# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/21 "2005-01-06T21:25:27Z")
I’m not taking the whacko’s side in all of this, but it absolutely blows my mind that our laws view the momentary flash of a woman’s nipple as a million times more offensive than a television show that kills rats so that they may be turned into a vomit-inducing smoothie. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/22 "2005-01-06T21:38:53Z")
Amen to that, **Ravenman** ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/23 "2005-01-06T21:44:53Z")
I’m ready to sue Mr. Aitken for making me aware of the disgusting contents of a show I choose not to watch because it’s disgusting. I’m about to throw up an another here. ---
**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, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/24 "2005-01-06T21:50:20Z")
“From a viewer’s point of view?” He’s a paralegal? His employer must be so proud. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/25 "2005-01-06T23:07:20Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I watched one episode, where they were making tank-top clad buxom females eat (chew now, not swallow whole) live, big, slimy slugs. That is _ **HOT!** _ Did they chew them slowly and sensually? ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/26 "2005-01-06T23:27:01Z")
Our f’in’ WB affialiate shows commercials for Fear Factor (in syndication, I guess) during the 6-7 PM timeslot. It’s delightful, to say the least, to be enjoying dinner and the Simpsons, and suddenly be treated to footage of morons eating live worms. Thanks, WB! That’s exactly the level of class I’ve come to expect from your fine organization. ---
**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, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/27 "2005-01-06T23:44:10Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > 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. I’m disappointed that **Bubbadog** would do something like this. I’m considering a strongly worded pitting for him. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2005, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/28 "2005-01-06T23:58:02Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > That is _ **HOT!** _ Did they chew them slowly and sensually? No, they slowly and sensually sucked 'em right down. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/29 "2005-01-07T00:47:00Z")
> [@Yahoo! News](#): > > . . . a handwritten four-page lawsuit . . . **Snicker** I wonder if it was in crayon. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/30 "2005-01-07T00:48:51Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I’m ready to sue Mr. Aitken for making me aware of the disgusting contents of a show I choose not to watch because it’s disgusting. I’m about to throw up an another here. Can we make that a class action lawsuit? ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/31 "2005-01-07T01:25:09Z")
Wait a minute… did anyone actually see this rat-eating? I don’t want the show and had no idea they did anything like this. I did a Google search and only came up with this: > [@](#): > > The Rats from the first season premiere were raised in a laboratory, according to executive producer Matt Kunitz. He said, they “are as clean as rats can be.” I assume that they were also tame as rats can be, too. from here: [http://www.realitytvplanet.com/fearfactor\_frontpage.php](http://www.realitytvplanet.com/fearfactor_frontpage.php) Plus I found this: [http://www.ratfanclub.org/boycott.html](http://www.ratfanclub.org/boycott.html) If they are indeed killing and forcing people to eat lab rats just for entertainment value, I can’t believe any animal organization isn’t all over this yet. Domestic rats are not the same as insects… and a lab rat or pet rat is absolutely nothing like a house or a roof rat. Killing housepests OK, killing tame rats just for the entertainment of vapid people… those rats trust humans and form bonds with their owners just like a dog or cat does. I understand if you have to feed a pet snake but this is just cruel and treating them like garbage. ☹ This makes me so sad. They might as well kill puppies and kittens and force people on the TV show to eat them all frappéed in a blender. I mean Hell, go to the pound, pick up a few strays to use on the show, it doesn’t make any difference right? They’d be killed anyway! :mad: :mad: :mad: FUCK YOU, STUPID TV PEOPLE! [[http://crap.jinwicked.com/images/comics/20050101.jpg](http://crap.jinwicked.com/images/comics/20050101.jpg)](Domestic rats are not the same thing as you trap in your attic, so stop treating them like it!!!) ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/32 "2005-01-07T01:27:45Z")
Well, crap, it worked in preview then the link got eaten or something. ☹ ---
**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 7, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/33 "2005-01-07T01:57:40Z")
I wonder sometimes about the long-term health consequences of the crap that contestants eat. For instance, I’ve seen them eating cow stuff any number of times; how long will it be until someone sues the show for giving them BSE (I guess that would be Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans)? ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/34 "2005-01-07T02:19:45Z")
