, whichever one's more powerful). Politicians discussing this, wether or not they could STOP this show from airing.
It was broadcasted last night. 1,2 million people watched it.
The show was fake. One big PR stunt to catch people's attention. On the climax of the show (where the 'terminal lady' (an actress) decided to which of the three sick people (who were actually sick and on the waiting list to recieve a donor kidney, they did of course know it wasn't going to happen) the host of the show stopped her, and turned to the camera, telling people it was fake and that he hoped that it had caught their attention. They showed footage of the Dutch politicans saying it was 'disipcable' and 'unethical' and said they hoped their reaction to the fact that over 1,200 people are on waiting lists would be the same.
And the PR-show worked. For a week, Organ Donation was the talk of the day. Everybody was discussing not just the show, but the problem that created it: the shortage of organs and organ donors.
Since last night, an estimated 25,000 people (last number I heard) have applied for organ donation, and god knows how many will follow because of this show.
I just wanted to give the people who had this idea (and the balls to keep going even though the whole world was against it) some props.