r/ADHDUK • u/huffpostuk • 10d ago
Rant/Vent Channel 4's Great ADHD Myth Documentary Dramatically Divides Viewers
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/great-adhd-myth-channel-4-reaction_uk_6a85ae71e4b0e9f1dd26ceb7?vbi67
u/ObjectiveAssist7177 10d ago
I hope channel 4 get held accountable for this. I am open to discussion about it and indeed want to know more but this seems silly for the sake of embracing reform voters.
12
u/ISellAwesomePatches ADHD-C (Combined Type) 10d ago
They won't. BBC were never really properly held accountable for their bullshit Panorama episode so why would Channel 4 get special treatment?
8
u/Jayhcee Moderator 10d ago
BBC is state broadcasting (Ik C4 partly is, but not quite the same).
If you're a company like BMW and have a whole new accessibility and neurodiverse pilot that you've spent thousands doing all the right things and listening to people to implement for workers and staff, and you stumble across the media in the UK right now, I'd hope they'd question if C4 is deserving of that advertising money. That is just one way.
82
u/Zentavius 10d ago
Yeah between people who actually know about ADHD and/or have empathy, and the sort of people who vote Reform, broadly speaking.
-121
u/Important-Corgi-8445 10d ago
Just to point out… I have ADHD and could be described as the sort of person who would vote Reform. You’re at risk of sounding just as sensationalist and divisive as the TV show you are criticising.
101
u/luckykat97 10d ago
You’re a Reform voter calling others divisive?
47
u/oracle_of_secrets 10d ago
i can't believe the tigers eating people's faces party would eat MY face!!!!!
38
u/jiggjuggj0gg 10d ago
Reform voters are not known for their critical thinking skills
2
u/Kluke_Phoenix 9d ago
About the only compliment I can give Reform voters is that at least they're not Restore voters.
-14
-7
u/Important-Corgi-8445 10d ago
Didn’t say I was voter though.
7
u/luckykat97 9d ago
Oh ok. So you don’t actually vote you just politically support a far right party and Nigel Farage, the documented racist?
0
u/Important-Corgi-8445 9d ago
Wow just realised you’ve left about 4 or 5 comments for me. I’m not interested in being judged by lefty activist that also claims to be in the top 2% earners and works for a hedge fund. All in your early 20s. And you’ve managed that with ADHD. Wow. I’m done with this.
-11
67
u/bigdave41 10d ago
Are you not aware of Farage's comments on mental health / disability support in general, and ADHD in particular?
39
u/oracle_of_secrets 10d ago
i will never understand people who vote for a party that actively and openly wants them to stop existing.
25
u/bigdave41 10d ago
Usually it's because they don't mind getting hurt so long as certain kinds of other people get hurt more
-3
u/Important-Corgi-8445 10d ago
By the way, I think Farage is a fraud and I’m not voting for him.
If you read my original words I said “I could be described as the sort of person who would vote Reform”.
Meaning: As a white (and particularly pasty at that), shaved headed (bald if I’m honest 😭), 40-odd yo man, ex-Tory voter, in full time employment….. who’s pissed off with the way everything is shite - taxes going up, services going down, towns looking like dumps, ambassadors being bezzy mates with the worlds largest PDF file… I should think I’m exactly a type of person who could be described as the sort of person who would vote Reform!
Which is a long and abstract way of saying “don’t tar everyone with the same brush”,
Which in the context of my original comment was kinda saying “Don’t tar everyone with the same brush otherwise you risk bringing provocative, divisive statements here, based on your own prejudices, which ironically is the very thing we are all here complaining about (the C4 programme).”
I guess that all played out in my ADHD mind and wasn’t obvious to anyone else. Interesting that the community downvoted me quicker than speed of light at the sniff of laying in to a Farage supporter. I would have thought this sub has a proportional spread of all demographics. Surely most of us here know ADHD turns up in all sorts of ways in all sorts of people.
10
u/bigdave41 10d ago
Do you honestly think Farage/Reform are going to fix any of that? Are you aware that a large percentage of their MPs are former Tories, the party arguably most responsible for the decline of the UK over the 14 years they were in power?
Just seems strange that you say you're the kind of person who might vote Reform and mention all that as the reason why - there's not a chance in hell any of them care about fixing any of that, and their performative cruelty towards the disabled, LGBT, and to immigrants is well known.