[http://www.charitywire.com/charity9/02266.html](http://www.charitywire.com/charity9/02266.html) Apparently the snakes used on the show suffer a lot of abuse as well. I don’t understand how things like this can stay on the television. They are using animal cruelty to get ratings. ☹☹ The guy in the OP is an unalterated fucktard, but ghods I wish someone would put a stop to these reality shows. I found a bunch of similar info about Survivor while looking up info on this, and _that_ made me sick to my stomach. Maybe one of the contestents will finally sue the pants off them for something and put a stop to it one way or another. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/35 "2005-01-07T02:19:56Z")
Why stop at TV? Why, just last week I checked a George Carlin book out of my local public library. There were some tidbits in there that I found just nauseating. I nearly vomited! I think I may have to sue. I’ve listed my email address for anyone who’d like a paid interview. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/36 "2005-01-07T02:20:50Z")
Sorry for the off-topic reply, but, Welcome back, **jinwicked**! We missed you! ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/37 "2005-01-07T03:27:07Z")
It’s hard to get pissed about this just because it’s so fucking funny. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/38 "2005-01-07T07:47:37Z")
> [@jinwicked](#): > > Well, crap, it worked in preview then the link got eaten or something. ☹ I got to see the rat just fine, and it’s a very cute rat. In a party hat and everything. 🙂 Oh, yes, welcome back. We need all the cute posters we can get. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/39 "2005-01-07T07:55:33Z")
> [@jinwicked](#): > > If they are indeed killing and forcing people to eat lab rats just for entertainment value, I can’t believe any animal organization isn’t all over this yet. The aren’t forcing any one to do anything. People audition to be contestants. The contestants can quit anytime. > [@](#): > > Domestic rats are not the same as insects… and a lab rat or pet rat is absolutely nothing like a house or a roof rat. I agree with your basic position. But I have a problem with this. How exactly is a wild specimen of rattus rattus or rattus norvegicus different from one bought in a pet store (aside from the obvious fact that human breeders often artificially select for albinism). > [@](#): > > Killing housepests OK, I prefer ‘catch-and-release’ when possible. > [@](#): > > killing tame rats just for the entertainment of vapid people… those rats trust humans and form bonds with their owners just like a dog or cat does. I understand if you have to feed a pet snake but this is just cruel and treating them like garbage. ☹ The contestants will do anything for money. So will the producers. > [@](#): > > This makes me so sad. They might as well kill puppies and kittens and force people on the TV show to eat them all frappéed in a blender. I mean Hell, go to the pound, pick up a few strays to use on the show, it doesn’t make any difference right? They’d be killed anyway! If the producers thought that killing puppies would get them high enough ratings, they would do it. > [@](#): > > FUCK YOU, STUPID TV PEOPLE! [[http://crap.jinwicked.com/images/comics/20050101.jpg](http://crap.jinwicked.com/images/comics/20050101.jpg)](Domestic rats are not the same thing as you trap in your attic, so stop treating them like it!!!) Again, the only trait I can think of that really seperates canis lupus familiaris and canis lupus lupus is the reaction to humans. Size, coloration, aggressiveness etc all vary greatly according to dog breed, and individual dog. How exactly are wild rats different from the domesticated variety? ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428/40 "2005-01-07T08:04:41Z")
The domesticated rats are born and bred in captivity to have a bond and trust of humans. Thus I think we are responsible to treat them with respect as the companion animals they are. Even lab rats aren’t excluded… I know lots of cases of “retired” lab rats being adopted out/rescued and made into pets. Pet rats and lab rats have also been selectively bred, especially by private breeders, for temperament – socialization, trust of humans, lack of agression, and lower risk of certain diseases and conditions. They may be the same species but they are far removed from their wild counterparts. They would not survive long without a human caring for them, are not suitable for “wild release” and should not be treated the same as a house pest or referred to as “vermin.” As for catch and wild release… I have mixed feelings about it. Yes, it’s better not to kill the housepests, and release them. But realistically, a lot of house mice and rats don’t really have the survival skills to live in a field, as they’re using to eating human garbage and feeding off people’s leavings. So they either find a new human house, or die of starvation/exposure. I would probably euthansize them in as humane way I could, given that problem. Never snap-traps. It’s not entirely unheard of for a rat owner with a pest problem to accidentally end up with half wild/half domestic babies. These rats are usually euthanized as they are much, much harder to socialize and much more likely to have health risks or agression towards humans or other rats show up later in life. So yeah, they are the same animal. But they’re not. And none of that really takes away from the fact that the producers of this show are still condoning the abuse of both domestic rats, snakes, and whatever other animals they put in these gross-out little stunts of theirs. You’re right though, the producers can’t force the contestents to do anything. The contestents are just as worthless and inhumane as the people putting them up to these things, for not speaking out against mistreating these animals just because they’re “icky and vermin.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-tv-has-an-off-button/283428.md?page=3)