Deseret News | Get rid of 'Kid Nation'

Reader comments
Scott D. Pierce: Get rid of 'Kid Nation'

Cooper | 8:34 a.m. Oct. 10, 2007

I only watched about 15 minutes of this show and thought it was the biggest waste of time. Too bad my 15 minutes were already wasted.

Love the show | 10:22 a.m. Oct. 10, 2007

Okay, "love" may be too strong of a word, but I do watch this show with my husband and two kids each week. My 11 year old daughter especially enjoys it and we marvel at all the things the kids can do. My own "city slicker" kids would have no clue about how to kill, pluck, clean, cut-up and cook a chicken. GO KID NATION!

sam | 1:37 p.m. Oct. 10, 2007

I don't see a problem with letting some of the spoil kid and teenagers in this world learning a few basic elements. I do beleive that these kids will return home with more respect for themselves and other. Not to mention that they will learn to do things for themselves. I think more kids should join kid nation and learn a little hard work and respect for each other. If the parents can't raise them to understand hard work and respect then maybe this will.

Comments continue below

Don | 3:34 p.m. Oct. 10, 2007

I like the show so does my son. your child abuse statement is unheralded if you don't like it don't watch.

Anonymous | 5:05 p.m. Oct. 10, 2007

Funny how different perceptions create different conclusions. The reality is over 5000 hours of footage has been edited down into less than 11 hours for tv. You obviously aren't giving the parents credit for preparing their child for the reality of being involved in a life changing process like this. In life, you can learn from every situation, and what a blessing it is to share that experience through tv with others so we all may learn.

kyle | 6:43 p.m. Oct. 10, 2007

i think this show is awsome but there are adults like the camra man but this show rocks ya and they should not cancle this show

EB | 6:57 p.m. Oct. 10, 2007

OBVIOUSLY there is no reality show that is "true reality", and anyone who has ever seen a reality show (including these kids and their parents) know that they are going to be portrayed however the producers want. But I think that this is a great insight into how responsible, mature, and witty young kids can be and how they can encourage each other to work together for a common goal. Conversely, they are still kids and can be selfish, bratty, and lazy. But these kids know they are going to be on TV and choose to act this way.

Coming from someone who knows, this will look fantastic on any college application.

Suzie | 7:53 p.m. Oct. 10, 2007

Oh paleeze! How could anyone critisize this excellent program? It definetly is a show that the whole family can watch together. We found ourselves discussing how the "Kids" handled their situations (good or bad). It gave us, as parents, a way of talking to our children about choices and consequences. We love this show and hope it comes back next season!

danielle | 9:07 p.m. Oct. 10, 2007

i dissagree kid nation is a thing for kids im trying for next season kids get more skills in thisd game

Momof4 | 7:34 a.m. Oct. 11, 2007

Excellent commentary from the author!!! Someone who actually sees this for what it is. The network exploiting both ignorant parents and children for the almighty dollar. Ain't America grand!!

If you want your kids to learn life lessons, send them to a real camp with trained councillors, not cameramen as babysitters. THAT will look much better on a college application.

These are Children, and as such it the responsibility as parents to ensure we are educated with regards to the ramifications of allowing our children to become involved in a program like this.

I see parents today afraid to let their children walk to school for fear of pedophiles, afraid to talk to their neighbours, but it's okay to leave 40 kids in the desert with a camera crew of strangers? Shame on all of you. Teach your children to become involved in the community, have them volunteer at a soup kitchen, send them to a real "camp" to learn real life lessons. Not some manipulated nonsense on a reality show, edited to show all of their flaws to the nation and schoolmates.

Sue | 7:54 a.m. Oct. 11, 2007

Your article is 100% right on the money.

I know that a few people who are more interested in being entertained have chosen to overlook many of the facts you stated - and there are many more reasons this show - and certainly Kid Nation 2 - should not have happened the way it did.

