Mad Mad House

[Fast Learner]

(Although I am bothered by the voodoo name instead of Santaria)

What makes you thing she's a practitioner of Santeria? Santeria is a very specific religion that certainly works with the Orisha and the Loa, like voodoo, but also usually includes the Catholic saints. She may be a practioner of Vodou, Hoodoo, or some other flavor of Voodoo, and may not have any beliefs related to Catholicism. In fact, from what I heard her say, she does indeed seem to work with the Orisha, but may not even work with the Loa at all.

Unless you know something more about her, I don't think you should insist that she practices Santeria.

And agreed, Voodoo is certainly a valid religion. Not one that I practice, but certainly not some tiny offshoot of fake weirdness that it tends to be considered.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

What makes you thing she's a practitioner of Santeria? Santeria is a very specific religion that certainly works with the Orisha and the Loa, like voodoo, but also usually includes the Catholic saints. She may be a practioner of Vodou, Hoodoo, or some other flavor of Voodoo, and may not have any beliefs related to Catholicism. In fact, from what I heard her say, she does indeed seem to work with the Orisha, but may not even work with the Loa at all.

Unless you know something more about her, I don't think you should insist that she practices Santeria.

And agreed, Voodoo is certainly a valid religion. Not one that I practice, but certainly not some tiny offshoot of fake weirdness that it tends to be considered.

I may be wrong here, if so I appologize. I am not that knowledgeable about Santeria or Voodoo and the impression I had was that they were the same thing. What I was basing my opinion on was news interviews where some worshipers said they prefered the Santeria name. Prehaps this was due to the real differences you mentioned. My thinking in making this comment was that the SciFi channel was trying to use a more controversial name. Here in central Indiana there are not many people practicing either so my I do not have any first hand knowlege about the details. Your pointing this out has given me more reason to watch the show so that hopefully I can learn more. I hope this is what the producers intend and take this opertunity to teach as well.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Anyone else inlove with this show?

Anyone else want to be a contestant?

I think the show is very stupid. It is not Scifi, Horror, or Fantasy, and IMHO, should not be on the Scifi Channel. Same for Scare Tactics.

Look at these weird people we found! Look at their weirdness! Look, these "normies" are so uncomfortable around these strange people! Isn't it funny!

Give me a break.

 

[mmu1]

I think the show is very stupid. It is not Scifi, Horror, or Fantasy, and IMHO, should not be on the Scifi Channel. Same for Scare Tactics.

Look at these weird people we found! Look at their weirdness! Look, these "normies" are so uncomfortable around these strange people! Isn't it funny!

"Next Thursday... What if someone asked you to take part in a religious ritual... That will require you to be buried in animal parts!!!" (cut to a shot of people being completely immersed in entrails and other junk)

They're not really doing much to prove the detractors wrong about this show, are they?

 

[VirgilCaine]

"Next Thursday... What if someone asked you to take part in a religious ritual... That will require you to be buried in animal parts!!!" (cut to a shot of people being completely immersed in entrails and other junk)

They're not really doing much to prove the detractors wrong about this show, are they?

No, I suppose they aren't.

 

[blackshirt5]

This show(along with Scare Tactics and Tremors the Series) makes my brain hurt. This is what we lost Farscape for? So we can watch washed up sitcom stars shoot giant worms, the girl from 90210 scare idiots, and watch people hang from hooks?

 

[buzzard]

I see this show as merely typical.
Of course this I why other than History Channel and Food Network, I only watch SG-1.

buzzard

 

[Villano]

I didn't watch it (the animal parts and blood drinking made sure I wouldn't want to), but I did see some bits and pieces while flipping through the channels. I generally consider reality shows to be stupid, and this didn't change my mind. As to my impression of the "alts" and to the idea that they are trying to expand people's minds:

First, the witch and Voodoo priestess. No problem here. These are two religions that most people only have experience with through movies, so wanting to showcase what it's "really" about is okay (that's assuming that the people here are really involved in the religion and not just actors or wannabes). Personally, I've always been interested in Voodoo from a religions standpoint, and the witch gets extra points for dressing like Vampirella.

The nudist is, well, a nudist. This guy has complete confidence in himself and I have to give him credit for that.

