Kansas City Old School Reality TV Examined



Just a few moments ago, a moviemaker shared this clip of old school domestic drama a fascinating bit of Kansas City ethnography that's worth a look . . .

Description . . .

"Although this was filmed years ago, what law enforcement folks do on a daily basis has not changed. What is different is that the documentary filmmakers recording this seemed to be unnoticed by the people in front of the camera. They just didn't care at that time. And the police gave filmmakers the opportunity to follow along–way before reality television recorded thousands of these experiences. As I look at this again, there is something very real about what is being captured here. No theatrics for the camera etc."

You decide . . .

Comments

  1. Moral of the video - the baby grew up to be a meth head.

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  2. That was great. I was a cop in the Metro about that time as I can tell you from uniforms and riot helmets. If I had a dollar for every time I was sent on a shit call like that, I could go out and buy new pheasant gun!

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  3. Now days, the woman would have been arrested and the baby taken away. I did the riot helmets though.

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  4. @ 8:50, can I come and live on your Planet?

    On this one, the Legal System almost never takes a child away from any Meth Head druggie Whore who can spit a baby out every nine months and ten minutes, under any circumstances!

    And on the rare instances when they do, she can get the poor kid back into her selfish clutches anytime by going to a Judge with someone who will say the magic words "She's turning her life around, your Honor".

    "Piss on the Children, we cannot interfere with the Sacred Bond between a Mother and Child!" That ridiculous sort of thinking has lead to more Child Abuse than any other Lie ever foisted onto our Society.

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  5. My goodness! You are one jaded social worker! Thanks for the lesson in baby taking awayness, or the lack thereof.

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  6. I personally know a couple with a kid, who had said child at home. No prob, no issues, healthy baby. When the kid was 9 months or so, they went in to DR appt. Baby was on low end of growth curve and PISSED they had it at home. Reported them to Social Services. SS came and staked out their house for at least a week. Then aggressively "interviewed" the couple several times a month until the child was two. The had drug screenings, the works. This couple was teetotaller type. Didn't even drink alky or smoke cigs let alone do drugs. On other hand, have a looser neighbor who sits on porch smoking surfing phone while babies run around the street half-dressed. Busy street. She's already "in" the system for various reports against her. Other neighbor called DFS on her when she left the children outside playing in street in 55 degree weather. He case worker showed up, told her someone had reported her and left. Literally didn't even make her get kids off the street when she pulled up. The "system" is totally f'ed.

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  7. I can relate to calls like this the same as Gus pointed out @ 8:31. Skin color had no bearing on the matter family feuding comes in all colors. Least officers today have more power to remove a subject from the situation than they did say 35 years ago. The issue faced some of the time was when you tried to sort out and defuse the situation you ran the risk of those the call was about turning on you and becoming pissed at you for interfering.

    People might claim they want help and will call for help, but to much of the time they won't accept any commonsense help about or for their problem.

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