What do you think about the new Segregated Reality Show Survivor?

Question

That's it! God Bless!

Answer 1

Our rationale for dividing Survivor tribes by ethnicity was based upon our belief that racial differences were highly unlikely to matter when the modern world was removed.

Survivor takes place on an island where economics, ethnicity and social class count for nothing. What is important is your ability to build a fire and catch fish. On an island, the value system by which we judge others and even choose to associate or align with others is totally different from choices that may be made in the modern world. Add to this, the political nature of Survivor and the questions are “Do I like this person?” and “Can I convince this person to vote for me?”

Survivor is probably one of the greatest leadership and management tests you can witness. It’s almost like firing someone who works as your subordinate, then the next day, asking them to lobby “your boss” to give “you” a promotion. Survivor is the equivalent of this where the very people you play a part in getting rid of, are asked to turn around and reward you for it.

I believe that most people are inherently good and very few people are intentionally bigoted. It’s all about whether you actually get to know people and getting to know them in a totally fresh environment such as on a desert island further reduces any potential for bigotry.

Were we correct?? Time will tell. All I can say is that the series will pull no punches and will at the very least show that it’s impossible to stereotype people once you meet them and (even vicariously) live with them as they struggle to build a world together while still looking out for themselves.

I agree with the NAACP in that there is no escaping the reality that race is a complex and emotional issue in America-one we are still reluctant to confront and address and I am happy that they have reserved judgment until they watch the series. I would encourage anyone to follow this lead and watch at least a few episodes to get a clear picture of how the dynamic will play out.

Yahoo! Answers Staff Note: This is the real Mark Burnett!
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-d8pH0dcoRKeB12yOcnUQp.9VCFos?p=11742

Answer 2

I think it’s great. I’m one of the few who have never regularly watched the show but for this reason alone I’ll stick it out for at least a few episodes. Whether it’s a mere PR stunt or something more noble, it’s a bold move that should be rewarded for its chutzpah in initiating something that (unfortunately) rarely happens: a serious talk about race (‘dialogue’ sounds so PC, it’s cheesy).

Some people think it’s more constructive to highlight the similarities of different races and ethnicities while others consider embracing each other’s differences as the key to racial harmony. I’m with the latter. Cultural and racial differences DO exist and I think the sooner we accept this, the sooner we can truly start to appreciate the beauty of diversity, and ultimately embrace it. The magnificence of nature partly comes from the fact that it’s amazingly diverse and humans are just part of this complex, beautiful web. So often our differences actually complement—enrich—each other. The charcoal black Senegalese won’t look as beautiful if the pale Nordic didn’t exist and nor would the brown Samoan. We won’t appreciate the grandiosity of big kinky-curly-wavy hair if not for the elegance of long, straight Asian hair. How boring is a world of homogeneity, where everyone looks the same? Although human nature dictates that similarity and familiarity are more comfortable and feel safe I think we’re also innately excited by what is new or different.

I don’t think this yet another evil child of the PR machine so kudos to “Survivor” and Mark Burnett and co. for putting the spotlight on race. At the very least it would be interesting to watch if and how the different racial groups approach the same situation differently. (I bet they will.)

Answer 3

I can appreciate every opinion that has been expressed here. However, I tend to agree with those of you who think that it isn't so much about the idea of seperating the races as it is about what the repurcussions of having them compete will be. We all know that we live in a world where segregation still very much exists.
My concern is that placing the races against eachother to compete will perpetuate some of the long standing myths that have caused such division among us already. What happens when the Asian person gets a quiz right but not the physical stuff, or the Black person wins the strength competition but is being misinterpreted as lazy when he's tired. Are those going to be the things that continue to define us?
Sure the show has been about segregation before, but if I recall it correctly no civil war has been waged between the tall and the short. There are still tons of misconceptions about races other than our own. 'They eat a certain way', 'They talk a certain way', 'They sure are smart', 'Look at how dumb that are', 'They are only good for...'. You get the idea.
I haven't drawn a full conclusion as to whether or not segregation is ever helpful. Does it make for better students to have an all girls/boys academy? Can women and men compete on the same athletic level? Do really tall people make better shelf stocker? Whatever... But I certainly know that any form of segration that will make you question the superiority/inferiority of one race over another is wrong. Those sterotypes hinder us of our races in different ways everyday. Obviously it's not that simple to move past them, but we will never outgrow them if we continue to outline and focus on them. Will your attitude change when one of your prejudices is seemingly proven right by the "representative" of a race? How will you feel when the race you were rooting for comes out of this looking inferior? I think it's a bad call... I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Answer 4

