Taboo

[Nereus]

Not sure where this should go, so Mods please move if in the wrong forum.

Has any body seen the program "Taboo" currently being aired on the National Geographic Channel?
Amongst a couple of other items there was a report about Muang Thai kick boxing in Thailand on last nights episode. There is film of 3 year old, yes 3 year old, GIRLS, kitted up with boxing gloves, belting the shit out of their same age "opponent". During the break between bouts a hideous creature, claiming to be the Mother of one of the girls, was leaning into the ring screaming at the poor little girl, urging her to hit her opponent harder!

I personally detest Muang Thai, or any form of kick boxing. But I respect adults right to decide for themselves. But to force a 3 year old into it is nothing short of criminal in my mind. The program mentioned that there had been a law passed some time ago imposing an age restriction on Children being involved, but in the usual Thai way it is not enforced, or it has been worked around in some manner.

I would dearly love the chance to get into the ring with the "Mother" for 10 minutes! I accept a lot of things in this Country that go against my Western upbringing, but this example shows a side of this society that verges on the obscene.

[PeteC]

Yes, that goes against my grain as well Nereus. At that age they're not only too young to understand violence, but also to actually understand what sport is. It can't be doing anything positive for their mental or physical development.

Unfortunately, the uneducated Mother probably sees it as a way to break the family out of poverty in the future. It really goes against the traditional Thai way of raising and caring for children so I hope it's not an emerging trend.

I also have a problem with these youngster beauty pagents where as young as a 3 year old can have her life taken away from her by an obsessed Mother who will win at any costs. Those unfortunately happen more in our developed countries than here. Pete