NEWS: Man Sues Reality TV show for $2.5 Million over Rat-eating Episode

Austin Aitken from Cleveland, OH has filed a lawsuit for $2.5 million after viewing an episode of Fear Factor on NBC. Aitken is alleging after watching a stunt that envolved contestants eating rats, he became ill as a result of the Dec 27 episode. Aitken further alleged he suffered great pain and other side effects as a result of viewing the show.



My first thoughts when I came upon this story was this is yet another unwarrented lawsuit. I then gave it some more thought to it and think perhaps this may be a good thing for television viewers. I do not know about you, but seeing people being forced to eat live snakes, insects etc., is very appalling to me. Perhaps one or two lawsuits like this will get shows such as fear factor off the air. Granted we do have remotes to change channels, but that is not the point here. All the TV networks are doing is making huge sums of money for shows that have no entertainment value at all.

Related News Links:
www.courttv.com



[edit on 7-1-2005 by Banshee]

I guess it made them to sick to change the channel? Everyone knows what fear factor is all about this has got to be one of the dumbest law-suits I have ever heard of.

Originally posted by Amuk
I guess it made them to sick to change the channel? Everyone knows what fear factor is all about this has got to be one of the dumbest law-suits I have ever heard of.

In this case the individual just got out of prison after severing 27 months for forgery. I do not think fear factor has been on for four seasons, although I could be wrong.

THE WINNER BY UPSET (PUN INTENDED)
Austin Aitken...
has taken the first national world championship...
WASTE OF AIR award....

may he wear the award with pride... thus showing to everyone he meets, that he is unworthy of the air he breathes....

damn thief...

If he wins this, then I've seen everything. Personally - we get the big 3 (ABC, NBC, CBS) among others up here, and other than ER and a few sitcoms and 60 Minutes, I think the quality of programming sucks. If this type of programming is what the American public wants to see (together with the likes of the Bachelor/Bachelorette and Extreme Makeover, etc.) its a sad comment. As of late, when I'm not watching world news programming (not CNN or Fox, thank you very much), I'm watching documentaries, science and nature, history, where at least you learn something useful.

Obviously there's a market for this crap or it wouldn't be on. Better to watch rats being eaten then a wardrobe malfunction!

This suit will go nowhere. I have pointed out many times that the only reason television programming exists is to get people to watch the commercials. If hardcore pornograhpy and human sacrifice accomplished that end and if there were not laws against such programming, that's what would be on the airwaves.

My first thoughts when I came upon this story was this is yet another unwarrented lawsuit. I then gave it some more thought to it and think perhaps this may be a good thing for television viewers. I do not know about you, but seeing people being forced to eat live snakes, insects etc., is very appalling to me. Perhaps one or two lawsuits like this will get shows such as fear factor off the air. Granted we do have remotes to change channels, but that is not the point here. All the TV networks are doing is making huge sums of money for shows that have no entertainment value at all.

No one is "forced" to do anything. If they don't want to eat a rat, or a cow penis, or a coagulated blood pizza, they don't have to. They just don't get to stay on the show anymore if they refuse. It's not like they get punished for not eating or doing any of the stunts. It's just that they get rewarded doing the stunt. And just like the contestants are not forced to eat or do anything they don't want to, the viewer is not forced to watch anything they don't want to either. This is just a lazy ***hole who is looking for an easy buck at the expense of someone else.

[edit on 7-1-2005 by mpeake]

I hope this man wins his lawsuit. Globalists and big money are doing everything they can to desensitize people to repulsive things. Among those aims are programs such as "Fear Factor." Finding the very first episode to be totally disgusting after no more than one minute, I have avoided it like the plague. Pornography at the hard core is preferable to this kind of degrading filth. You cannot stand by and allow humanity to be abused, if you saw the show and were also sickened, please seek counsel, and hit these people hard where it counts, take a pittance of a few million dollars from these scoundrels.

shots
change the channel

This suit will be thrown out hopefully. I notice he habnd wrote his suit. Maybe this means no lawyer was dumb enough to take it.