First of all, if you have watched every survivor episode you lead a very boring life. Find some adventure and get up off you butt...
With regards to segregation question.... it is racism! What do you think will happen at the end of the show? If a white person wins, the white morons of this world will use this to show white are better. If a Black person wins, affirmative action. No matter what somebody will complain, the other group had more advantages. It's funny to here so many people say we should not make a big issue of this, when something like this will just highlight that racism still does exist in this country. I don't feel bad about it because I understand that it will not ever go away. That does not mean I will sit back and let it happen though. If you don't like it don't watch it. But I am willing to bet that anyone who does watch this show will secretly in the back of his or her mind be rooting for his or her own race..... Whether you admit it or not. And for those who say, "I'm not a racist", how many friends of another race do you have? ..... Think about answering that before you do.

Answer 5

I knew that this show was headed down the slippery slope when they began separating by sex, age, and physical abilities. Here's a clue, folks: If this were a corporate or a government entity doing all of this segregation, they would be in violation of numerous civil rights laws. So here's the real question: why is it such segregation acceptable on television? I think it speaks to the tastes and ignorance of the audience.

As for the comment about "it's not like people from the White team want to join the Black team and are being barred from doing so." Do you think these people had a choice as to how their teams would be divided? Well, they didnt. This was a decision by the network and the creators to have the teams separated by race, and if you were in a particular race, then you are on the corresponding team. Not many Blacks had dared try to attend White schools before Brown v. Board of Education. Did that make segregating schools okay?

By the way, I wonder what they will do with a multi-racial player? Are there any, and did they just say: "well, you look more x race, so you play with them..."? That raises some serious questions as well.

Answer 6

I want to add my two cents. I am glad that people are appalled by the idea of segregating by ethnicity, but I think they should keep in mind that this is an experiment, not a statement, and that it only lasts for one or two episodes. It probably comes from Survivor getting so many complaints that the casts are predominantly caucasian. Why are people complaining that there aren't enough other ethnicities on the show? Why did they even notice? If they noticed, then it must make some kind of difference. Think about how many people of any background are proud of their heritage. As long as you don't think your background makes you better than others, then it's a good thing. Now I wonder what would happen if you stuck a bunch of people on an island with no food or shelter, and had an even representation of 4 different backgrounds from 4 different parts of the world? Who would they stick together with their respective group, who would break away? Would it be any kind of advantage? Would it make any difference?

Answer 7

When I first saw the TV ad, I was appalled! After thinking it over, though, I've changed my mind. I think if watchers have pre-conceived, bigoted stereotypes in their heads (Afro-Americans are lazy, Asians weak, etc.) then this may be what it takes to blow their theories to bits! If people really are bigoted, they won't get close enough to other people any other way to find out how wrong they are. Also, on the ad I saw someone saying they feel a need to represent. So this may serve to instill pride (which is quite different than bigotry). As folks have pointed out, no one made much fuss when genders were separated so I don't think it's a step backward. Of course, Mark Burnett is trying to instill new life into the show. I, do, however believe his explanation. And also I think it may level the playing field at least until the tribes have merged. There are only a few black tribe members each season as well as a sprinkling of older folks. Generally, neither make it very far in the game. There has not been a black survivor winner, so we'll know for sure that people are not aligning within each tribe on a racial basis. I think it will be a very interesting season, and as usual, I will be watching!

