This one came in the inbox for all of the moderators for this
list, and it made me smile. Sometimes I think that people
don't read very carefully, but you be the judge ...


> Dear List Owner,


> I am a Casting Producer for ABC Television's hit reality
> show, Wife Swap. I was doing research on Burning Man and
> came across your yahoo group. We are looking for a spiritual,
> free-thinking, open-minded family for an upcoming episode
> and I thought it wouldn't hurt to contact you. I was hoping
> you might be able to pass my information throughout your
> community to see if anyone is interested in speaking to
> me further about this opportunity.


Yes, because when you think of Burning Man, you think of
family. And what kind of spiritual experience would we be
having if we took part?


> In case you are unfamiliar with our show, we take two
> different families and have the mom's switch lives for
> a week to experience how another family lives. We
> focus on the learning/teaching experience. It's a
> life changing experience for all who are involved.


I'll bet it would be, especially around bedtime. Any chance
of getting Mira Sorvino in the swap?


> Requirements for the show are that you must be a two
> parent family with at least one child between the ages
> of 6 and 17 living at home. Families who appear on the
> show receive $20,000. If you refer a family that appears
> on the show, we give you $1,000 as a thank you for your
> great referral.


Which would make me the ... ahem ... procurer?


> I hope that you will help me in my search and welcome
> any questions you might have for me. I know this is
> an odd request but I appreciate you taking the time
> to read this. If you can help me, let me know.
> Again, thank you so much for your time.


Oh, you're quite welcome. I wonder if somebody knew that
she was writing to the mods for what is mostly a Conservative
mailing list. Aside from the obvious jokes about taking
the swap further than intended ... please, somebody tell me
that they don't take it that far ... What kind of mother
would just turn her children over to another woman just
for the sake of having an experience and a little cash, and
what kind of father would be comfortable with this? What
does the thought of this do to the kids? That their parents
would just randomly entrust them to the care of a stranger?

Jokes about assembling a fake family so that I could live
out the above fantasy not withstanding, I think that this
just sounds wrong, and I suspect that almost everybody on
the list would agree, but make your own choices. I am
not going to do the Big Brother thing and withhold information
from people in order to get them to go along with my views.
For those who want it, the correspondant's information is
below, and feel free to speak up about why on earth you'd
ever consider doing such a thing. I'm sure that many would
be curious about that.


> Kirstin Dodich

> Casting Producer

> ABC Television Wife Swap

> 440 9th Ave., 11th Floor

> New York, NY 10001

> 212-404-1418



Antistoicus