idnib Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 This show is horrible. How did it ever get the green light? :cursing: As if to prove there are new depths to be plumbed in the world of reality television (because who knew?), CBS just debuted The Briefcase, a show which takes poverty porn, class anxiety, emotional manipulation and exploitation and packages them all neatly into a pretty despicable hour of primetime television. Kicking off each episode with the question, “What would you do with $101,000?†the show then deep-dives into a competition that asks two unwitting, financially strapped families to choose between two no-win options: being financially solvent yet appearing heartless and greedy, or drowning in debt yet having audiences recognize them as selfless and giving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarasue7272 Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Hideous. It reminds me of a psychological test/experiment I have heard of. The psychologist offered a person an amount of money, and they could keep it or give it to someone else. They were surprised at the different outcomes in different societies. I wish I could remember more details. Some basic human emotion that they thought was universal turned out not to be. It was probably on this American life, or radiolab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 This show is horrible. How did it ever get the green light? :cursing: I watched the middle of this show while I was cooking dinner the other night. So I wasn't focused fully on it. But it definitely gave me a sick feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 How do we get on the show? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I read the article, but I don't understand quite how the producers (or whoever) manage to make it so hard on the families. There are a lot of "fair" answers that shouldn't cause anybody any guilt. Here's one: - Spend your $1000 - Add up your debts (except mortgage) and pay them off entirely (unless they exceed $90,000). - Of the remainder, keep half and give half (or give at $10,000 flat, if "your" $90,000 all went to non-mortgage debt.) Here's another: - Spend your $1000 - Make a plan to get job training, and education, make a move, or some other realistic and sustainable way to get on top of life and stay there. Find out how much it costs to execute that plan, and live well enough during the process. - Clear small-ish consumer debts (know that your plan is fine to carry on making payments on the rest). - Spend another $5,000 just to feel the reality of your good luck. - Give away the rest. Here's another: - 30% to debt - 30% to savings - 20% to spending (10% frivolous, 10% worthwhile) - 20% to give away Why would people feel guilt ridden over a situation like that? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SereneHome Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I actually found it interesting. I doubt I will be watching every episode, but it certainly got me thinking about what would I have done. Interestingly enough, one of the families are from my state, so that kind of added some interest. I think it says a lot about people how they treat various money situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I find the idea interesting. But I'm the type of person who would feel no guilt about my financial choices so that part wouldn't get to me. Money is just money so if I was offered it to help myself or the other family I'd pick the other family every time. I don't know how disgusting it is because I have a hard time believing these people didn't know what they were signing up for.reality TV rarely is real so why would this show be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I am wondering why they don't just say let's half the money. They know the other family is in need. They know they can personally use the money. Wouldn't it be fair to half it? Is that still seen as selfish for wanting to keep some of the money? Didn't the article say they could give some of it away, that it's not all or nothing? I do think it's unfair at the beginning though. The article says the families thought they were signing up to be in a documentary about finances. That's just not the same thing as being on reality tv. I would be in a documentary but no amount of money would entice me to be on a reality show. Honestly. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I am wondering why they don't just say let's half the money. They know the other family is in need. They know they can personally use the money. Wouldn't it be fair to half it? Is that still seen as selfish for wanting to keep some of the money? Didn't the article say they could give some of it away, that it's not all or nothing? I do think it's unfair at the beginning though. The article says the families thought they were signing up to be in a documentary about finances. That's just not the same thing as being on reality tv. I would be in a documentary but no amount of money would entice me to be on a reality show. Honestly. Because if every family on the show said, "Hey, let's just split it!" it wouldn't make for very interesting tv. That's what's so disgusting about it to me- knowing that the producers are lurking behind the scenes, prodding the families into emotional torment for the cameras. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Can you imagine showing up to the meeting at the end and you've decided to give like 25% and they decided to give you all of the money or something? You get to be remembered as the less generous one of the episode. Yay, you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tm919 Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Because if every family on the show said, "Hey, let's just split it!" it wouldn't make for very interesting tv. That's what's so disgusting about it to me- knowing that the producers are lurking behind the scenes, prodding the families into emotional torment for the cameras. It makes me wonder if there were a bunch of families that told CBS to take a hike when they realized what was going on -- although that much money for people who are on the edge financially seems pretty coercive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Because if every family on the show said, "Hey, let's just split it!" it wouldn't make for very interesting tv. That's what's so disgusting about it to me- knowing that the producers are lurking behind the scenes, prodding the families into emotional torment for the cameras. Yeah, but according to the rules, listed at least in the article, they can choose to keep all of it, some of it, or give it all away. So technically they can choose to split it without guilt. Maybe that episode doesn't air because it's not good tv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Yeah, but according to the rules, listed at least in the article, they can choose to keep all of it, some of it, or give it all away. So technically they can choose to split it without guilt. Maybe that episode doesn't air because it's not good tv. I think the show does everything they can to make it not that simple. My first instinct would be to split it 50/50. But I'm thinking that they try to make each family feel like the other family is in a little worse condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Yeah, but according to the rules, listed at least in the article, they can choose to keep all of it, some of it, or give it all away. So technically they can choose to split it without guilt. Maybe that episode doesn't air because it's not good tv. See I doubt they would simply let the family split the money without being able to get an episode out of it. That is why the families have to know ahead of time. So they can agree to be put through those things. No network is going to risk parting from that much money without getting an episode out of it. So people have to jump through the hoops to get the money but if they know about those hoops ahead of time I don't see the problem with the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I saw a short-film about this very subject once. I can't remember it's name, but the situation was similar.... It definitely makes you think. It's one thing to consider this as a hypothetical idea and quite another to actually put real people and families into these situations for entertainment. What's next... a Sophie's Choice style show???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Larry Wilmore had a bit about it on his show and he was pretty scathing about it. And funny, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Yeah, but according to the rules, listed at least in the article, they can choose to keep all of it, some of it, or give it all away. So technically they can choose to split it without guilt. Maybe that episode doesn't air because it's not good tv. In theory, giving half seems like a decent choice, right? Your family needs money but you'd also be helping another family. But after you make your final decision you find out that you're going to present it to them in person. Ok, cool, right? You're giving them half of what you were given. But then you show up and the other family goes first. You find out THEY also had a briefcase and they had to make the same decision after seeing your sad tale. They decided to give you all of it. So they gave you every dollar from their briefcase. Are you going to feel good about your decision to give them half? We caught most of the episode and at the end we were thinking that if one couple had given half they would probably have looked selfish compared to the folks who gave it all away. Editing makes all the difference! (As Survivor contestants well know!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 The show I saw had couple #1 give it all to couple #2 who gave all of their briefcase to couple #1 so both couples came out with a briefcase of money that they didn't have before the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 The show I saw had couple #1 give it all to couple #2 who gave all of their briefcase to couple #1 so both couples came out with a briefcase of money that they didn't have before the show. That's the show I saw. If one couple had given half, do you think it would have made them look selfish? I'm not sure selfish is the word I'm looking for here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted May 31, 2015 Author Share Posted May 31, 2015 I think the show is designed for drama and it's manipulative to not tell the families from the get-go that they're actually going to be in a reality show. I would be interested in a show that was sort of a "nickel and dimed" type show that educated people about the lower middle class crunch. And those people would have to know from the start what they're getting into. But showing up with a suitcase of cash, watching people struggle with their own financial problems while trying to decide how much to help others in need, with camera on them and without the knowledge that another family is making the same decision, is disgusting to me as entertainment. But I can see that my reaction is stronger than most people in this thread, so I guess I'm an outlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I think the show is designed for drama and it's manipulative to not tell the families from the get-go that they're actually going to be in a reality show. I would be interested in a show that was sort of a "nickel and dimed" type show that educated people about the lower middle class crunch. And those people would have to know from the start what they're getting into. But showing up with a suitcase of cash, watching people struggle with their own financial problems while trying to decide how much to help others in need, with camera on them and without the knowledge that another family is making the same decision, is disgusting to me as entertainment. But I can see that my reaction is stronger than most people in this thread, so I guess I'm an outlier. I think your assessment is pretty spot on. I also think that the producers can easily manipulate the families' situations. They each went to the other's house and it seemed that the houses had been staged- a Purple Heart just casually sitting open on display. It's designed to tug at heart strings, but the family that visited did NOT see that this couple was building a new house. This isn't to say that they weren't in need, but what the couple saw was an injured vet in a cramped apartment. I hope I'm wrong and this turns out to be just a show to highlight the good in people. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 If they agreed to be in a documentary and the producers put them in a reality show, you'd think they could sue. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 That's the show I saw. If one couple had given half, do you think it would have made them look selfish? I'm not sure selfish is the word I'm looking for here. It's not selfish to keep half. But they are going to look worse when their generosity is less than the other family's. Do they get to change their mind at the meeting? Like if you found out that the other family gave you the entire briefcase and you only gave them half, can you say, "Hey, that's great, you can have an entire briefcase. I just wanted to make sure we'd be able to take care of some stuff, but I don't need a briefcase and a half." If they agreed to be in a documentary and the producers put them in a reality show, you'd think they could sue. I doubt they're going to because they probably just walked away with at least some money which they desperately need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 It's not selfish to keep half. But they are going to look worse when their generosity is less than the other family's. Do they get to change their mind at the meeting? Like if you found out that the other family gave you the entire briefcase and you only gave them half, can you say, "Hey, that's great, you can have an entire briefcase. I just wanted to make sure we'd be able to take care of some stuff, but I don't need a briefcase and a half." I doubt they're going to because they probably just walked away with at least some money which they desperately need. On the episode I saw they had to make a final decision before they met the other couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 Just another reason I'm glad I don't like reality shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 If they agreed to be in a documentary and the producers put them in a reality show, you'd think they could sue. Yeah. I think they agree to be in a documentary, which gives the producers access to all of their financial info. Then the producers show up with the briefcase of cash and they have the chance to decline if they don't want the money or the show. I 'm not sure though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Did you hear about the BBC show? It's even worse. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bbc-to-pit-lowpaid-against-each-other-in-hunger-gamesstyle-show-to-find-britains-hardest-grafter-10279386.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idnib Posted June 1, 2015 Author Share Posted June 1, 2015 Did you hear about the BBC show? It's even worse. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bbc-to-pit-lowpaid-against-each-other-in-hunger-gamesstyle-show-to-find-britains-hardest-grafter-10279386.html Both articles (yours and mine in the OP) mentioned a trend in "poverty p*rn". What in the world? :confused1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Both articles (yours and mine in the OP) mentioned a trend in "poverty p*rn". What in the world? :confused1: I know. It's twisted and sad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 I think the show is designed for drama and it's manipulative to not tell the families from the get-go that they're actually going to be in a reality show. I would be interested in a show that was sort of a "nickel and dimed" type show that educated people about the lower middle class crunch. And those people would have to know from the start what they're getting into. But showing up with a suitcase of cash, watching people struggle with their own financial problems while trying to decide how much to help others in need, with camera on them and without the knowledge that another family is making the same decision, is disgusting to me as entertainment. But I can see that my reaction is stronger than most people in this thread, so I guess I'm an outlier. No, I am with you. The premise makes me sick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 Hideous. It reminds me of a psychological test/experiment I have heard of. The psychologist offered a person an amount of money, and they could keep it or give it to someone else. They were surprised at the different outcomes in different societies. I wish I could remember more details. Some basic human emotion that they thought was universal turned out not to be. It was probably on this American life, or radiolab. Could this be what you are thinking of? People were paired up. They were told that there was $10 to be split between the two of them. Person A chose how much to keep for themselves and how much Person B got. Person B could either accept the amount offered or veto, in which case neither got anything. The results were that capitalist societies were almost universally, boringly, 50/50. When the few times person A offered even a smidgen less than half, person B usually vetoed. The less capitalist the society was, the more likely person A would offer a small percentage and person B would accept. I think they were surprised because they thought that the capitalist society would be greedier. But, really, I don't find it surprising. Things like tipping in a restaurant are based on a social contract. You get the service before even deciding how much to pay for it, and there are no consequences to not tipping. Yet people do consistently. I remember once in college trying to buy a book direct from a student who had just finished the class. She wanted $5 or $10 over the 50% line between what she was get for it at the bookstore, and what I would have to pay for a used book. I was offended that the price wasn't fair i.e. at the 50% mark, and didn't buy it. I am pretty sure she wasn't able to sell it to anyone else, and I bought one at the bookstore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.