You've never taken a survival course or traveled to Asia or some place in the Americas if you haven't been exposed to similar food.

The Straight DopeThe Chinese, or at least those in Guangdong province, near Hong Kong, are said to prize all manner of bizarre foods, including bear's paw, snake, crocodile, dog, kangaroo, pigeon, frogs, sparrows, live baby mice ("good for ulcers"), newborn rats ("pinkies," swallowed whole and alive for asthma), lizards, worms seasoned in cheddar cheese and Mexican spices, fried ants, scorpions, smoked reindeer, moose, crickets, caterpillar larvae, and of course monkey brains.
-and-
Tony translates what happened. The customs guys shot a monkey out of the tree. You can't just shoot a monkey sitting in a tree, because they don't fall. They rot up there, hanging on. So first you shoot to get the monkey to jump. Then when he's scrambling, you shoot him & he'll fall.
We don't see any monkeys in the tree & don't see one on the ground--we figured he missed & Tony was joking about lunch. A while later as we're leaving, the Indonesians near the boat shed have a beach fire going & are cooking something in a big pot--and on a tree we see a monkey skin.�

Angelina Jolie- famous actress, routinely eats such as this. Many people in the world do. Just because you find something distasteful doesn't mean others do.

Want something nasty?
Try squirrel. Nothing more than a 'tree rat' with wild flavor.

Here's some American favorites:

Cow brains- srambled with eggs,
bull testicles, AKA 'mountain oysters'



Rocky Mountain Oysters When the calves are branded, the testicles are cut off and thrown in a bucket of water. They are then peeled, washed, rolled in flour and pepper, and fried in a pan.
-and-
Testicle festivals are held every spring and fall in Montana.



Another American favorite still in high use is


Moo & Oink Chitterlings is the formal name, but most folks call �em Chitlins.� And, if you know about chitlins, well there is nothing formal about them.� They are the large intestines of a pig.� As such, they possess a distinct, er aroma when you cook them.

Can you just imagine a big plate full of sizzling 'nuts'!
Kind of makes 'ya hongry don't it?

Originally posted by mpeake

No one is "forced" to do anything. If they don't want to eat a rat, or a cow penis, or a coagulated blood pizza, they don't have to. They just don't get to stay on the show anymore if they refuse. It's not like they get punished for not eating or doing any of the stunts. It's just that they get rewarded doing the stunt. And just like the contestants are not forced to eat or do anything they don't want to, the viewer is not forced to watch anything they don't want to either. This is just a lazy ***hole who is looking for an easy buck at the expense of someone else.

[edit on 7-1-2005 by mpeake]

That may very well be the case, however that was not my purpose in posting the original story. I simply wanted to point out that perhaps this may put an end to these types of show. I find Fear Factor to be very appalling and do not think it is right to show things like that on TV.

As we all know TV shows influence children and yes even some adults all the time, that being the case what would you say if your son or daughter (heaven forbide) pick up a rat and eat it and get rabies? What would you say if your son or daughter tried one of the driving tricks they show on TV only to end up dead? My guess is you would hire a lawyer real fast.

I see this as a good thing since reality TV shows sucks big time. I hope he wins and perhaps then we will get some good entertainment in its place.

Originally posted by shots
I do not know about you, but seeing people being forced to eat live snakes, insects etc., is very appalling to me.

Nobody is being forced to do anything. It is there choice and they have the option to simply drop out of the challenge.

You also have the option to NOT VIEW the show by changing the channel or, god forbid, turn off the TV. Having to sit through most TV Programming is appalling to me in fact, which is why I choose not to watch it most of the time.

Perhaps one or two lawsuits like this will get shows such as fear factor off the air.

So will exercising your right NOT to watch it. If nobody was watching it, their ratings would die and they'd be off the air. That's how it works. So if you stop watching it, but it stays on, then obviously other people do watch it and as long as they make up a large enough audience then the show will continue.

