Why do people waste money on voting on shows like Big Brother, The X-Factor, Pop Idol, Fame Academy, etc?

Question

I mean, let's face it, it's not like you're going to get a personal thankyou from the person you've voted for, so why bother??? If the event is to raise money for charity and most of the charges (if not all) will go to it, then fine. But otherwise, what's the point? Is it just me or am I missing something here? I am genuinely baffled by this great con hyped up by the rich and we are happy to endorse it out of our own hard-earned money! But why???!!!!!

Answer 1

I absolutely agree with you, if nobody voted then we would see an end to this cheap money-making television called reality TV, making stars out of the retarded and talentless. The organisers and judges such as Cowell are the only 'winners'. Same comment applies for fellow multi millionaires Boneo and Geldoff. And then you've got Wogan telling you to part with your money and he's also laughing all the way to the bank and now Lenny Henry who pops out once a year to do Comic Relief - but then he would because he actually owns the company who runs it, so don't tell me he does it all for nothing. (I think it must be kids/teens who do the voting).

Answer 2

No your not missing something, it's just a way of making us part form our money, , I only voted, by texting on Big Brother, once, I had a text back thanking me for my vote, looked at my balance, they had charged me for receiving their text, I never bothered again, but a year later when the next show began, they text me to remember to vote again, I believe once more they charged me, (not quite sure about this fact) but I never voted again, nor do I watch the show anymore,

No as I said in the beginning it is just a way of getting people to part with their money, then they recover the cost of putting on the shows, you could say it's a tax for watching their programme.

Answer 3

I do agree with what you are saying. I work for a telephone company and the worst thing i've come accross is that quiz show that has unsolvable (to me anyhow) puzzles and people phone in to try to solve them.(unsuccessfully)
one guy racked up a £400 bill in one night just in connection charges to this one tv quiz show. He didn't even get through! he was just told 'congratulations you are in the draw for round 2'. Poor guy! Bad bad Producers!

Answer 4

I think that it gives you a "belonging to something" feeling. Voting makes you a part of a movement. Unimportant? Indeed, but I guess that many people need that feeling, either because they´re loneny or because they like to be in. Publicists discovered how to explote that feeling. Personally, I can think in many better ways of wasting my money.

Answer 5

I'd have a better chance of flying to the moon then voting on these things,in fact i don't watch these type of shows.

Answer 6

I guess its another way of expressing our opinions and views on what we are watching. Yes i do vote, but only on Big- Brother, a brilliant show.

Answer 7

I have fort this myself and the only thing i have come up with is........ people do it to feel they have been part of the show but not all them type of shows are bad some are good.

Answer 8

I'm with you all the way. will never understand. what a load of absolute b*lls*it. Even if it's for a charity .......do you actually know that that 70p is going to help somone??? NO IT ISN'T

Answer 9

people are sad enough to think that their vote will actually make a difference in the long run...that's why they vote

Answer 10

I don't vote but perhaps i should start. i always shout at the telly when someone who's voted off and shouldn't have been goes.