I seriously hope that this poll is just the internet having a laugh. It is possibly the only debate between the next possible PM and next opposition leader and because some moronic cooking reality show (where the typical dialogue is hearing them read out what they’re going to do “have to chop up the carrots, make the cream sauce and then pop it in the oven” type stuff) is on that the same time they are considering whether to move the time.
So much so that consideration is being given to either bringing the leaders’ debate forward by an hour, or delaying it until another evening so it does not clash with the series final of the hit show MasterChef.
I’m fine if you aren’t at the TV but given the choice and sitting at home stuffing your face with takeaway food while you pretend you’ll cook good food one day and you can’t pay a bit of attention to what’s going on in the election. Well…
Let’s be clear: Masterchef is big brother but without the shower and bedroom scenes. If BigBrother was entirely in the kitchen and the one on one interviews (completely and utterly staged post event I might add). Maybe with a bit of the apprentice thrown in (the drive away, low camera angle in the car). In 6 months no one will even remember it because they’ll be watching the next mind numbing but annoyingly addictive reality show.
Here’s the poll results so far:
Please tell me the public cares a bit more about the future leadership of the country than this!
Perhaps no one notices the bullshit
Perhaps Tony Abbott has a chance with his flat out liestatement that he can promise lower interest rates (for those not in the know: the reserve bank is independent of the government of the day and sets interest rates based mainly on inflation and other economic measures.. not on the whim of the politicians in charge). Perhaps both parties can overplay the significance of their “number one issue” and we will lap it up, just so long as it fits in the ad break of that TV show we’re watching!
The debate about the little things
The debate will hopefully revolve around the environment, jobs, education, healthcare, border security and immigration. You know, the “little things” in life. Obviously our future is not as critically important as watching these guys:
The hosts (image from the Age Newspaper)
- a pompous fat bastard (who needs to step away from the table more often and has to wrap his neck to keep his expansive jowls from exploding),
- a little bald English geezer (with small man syndrome and a knack for pointing out the blinding obvious in an urgent sounding voice) and
- a granite faced grump (I haven’t watched enough to know what he’s notorious for)
shovel a half billion calories into their already well stuffed gullets.
The meals are cooked by people who appeal to one of a handful of viewer-broad appeal stereotypes (e.g. the gay guy, the blokey clutz, the princess, the douche-bag, the “bit rough” tomboy girl, the ethnic “let’s keep this show from being a white wash” minority, the out of place awkward guy and the “jesus is my life” religious one that all the Hillsong cult mob will vote for). Not only are we dumb, we’re predictably dumb and don’t like seeing anything new it seems.
Step away from the cupcake fatty!
In a nation with over half the population overweight we shouldn’t be obsessing over food, particularly not the stuff on Masterchef.
MasterChef?
When “half a block of butter” and “a handful of salt” are in pretty much every dish: there’s a problem. Double problem because you’re watching the damned thing on TV and don’t get enough exercise. There’s perhaps a cross over opportunity for emergency room when they all (and they will) end up in hospital with a heart attack as their cholesterol encrusted arteries, basting in the umpteenth pork belly dish, finally give in. Or perhaps dig up “the biggest loser” hosts and get this mob to boot-camp.
Apathy is not a virtue!
It says a lot about the general apathy of people if they would rather watch a bunch of people chop up vegetables than take the slightest bit of interest in the policies and running of the country. One of my friends (Dave?) said that the ability to vote should require people to prove they have read at least two different papers in the week before the election so they’re at least somewhat aware of the issues. I’d settle for the average voter being able to put off watching some moronic cook off contest to watch just one political debate every few years.
Who elects these idiots anyhow?
In between elections there’s always plenty of moaning about how poorly the politicians are running the place: perhaps it is down to how poorly informed the voters make themselves by apathy and ignorant choices. Stupid voters deserve the stupid leaders they vote in.
Perhaps if people cared more about political issues than about which person goes on to the next round of the latest idiotic reality TV show of the moment: we’d demand something more from our elected officials. So we wonder why our politicians are a bunch of untrustworthy, back stabbing, gimmicky, slogan spouting twits! When they have to compete with reality TV shows to get elected: is it any wonder?
Nice entry, it made me smile. Raised a few thoughts in my head though.
