Big Bully Reality?

I kept being asked my opinion (that's my excuse) so switched onto Big Brother last night - helping to boost the ratings to 5 million. Damn. We're all voyeurs to some extent it's being manipulated I hate.

Anyway, I saw this massively insecure child-woman intent on humiliating and scoring points over an attractive, successful Indian woman, for precisely those reasons. Shilpa Shetty was sharp contrast to Jade Goody’s empty celebrity, built on foul mouthed ignorance.

Faced with someone who does not fit her frame of reference Jade attempts to batter them into something she understands and can relate to. She and her silly girlfriends think speaking their disgusting minds is 'honest' whilst consideration and manners are ‘phoney.’ Her foul mouthed ranting at Shilpa was crass and ignorant, jaw-droppingly nasty and embarrassing.

There was a clear social clash but to call this racism is to presume it would not be directed at someone of the same colour when we know that it is. In fact, Jody Marsh was bullied on this show but after an initial flurry of protest the general tenor was that being a dim white girl from Essex she more or less had it coming. So to call it racism suggests that one sector of society is entitled to protection whilst the rest of us must put up with it; as if it's our 'culture.'

Jade's attitude reflects that of a growing underclass that finds it easier to denigrate others than to raise its own aspirations. Bonded by insecurities these individuals attack anything that's 'different' to bolster their own self-esteem.

What I found really shameful was the cowardice and lack of support shown by older members of the house, which is probably, disappointingly a true reflection of real life. Perhaps it was edited out to increase the ratings but I did not hear anyone other than Shilpa tell Jade to shut up.

I don’t believe Shilpa Shetty wants or needs sympathy. As someone who speaks eight languages she'll laugh at Danielle's remark that she 'can't even speak proper English.' As a wealthy, intelligent woman she clearly saw advantage in appearing on this show to further her career. Perhaps she'll appear in the next James Bond? We need to remember that these people are being paid a lot of money, signed contracts to be humiliated and are not prisoners.

27,000 bothering to complain at least demonstrates that this particular reality is rejected as part of our culture.

Click here for information on bullying and work-related stress
www.quadrant-safety.co.uk