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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Wild Fragaria on December 12, 2005, 10:05:22 am

Title: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: Wild Fragaria on December 12, 2005, 10:05:22 am
Nature 438, 717 (8 December 2005) | doi:10.1038/438717b

TV show gives research lobbyist a rat's-eye view of laboratory life

To counter animal-rights activists, UK lobby groups that support animal research have launched their own media campaign.

In one reality television show, called The Devil's Challenge, the director of one such group is caged and subjected to procedures used in animal labs.

Simon Festing, director of the Research Defence Society in London, agreed to do the show, which was designed to test his belief in animal experiments. "We need to face the fact this is how the media works," he says, "and it's a good way to get our arguments out there."

Kept in a cage proportional in size to those used to house lab mice, Festing was subjected to a number of experiments. One recreated a test for pain, where rats are placed on a hotplate and the time until their feet twitch is recorded. Another, investigating wind chill, involved a dousing in water and a wind machine.

Other challenges brought him face to face with animal-rights activists and sent him to a primary school, where he tried unsuccessfully to persuade children to donate their cats for animal research.

Festing admits the experiences were difficult. "It did make me think harder about the welfare of lab animals," he says. But nevertheless, he remains a firm believer in the need for animal research. The Devil's Challenge is broadcast on the UK digital channel More4 on 14 December.

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This is what I call the spirit of a true believer  :nod:
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: aldo_14 on December 12, 2005, 10:33:35 am
I'm holding out for the reality series where PETA members put themselves forward as test subjects.
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: karajorma on December 12, 2005, 10:39:53 am
I'm holding out for a program where we withhold life-saving drugs from Peta members and tell them that they can't have them cause they were tested on animals.

And then give them an asprin instead :D
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: aldo_14 on December 12, 2005, 10:57:52 am
I'm holding out for a program where we withhold life-saving drugs from Peta members and tell them that they can't have them cause they were tested on animals.

And then give them an asprin instead :D

Aspirin?  That's a bit kind.  Give them a salt lick instead.
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: Night Hammer on December 12, 2005, 11:55:35 am
:lol:
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: BlackDove on December 12, 2005, 12:17:26 pm
I'm holding out for the reality series where PETA members put themselves forward as test subjects.

WINNER!
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: WeatherOp on December 12, 2005, 12:27:03 pm
Does this mean we can with-hold Toilet Paper from the Tree Loving Actvists? :drevil:
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: karajorma on December 13, 2005, 06:31:09 am
Does this mean we can with-hold Toilet Paper from the Tree Loving Actvists? :drevil:

Depends on the trees they love. Chopping down the rainforests = bad. Chopping down timber grown from renewable sources  specifically for the paper industry and thus helping to combat the greenhouse effect = good.

The problem comes when you have the kind of idiots who think that chopping down any tree is bad.
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: Flipside on December 13, 2005, 06:41:02 am
I'd still like to send PETA members on a reality show where they get treated using medical practices that were around before animal testing, such as leeches, non-anaesthetic-based dental work etc. It'd be interesting to hear them justify their complaints after a few days of that ;)
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: aldo_14 on December 13, 2005, 08:09:56 am
I'd still like to send PETA members on a reality show where they get treated using medical practices that were around before animal testing, such as leeches, non-anaesthetic-based dental work etc. It'd be interesting to hear them justify their complaints after a few days of that ;)

Or just dump them in a cave in the deepest parts of the Sierra Leone jungle.
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: Wild Fragaria on December 13, 2005, 12:34:02 pm
Sounds like a good show if those people are dare to go on on it.  Not that I love watching people being 'exprimented' in real TV, but I won't mind watching those who protest for animal rights  ;)
Title: Re: A whole new type of TV reality show
Post by: karajorma on December 13, 2005, 01:16:57 pm
It's not people who believe in animal rights that are the problem. I have enough respect for people like the RSPCA etc.  The problem is people who believe that animal rights are so important that humans should die for them. Funny how when it's their own lives or the lives of their families at stake they are more than willing to say "Well the drugs here now so I should use it."

What really bugs me is how they continue to believe that the drugs companies want to use animal testing cause they're evil people who like to torture animals. No matter how often you tell them that the drugs companies would love to stop using animal testing cause it's bloody expensive but is the only accurate test they still won't listen.