Granted we do have remotes to change channels, but that is not the point here. All the TV networks are doing is making huge sums of money for shows that have no entertainment value at all.
[edit on 7-1-2005 by Banshee]

No, that IS the point here actually. As you said, you have a remote which not only gives you the ability to change the channel but to do so without even having to get off your butt in doing so.

As for the TV networks making money off shows that have no entertainment value, you're just plain wrong. The fact that they are making money means people are watching it. So it's obviously it's entertaining someone. What you see as a problem is in fact your own solution. Because they are only interested in Money, if they had no viewers or even so few that it wasn't a profit, then that show would be gone immediately.

"True freedom is the right to say something that others don't want to hear."
-- George Orwell

Finally, the fact that this guy just finished serving 27 months in jail/prison for forgery leads me to believe that he's probably not someone who's all that honest in the first place. Not to mention the fact that 27 months of time served would certainly have been more disturbing than watching anything on TV. This guy is full of sh*t and is simply attempting some new con since his last one got him busted and he has yet to understand the value of living an honest life.

Doesn't the term "VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED" mean anything anymore?

While I personally think Fear Factor is the work of the devil and would never watch it, it's degrading to see what your fellow man would do for money This idiot who is suing has no legs to stand on. He didn't have to watch.

Originally posted by JoeDoaksJust because you find something distasteful doesn't mean others do.

I agree this is a stupid lawsuit and that he should have changed the channel.
That's what I started doing after the 'maggoty cheese' episode.
They've moved beyond eating things that are delicacies in other countries.

Here's what they've eaten recently:

Pot Luck Dinner
a disgusting plate of cow snout and maggot-covered cheese.

WORM & ROACH BLENDER
a whole bunch of worms and cockroaches that have been blended together into a disgusting, foul-smelling shake.

fermented squid guts
Miss USA contestants are accustomed to tough competition but nothing could have prepared them for diving into a tank filled with millions of fish scales and drinking a glass of fermented squid guts.

Maggoty Cheese
Maggot-covered cheese is by far the foulest-smelling food we've ever served on Fear Factor.

Mechanical Bull Buffet
disgusting platter of spine, spleen and hairy, leathery snouts.

Slugs & Bile
Every so often, a Fear Factor contestant tells us they'll be traumatized for life after getting through a particularly horrifying stunt. That's exactly how Chandra Meissner felt after downing 10 live slugs and a shot of cow bile.

Reindeer Jewels & 100 Year Old Eggnog
a yummy feast of reindeer testicles and 100 Year Old Eggnog.

DUMPSTER DIVE
pig uterus and cow stomach

FEAR FACTOR PIE-EATING CONTEST
duck tongue, pig stomach, fish sauce and maggots

TOMATO HORN WORM JUICE
Slurping up mouthfuls of giant green tomato horn worms, chewing them up and spitting the juice into a cup is one thing. But drinking the juice� well that's Fear Factor.

BAR ROOM SHOOT OUT
Fear Factor Fire Water (blended fisheyes, beetles, maggots & worms)

RAT STEW
heaping bowl of blended rat




[edit on 7-1-2005 by AceOfBase]

I see this as a good thing since reality TV shows sucks big time. I hope he wins and perhaps then we will get some good entertainment in its place.

I do have a 1 yr old son, and you're right, I'd be upset at him if he picked up a dead rat and tried to eat it after watching that show...but, I wouldn't be as upset at the show as I would myself for raising a kid who is dumb enough, or disobedient enough to pull such a stupid move. It's my job to moniter what he watches, just as it's my responsibility to mointer what I watch. Alot of TV does suck, but we are not going to regress to a more wholesome era of TV by suing the creators of the shows. The only way tv shows change is if the publics desires change. If the public wants to see people eat rats, then that's what they are gonna get. No ratings means no show. Lots of stuff gets cancelled all the time because the public won't watch it, even if they are well written, thought provoking shows. The people may not determine what get's on air, but they sure decide what stays on air. If you want shows like this to stop, then a change of mind in the general public needs to happen, not one man suing for a quick buck.