How about if I start a FREE - "rebuild a city camp" - and teach 40 kids a good life lesson - but we leave the camera at home. No CBS, no gold star, just life lessons and physical challenges. A good documentarian can observe and impart the life lessons to society. No? Too boring? Not exploitive enough? Someone wouldn't get to see them cry or put together a puzzle? Yeah... thought so. Oh and my 'camp' will at least follow laws and regulations.

The real experiment here is CBS seeing how gullible and accepting our society is. I hope they see there are enough people who think this crosses the line in about a million ways to NEVER go there again.

momof4 | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 11, 2007

Sadly Sue CBS is already gearing up to shoot season 2, in a foreign country. (Those pesky child labour laws are getting in the way in the USA). It is rumoured to be Czech Republic. Why not just send the kids to Iraq and see if they can rebuild the society there. (shhhhh don't give CBS any more ideas)

Great comment btw.

Abdullah Jefri | 10:25 a.m. Oct. 11, 2007

I am surprised that anybody can see this as anything close to a reality show instead of what it really is, a manipulative daycare show. The council was chosen for the kids without any input from them whatsoever, their social order is dictated through the Pioneers' Book and the showdowns, and we do not have any idea to what extent are these kids coached on a daily basis by the behind-the-camera producers. Some of the situations and conversations seem so made-for-TV it is very difficult to imagine that no adult came to the children, guided them on what they should be thinking now, provided them with some articulate way of expressing it, and then rolled the camera.

Finally, I hate the caste system. It's nothing close to what it is in real life, and it only serves to demean those kids.

Kim | 12:01 p.m. Oct. 11, 2007

It's exploiting children, simple. A $5000 stipend with a $20,000 gold star each week? I know many parents who would love the chance to get away from their kids - for free! To possibly become famous & earn some money? It's the parents of these children who we should be blaming - for being greedy and irresponsible with their own flesh & blood. CBS is to blame for pushing and airing such filth.

Anyone who thinks that watching kids cry & argue (or anything they've done) is entertainment - needs some serious mental help.
I'm betting the pedophiles have flocked to CBS on Wednesday night. It's a sad & sick world..

Kidnationfan | 8:05 p.m. Oct. 17, 2007

I think it was said best earlier, if you don't like it, don't watch it. Find something you like to watch and let the rest of us enjoy the show. These kids have personality, initiative--and a lot of them have impressed me with their definitions of a good leader.

Momof4 | 9:33 a.m. Oct. 18, 2007

Tell me Kidnationfan.

Do you wear clothes made in sweatshops? Do you approve of children being withdrawn from school for 40 days with no set teachers or tutors available?

Do you approve of a studio basically seducing young people and their parents into signing a 20+ page draconian contract because they don't know any better?

Did you know that legit programming uses child performers who are very well protected by child labour laws? Studios are required to have studio teachers available for any child missing school for more than 2 days. Summer camps are required to have licensed individuals running it and funcitioning bathrooms, appropriate sleeping quarters etc.

CBS played everyone on this. The kids, the parents and the government of New Mexico to pander a cheap production to a nation of fans who are just as ignorant as the families involved in the project.

CBS could have easily filmed the same concept without all of the controversy had they just followed standard practice in the industry instead of sidestepping the laws.

P.S. I'm not watching the program in principle. I watched the first one only to be educated as to how far CBS would go to make a dollar.

Jordin | 9:47 p.m. Oct. 23, 2007

I THINK GREGS HOT!!!

Bizzle. | 4:57 p.m. Oct. 25, 2007

I like this show! I think it would be cool to live in a city with no adults. Greg is one of the best kids there. I like Guylan, and Michael, and DK too. I am so glad DK stayed. It would have sucked, if he would have left when he was about to get $20,000.00. Go GREG!!! He is the bestest!

Kaylie | 9:50 p.m. Nov. 1, 2007

Parents are not dumb, especially when it comes to there kids. Who cares if its fake? These kids are learning a great lesson and having fun. As for Greg, he isn't always shown as being obnoxious or rude. Ocassionally he has been seen as more of a "big brother" to the younger kids. Obviously, the kids like being there as well, they have to option to leave every week. I think this is a good show, especially for kids who like watching others their own age. It's nice for kids to finally have a say in things. I think it shows that kids aren't all about just having fun or stuffing their faces with candy or playing videogames all day. It proves a point to adults too.

