'TV ghost shows 'useless' uneducational'

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If a child jumps from a tall building after watching Superman, should the movie be banned?

That analogy was used by a media observer discussing a doctor at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta, who claimed an increase in the number of psychiatric patients at the hospital was directly linked to TV reality shows dealing with supernatural topics.

Veven S.P. Wardhana said the doctor's claims were too simplistic, particularly because no similar phenomenon had been reported elsewhere in the country.

"We would have to see this in other regions as well. Also, we have to look at the backgrounds of the patients. If they come from lower economic brackets, they might be more prone to depression," he said on Thursday.

Records from Dr. Sardijito hospital show that the majority of patients treated in the psychiatric ward come from traditional groups with limited knowledge and an immature understanding of the world. However, some university students have also been treated at the psychiatric ward.

"Well, college students have a lot on their minds and can get depressed. I don't know if the shows are dangerous or not, but I think they can work to bring out depression," Veven said.

He said there were other reasons to criticize these supernatural TV shows, such as that they are utterly useless and completely lacking in anything that might be educational.

Most of these reality supernatural shows follow the same basic outlines: track down ghosts or spirits, travel to a scary location and dare guests to spend time alone in said scary location.

The shows often feature paranormals hunting down ghosts, people in trances and "spirits" who show their real faces.

"The existence of spirits and ghosts is debatable, and the most sophisticated cameras cannot 'catch' them," Veven said.

He suspects the shows are all camera tricks and fancy editing.

"If people can prove the shows are lies they can sue the TV stations for fraud. TV stations in other countries always state whether their shows are staged or not," Veven said.

Local TV stations deny any wrongdoing in broadcasting these shows. However, some TV stations like TV7 and SCTV have stopped airing these types of shows in response to complaints.

"We have several episodes left, including from Dunia Lain (Other World). Although people like the show, we will no longer broadcast it. We have received many complaints and, besides, they are not good for children," said Trans TV director Ishadi S.K.

Other TV stations, however, have said they will continue to air these kinds of shows as long as they are popular with viewers.

"Sure, why not? We stick to the rules set by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission to air these types of shows only after 10 p.m.," said TPI public relations officer Theresia Ellasari.

Any show featuring adult content that could be harmful to children can only be broadcast after 10 p.m.

However, the commission does not have any regulations on misleading shows.

"So, the ball is in the viewers' court. If they think these shows are uneducational or misleading, they can lodge a complaint with the consumer association," Veven said.