Oprah is looking for ratings again, not that she needs to. I mean
she talks about poop and millions of people watch her show. So when
she talks about interviewing a schizophrenic 7 year old as
"Challenging," I just cringe. This little girl named,
Jani, is Oprah's new rating's gold.
What I want to know is why are her parents letting this
happen? Sure, I don't think I would turn down Oprah if she
wanted to put a book of mine on her reading list, nor would I
decline an interview, but I'm an adult and have full use
of my mind. This little girl doesn't and it
should be her parents responsiblity to protect her from media
attention that can't help her condition and can only exploit
her rare disease. We already use children in far too many
inappropriate ways. Advertising, modeling and acting have claimed
many a childhood, what could the possible good be from putting a
mentally ill child in front of cameras? Not only does she not have
a say as to whether the interview continues, but due to her disease
she never had a choice in the first place.
We need to stop this kind of child exploitation. It's the new
workhouse for children and from the octuplets to the "crazy
lady and eight" we feed this obsession with our interest.
Shouldn't we be protecting our children's right to privacy
and making sure they are nutured in as stress free an environment
as possible, especially this mentally ill young lady. Exposing
children to the media is only a recipe for disaster. What do you
think?
Is Oprah exploiting a little girl's mental disorder? Say it isn't so!
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Comments 1-4 of 4
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Posted by Wed Oct 7, 2009 3:39pm PDT
Report AbuseI saw this show and I applaud Oprah and the parents for bringing serious mental disorders to the forefront. So many people don't understand the isolation you feel as a parent of a child with mental issues and it's the one subject that most don't talk about. I learned alot watching that show and I just wanted to hug those parents and that little girl. I hope Oprah does more of these shows.
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Posted by Wed Oct 7, 2009 8:05pm PDT
Report AbuseI agree with you peapod. I think that mental disorders are extremely misunderstood and can cause depression and isolation for the family. My issue was whether or not Oprah should have been allowed to interview their child. Despite all the good she can do, she also has the magic touch. Anything she touches becomes wildly popular and sensationalised in the media. Is it in the best interests of this fragile child's pysche for her to have been exposed to that? Isn't there a better way of reaching people?
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Posted by Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:42am PDT
Report AbuseHi Kikki. From what I understand of this interview, Oprah only stayed an hour with that family at their home and she also chose not bring this family out to Chicago on stage for the reason you stated. I think Oprah did a good job staying very low key as she talked with the child who abruptly put an end to the interview herself. I just had no idea what some parents faced and it help me to see my problems with my child pale next to theirs. I just want to see more programs in general about mental health issues so that maybe in time, the stigma will be eroded. So many people don't seek treatment for themselves or their family members because of the shame. That is what I am concerned about and someone like an Oprah can go a long way in taking the stigma out of diseases that affect the mind.
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Posted by Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:02am PDT
Report AbuseI had schizophrenia too 16 years ago when I was in California, and I was confined in Las Encinas Hospital, CA. I posted a message to Oprah @
http://www.oprah.com/community/blogs/rstmichael
Schizophrenia is curable, and my website gives more information about it.
Rodney St. Michael
http://illuminated.tripod.com
Comments 1-4 of 4
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