NationFan08 | 4:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 2007

I am 17 years old and I wish I had the opportunity to do something like this when I was younger. In less than a year I will be going away to college with no real knowledge of the world outside of my comfortable suburbian life. I'm not saying this is my parent's fault or anything like that, but there was simply never an opportunity to have first-hand experience like this. I applaud the kids and their parents for taking this risk and sticking it out. There is no doubt in my mind this will make every kid a better person.
NationFan08
P.S. For a younger guy Greg is pretty hot :)But it is nice to watch him grow as a person.

hzrd96 | 11:38 p.m. Nov. 7, 2007

I think it unfair to call this show a complete fraud, anyone who watches a show like this has to know it is not completely real. The main ideas of the show (such as a curfew, social ranks, groups) may be the ideas of the producers, but what these ideas show us is how these kids can handle the every day troubles and conflicts that occur in our society. The whole "making Bonanza a better place" may be a little bogus, even if the goal of this is just to accumulate ratings, I think that this experience will help all of the children involved to be able to get along better when they are adults. As for their parents subjecting them to horrible things and not caring, I find it a little offensive and accusitive. I think that maby its not such a good idea for the younger children who don't fully understand what they're doing to be there, but the older children/teens like Sophia and Greg are old enough to make this kind of decision. I understand that their parents ultimatly are in charge of their lives, but they had a say in this too and its not like they were forced to go to Bonanza or forced to stay, they have the option to leave.

xx | 6:47 p.m. Nov. 15, 2007

I think the show is great and it will teach the kids on it a good lesson on how to deal with other kids. i think thhey should not cancel the show and keep it going.

Trish | 7:00 p.m. Dec. 5, 2007

I think you're missing the point that this is the chance of a lifetime for them. It also allows you to see how kids act with each other when adults aren't around. (An adult holding a camera around you hardly constitutes an adult being around when they aren't enforcing any rules). It's a reality show because it is not scripted. So what if challenges and situations are brought about by the producers. The kids are what makes everything happen. You need to lighten up a little bit. I would allow my son the opportunity to do something that I could never offer him.

Carly | 8:03 a.m. Dec. 13, 2007

I think that this show is a great show for kids. And you shouldn't be posting things like this online. What if a kid that wanted to be on Kid Nation read this?

Caitlin | 4:15 p.m. Dec. 14, 2007

Kid nation is a great program that should go on for years to come. If you can go on a show and help run a town with only 40 other kids, that is the experience of a life time. Though the kids are being left a deserted town, if anything bad happened to those kids at least there would be witnesses. As some of you who have seen this show and are currently bad mouthing it, the kids confide in each other. If something happened that child would go straight to their friends to tell them the bad new. Do not go saying how this show isn't safe for kids because the fact is it's probably safer then their lives at home. And one obvious fact, if you don't like the show, DON'T WATCH IT! That's common sense. Don't go saying how bad it is either. If you don't like the show that doesn't mean you have the right to critize the producers and the network. And if you really didn't like the show, you wouldn't have know most of the kids names. You know who this comment is directed towards!

Claire | 5:53 p.m. Dec. 20, 2007

no u did not!! i am a huge fan of kid nation. everybody that watches that show LOVES it you obviously dont watch it or atleast all of it . if you would watch all of it and talk to kid nation fans you would know taylor < "the brat" is loved by everyone. seriously get your facts straight before you post it!

Trev | 9:02 a.m. Dec. 30, 2007

i 100% agree
This show is way over the top. all that they show are wat the veiwers want to see. (fair enough) but this makes it more of a script that was improvised
then a reality

alyssa | 4:32 p.m. July 23, 2008

what is this person problem who would want to get rid of kid nation its a good show not even good great fun and lots of other good things

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