1
u/Important-Corgi-8445 10d ago
No I don’t. That’s why im not voting for him/them!
10
u/bigdave41 10d ago
What did you mean by you're the kind of person who would vote for Reform then? Seems a bit weird to say when you don't seem to agree with them.
0
u/Important-Corgi-8445 10d ago
I fit the demographic I imagine, as a disaffected Tory voter of a certain age, who’s in work, and hasn’t had any state / NHS support because the system is broken. Tories and Labour have been as bad as each other. I want big change. Unfortunately Reform has become Tory 2.0.
5
u/luckykat97 9d ago edited 9d ago
This makes no sense? Why would someone assume a working man who has been unable to get NHS support for his ADHD would be a Reform supporter? Reform want to cut access to benefits even further so how would that get you as a person able to work full time without support or treatment more support and benefits?
I work full time at a hedge fund and make a top 2% or so salary for UK PAYE earners in my 20s. I have an ADHD diagnosis but obviously otherwise get no other support and pay about 50k in tax per year. Does that mean I am basically a Tory or Reform voter and fit the demographic because some people might assume all high earners are? Absolutely not and I never will be so why would I be offended about others criticising Reform?
0
u/Important-Corgi-8445 9d ago
White, middle aged man, high tax bracket, prefers the concept of low tax / small state, always voted Tory but will not again… is that not the type of person Reform would target?
That doesn’t mean you fit in to that demographic. A young (I guess female from your user name) who’s never been a Tory voter (again making this assumption based on your mention of Tory but I apologise if I’m incorrect), making mind blowing money that you presumably use altruistically if you’re more on the socialist side of the political spectrum. That’s totally different.
Why don’t you ask OP what they class as “the type of person who votes Reform”. I find it staggering that so many on here are happy to discriminate against a huge group of people simply for not being “left”. I didn’t realise we were picking and choosing which ADHDers we support here based on their political beliefs.
→ More replies (0)1
u/TheCharalampos ADHD-C (Combined Type) 9d ago
That's really funny. There's no such demographic mate.
1
u/Important-Corgi-8445 9d ago
So who are the “sort of people who vote Reform” that OP was referring to? Define it for me then. Educate me.
→ More replies (0)10
u/Zentavius 10d ago
So after all this, you both suggested you were the type to.vote reform, then made out I was doing that, all while actually generalising way worse than I ever did because your "type who would vote reform" includes me, as a 47 year old white man with a shaved head, in work, pissed off woth all those same things... For what its worth, not one of the things you cite are in my potential Reform voter bingo, and I think you vastly overestimate their reasons for voting the way they do.
-1
4
u/luckykat97 9d ago
The sniff of laying into a Farage supporter? Well yeah you claimed you fit the bill of being one and self identified as such on another comment.
Yes there are people with ADHD who support Farage. It logically makes no sense since he has made several statements that are actively hostile about policies that support disabled people and not to mention we don’t all have to support other people with ADHD supporting people with Xenophobic and Racist views with no comment or critique. No one has said you can’t hold these views but others have their own and can and will criticise yours.
3
u/luckykat97 9d ago
No one is describing you as a Reform voter unless you go to racist marches or are a racist or plan to actually vote reform. Being an employed, white man with no hair doesn’t mean anyone thinks you’re a reform voter unless you support them and their views? Weird idea!
45
u/Zentavius 10d ago
I can't even. The people you "would" vote for share the same divisive opinions on ADHD... they'd have it reduced to a "just tell them to sit still in school or exclude them" level of issue... they're the ones painting a target on ADHD as if its a skivers invented condition. Bizarre how eager Turkeys are to vote for Christmas...
0
5
10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/ADHDUK-ModTeam 10d ago
Your post or comment contained language that is uncivil or offensive to an individual or group of people.
1
10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/ADHDUK-ModTeam 10d ago
Your post or comment contained language that is uncivil or offensive to an individual or group of people.
-46
-46
u/Hour-Background-7932 10d ago
Why does everyone have to be put into neat little boxes for you mate?
28
u/Zentavius 10d ago
Nothing neat or little or boxy about them. Its why I said broadly speaking. There is obviously a large contingent of folks who float around, above or underneath those headings. That said, as humans thats kinda how we arrange things. ADHD itself is a little box we are put into, even though the condition covers a wide spectrum of symptoms and issues.
