Posted on March 13, 2008 by Kathy McManus in All, Ethics, Media, TV Comments (36)
Moment of Truth
Many people tell the truth because it’s the responsible thing to do.
But should you ever tell the truth because it’s a lucrative thing to do?
Contestants on the controversial new TV show Moment of Truth say yes, motivated by the chance to win $500,000 in exchange for performing a kind of moral striptease in front of their families, spouses, and ultimately, millions of riveted viewers.
The show uses a lie detector test to gauge the truthfulness of a contestant’s answers to 21 uncomfortable questions, the most benign of which go something like this:
Have you ever lied to get a job?
Do you find any of your spouse’s friends attractive?
Do you really care about starving children in Africa?
Each set of truthfully answered questions moves the contestant one step closer to winning the $500,000. A false answer immediately ends the game—and negates all money won. But the big bucks can only be had by truthful replies to a series of intrusive and explosive questions, like those asked of a recent contestant, 26 year-old Lauren Cleri.
Ms. Cleri arrived at the $100,000 level by having honestly answered “yes” to being fired from a job for stealing money, preferring to give food to a dog rather than a homeless person, and feigning sleep to avoid her husband.
The next question was delivered by a surprise guest, Ms. Cleri’s ex-boyfriend, who asked her, “Do you believe I’m the man you should be married to?” With her shocked parents and husband tensely sharing the same TV stage with her, Ms. Cleri answered “yes.” Then: Had Ms. Cleri cheated on her husband? “I’m going to have to say yes,” she said, as her husband buried his face in his hands.
With her marriage disassembling on national television, Ms. Cleri was asked, “Do you think you’re a good person?” Her answer: “Yes.”
No.
According to the lie detector, Ms. Cleri’s answer was false, meaning she didn’t think she was a good person. The game was over—and perhaps the marriage as well.
After the highly-rated show, a reporter posed a question to the show’s executive producer: “When ‘Moment of Truth’ has perhaps busted up a marriage, is the show responsible?”
“I don’t know,” the producer replied, before shifting responsibility to Ms. Cleri. “She’s the one answering the questions.”
Tell us what you think—is “Moment of Truth” irresponsible? Or irresistible?
Comments (36)
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selfish
I have to ask myself if this whole thing was staged. How did they know about the ex? Some people will do anything for money. If this was not staged, she is an incredibly selfish person. I hope she doesn’t have kids! The show is not responsible for her actions.
moment of truth
honesty is always the best policy period.
when married and you feel like cheating on spouse you communicate those feeling.If they can not help you in some way you move on..Why live lies life is short..No one is all good or all bad..Its a yin yang dance baby.
Way to go Girl!!!
I don’t think she was selfish at all. I would’ve done the same thing she did. If your not doing it for the money there is no reason to lose anything. She had to tell her husband upfront what to expect and what questions they asked her. She and him are still together so what does it matter. I want to go on the show just for the money and publicity.
You've got to be kidding
This is worse than American Idol and being the worst singer in the world and thinking no one will notice. Your exactly right – she knew what she was doing and her family knew what she was doing and it was for money. Point fingers all you want but with the dwidling economy and housing foreclosures being at its highest, people are trying to improve their lives. And if that means 5 minutes of fame or humiliation for half a million dollars, well the money will usually out last the fame of anyone remembering what you’ve done.
C. Anderson
I too agree that the economy is not at its best right now. However, I would not sell my soul to the devil for any amount of money. Ms. Cleri, like all others that have come onto the show, truly feel they have winning potential to make it to the end. Some hosts know when to take the money and run with a minimal amount of damage done to their lives while others risk it all. Call me a coward, but I am not willing to risk it all. I am not willing to go onto a game show that forces truths to come out that is better left where they are. I cannot see the value to human health or growth potential of a game show of this type. If people refuse to participate a game show like this will go away until something better replaces it. I actually like shows where people come out winners, and the odds are not stacked against them from the beginning.
Moment of Truth
Ms. Cleri caught a tough break on the the game show “the moment of truth.” However, most people know the deeds they have performed in this life. If they chose to conceal or delete those parts of their lives then they run the risk of a game show like this devouring them. Ms. Cleri knew the risk of such a game show and still decided to take her chances monetarily (irresistable) not thinking about what might hurt others (irresponsible). The producers of “moment of truth” perhaps feel if you are caught in an uncompromising moment(s) that’s your fault for coming on to our show, and if you make it to the end you will be given what we promised, and if not suck it up and move on.
