Reality TV - Recipe for demoralizing a nation

Reality Television I am utterly convinced that there is no hope for humanity. In fact, it would be safe to say that I am a self-proclaimed misanthropist. Yup. I am actually ashamed to be a member of the human race. Sad, huh? I wasn’t always so cynical. In fact, there was a time when I really subscribed to the mostly eastern based teachings that we create our own reality with our unconscious intentions, and that happiness is a choice. That we must “be the change we wish to see in the world” and that suffering can be conquered through mind over matter and meditation and right living. Yeah, I believed all that once. I have since moved on. The truth of the matter is, the world sucks. Government sucks, capitalism sucks, oppression sucks, freedom sucks, money sucks, war sucks, religion sucks, television sucks, radio sucks, you suck and I suck. It all sucks. What wretched, unspeakable trauma could have scarred me so irreparably, causing me to completely abandon my once optimistic outlook, one might ask. The answer is simple: Reality Television. Shows like ‘Survivor’ and ‘Temptation Island’ have served as the catalyst for my total loss of anything even remotely resembling faith in humanity. If it had stopped there, perhaps there may have been some hope for the restoration of my faith. But no. Now everybody (and their fathers) has been/is going to be/wishes they were cool enough to be on a reality TV show. Everybody else watches them. All of them. From “Who wants to marry my DOG” to “Survivor-LEVINWORTH” , every time I turn around there is another disgusting demonstration of the average national IQ in the form of a new ‘reality show’ . I used to believe that soap operas were the worst thing on television. Then came exploitative talk shows (i.e., Morton Downey, Jr., Jerry Springer, Jenny Jones, etc.), and the soaps fell into second place on my list of broadcast atrocities . Once competitive dating shows, the content of which is reminiscent of jr. high school popularity contests, began amassing (i.e., Elimidate, Change of Heart, The Fifth Wheel, etc.), it became evident that there was no merit whatsoever in daytime television. I was, at least, thankful that the majority of these programs was televised during the hours when our children are in school and most Americans with triple digit IQs are at work. In regards to my disgust with the popularity of this type of programming, I found additional comfort in the knowledge that it targeted a specific demo graph which, though alarmingly large, did not account for the entire country. Of course, someone fixed that. And how. Someone devised a recipe for utter saturation of trash culture in America: Combine the lust and deceit laden, cliffhanging melodrama of the soaps, the self-mocking satire and shock-drama of exploitative talk shows, and the superficial, egomaniacal competition of dating shows. Shake well. Add stylists. Preheat networks to 8:00 pm. BROADCAST DURING PRIMETIME. Voila! Instant demoralization of an ENTIRE NATION. (serves 270 million) The popularity of reality shows is a beautiful example of everything that is wrong with the world. We worship ego, glorify competition, and prioritize outer-beauty over inner-peace. The entertainment value of these shows lies not in cheering for the “winners”, but in jeering at the “losers”. Any semblance of moralistic values is lost. Shows like, “Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire” and “For Love or Money” serve only to strengthen the misconception that marriage has nothing to do with love. In fact, the opposite message is sent: look for and rely on all things superficial when choosing a mate; it’s not only ok to “marry for money”, it’s encouraged! Outer beauty and a rich husband are the goals each girl should have. And then there’s all the weight loss shows… shows like, “The Biggest Loser”, and “Dance Your Ass Off” are really al about nationally public humiliation… Let’s face it: reality shows promote deception and all but denounce values like love, honesty, integrity… I could go on, but what’s the point? The damage is done. As I alluded to at the beginning of this diatribe, I no longer believe there is any hope for the salvation of humanity. I used to want to save the world, then I just wanted to help change it. Now I just want to leave it. If anybody reading this is planning a trip to another galaxy anytime soon, can I hitch a ride? -Gina Paiano 2009