[Missouri-l] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #148- Reality Check

[Nancy Lynn]

New THOUGHT PROVOKER #148- Reality CheckThis should provoke some thought and 
discussion, but you should also send your replies directly to the original 
author of this message.

THOUGHT PROVOKER 148

REALITY CHECK

August 16, 2009

Thought Is The First Step To Beyond

By Guest Author

David Lafleche

"Well, what do you think?"  Mister Jones asked hopefully.

Mister Smith, the network programming director, shuffled through the stack 
of scripts with a puzzled look on his face.  This was not a good sign.  He 
finally replied, choosing his words carefully.  "It's an unusual idea for a 
show, but it will never work."

"Why not?" Mister Jones asked.  "You said the writing was good, and the 
characters were well-developed.  What's wrong?"

"It's the characters themselves," Mister Smith sighed.  "I mean, come on. 
It's bad enough that your male lead wears glasses; but the blind girls?  Two 
handicapped people in the same show?"

"Their blindness is hereditary," Mister Jones explained.  "Caroline could 
serve as a role model for Rhoda.  Besides, I figured that a disability would 
add depth to the characters, expand possibilities for plots and dialogue, 
and so on."

"Maybe so," Mister Smith grudgingly agreed.  "But our focus groups don't 
like it.  People who might watch this show would be creeped out by having 
two handicapped people to look at."

"Ah, but I've countered that!" Mister Jones rebutted.  "Caroline and Rhoda 
are always working, smiling, or teaching something.  They try to be 
constructive.  What's so creepy about that?"

Mister Smith struggled to excuse himself.  "Well, uh, two handicapped 
females with an upbeat attitude?  Yeah, right.  Besides, you've made these 
girls too smart!  Handicapped girls aren't going to be popular; but giving 
them high I.Q.s?  That's way over the top.  Now, this 'Caroline' character 
is blonde, right?  So make her a bit more dumb.  That's funnier.  And Rhoda 
might work, if she dressed up in Goth style, and frowned a little more."

"I know where you're going with that," Mister Jones objected.  "Caroline 
will not be 'dumb.'  I want her respectable.  And Rhoda may be blind, but 
she isn't bitter.  I don't do that 'Disease-of-the-Week' stuff."

"Can't you at least make them some kind of superhero team?"

"It's been done."

Mister Smith finally cracked a smile.  "That's what sells."

"No, that's what you hope sells.  What's the point of doing a TV show, if I 
have to write like everyone else?  I might as well Xerox everything."

"My sentiments exactly, Mister Jones.  There's no point in you trying. 
Nobody will believe your show in a million years."

"Oh, sure," Mister Jones rebutted sarcastically.  "But put a British geek on 
a flying broomstick, and THAT they'll believe."

"Fantasy gives younger viewers hope," Mister Smith replied.  "But 
handicapped people are unnerving.  Two of them is too much."



Greetings

Read through the above short story and send me your thoughts at: 
newmanrl at cox.net  Recall that I place all responses upon my web site as soon 
as I receive them for all the world to read and learn from and that web site 
url is http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

    What IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS: Thought Provoker is an independent e-mail 
discussion forum with the purpose to aid in the effort to change what it 
means to be blind. Participants, both readers and writers share their honest 
feelings and we learn from each other.  I Robert Leslie Newman am the author 
and moderator.  At this time a new PROVOKER runs for four weeks.  THOUGHT 
PROVOKER can be sent directly to anyone who contacts me with a request to 
join the THOUGHT PROVOKER mailing list.  Otherwise I post all new THOUGHT 
PROVOKERS upon my web site "ADJUSTMENT TO BLINDNESS  AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT" 
for all in the WWW to read and learn from.  In Addition, all past PROVOKERS 
are posted there and can be responded to as well.  I do insert commentary 
after some responses.  But more importantly know that I do not edit anyone's 
response other than run them through a spell checker and that's not perfect. 
Responses can be written to the Provoker itself or to the responses of 
others.  Think about it, if you feel that any response is not complete or 
does not fully convey the right philosophy, write in and give your feelings, 
provoke thought.  There again, if you do choose to respond on the comments 
of another, take issue with the content and not the person.

     For now it is optional to have your name and any other personal 
information placed with your response.  You write what you want us to know. 
I do feel giving your occupational status and/or location is important (your 
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    In regard to a definition of blindness, I am taking the broad view that 
blindness is any level of vision loss which is affecting the individual 
functionally, emotionally, socially, economically, politically, etc.

     If you feel this forum would be of value to another, pass the address 
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    Finally, I give my permission to use this material to educate others. 
Do give credit back to the forum and the respondent.  Thank you.





Robert Leslie Newman
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
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