We now live in an era where anything and everything goes, and that is unfortunate for both the producers of such a show and the contestants whose lives become demolished behind thier decisions to come on the show.
moment of truth
she needs love not money
OPEN TRUTH
I would not even consider being on such a game show. I would have to believe the damages far exceed the money. Admit to any wrong doing; I believe; could bring about criminal, civil, and or marital dissolve!!
If I admit to stealing while employed, current or past, can charges be brought or be fired. If I admit to a civil wrong, can I be prosecuted? If I admit to having sexual relations with someone other than my spouse, will I be in Divorce Court.
If I was a employer, I would fire this person,or civil proceedings. As I’m married, I would bring divorce proceedings, using the tape of the show as evidence. A show like this cannot be called entertainment in the truest form. I would like to know what happens to these people after admitting to all these truths. How it has effected their lives?
Looking for the right person
Maybe this game is looking for the person who really likes to be honest and feels like they maybe could be deserving of the money. After all, what’s wrong with being honest from the beginning?
On the other hand
On the other hand there was the gentleman who, when asked if he would ever consider cheating on his wife, even if he knew he would never be caught, replied “No.” and it was true.
What people choose to do in their lives affects what truths they tell on the show. She knew what questions had been asked, and could have told her husband. At the same time, if I had been asked these questions, I would not have embarrassed my husband by still going on the show. But the show isn’t responsible. They’re a little greedy (so far as ratings go), but they aren’t responsible for the loss of her marriage. They didn’t cheat on her husband, and they didn’t marry a man they didn’t love.
If anything, these two people should thank the show that they didn’t have to keep living a lie for fifteen or twenty more years before it all broke down anyway. At least now it’s all out in the open, and they can decide what to do about it together.
Pathetic
I believe, for one, that “the Moment of Truth” is a pathetic and degrading television show. The people who put their marriages and interpersonal relationships on the line are so desperate for money that they will let nothing get in their way. Perhaps these people want a divorce and want to earn some money in the process?
Ingenious
I think it’s almost better than Deal or No Deal! It’s a win-win situation. It should be thought out before the person applies for the show. People aren’t forced to go on this are they? I agree with the comment about saving everyone 15 or 20 years of living a lie. I wished someone I know and love had told me the truth years ago. Maybe I can get him on there!! I’d want half the money.
dignity?
I do not understand this sick pleasure people get from watching someone make a fool of themselves on TV. I don’t find any of these trashy, tabloid shows even remotely entertaining. These shows are just more examples of the decay of morals in this country.
There is a time to lie
Ahem… I wonder when we lost sight of the value of white lies. I don’t know if this scenario was staged or was “real” … whatever that means. But it brings to mind the Monica Lewinsky mess. Pardon me, but when a person cheats on their spouse, are they then required to humiliate and destroy them publicy as well??
We will have to stand on a similar trial before Go
I never thought about this issue, never seeing the show. I think that a good Christian will do well in such a show. We must live like Jesus, and never forget that all our hidden deeds WILL be made public on that day! As for the show being responsible, I think they are partly to blame for framing the questions, but ultimately its the people that go on the show, if you don’t have a clean life, don’t go there. Truth will ultimately prevail, and we must stand by it, but messing with the deepest human thoughts publicly doesn’t seem right.
God Fearing vs. Good Manners
My Dear Cyber friend Viktor, I respect your passion for religion. I am not particularly religious, but I do believe in a higher order .. if you will. I think it’s this “will” that drives us to have laws to protect each other from primitive natural instincts. Without these laws we might think it’s ok to bonk someone on the head because we “honestly” don’t like the look of them. So God willing or God fearing, we have decided on a moral order in a civil society. And as different as I imagine you and I are, I believe we agree on this issue. It was wrong for the person to have an affair – and doubly wrong to admit to it for money on television and destroy her husband. I’d say the latter is worse than the affair itself. Would you agree? ~Sue
The laws exist regardless of our consent
Those laws weren’t created by us, we could not come up with them. They were given us by God at birth = conscience, and written in the Bible. A little child feels guilty when he/she steals cookies, knowing that its bad, regardless if he/she gets caught! Many criminals (murderers) came and turned themselves in to the police because their conscience accused them and became unbearable, even though there was no way to find out! The existence of these laws outside the common consent or society is sure.