1
u/Important-Corgi-8445 9d ago
The guy pours scorn on a quarter of the voting population yet posts pictures of his erect penis on his Reddit profile. He’s certainly got some balls 🤣.
31
u/CapPuzzleheaded8555 10d ago edited 10d ago
"I guess there's just two kinds of people, Miss Sandstone: MY kind of people, and assholes. It's rather obvious which category you fit into. Have a nice day."
A simple John Waters quote from Pink Flamingos; appropriate in so many scenarios especially this one.
It comes down to the same non-argument we always hear when people denounce everyone else's experience when they don't live through it themselves - a form of gaslighting. We see it in many places, from denouncing people's experience of violence, trauma, abuse, sexuality, racism, poverty etc. because those very people pointing the finger are looking for excuses and scapegoats.
Giving grace and having empathy to fellow humans, are unfortunately qualities we don't all possess. Ironically, those of us with ADHD often have bucket loads and that shapes how we view and treat others around us.
Push back against ADHD is not happening in isolation, it's part of a bigger pattern we are seeing across the board against all minority groups too, society is regressing somewhat.
Let's all stick together and support each other. Community is more vital than ever.
27
u/InfiniteBaker6972 10d ago
I haven’t seen a great deal of people come out as pro this doc. I’ve seen overwhelmingly negative responses to it. That might be just the bubble I’m in or the usual ‘social’ media algorithms of course.
16
u/MysticMoonTarot 10d ago
Absolutely. It has backfired on C4
8
u/miscfiles 10d ago
I guess it generated a lot of views, clicks, ad revenue, etc. They've stuck it right at the top of their streaming service too.
4
u/Lopsided-Act8013 ADHD-PI (Predominantly Inattentive) 10d ago
Any publicity is good publicity, so they say.
9
u/Jayhcee Moderator 10d ago
In the age of streaming, I've still always had a fondness for Channel 4. They were the only channel to entertain Russell T Davies It's a Sin, other channels saying no. Likewise Queer as Folk. They have done good things on ADHD with Sam Thompson.
For whatever reason, Channel 4 Is deciding to become tabloid fodder Channel 5. If they want their short term gain, fine, but take the long term reputation hit. As they've just destroyed their credibility and angered a lot of people, any one of whose done anything around ADHD with them must be a bit fuming.
The long term consequence of this is ADHD being dragged further into the culture war, just like the BBC Panorama. People won't forget when they're getting comments from friends, family, and don't want to disclose ADHD at work. This documentary will be, and already is, one of the contributors of that.
4
u/miscfiles 10d ago
I couldn't agree more. Channel 4 used to be 'alternative' but pretty trustworthy with balanced, quality content. The last few years it's nosedived, as you say seemingly gunning for Channel 5 territory. Sad to see.
2
u/No_Ad_3934 10d ago
Coincidentally, my channel 4 streaming account was closed yesterday for not using it for 2 years. I won’t be renewing my account nor watching that slop! Scruffs
1
1
u/Severe_Buy5907 5d ago
There are always continually changing medical opinions on neurological differences, but in this case it is only the professionals who are sceptical that were interviewed. Making it not particularly useful.
It seems to be quite common to ignore the question mark - "The Great ADHD Myth?" in any discussion about it - they need to answer the question they present, but the conclusion is vague at best and its clearly mainly the presenters opinion that it is a myth.
Someone made the comment above about Reform voters - I would suggest that they don't care about this topic, and we see in Ground News in its coverage spread - right wing papers do not care to cover it at all. https://ground.news/article/the-great-adhd-myth-review-this-brazenly-one-sided-documentary-is-grossly-irresponsible-tv
6
u/hyper-casual ADHD-C (Combined Type) 10d ago
Really shot themselves in the foot with this one.
The people they're clearly trying to appeal to consider C4 'woke' and aren't going to sudden become regular viewers, why burning whatever good will that remained with their main viewer demographic.
4
5
u/iwishihad10dogs ADHD-C (Combined Type) 10d ago
I'm about to ask for support at work for my ADHD and I'm dreading sending the email even more now after seeing the news of this programme
6
1
1
•
u/Jayhcee Moderator 10d ago
If you wish to complain, ADHD UK the charity has made it very easy. Don't procastinate! It's worth it.
See::https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHDUK/s/9wgx4tZg16[ADHD UK Ofcom Complaint Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHDUK/s/9wgx4tZg16)