Modern primitive? Not sure on this guy's deal. Are the tattoos and piercings of a certain tribe or ethnic group he belongs to? I did see him on a bit of the show and he seemed like a nice guy, so I have no problem with him (having one lived in NYC, I've sat next to people of the subway with more tattoos and piercings than him).

And am I the only guy who thinks he looks like Wes Studi (Sagat in the godawful Street Fighter movie, The Sphinx in Mystery Men)? He gets bonus points for that!

Now we come to the "vampire". At this point, I'd be kicked out of the house. We have a guy who dresses in lace, drinks blood, and has probably read every Anne Rice novel 20 times. He could easily be replace by an obsessive Trekkie. Seriously, explain to me how he's different than the guy who walks around all day in make-up and armor and speaks Klingon?

I take that back, Trekkies don't drink blood...

The point is, if you think this guy is just a loser living in a fantasy world, you are a close-minded bigot. OTOH, it's okay to laugh at the woman who went jury duty in her Starfleet uniform.

Every time I see this guy, I think of that Saturday Night Live sketch with the two high school goths who host a public access show in the basement and the boy keeps getting beat up by his friend's jock brother. I can easily imagine that was Don's high school life right there.

On the plus side, at least he's "Don the Vampire" and isn't insisting on being called "Vlad" or "Count Bloodenstein" or something. That would be too sad.

Now, just to be clear, I have no problem with Trekkies and Goths who consider it a hobby or like the fashions. If you dress up like a Klingon for the convention or Halloween or, heck, for some romantic evening with your significant other, I don't care. Fantasy is fine as long as you know it's a fantasy. Once you start listing your race as "Klingon" on official forms and only answer to the name "Korrag", you've taken that one step over the edge. :\

Actually, now that I think about it, the overall show is a bit of a fraud. Do the alts have to go through the little rituals on the show, too, or just the guests? If they don't, frankly, I find that hypocritical. They want other people to "open their minds", but refuse to do the same themselves. I sincerely doubt that Don, for all his posing, would run around naked or be burried in animal parts. Of course not, that's disgusting! It's okay for other people to be forced to do it, though. You must understand him...but screw everyone else. Whatever!

Of course, if the witch goes through with the "be a nudist for a day", I'd sign up in a minute.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

If you want to know more about the Modern Primitive, I think a lot of the stuff he does comes from India and the Pacific Asian Islands around that area. Thats typicaly where people that use body modification of the same style as him. There are cultures/civilizations where people used to ritually hang themselves from hooks and body peircings in order to reach certain levels of enlightenment.

Really, all 5 of the outlooks of the alts are valid culutural or reliigous followings as far as the world goes. We may not all agree with that, and we may find them funny or as a joke. Don the Vampire did not nessasarrily discover vampirism from an Anne Rice novel. The man seriously drinks Human/Animal blood in order to gain enlightenment, and we cant really say he's making it up. Many african tribes, and new zeland tribes do the same. I think a certain sect of Druids in anglo-saxon briton did the same, as did cults around Europe.

As for the natrualist, Avacado, I too take him seriously. He's no diffrent then the hippies of the 70's. They were serious werent they? Sure some werent, but a large majority were. They honestly belived and had faith and lived their lives according do those beleifs, whatever they were.

If Avacado wants to name himself after a vegtable, wear as little clothing as possible, run around naked, and eat only organic foods, so be it. Its his way of getting in touch with himself.

Can we really judge any of these people? Just because they practice things we do not agree with does not make them foolish or misguided or crazy. The same can be said about someone following organized religion. To quote George Carlin "they belive an invisible man, who lives in the sky, who watches everything you do, of every minute and ever day, and has an invisible list of 10 things he does not want you to do, and if you do any of these things....etcetc.."

But I digress, i'm starting to touch on topics that shouldnt be discussed here.

Anyway, I dont think that they are any diffrent then anyone else who is a devout practitioner of their beleifs. They all have faith which binds them together. The only diffrence is what they have faith in and how they show it.

I respect them for that. Even if they are actors id still respect them, for doing such a convincing job.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I think its an interesting show...better than Scare Tactics. But that isn't hard to beat.