# You're TV has an OFF Button **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428 "2005-01-06T19:12:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/1 "2005-01-06T19:12:01Z")
[Link](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&e=3&u=/nm/20050106/od_nm/television_rat_dc) Another case of some idiot trying to change the broadcast media and pick up some bucks at the same time. Ya know, I don’t find **Fear Factor** to be all that entertaining. I’d just as soon not see people eat nasty things. My solution? Turn the channel or hit the off button. Hear’s a clue for you Mr Aitken -don’t let it get your blood pressure up. Don’t watch it till you vomit. Don’t get so upset that you get dizzy and whack your head. Use one tenth of the common sense found in a sea slug and turn the fucking TV OFF! ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/2 "2005-01-06T19:13:32Z")
And, while you’re getting common sense, please learn to use the word **your** correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/3 "2005-01-06T19:21:32Z")
I’m sorry, but this pathetic lawsuit is worth it for this singularly hilarious quote > [@Austin Aitken](#): > > I am not at liberty to discuss the complaint unless it is a paid-interview situation. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/4 "2005-01-06T19:23:36Z")
Can’t anyone take responsibility for their own actions anymore? All you have to do is watch a few commercials for _Fear Factor_ to know that people will be doing gross things. TVs have both off switches and channel changers. If the show nauseates you, don’t watch it. Now this idiot feels that he deserves $2.5 million _plus_ his “paid interviews.” I hope the judge makes him pay court costs for both sides. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/5 "2005-01-06T19:23:45Z")
How many years has this show been on? At least four or more. They were eating animal penis’s a couple of days ago, I was sickened, then I was like, “duh, I can just turn it,” so that’s what I did. Everyone knows Fear Factor is a gross-out show. I seriously hope this idiot does not get one red cent. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/6 "2005-01-06T19:24:54Z")
> [@](#): > > His suit added, “NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning (sic) and in most cases against their will.” Yeah, that rat episode was gross but it went over the top when the guns went to the contestants’ heads to consume the blended rat frappés. This is where it gets over the top silly: > [@](#): > > In a brief telephone interview with Reuters, Aitken said, “I am not at liberty to discuss the complaint unless it is a \*\*paid-\*\*interview situation.” How much milk does that cash cow have, Mr Aitken? And can I add some to my rat smoothie? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/7 "2005-01-06T19:25:21Z")
Ah, idiots. In a truly just world, a judge would force this guy to do a guest spot on Fear Factor where the contestants throw dead rats at him. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/8 "2005-01-06T19:28:20Z")
What I’d like to know is, where is the Fear Factor in eating gross stuff? Afraid of barfing? Afraid of eating crap and still not winning anything? Afraid of getting rat hair stuck between your teeth? I think they should change the name of the show to “Gross Factor” and just be done with it. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/9 "2005-01-06T19:51:32Z")
I watched one episode, where they were making tank-top clad buxom females eat (chew now, not swallow whole) live, big, slimy slugs. I gagged, changed the channel, and realized this not going to be Must See TV for me. Unlike Mr. Aitken, I am not held hostage by the tv. We must feel sorry for him…think of his helplessness! His impotence! His complete inability to think or decide for himself! What a way to go through life. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/10 "2005-01-06T19:58:18Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > His impotence! Is he blaming that on Fear Factor, too? It wasn’t mentioned in the original article… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/11 "2005-01-06T20:15:23Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > And, while you’re getting common sense, please learn to use the word **your** correctly. To be quite frank, the OP did not use the word **your** at all. Did you mean the OP used the word **you’re** incorrectly ? Please don’t let that happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/12 "2005-01-06T20:31:00Z")
This guy claims to be a paralegal? And filed a _handwritten_ complaint? And used the English language in that manner? The mind reels. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/13 "2005-01-06T20:36:05Z")
Personally, I hope he wins his case. If I were the judge, I would rule in his favor. But the award wouldn’t be quite what Mr. Aitken had in mind. I’d award him something a little more… …furry. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/14 "2005-01-06T20:42:55Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > To be quite frank, the OP did not use the word **your** at all. Did you mean the OP used the word **you’re** incorrectly ? > > Please don’t let that happen again. The OP use _You’re_ incorrectly in the title. He then posted in #2 complaining that he did not use it correctly in the title. **BubbaDog** is both the OP and the one complaining about the use of you’re/your. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/15 "2005-01-06T20:45:10Z")
I am almost willing to pay him for an interview. “Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. My first question is, is this a joke?” “No, I am serious.” “No really, it’s a joke.” “I assure I am seriously pursuing this lawsuit.” “No, that can’t be right, because it is the lawsuit only a infinitely idiotic jackass would file, you aren’t an inifinitely indiotic jackass, are you?” “Ummmm, no…” “See, I knew it was a joke.” “No, no, it’s real.” “Wait a minute you just said you weren’t an idiotic jackass and now you are saying you are? Which is it?” “The lawsuit is real and I am not a jackass.” “Oh no you don’t, none of that lawyer-speak with me. It is clear on the face of it this lawsuit is bullshit and must either be a joke or the product of a delusional barely functional IQ. Please help me out here.” “This interview is over.” “OK, but don’t try cashing that check.” ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/16 "2005-01-06T20:52:16Z")
> [@](#): > > His suit added, “NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning (sic) and in most cases against their will.” Uh…judging by the basis/plots of many of today’s reality shows, I’d say that it’s the exact technically-correct message they’re sending. These people (who participate in reality shows) apparently ARE willing to do “anything beyond reason” for cold, hard, cash. But how in the world does he think it’s against their will? They don’t have to do squat, if they don’t mind not being paid said cash. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/17 "2005-01-06T20:53:11Z")
And now let’s all say a prayed that the Smoking Gun gets a copy of this **handwritten** complaint. I bet it’s filled to the rim with hot delicious comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/18 "2005-01-06T21:02:54Z")
I think that every television service provider should use a Pay-Per-View sort of method on every single channel, where every television show gets a description and to watch it you have to confirm that you’re sure that you want to watch it with a second action that demonstrates your desire to watch the program. That way nobody can say that they were traumatized by what they saw because they were unaware of what was on and waste the courts’ time with frivolous lawsuits like this one. Since people can’t or won’t take responsibility for themselves on their own, then I guess Big Brother should have to compel them to do it. Idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Eman\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Eman\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eman_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/19 "2005-01-06T21:08:06Z")
> [@](#): > > He said the show caused his blood pressure to rise so high that he became dizzy and light-headed, and when he ran away to his room, he bumped his head into the doorway. Just picturing this gives me the giggles. “OH MY GOD! RATS! AHHHH!” _thunk_ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/20 "2005-01-06T21:14:12Z")
“To have the individuals on the show eat (yes) and drink dead rats was crazy and from a viewer’s point of view made me throw-up as well an another in the house at the same time.” Huh? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428.md?page=2)