Mars One is BS they are running it like a reality show?

[John W]

If the ratings fail, will the colonists get their next supply shipment?

[Paul]

This quote from their own website:

Mars One is a not-for-profit organization whose goal is to establish a human settlement on Mars through the integration of existing, readily available technologies from industry leaders world-wide. Mars One intends to fund this decade-long endeavor by involving the whole world as the audience of an interactive, reality-style televised broadcast of every aspect of this mission, from the astronaut selections and their preparations to the arrival on Mars and their lives on the Red Planet.

You'll notice their intention is to make it "reality-style televised broadcast", saying they're running it like a reality show isn't a criticism, you're basically saying they're going to do exactly what they set out to do. So what's your problem. It's like you're complaining that they're running "Big Brother" like a reality show. Trying to get the public interested in this stuff and through public donations and advertising investments is a great way to fund such an expensive project - and we're getting some entertainment out of it and hopefully re-kindle public enthuiasm for space.

I'm certain it won't work, but I'd like nothing better than for them to succeed and I wish them well.

[Paula]

In 10 years time (ie 2022) ---

1) they'll have made a small amount of money.
Advertizing revenue (from the TV show) minus the cost of "training" the groups.
Plus donations from interested people ...
Of course they'll need $100 billion and they are likely to have a shortfall of $100 billion.

2) they can "select" a winning group to go to Mars ...

BUT

3) there is no existing technology to send someone to Mars ---
so that part of the venture simply won't happen.
(Even if by some miracle they raised the needed money)

What did you expect ?
You wrote at length expressing your doubts.
The reality is that it will be 2038 at the earliest before any person goes to Mars.

Just let them play their game.

[poldi]

Yes, they're running it like a reality show because THAT'S WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO. I don't understand the problem. That's like complaining that ice cream is cold or soda is fizzy.

You don't have to watch it.