* I wonder if people are so sick of Australian politics that anything else would be more interesting to watch than The Debate? People may be looking to be mind-numbed
* With the volume of news we consume these days via sites, feeds, blogs, Twitter, etc. I don’t think people feel there is any particular urgency/need to watch the debate. They’ve been reading and consuming policy articles for weeks/months and can be assured that as soon as the debate ends (and even during) there will be updates posted to their favourite news sources – crippling the need and desire to watch (sit through) it live.
I’m not a fan of Master Chef, or any reality shows really, but I definitely feel I’m relying more on news feeds and updates more and more these days than I ever used to. It allows me to get news when I want it, or even live while I’m ‘multi-tasking’ doing or watching something else
. Cheers.
I’m with Steve.
It’s hard to avoid the coverage of the election and they have so little to say anyway. I follow politics with interest but I have reached saturation point at the moment. Abbott will stop the boats and Gillard will stop Abbott.
I will be watching Masterchef which I find to be a very entertaining and educational program. I may watch the debate later online if the highlights show anything new otherwise I will just be hearing the same old slogans.
Is it wrong that I find your cynicism hilarious? Good on them for considering moving it away from Master Chef air time. Lol. But as Adam has already alluded to, so many Aussies feel disillusioned and fairly powerless in the outcome. So there’s entertainment on the one hand, or watching some debate which is perceived to be full of lies / not going to make any difference anyway. Master Chef the clear winner by far. The real problem is that noone is mixing the two – politicians cooking on Master Chef in the hour beforehand – it’s foolproof! Now trust a psychologist to come up with the solution :p
A side note: I’d argue that Master Chef is helping to fight against the growing obesity problem. Sure, they could do better but so many Aussies don’t know how to cook. If people learn how to cook for themselves and have fewer meals using pre-packaged foods/ingredients then that’s a step toward change. Coincidence that the boom in pre-packaged and fast foods coincided with the growth in national waist lines? I think not.
Steve: well, again: who is to blame for the spiral down into sensationalist, popularist drivel from politicians if not their audience. Exactly the same as TV audiences wanting ever more fluffy, ever more dumbed down content until we hit rock bottom with A Current Affair, Today tonight, Big Brother, Masterchef etc.
I’m a news addict too, but I don’t think most people consume the amount of media that say you or I would. That’s probably why watching a debate would yield nothing new for us, but I don’t think most people read much more than the sports section to be honest. I’d also say my circle of friends or random twitter/blog/website circle are probably skewed a bit (e.g. your run of the mill “wussy tree hugging liberal commie intellectual types” would be Bill O’rielly or Miranda Divine’s description I’d say).
Sure sure Doyle, you’ll be out in the shed playing with the bike or sampling the homebrew. Neither of which you got by watching masterchef.
MasterChef’s one of a line of many shows about people blindly copying stuff. There were the singing shows where people weren’t showing off their own songs, but how well they copied others. Now this cooking crap: here’s a dish, duplicate it and we’ll kick you off if you deviate. All about rote learning and duplicating rather than doing new stuff and figuring it out by yourself (yes, I’m sure there’s some of that in masterchef, but any I’ve seen have been duplicate efforts).
Melissa: Nothing I saw on there would be regarded as healthy. It’s all been rich, fatty foods.
Celebrity masterchef: haven’t they done that? Celebrity big brother, celebrity so you think you can dance. Same cycle of craptastic viewing. But hey, maybe I just hate that the damned things use every trick in the book to suck you in and succeed unless you’re really dedicated to avoiding them.
My friend, I think you’re missing the point. You’ve defined the problem, now what is the solution? The proposal to combine Australian politics with Master Chef wouldn’t be for the purpose of entertainment. You’re right, that would be moronic. It’s about taking what is the current top show and utilising it to bring popular interest back into politics. Or perhaps look at what is it about Master Chef that makes it so successful – what can we take from it to use for good? ..It may be that the viewers are able to connect with the contestants, or that it instills in people the idea that average people can achieve great things, or simply that we’re all attracted to fast moving frames. The toy industry is booming because they did just that – they took children and saw what attracted them, what didn’t, what was the most effective way of getting parents to buy that product (turns out it’s nagging). Basic applied science. You say it’s a negative. I say, agreed, but let’s make it into a positive.
Second, knowledge is power. Does anyone actually think about how much butter is in their cake??? Know what you’re putting into yourself and you’re in a better place to change it.