TV interviews with the village idiots

[sjn2004]

Over the last few days it seems that most of the news programs go out into the street to ask people what they think of the various manifesto's, however it seems they pick on the local nutter/space cadet/dizzy women (e.g. stereotypical labour voter) as prime material. Is this just more press bias or just that anybody with a brain runs for it when they seems them coming over with a camera?

[EDLT]

Its all just part of the script:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHun58mz3vI

[JagLover]

Channel 4 made me laugh the other day, they roamed the steets of Dartford to find the chaviest single mums they could and then asked them if they wanted to help run their local schools. If there isn't any benefits involved they are not interested.

[Digga]

I saw some spaced-out, hatchet faced breeder trotting out her wish list of "better childcare and education".

It seems the average idiot on the streets can only comment from the blinkered, myopic viewpont of their own interst. Oh for someone to say, "Well I'm a bit worried about the financial security of the economy. Perhaps we should get that sorted before we go spending any more money."

[Pickled Piper]

It's because the village idiots are the only ones that have the time and inclination to stand around talking to them.

They often approach people in shopping centres in the day time when most good working folk are working.

pp

[madbadger]

I thought this would be about the leaders debate tonight.

[Jasandjules]

madbadger said:

I thought this would be about the leaders debate tonight.

Not yet, but tonight and tomorrow there are going to be keyboards on fire....

[ewenm]

Vox-Pops - the TV producers are always going to choose the more contraversial answers over calm, considered responses. It's lazy journalism as the reporters don't need to do any research before talking to an expert, they can just ask member of the public "what do you think?" and not need to form any challenging questions.

[Parrot of Doom]

The problem with voxpops is that in this country there seems to be an institutional response to being questioned, and more often than not its entirely monosyllabic.

The ones who do have something to say in fact have little or nothing to say. Its rare that you find someone eloquent and intelligent enough to think for a moment before giving an erudite response.

[HiRich]

Since the Gilligan/Kelly "scandal", the BBC in particular has been at excessive pains to be seen to be impartial (emphasis on the 'seen' I guess). For vox-pops that mean they have to find someone to comment for each side of the argument, no matter how ridiculous that may be. Watch out for it next time, they do it on every single piece.

There is quite a good one today. Interviewer picks a guy who looks like a cross between a tramp and a Freak Brother, only to get an erudite response on why he will be watching the debate. It's the middle class pensioner couple who say it's rubbish and they will watch a DVD instead.

[Digga]

Parrot of Doom said:

The problem with voxpops is that in this country there seems to be an institutional response to being questioned, and more often than not its entirely monosyllabic.

I see what you've done there, you've projected your own assumption of general, intelligence onto other people. It's an easy mistake to make.

You know how they say dogs don't see in colour, just a sort of greeny hued black and white? Well most of the population think, speak and read in monosyllables.