Another frivilous law suit. If he wins this, i will plan my own lawsuit

I�ve usually got an iron stomach, but if you go into some Chinese restaurants here in the USA they serve Chicken feet. It�s one of the few things I won�t eat. Wife loves em and they usually run out of em quickly. A dim Sum restaurant I know of can�t get a cart of em once around the floor.

Also, I saw that episode. They previewed what they were going to do several times before they showed any ratshakes. They even went to commercial break between announcing it and blending em up.

Another example of our extreme need for tort reform.

Originally posted by shots
Austin Aitken from Cleveland, OH has filed a lawsuit for $2.5 million after viewing an episode of Fear Factor on NBC.

Absurd. Especially for that much. His having puked is consistent with 2.5 million dollars in damages? Aitken is alleging after watching a stunt that envolved contestants eating rats, he became ill as a result of the Dec 27 episode. Aitken further alleged he suffered great pain and other side effects as a result of viewing the show.

so I didn't see the doorway on route to my room; I ran into it, causing suffering, injury and great pain."

What a buffoon! This is great!

My first thoughts when I came upon this story was this is yet another unwarrented lawsuit. I then gave it some more thought

Bah, I don't like this. [/clicks remote, leaves thread]

Reminds me of the time my ex-mother-in-law, a devout Italian-Catholic woman who attended church daily and said a rosary every night, called me up in hysterics because Time-Warner had accidentally turned on a porn channel on her cable system.

She was so shocked, repulsed, and dismayed and the atrocious things that were coming out of her television. She couldn't believe how this sort of sin was being inflicted upon her.

Even worse, her daily house-cleaning chores had been interrupted for over THREE HOURS while she sat and watched in horror and disgust, scene after scene of these couples, and sometimes three or even four or five people, doing unmentionable things that she didn't even know were possible.

"Umm, Mom, do you want me to call Time Warner and have them turn it off."

"Oh no! I know you are busy. I just wanted to warn you just in case they turned yours on too."

Lets just say that no serious housecleaning was done in my mother-in-law's house until the channel was disabled by the cable company a few days later. I wonder if she could have sued for excessive dust buildup...

Point is--she could have changed the channel if she wanted to. Mr. Aitken could have also.

Originally posted by mpeake
I do have a 1 yr old son, and you're right, I'd be upset at him if he picked up a dead rat and tried to eat it after watching that show...but, I wouldn't be as upset at the show as I would myself for raising a kid who is dumb enough, or disobedient enough to pull such a stupid move. It's my job to moniter what he watches, just as it's my responsibility to mointer what I watch. Alot of TV does suck, but we are not going to regress to a more wholesome era of TV by suing the creators of the shows. The only way tv shows change is if the publics desires change. If the public wants to see people eat rats, then that's what they are gonna get. No ratings means no show. Lots of stuff gets cancelled all the time because the public won't watch it, even if they are well written, thought provoking shows. The people may not determine what get's on air, but they sure decide what stays on air. If you want shows like this to stop, then a change of mind in the general public needs to happen, not one man suing for a quick buck.

Oh my God!!! You know it's people like you that actually keep me coming here to ATS. At the same time, it's people like you that help keep that little bit of hope within me alive. That hope that just maybe there are still some people left in the world that are able to look at a situation objectively and act accordingly. Although this is the only post by you that I can recall and I know nothing about your stance on any other issue, you still earned my vote!!

This whole topic reminds me of a very good Simpsons Episode that I saw. Homer Simpson, using a quote from Voltair said, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

I know plenty of people who think The Simpsons should be taken off the air too and it is sad to think that they lack the same wisdom of even Homer when one considers the above quote.

mOjOm, Thanks! That means alot, especially coming from you!

And I definitley agree that if more people thought like Homer Simpson, the world would be a better place

[edit on 7-1-2005 by mpeake]