One of the perks of winter break is the free time I have to watch random TV shows. Last night, with absolutely nothing watchable on, I tuned in to ABC News’ “What Would You Do?” (No relation to the 1990s Marc Summers-hosted show on Nickelodeon, unfortunately.)
The show places actors in everyday situations and sees how bystanders react. In one segment, an actor cut the line in a supermarket and was awarded the 5 millionth customer award — $500. The hook was watching how the person he cut reacted.
However, the producers needed to do a little homework on another part. A young couple was at a New Jersey bar and, when the young lady went to the bathroom, the man reached into his pocket and put some powder into the woman’s drink. The audience waits to see what the other people at the beachside bar do: will they say something to the woman, will they confront the man, will they tell the bartender, or will they do nothing?
A few of the other bar patrons watched and asked the man what he was doing. Others said something to the girl that she should throw away her drink. Some sat there and watched, and one group even encouraged the guy.
But here’s the awful, damaging part of the show, was when people wouldn’t step in and stop the girl from taking the drink. Then, the girl would say her drink tasted funny.
Seriously, ABC, what were you thinking?
The vast majority of date rape drugs are odorless and tasteless.
Why perpetuate the myth for women that if the drink tastes fine, there’s nothing to worry about? Even if that wasn’t the intention (which I hope it wasn’t), why even put forth that idea?
This irresponsiblity puts people at risk. It is an uphill battle to protect people from dating violence (read: our 12-page special section on date rape, or our three-part special on domestic violence) and even the slightest misinformation is harmful to the entire cause.
But the damage is done. Even if ABC News releases another episode where they acknowledge that date rape drugs put in drinks do not make it smell or taste any different, there is an untold number of people who will have watched the first one and not the second. The wrong message will be impressed upon them.
It’s irresponsible. It’s harmful. And it’s dangerous. The moral: do your homework before perpetuating myths to thousands of households of viewers.
