“Complaining about a problem without a solution is called whining,’ is attributed by some to Teddy Roosevelt. As an executive summary, this report will sum up the issue, and will point to solutions, not just whine.
A CBC newscast in Nova Scotia, with anchor Jim Nunn, called the Trailer Park Boys an “awful television program filled with foul-mouthed, dope-smoking, hard-drinking people who gave a very bad impression of the poor who live in trailer parks.”
So said a cite in the Dallas Observer, that also stated, “The recent death of John Dunsworth, the actor who played trailer park supervisor Mr. Lahey on the Canadian comedy series Trailer Park Boys, was a big shock to the show’s legions of fans. It also shocked the show’s stars and creators — John Paul Tremblay, Mike Smith and Robb Wells — who were preparing to begin their annual Dear Santa Claus, Go F#ck Yourself Tour, on which Dunsworth was set to appear.”
“I don’t want to end up drunk and stupid like you,” said a little girl in video clip below. That statement by the character sums up how millions feel after watching the coarse, R rated comedy that takes dead aim at manufactured homes and their residents.
Notice: Viewers of the videos below should be aware that they should do so only if they don’t mind the bad language, and only when they don’t want to be embarrassed by the 4 letter words sprinkled throughout.
Al Kemp, an Example of Action, Not Whining
“Quite frankly,” said Al Kemp, “[the Netflix TV series] Trailer Park Boys did a lot of damage to our industry. Because those who thought trailer parks were full of trailer park trash, had it confirmed by them.”
Kemp, with the Manufactured Home Park Owners Alliance, was cited in the MHLivingNews article, and some of their counter-educational efforts, are linked below.
No Longer “Trailer Trash” – Manufactured Homes are Quality, Affordable Housing – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
Al Kemp, the Executive Director of the Manufactured Home Park Owners Alliance of British Columbia has an important message. ” Trailers haul beer. Manufactured homes provide housing for people.” When talking about them to the public, or to elected officials, that’s the first item that Kemp likes to clear up.
“The opportunity for developing manufactured home communities is incredible. The average vacancy rate in a manufactured home community in British Columbia today is one half of one site, in other words one site in every two parks. People want to live there,” said Kemp.
It’s Not Just Trailer Park Boys, But It Illustrates the Problem
The ManufacturedHomeLivingNews and MHProNews have previously spotlighted the problems such stories create for the image of manufactured homes and their owners.
That in turns negatively influences those who might otherwise consider manufactured homes, given the widely recognized affordable housing crisis.
Trailer Park Boys season 5 Rest in peace John Dunsworth. 1946 – 16th October 2017.
Going to the Root Issues
While the banner of free speech makes stopping such troubled stories difficult, that’s not the same as making it impossible. Kemp and his organization are to be commended for making an effort.
“Decades ago, the N-Word was far more common. It took years, but it became disgraceful in polite society to say the N-Word,” said L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach, consultant, service provider and publisher of MHLivingNews and MHProNews.
At the recent Deadwood conference, L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach told attendees that the time to proclaim manufactured homes and their owners’ respectful acceptance “is the civil rights movement of our time.”
Deadwood, the Manufactured Housing Revolution, and You – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
The sun rose slowly over Deadwood, SD that day. The hills and trees offered cover for a variety of animals, including big horn sheep, and mountain goats. Outside the Inn at Deadwood, the manicured landscaping yielded naturally to the glass doors that welcomed tourists, gamers, and business professionals.
Attendees enthusiastically welcomed his address in Deadwood.
What seems like:
- decades of ignoring bad news and hoping it just goes away, or
- the never-ending search for the quick fix and “silver bullet,”
should have proven to any forward-thinking industry professional that both of those approaches have proven to be poor choices.
The industry has allowed celebrities and politicos to demean the industry in ways that would not be tolerated by Jews, minorities, Muslims, or virtually any other group.
Just as Warren Buffett takes a long-term view, studies issues, and bank on the lessons of history, so too must the solution oriented, independent manufactured home professionals.
Kovach points to examples of actual companies addressing this issue profitably at the local level, successfully.
The Cutting Edge of Manufactured Home Marketing & Sales
Home > Content Marketing, Email Marketing, Events, Internet Marketing, Local Business Marketing, Manufactured Home Marketing, Manufactured Home Sales, Media, Search Engine Optimization, Videos > Dominating Your Local Market, The Manufactured Housing Revolution “Nothing is changed until it is challenged.” – Soheyla Kovach, co-founder of MHProNews.com and MHLivingNews.com.
The Trailer Parks Boys recent loss is personal. Of course, we understand and lift up all those who feel the personal loss of the John Dunsworth, the man. May he rest in peace.
But the harm in terms of the
- loss of self-esteem,
- damage to the proper understanding of modern manufactured homes,
- and its emotional/monetary impact on millions is not easily calculated.
It must also be said that there are several causes. The Trailer Park Boys are just one of them.
But problematic entertainment and news coverage, as Kemp and others have said in the articles linked above, is a reminder that doing nothing, changes nothing.
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