Originally posted by nosyferret:
Zaphodstheman, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your eloquence and your passion.
As to the moderator's question about further response to the passing of Carlos. Well, it's just another nail in the coffin for a show that was a hit for a reason. The reason it was a hit in the first place was that it was simply done. It had a "day in the life" feel to it. Yes, we knew that these animals had to fight like crazy for their lives in a dangerous and unforgiving land. We have known from season 1 that tragedy is a part of daily life. But it was dignified. It gave the meerkats the respect they deserved. It gave us the ability to see their suffering but understand that it's a part of life in the Kalahari.
The very simplicity and beauty that made this show a hit no longer exist. I think the producers said, "Wow! This is a major hit! Let's push it on upward."
Look at television history. When fame has gone to the heads of stars and directors and producers of TV shows, the shows stopped being the simple, real, and watchable shows they once were.
Me? I used to get so excited for the new show to air. And the reruns? Yep. I would actually set timers so I didn't work through it so I could watch on Saturday and Monday. Now, I'm not thinking about the show anymore. When I do, I'm sad or angry at Animal Planet or hurt by an image that I can't put out of my head. Like Carlos.
Meerkat Manor has always, and still does to this day, anthropomorphized these animals. The narration is obviously geared toward a younger audience, even though a GREAT MANY adults like myself enjoy it. It is not a straight scientific approach. I have always smiled at the way they *read the minds* of the meerkats and attribute motives and qualities that are human-like. It's kind of what many of us do with our pets. So the meerkats have been our "pets" also, in a sense.
You can't have it both ways. You can't cutesy it up, give these creatures names, attribute personalities to them, and add all the Disney-like music... and then slam the viewers in Season 3 with the kind of violence that is not only not necessary but insensitive to the viewers' attachment to these meerkats -- which the show itself has created.
What we are seeing now is exactly how marketable the suffering of these creatures are becoming for Animal Planet. The commercials have absolutely stunned me. I'm sitting here writing this in tears because of the commercial I just saw for this coming episode on Friday. I am completely horrified that a network that I have believed all these years has been devoted to the welfare of animals throughout the planet would behave this way about ANY animal.
What's next? On the E-vet Interns ... will they run a commercial ... "Watch the next episode and see 10 fighting pitbulls euthanized after being seized from the fighting rings!!! We'll give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some actual fights!! Tune in!!"
The last thing I have to say (at long last LOL) is that I found Carlos' death even rougher in some respects than Mozart's pups. See, I don't see how the researchers or AP photographers can be expected to rush into the burrow and stop an animal from doing what nature is telling her to do. It's not practical. It's not feasible. They didn't have to put the light-hearted commercials "How low can a sister go" like they were talking about a soap opera diva stealing someone's husband. And the paw was unnecessary and unusually cruel, in my opinion.
But a simple dose of antibiotics for Carlos isn't my idea of serious intervention. After all, they called a vet in for the TB problems. Like has been said upthread... that's all about them having meerkats to study.
They do have ethical issues.
They may also have viewership issues when the new people they may have attracted start to fall away and forget about the show.
I don't have the same enthusiasm myself. And it's not a protest thing. I'm not holding myself back to make a point. I'm just not finding myself making the show a priority. I have enough stress in my life already.
Okay... I'll stop now... Thanks for *listening*.
