Fake TV Game Show tortures man, shocks France

[Sandy Eggo]

The fictitious game show had all the trappings of a real TV quiz show, including a beautiful and well-known hostess, and a raucous audience. A group of contestants posed questions to a man sitting inside a box in front of them in an electric chair.

The hostess and a chanting audience urged the players — who had levers in front of them — to send jolts of electricity into the man in the box when he gave an incorrect answer.

Even when the player screamed out in pain for them to stop, 80 percent of the contestants kept zapping him. In reality, the man in the electric chair was an actor who wasn't really being shocked — but the players and the audience did not know that.

Sooooo the creators believe that this experiment proves this:

"Most of us think we have free thinking and so we are responsible for our acts," Nick says. "This experience shows that in certain circumstances, a power — the TV in this case — is able to make you do something you don't want to do."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124838091&sc=fb&cc=fp

Do you really think that's what it proved?

[LOsborne]

I think it proved that a group of strangers can easily be influenced to become a mob by someone who appears to have authority. And a mob is dangerous.

[Sandy Eggo]

Yes, I think that's closer. I don't think they proved that circumstances can make "most" of us do something that we don't want to do. Have I? Well, I haven't tortured anyone...I mean in a painful way...I do talk too much...but I would hope that there is a limit to what circumstances would influence "most" of us to do.

I also think they proved that television programming is designed for the less thoughtful demographic. I'm guessing that those are the same type of idiots that get caught up in the French version of their US sister reality programs.

[Palehorse]

I'm wondering whether this actually supports my personal theory that people who watch game shows, and by proxy those who attend them, are in reality human dolts; mere sheep that can be easily influenced to throw themselves headlong from atop a cliff. . .

[Palehorse]

I also find it a bit ironic to see that a nation that refuses to take up arms to defend itself or its allies will, without question, subject an innocent human being to torture. . . 

My guess is this was nothing but a government propaganda initiative undertaken in order to change their global perception from pansies to Hannibal Lector's awaiting release. . . 

[pariann]

I think it proved that human beings WILL let their more evil or darker side emerge when given sans entrave permission to do so.  Only that darker side would enjoy watching someone appear to be in pain and then continue to administer that pain.

And it was probably also a propaganda ploy.  But what exactly are they trying to get the public to believe?   

Personally, no amount of money or elegant prize would rob me of my compassion.