Answer 8

I don't agree with it but I don't disagree with it. Essentially what they are doing is being done in neighborhoods across the United States. There is still partitioning of districts going on so the races will be separated in school. How many white people do you know have gone into (walked down the street very slowly) a totally black neighborhood without incident. When I say "totally black" I mean some place like Compton or parts of Irvine. Now reverse it and look at it the other way? How many black people do you know have gone into totally white neighborhoods without incident?

The first answer would be none...because white people do not go into those areas for fear of being shot, carjacked, raped, mugged, etc.

The second answer is millions. It happens every day and white people just don't care about it any longer. The race card is primarily being played over and over for the wrong reasons in America. I was raised in Atlanta in the 70s and 80s where the lines were so faded between black and white that it didn't really matter where you were, you didn't have worries of racial incidents most of the time. So, some need to get a clue that racism still plays a part in America but in a totally different way than it did 40 years ago. It tends more to be about money these days.

And for those of you who watch Survivor regularly, I think you are in for a big surprise as I don't believe the producers have any intention of joining the tribes this time, at least not until the very end.

Answer 9

You know what? I've watched Survivor since the very first show, and I don't think ethnicity will play any part in the game other than to garner ratings for the first few weeks. What I'd really like to see is the producers understand that WE'RE BORED. Survivor has been done on tropical islands, in Africa, in Thailand, la la la. The location doesn't matter, the ethnicity doesn't matter. What matters is the personalities of those playing the game! Screen for more Richard Hatch-types, more Rupert types, more INTERESTING people! These models, pretty boys and gung-ho military types might seem good on paper -- after all, it is TV and TV likes pretty people, but if you look back I'll bet your ratings were better when Rupert, Richard, and Tom (from Africa) were on the show than they were the season you had all the models. Besides, once those models have been on the island for a couple of weeks and have lost 10 or 15 lbs (that they can't afford to lose) they start looking pretty scary. I think that's why a lot of other reality shows have gone into the toilet -- they're screening for looks instead of intelligence and cunning. Throw looks out the window, get real people instead of a bunch of Barbie and Ken dolls making the reality show circuit (aka Big Brother) and lets see what REALLY happens then.

I'd like to see SURVIVOR GENIUS -- put 20 people, all type A's with IQ's above 130 on an island together and see how fast things degenerate. Now THAT would be a good show!

Answer 10

I think that it is a FABULOUS idea. The show needed to evolve and refresh. Everyone's a little bit racist, sometimes. That doesn't mean you go around committing hate crimes. If you tell jokes about other ethnic groups, (a rabbi a priest and a Pollock go into a bar...) you are telling a racist joke! Everybody does it, so relax! This is great to see on Survivor, versus the 2 token blacks and maybe 2 token Asians or Hispanics that have normally been on the show since it began. It's equal opportunity for everyone from the start. With segregated races, votes will NOT be influenced by race. Bravo Mark Burnett, you have, once again, have stayed in front of the rest of the reality pack and have done something new and inventive. I can't wait to see the show!!!!

Answer 11

It is pretty clear that this will produce controversy and may stimulate ratings to a show no longer as interesting as when it started. However, one should not discount it immediately merely by the suggestion that it would provoke racism. 9/11 was a real life case where terrorism attacking NYC did bring people together across ethnic and gender lines, although some may dispute how strong that bond exists today 5 years later.

Still, Survivor is an induced experiment to place these people as opposing teams while all are seeking a goal of winning money. Know that the condition of racial disparity will not last long as all shows have teams eventually merging not to mention individual cutthroat strategies when down to the final contestants.

Those who have never watched the show should stay out of making comments about this bold move as they have no clue of the shows outcome. Those who do watch it and are against it should remind themselves that this is an entertainment show no different than much simpler game shows whose contestants are not threatened with day to day survival. As Mark has said, only time will tell. Will this have been a worthy "experiment"? Could this be the end of Survivor?