I don't know about $2.5 million, but this stuff is pretty disgusting. I'd rather see nipples and cussing than people eating blended up rats.
NBC's 'Fear Factor' Sued for Rat-Eating Episode
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 5) - Watching contestants eat dead rats on NBC's gross-out stunt show "Fear Factor" so disgusted a Cleveland man that he has sued NBC for $2.5 million, saying he could not stomach what he saw.
In a handwritten four-page lawsuit filed in federal court in Cleveland on Tuesday, paralegal Austin Aitken said, "To have the individuals on the show eat (yes) and drink dead rats was crazy and from a viewer's point of view made me throw-up as well an another in the house at the same time."
His suit added, "NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watchers that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning (sic) and in most cases against their will."
He said the show caused his blood pressure to rise so high that he became dizzy and light-headed, and when he ran away to his room, he bumped his head into the doorway.
In a brief telephone interview with Reuters, Aitken said, "I am not at liberty to discuss the complaint unless it is a paid-interview situation."
A spokesman for "Fear Factor" said the show would have no comment until it sees a copy of the complaint. The spokesman said the program did feature an rat-eating scene in New York's Times Square on Nov. 8.
Over the years, contestants on the program have eaten some weird things, including ground-up spiders and live worms.
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
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#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
You're kidding right? Do you think a debate on the merits of this case are worthy of discussing? The lawyer representing this man should be disbarred as well as any judge that allows this case to enter a court of law.
FSN #12
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Posts: 775 | Location: Evans, GA USA | Registered: April 02, 2004
Not from a reward standpoint, but from the point of view that the FCC routinely fines networks for things that I see as much less "controversial."
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
High Post Count = Manliness and Importance
#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
This man admits he plans on making no money and has two prior lawsuits that were thrown out in the early 90's. He is a paralegal - lawsuits are his world...this is just his way of speaking out.
Sox
Posts: 509 | Location: California, United States | Registered: October 11, 2004
quote:Originally posted by O Man: What? The guy was strapped into his chair by NBC and forced to watch against his will? The fcukin' twit never heard of an off button? I say frivolous!
I concur. Would handle as a regulatory matter as discussed below. Saulphx, Attorney at Law.
Saul D.B.C. Member #0002 B.A.S.E. #0015 <(0)> B.A.S.E. Minister of Niggling Details.
I concur that this business about blood pressure and hitting his head and all that is frivolous. But I wonder if someone could press this issue with the FCC. If you had a little kid watching TV with you, would you rather they heard the word **** or saw someone eating blended up dead rats?
I personally can't stomach Fear Factor. The physical challenges are no big deal, but I can't watch when they eat moldy eyeballs and whatever else. I do what this guy should have done -- change the channel.
______________________________ It's stay away from Malaysia for fear of vampires year!
"The word Fascism has now no meaning except insofar as it signifies 'something not desirable'." -- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946
High Post Count = Manliness and Importance
#2 Most Friendly Guy, Connoisseur of All Things Fine, Elitist Ass, and One of the Two Biggest Douchebags in the Forums
The FCC should get out of the business of policing the airwaves altogether. their only concern sould be licensing, assigning frequencies, transmitter strength restrictions, etc.
Let the free market settle things. Have a tits channel a family channel, a blendered rat channel, etc. People can decide on their own what to watch. I'm sick of words getting bleeped or sceens cut because people don't know how to control what their kids watch.
It seems TV is really scraping the bottom of the barrel for entertainment with Fear Factor or Who's your daddy? Give me a break. As far as the law suit, frivolous! If it's so repulsive, hit the channel change button on the remote. Gee, I wonder if that boy could only get the one channel? In that case use the on/off switch.
Shakespeare had the right idea (no reflection on you Saulphx).
What an idiot! Did he consider changing the channel or turning the idiot box OFF? Hey, if some guy wants to eat a dead rat on TV, it's his choice. You have the choice NOT TO WATCH!! By the way, rats are eaten all the time in parts of Asia. I will stick with beef and chicken,thanks!
Hunter:"Shutup, f*ggot!!" Norris: ( long pause...)"I am NOT a f*ggot!!!! MINS,1987....Guess you had to be there......
Posts: 746 | Location: Bly Mountain,Oregon USA | Registered: December 25, 2002
ridiculous, but we got this way on a steady trod towards putting individual feelings (not freedoms) in front of constitional rights and true legal morale.
quote:Originally posted by Snipersnest: It seems TV is really scraping the bottom of the barrel for entertainment with Fear Factor or Who's your daddy? Give me a break. As far as the law suit, frivolous! If it's so repulsive, hit the channel change button on the remote. Gee, I wonder if that boy could only get the one channel? In that case use the on/off switch.
I thought that Survivor was bad, but the shows continue going downhill. What about "Wife Swap." The first time I saw it, I asked my wife if they expected the exchange spouses to sleep with each other. She was pretty shocked that I asked. But that's what "wife swap" means, and I wouldn't have put it past some of these producers. If nothing else, I'm sure the title was designed to get the male audience thinking about that.
Shakespeare had the right idea (no reflection on you Saulphx).
Saul D.B.C. Member #0002 B.A.S.E. #0015 <(0)> B.A.S.E. Minister of Niggling Details.
quote:Originally posted by brianbzed: What an idiot! Did he consider changing the channel or turning the idiot box OFF? Hey, if some guy wants to eat a dead rat on TV, it's his choice. You have the choice NOT TO WATCH!! By the way, rats are eaten all the time in parts of Asia. I will stick with beef and chicken,thanks!
And the legal issue is -- what were the guy's damages worth? No harm, no foul.
Saul D.B.C. Member #0002 B.A.S.E. #0015 <(0)> B.A.S.E. Minister of Niggling Details.
First of all this is a stupid childish show. It reminds of the kid in middle school that ate a cock roach for two dollars. For the life of me I don't see why so many people watch it. I guess it goes to show the stupidity of so many people in the world today.
I am very suprised more of the people that are on this show are not hurt or killed doing theses stupid stunts. Or given some foodborne illness from the things they eat.
Lastly hell no he should not have a case in civil court these people know that they are going to be asked to do stupid things and were not forced or tricked into doing these things. We need tort reform bad in this country it has gotten out of hand and cost all of us too much money to let stupid people profit from their stupidity.
*********************** "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous
I wonder though if in the years to come, some would-be-didn't starlet CONTESTANT on the show might not sue for some kind of trauma. That--could perhaps be legit.
Btw, the show completely sucks. Contrived "reality" shock-schlock.
"A little song...a little dance...a little seltzer down your pants!" --Chuckles the Clown
Posts: 1703 | Location: A hill in the Poconos | Registered: July 19, 2002
