If you could ask someone anything, what would you ask?
Nothing offensive, of course. You don’t want anyone thinking you’re an asshole.
But what if your question was anonymous? Would that change things?
Listen: Rosie Waterland and Laura Brodnik talk about the questions you should never ask. Post continues below.
The ABC has launched a show called You Can’t Ask That that we watched, mouth agape. The show sees Australians anonymously asking their burning questions, and nothing is off limits.
“Why are you so fat?”
“Is every sexual experience an orgy?”
“Is dwarf-tossing okay?”
'Oh my god Karen, you can't just ask someone why they're white.' Source: Paramount Pictures
According to the ABC, this show is about breaking down stereotypes for members of marginalised communities. But to do that, it first gathers some of the most prejudiced and narrow-minded Australians it can find to serve up those stereotypes in a straight-to-the-point, no bullshit manner.
You ask, they tell.
So does this show prove just how ignorant Australians are?
After all, Aussies do have a reputation for casual racism...
Post continues below video.
On The Binge this week, Rosie Waterland says it fosters understanding. Yes, the questions are often prejudiced and sometimes naive, but they are also funny. And compassionate.
They're the questions you wonder about, but are too afraid to ask. Her take is, it's a brilliant show.
So far the show has featured sex workers, Muslims, short-statured people, wheelchair users and members of the indigenous community.
The questions have been confronting, but the answers have been even more illuminating.
Many of the questions left Rosie wondering, "how could you have such an ignorant question?"
But it turns out, tonnes of people were wondering the same thing. And now the show is fighting ignorance with education.
So hold up, does that mean it's okay to ask a stranger in the street why they're fat? Or why Muslim men don't have to cover up?
Err, we recommend erring on the side of caution on that one. Watch the show on ABC or iview, and you'll get all the answers.
For all the TV shows you should be watching, subscribe to The Binge in your podcast app or in iTunes. Listen to the full episode here:
Top Comments
My new favourite show! I've only seen the wheelchair episode so far but looking forward to catching up on the rest. Lots of cringeworthy questions but funny and thoughtful answers, and I have to admit there was a couple of questions in there that I had wondered about...
I watched last weeks episode about people in wheelchairs, and it was actually fascinating. I thought it might have been a bit cringey and uncomfortable, but everybody was just very honest and upfront, and I think they understood why people would ask the questions. Looking forward to more!
I really liked it to. It was also interesting that not all of the people agreed with each other. I thought the answers around access toilets were interesting. I had never thought about the fact that it is harder for some wheelchair users, depending on their disability, to hold on and if that often there's only a couple of access toilets available. I thought it was just about having greater space. I think that too often the media de-humanises people and I found that this show humanises. It also shows the viewer that you don't know as much as you think you do. I found myself feeling quite ignorant, yet I consider myself to be a pretty educated person. I think that we need to feel ignorant to remind ourselves not to rush into judgements about other people. You have 2 ears which means that you should listen twice as much as you talk.