Why all the subtitles? Do they really think we white folks don't understand what black folks are saying?

Why don't they subtitle Big D's thick Boer accent? I find this rather appalling and racist.

I think the subtitles are used when the person doesn't speak loudly enough for the cameras. I don't think it has to do with race at all. I think they just want to make sure that the audience can hear what is being said.

But Tiffany's mom was a loud, clear talker and didn't she still have subtitles?

I don't recall them having subtitles every time she spoke, just when she was incredibly emotional...maybe I missed it...but it has seemed that when they use subtitles it is when a person speaks softly, when there is a lot of background noise or other times when it is difficult to clearly hear a person. Seriously, it is not a race thing at all...it's about making sure none of the story gets lost.

Please, if it was a race thing then Marc would have had subtitles. Then there was the lady who wanted the band, but her signif. other didn't want her to lose weight.

Tiffany wasn't talking loudly enough and her mom did not have subtitles every time. Only when she was sobbing.

I think it was mainly because they're from the south. And most northerners can't understand what country folks say. Honey I'm from Kentucky and have lived in Dallas and Orlando and it was hard for me to understand some of what they were saying-plus they did seem to speak very softly.

I did not get to see last night's show, but from the preview someone was crying and I could not understand what they were say. There is no reason to assume it was because of their race. Have you ever heard northeasterners talk? I would need sub-titles form them as well. I think the producers just wanted everything to be clearly understood and I thank them for that.

Maybe I shouldn't laugh, but I am.
I was raised in the South, but moved to Massachusetts 20 years ago. Heck, we needed subtitles to understand the weird accents around here. It was like a totally different language. And yes, I have a hard time understanding some of the speech because my hearing is a bit off. I'm glad for the subtitles.

Thank goodness for a DVR. After reading this thread I rewatched the show just to see. It was when there was background noise, or when people weren't picked up clearly by the sound gear that there were subtitles.

I had read this thread before I watched the tape of the Monday's show. I did notice that they sometimes did subtitles on the white lady that was having the plastic surgery, when she was talking kind of soft. I really do think that was the reason for the subtitles.

Hey guys, Dr. Garth here. My understanding is that they use subtitles whenever someone does not actually have a microphone on them. They had to do this with Allen and sometimes with Marc. But if you have a microphone on then it is clear and no subtitles. Most of the patients on the show(of all races) wore microphones and therefore did not need subtitles.

garth

thanks for clearing that up dr. garth

Wow, so having subtitles is racist? I guess that's right up there with being articulate.

I am GLAD there are subtitles. I wish there were more and I don't care if the person that is speaking is pink and you shouldn't either!!

My opinion of the subtitles was (and is) the same as that of the original poster of this topic; none of the subsequent comments has changed my mind. The subtitles for Tiffany and her family, moreover, seemed to tie in with a generally condescending attitude of the producers toward the young woman, her family, and her class. How willing they were to take advantage of the young woman's ignorance and her apparent belief that she could just go to Houston and get bypass surgery the way one would go to a city to purchase a car. As for the "need" for the subtitles, I looked away from the screen and had no trouble understanding every word; nor did I have to strain to hear. Anyone who can understand spoken American English without a hearing aid should have had no need for the subtitles.

I must say, after tonight's episode, I've changed my opinion. The subtitles weren't needed this time at all. In the prior episode, there was lots of background noise and Tiffany spoke so softly. Not the issue this time and her accent (nor that of her family) was no so strong as to make her words unintelligble.

i think the subtitles are necessary. if i hadn't seen them i wouldn't have known she was saying "i wouldn't be knowing you gone".
maybe using correct english would help?

Granted, yes...the grammer is horrific. However, her enunciation of that poor grammer is just fine.

Wow "purple onions" you called Tiffany ignorant... Is that not some sort of racism. Frankly I have a mixed race family that is all part of the human race. I was not offended at all. Me personally, I could not hear half of what was said, as it was in a very soft tone. Not only could I not hear I was watching in the bedroom on a smaller tv and could not read . I had to go to the living room and watch the large TV. And as stated before she was not singled out on subtitles.

I will never understand why every color can not be of the human race and stop there. My African American child bleeds red, loves unconditionally and brings much joy to my life. My Caucasian child also bleeds red, loves unconditionally and brings much joy to my life. My disabled child bleeds red, loves unconditionally and brings much joy to my life.

My children are all of the human race and taught early there is no race card to pull, they are all but a product of love and God.

quote:

Originally posted by kobesnana:
Wow, so having subtitles is racist? I guess that's right up there with being articulate.

ROFL. I was absolutely flabbergasted when people got offended because someone said Barack Obama was articulate. I always thought that was a compliment! Why assume it requires a negative comparison with other people of color? Couldn't it as easily have been a comparison with a certain president who STILL can't pronounce the word "nuclear?" Geez, people! We DO have problems with ethnic division, but maybe we should focus on the obvious and egregious examples.