Hitler and the whole German society decided at one point that Jews are subhuman, and therefore they need to be killed. We know that above the laws of a country, is the higher law of God. That’s what the founders fought for.
I think that the act of cheating is worse than the truthful admission to it, and all because one day it will be brought to light for the whole world to see.
to viktor
i posted a comment along the same lines and did not read yours till after. Strange how some of us think this way and then some of the very guilty or afraid to admit of their faith in god and jesus think that show is awful, because they don’t believe or just have no direction
accountable
I don’t see how anyone could hold the show responsible. I have only watched the show a few times but i did see the episode mentioned above. The women new what she was getting into before she even sat in the chair. You can not blame a television show for breaking up a marriage. All you can fault the show for is making her tell the truth and seriously why is that such a bad thing? Hopefully this has taught her a little bit of responsibility and to hold herself accountable for her actions. A lesson that everyone could benefit from…… melissa
Sometimes the truth does hurt.
If I said your baby was ugly, would it be OK because I was telling the truth? Of course not! (OK, there’s really no such thing as an ugly baby but you know what I mean.) This is a stupid show, and we certainly don’t need MORE marriages to break up because of greed. I choose NOT to watch the show because I don’t want to encourage advertisers to support this show with their dollars. BOYCOTT! You think I’m kidding?
Truth or lie
A lie isn’t a lie until it is spoken. My response to your comment about an ugly, well, the other option would have been to keep comments to yourself. It’s your opinion, not fact. The show is based on facts isn’t it? So there is a bit of difference!
Choices
The show is not responsible. That’s like saying a gun is responsible for killing people. The show is just a tool to allow people to destroy themselves so other people can get rich. The people who participate on the show deserve to be destroyed because they are willing to embarrass themselves, their family and friends – for money.
Everything we do is choice – including telling the truth. What is really dumb is she wasn’t honest about being a bad person. Why would she care what people thought of her at that point? What basis of comparison was she holding herself up to, to think she was a good person after admitting to all of those wrong doings? President Bush? She deserved everything she got – including, leaving the stage penniless.
wow...
It was her recklessness that ended her marriage, not the show. Granted, the show masquerades greed for ratings as a need to reveal truth in a society full of lies. But, from my understanding, the questions are compiled by familiar people to the contestant, who answers them before the show is filmed and that’s how they compare the answers for true and false. The show producers simply pick some questions out of the longer list that was previously answered. With that being said, she knew very well what she was risking and thought she would be slick about it. She either should have known when to stop with the questions OR knowing that she has led a questionable life, abstained from the show altogether. She should perhaps have addressed the questions she answered in the pre-exam to her husband before the show. Now some people, who prefer brutal honesty and have nothing to lose, would do well to take half a million from the show and teach THEM (the producers) a lesson for trying to capitalize on the everyday person’s economic difficulties.
Irresistible
In my opinion, all contestants going on the show know what is or could be at stake. I think if you look at the overall picture, most of the time lies do surface and for what better reason? Also, a good deal! Sorry for the pun! You should try not to tell a lie in the beginning, especially a lie to deceive, betray, etc. These would be the questions that the contestant would be on the hot seat for answering – the things that might come up to make want to lie and then lose. I wouldn’t be in the hot seat if I knew beyond the shadow of doubt that a lie I told way back when could be worse than losing and embarrassed to tears bring out my skeletons! Come out; come out, wherever you are!
What would the show be responsible for?
Or responsible TO for that matter? If I ask a straightforward question, and get an answer I don’t want to hear, then where does the fault lie? With me, and my expectations? Or the one that gives the answer? When the premise of the show is that a contestant will be grilled while hooked up to a lie detector, then one should be prepared to hear truth, pleasant or otherwise. My daughter’s comment on this show was that if she were to go on as a contestant, she would let us know, and that we might not wish to hear the things she said. That is part of the situation, isn’t it? The truth will be told, one way or another, so if you don’t want to know, don’t watch the show…which is what I do. Bad enough that some shows consist of What Grotesque Thing Are You Willing To Eat For $50,000… this is a low point in television programming
Does it matter?
