Countryfile and Rural Domestic Violence

Granny23, how judgemental you are of those who disagree . I am not a none so blind as cannot see , as you state

One of my sisters was married to a farmer, lived on an isolated farm and was a victim of domestic violence . I worked for some years at a women's refuge.

I consider my knowledge of rural domestic abuse to be equal to those who attend seminars , come to think of it, the deaths of two little ones has been reported on the news this week, both little victims were given back to abusive parents by experts! In the field of child abuse

Sometimes it's good to use a 'general' programme to give insights into related issues that are perhaps people are not aware of. Does not mean that a separate programme to look into the issues and solutions in greater depth would not be a good idea a while later.

I've become aware of the real issues some people face when moving abroad -especially deep into the countryside where people can become isolated. I do believe that programmes like 'House in the Sun' etc, would tackle the reality- and the amount of alcoholism, depression and domestic violence related to such.

They always show the houses in the sunshine, with small villages bustling with life and café terrasses- etc. They never show what it is like in rural Dordogneshire in the middle of winter!

BTW how do you feel about 'soaps' like East Enders or Corrie, etc, tackling such issues?

I wasn't vry comfortable with Emmerdale featuring male rape (a father abusing his own son, at that), especially as it's shown at 7.00 p.m. and my GDs often watch it with their mum. She's not watched it for the last few weeks because she said she didn't feel it was something she wanted or needed to explain to a couple of nine-year-olds.

Wow Ana- how did they get away with THAT at 7pm??? I agree that is way out of order.

Was however talking about basic principle...

I hasten to add that it was 'historic rape', nothing was shown, but there was a lot of quite explicit talk and a Court case.

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If we have issues such as domestic /sexual/child/ alcohol /drugs abuse popping up on programmes for a few minutes people will be irrated and quite rightly annoyed if they settle down to those house buying/ holiday /farming/gardening programmes it's because they want to relax and enjoy their viewing. I don't watch soaps but they don't sound light entertainment . then they watch something like the antiques read show and hear about abuse? Not forgetting the news fallows and abuse of one sort or another will be aired,

I doubt discussing domestic violence on Countryfile has been of any real help, people with those troubles already know their difficulties in getting free

I can see what you mean- and we will have to agree to disagree.

Programmes like 'House in the Sun' should point out that the lovely sounshine, café terrasses, etc- may well look and feel very different in from November to March- and that isolation might hit, and that for retired couples especially- being left there on your own or with a sick partner (oftent he one who speaks the language, etc) - can turn into a total nightmare.

They put rose tinted sunglasses on everyone- and it's just not fair not to point out the possible pitfalls- to be fair and responsible.

granjura, I haven't watched the programme , is it selling properties?

OMG... What a subject for Emmerdale Ana

Yes- all over the Med, but also in Florida, etc.

If I do watch programmes like that (House in the Sun, Escape to the Country) I always think 'Yes, lovely, but what if ....'
Do people never think of the possibilities of what could happen; moving somewhere like that at a relatively fit 60 something is quite different to living there at 75+?
And I thought I was an optimist.

When buying a house it's up to the buyer to ask questions , not the seller to point out what may prove to be difficulties surely?

the programes are not 'selling anthing' as such - well they are selling dreams, with pink tinted sunglasses on and a glass of wine in hand, a baguette or paella. And they never fil in the middle of winter either- when the place is deserted, the cold wind howling, and the poorly insulated house freezing.

Of course people should be asking those questions- but far too many get carried away with the dream- and don't think beyond. My advice always is to rent, for a whole year, November to March included- first. But even then, if one of you doesn't drive or speak the language well- what if they are left alone? Participants in the programme never seem to be encouraged to think about such issues.

I do understand granjura , but when encouraged to buy lottery tickets the public are never told millions will bring begging letters, you may lose friends, your life will change but possibly not for the better .

But come on, we all know Escape to the Country, Homes in the Sun, whatever are escapist fantasy, a form of reality TV (if you want to take part you apply to "Go on a show" which says it all.) Countryfile, however, is intended to reflect country life today. Rural pursuits, people, interests and the relevance of farming to life in the UK in general.
As such it has a perfect remit to talk about problems in rural life as well as the people working to remedy them. The floods in Somerset and Cumbria and the efforts made to help stricken farmers and rescue endangered livestock, for instance. Also the dire financial situation of dairy farmers and, yes, suicide among isolated and demoralised agricultural workers. The programme in question neither trivialised nor sensationalised the problem of domestic violence or the difficulty of addressing it. Too many people do in fact believe that country life is essentially stress free, healthy open air, lovely fresh produce , rosy cheeked farmers' wives and all that.The reality is more likely kept to be fending off bankruptcy, shopping at Asda or Costco , having to drive 25 miles to a doctor or midwife and the likelihood of being cut off in bad weather.
There have been TV programmes about the plight of steelworkers, the plight of the unemployed and about "inner city problems". I think it is perfectly in order to point out that not ALL the problems pertain to inner cities alone.

Suicide - farmers used to be among those at highest risk, maybe partly because they're likely to have a shotgun. And loneliness, financial worries etc as Alea says.
It's certainly quite common among french farmers - one of the locals killed himself in the lane behind our house last year.
Domestic violence probably more common here as frenchmen tend to be chauvinistic.

yes there have been programmes on the plight of steel workers , unemployed and inner cities, so why not a programme on the problems of living in rural areas , are they so irrelevant that they don't merit a whole programme ? I knew several farmers who took their own lives, not one used a gun,

Good post Alea

Farmers have easy access to ropes, poisonous chemicals, dangerous vehicles and all manner of ways of doing away with themselves if they are so desperate.

I wasn't going to come back on this thread but honestly, Anniebach, you'd argue the hind legs off a donkey.

Several farmers?? Jeez! I've lived my whole adult life in three different farming communities and thankfully only knew one.

Merlotgran, what to you is talking the hind leg off a donkey is to me discussing a serious subject

And men in cities have easy access to medication, razors, sheets torn to make ropes etc

Greg (Archers) shot himself didn't he?
Actually I believe there is one other factor is agricultural suicides (apart from milk prices, losing your entire flock /herd to threatened disease and EU regs) and that is nothing to do with availability but the depression -inducing effects of some of the chemicals in regulat use on farms. Farmers, like many of us, can be impatient with Elfin Safety, but prolonged exposure to certain chemicals have been shown to induce symptoms of depression

I can see all the arguments about Countryfile showing all aspects of rural life, therefore perhaps a petition ought to be started to put it on after 9pm.

Must be quite hard to shoot yourself with one of those long-barrelled guns they use for shooting vermin etc. My former SIL's husband was a farmer and hanged himself.

I hadn't thought about the exposure to chemicals aspect, Alea - interesting.

Some of those chemicals are linked to death from cancer as well. Although they're trying to ban the most dangerous ones. But farmers tend to hang on to old stocks even when they're banned.