This article declares that the writers of a script for a soap should pay more attention to the downsides of bad habits. There are many characters in UK’s soaps that smoke a lot, drink a lot and eat a lot of unhealthy food. Too many times, these characters appear in a perfect healthy state in the series. A top ten has even been released of the most unhealthiest soap characters. At the top is Dot Cotton from Eastenders. She is a heavy smoker and doesn’t show enough unhealthy sign according to private healthcare firm Bupa. Soaps can be of a very good use when it comes to getting the message across that an unhealthy lifestyle is really bad for you. Right now soaps miss out on this health message. Dr Peter Mace said: "We ask that soap opera scriptwriters portray the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle more realistically, such as in the way they've handled other medical issues such as cancer or Aids. He said that viewers would be influenced by the "everyday lives" they see acted out on the television.
At least not all soap opera characters are immune to unhealthy lifestyles. Jack Duckworth and Fred Elliot from the soap ‘Coronation Street’ for example, both suffered a heart attack.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7802985.stm
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My first impression was: Humbug! Sometimes authorities place too much value to what we see on the television. But when I gave it a second, responsible thought, I thought it being quite a good idea. After all, Soaps do try to simulate the everyday lives on television. When someone wants to make a realistic soap, he also has to portray the realistic affects of a unhealthy lifestyle. I even think it wouldn’t be bad to exaggerate the effect a little bit. Just to get the message across. Television is a good way of educating so why not use that ability a little in the previously non-educative programmes like soap operas. It is a very small effort to do this and I think it will not really harm the popularity of a soap opera.
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Soap opras portray daily life habits in a exaggerated way so I think soap viewers should realize that and don't take their habits too serious.
However soaps are still popular so they could use it as a way of educating by showing them bad consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle. For instance people will be frightened when Dot Cotton next week suddenly dies after an unhealthy lifestyle.
I think people who are watching a soap opera are aware of the fact that almost everything isn't real. A lot of the scenes and characters are overdone. It isn't real! In a television show directors and script makers are having the freedom to create everything they want!
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