Why is everybody so uptight? I don’t get it! If someone wants to tell about their sex life on national television, let them. It’s their decision. If they can live with that, then I’m not going to stop them.
Leaving a comment.
Being a newly retired school teacher 25 years 5 months, it is amazing to me when the subjects consent to a lie detector test and when it is known that either person is asked questions about each other, I think it is evident both parties know the answer but do not want to admit it to themselves.
Sure it is a game show, but I believe they know most of the answers however strong they might be. Marriage is a two way commitment,and when one person breaks that bond, well it makes you think about the vows they had taken.. My own opinion is to expect whatever comes out either good or bad to realize the outcome. Quite a few relationships could be saved before something might happen to break them up.Thank You.
dumb show
Did you know after they answer the 50 questions the show is taped two weeks later so the questions should come as no surprise. I would assume they are discussed at length before taping
Stupid
This is the worst show I’ve ever seen on tv and I am 56.
Did you know after they answer the 50 questions the show is taped two weeks later? The questions should come as no surprise. I assume they are discussed at length before taping.
Drunk Driver question
I feel that the drunk driver coming on was a complete joke; if he was not drunk then he would have stuck around to see how the “kid” was doing and not just wondered how he was. Not only that but who runs over a kid and drives away especially if they are completely sober!!! What a LOSER and if he was serious then his face should have been shown on national TV for the whole world to see!! It was VERY DISAPPOINTING at the outcome of that one because I feel he was drunk.
Moment of Truth
We like the show. Our whole family agrees that it is condescending.
The way you keep repeating the same question before each commercial and repeating it when you return from said commercial it is demeaning. Why do you ask 3 questions and go to commercial? It’s so predictable.
Get on with the show – we’re not stupid but you make it seem like the general public is it would be a better show if you just went with like 5 questions and then to commercial. I predict that this show won’t make it to the next season due to these reasons. Don’t waste our time repeating the questions s during commercial. Give us a break and get on with the show!
Dave
A polygraph examiner
I am a polygraph examiner. The questions that are asked of these contestants, especially, “do you think you are a good person?”, are not proper polygraph questions. The polygraph is used to resolve issues of fact. Did something happen or did it not. You cannot ask questions about thoughts, feelings, or future behavior.
The producers of this show have found an idiot to perform these tests for the show. The people who have volunteered to take the tests are being tricked into making horrible, life changing, admissions in the hopes of receiving large amounts of money. When they get close to a big number, then out comes an improper question that eliminates them.
All of these contestants should find themselves a lawyer and sue the producers for fraud.
Up Date.
My Wife and I enjoy your program more than any of the other ones on Television, BUT, the Update ruins the whole show, we do not wish to see the Updates, it only takes time away from the program.
moment of truth
This show is responsible (as are many other shows) for the decline of this country’s declining morality. What I don’t understand is if these contestants know what questions they are going to be asked and they get to a level where they’ve screwed themselves, then why stop. You might as well go for the big money, if you’re going to blow everything else. I also find it odd that every episode I’ve seen ends right at the end of the hour.
good person?
I saw that show. What I couldn’t figure out is…why would she lie on the question if she is a good person or not. That is such an opinionated answer that most people change their mind about themselves about all the time. I don’t think a question like that should even be allowed.good morning
As for who is responsible…the contestants are responsible. You’ve seen the show, you sign up for the show, you know what to expect, you know what you’ve done in the past. Why would the show be at fault?
Maybe at fault in poor taste…but then again…I was watching..so I am too at fault for giving the show the ratings to continue.
waiting for the backlash
I can’t stand any of this so-called “reality” television, when people are placed in completely unreal situations that one never actually encounters in reality. I avoid the genre at all costs, and am waiting (it’s been a long time now!) for there to be a backlash against the large portion of tripe that now passes as entertainment in the US and other countries.
This particular program sounds absolutely contemptible, and I will never understand anyone’s wish to participate in it, nor the wish to view it…it sounds as though it must be like staring at accident victims—yet this is no accident. I can’t summon a great deal of sympathy for someone who chooses to appear on it, but I despair of this country when a program like this merits high viewership. Where are we headed?
Meanwhile, I’ll be watching DVDs of Green Acres an dThe Mary Tyler Moore Show (and no, I am not old enough to have seen them when they first aired—I just know what I like).