> This blogger is acting like traditional network television has never mentally tortured people for our viewing pleasure. Have they never seen an episode of Hell's Kitchen, Dr Phil, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or Big Brother? Basically the entire reality TV genre is based on that premise.

There's also this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasubi#Denpa_Sh%C5%8Dnen_teki_...

Although I guess Japan has always sort of been in a league on its own when it comes to questionable TV show premises.

That's definitely the show that came to mind when it comes to the depravity of torturing the victims for a pittance.

What a truly tragic story...

Contestants on the reality TV show "The Island with Bear Grylls" get lightly starved. And if you get to the final round of "SAS: Who Dares Wins" you get to be lightly tortured (kept awake, loud music, people shouting at you, bound, blindfolded..). (But they do have medics on hand at least...)

The show "Alone" is pretty much a starving contest. In recent years contestants have started packing on weight prior to filming so they can rely more on fat stores when their food supply dwindles. Typically one or two contestants a season get pulled for medical reasons due to excessive weight loss.

Also radio. In 2007, Jennifer Strange died after drinking 2 gallons of water, in response to a KDND morning show that ran a contest called "Hold your wee for a Wii".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

Fox had a reality shoe where they just tortured people for money.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitary_(TV_series)

And a lot of people look at these "torture" situations as a battle of wills. Nobody is truly being tortured and they aren't really in a dangerous situation (generally). Fear factor is a mix of scary and disgusting, with an audience watching and thinking, "yes, no, yes, not for all the money in the world, maybe, yes".

Mr Beast isn't exactly "bum fights".

The Chamber? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chamber_(game_show)

If you want to watch an episode, check this out on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_FiahUZsxs

Solitary confinement is "truly torture". https://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-solitary-nation-show/

Solitary confinement isn't voluntary.

The Chamber (which is almost literally torture) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chamber_(game_show)

If you want to watch an episode, check this out on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_FiahUZsxs

and only for the chance of winning $50k

Lower stakes might be a good thing.

I think a high payout could push some people to significant psychological harm.

it’s just not at all worth that much money to put yourself through this awful torture. how long will $50k last you in the US? it’s ridiculous. the person who voiced the “AI” was probably paid more

It’s a contest so people are going to be willing to endure more torture the larger the prize. One self limiting option might be to pay per day and decrease the amount every day split amount the remaining contestants.

The author doesn’t seem to ignore that at all. They simply point out that those more traditional venues have some built in guard rails.

Those aren't that bad, for the extreme you have to thank Fox for "The Chamber" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chamber_(game_show) which pretty much was literal tourture..

You had to answer trivia questions under extreme cold/hot conditions, with electroshock and wind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_FiahUZsxs&t=1667s

Yeah, something like Naked and Afraid is way worse than what Mr. Beast did here.