Reality Television

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have had to sit down and watch a few reality television shows in my time. I understand that reality tv has become part of our pop culture (thanks MTV) but there are a few issues that I want to address:

1) What is so interesting about seeing people yelling and cussing at each other? I understand that the days of Beaver Cleaver are long gone, but we are what we watch. We already had talk shows like Jerry Springer for this trash. Why bring it to prime time?

2) Television has a way of shaping people. As a teacher I see students trying hard to re-enact what they see on tv. Just tonight on Big Brother I watched a guy who was apparently auditioning for a career in muscle building, sporting a wife beater no less, yell at a girl who cussed right back at him like she was a sailor fresh in from months away from civilization. My students think that it is okay to settle disputes in such a manner because their role models on tv are paving the way. Imagine how hard it is for a teacher to reverse what they have learned! To teach men to value women (not as objects of any kind) and teach women the meaning of the word GRACE!

3) I don't get the constant interviews. These people on these reality tv shows are not important members of society, and I can't seriously believe that people give a rat's butt about what is on their minds. Despite this, "Dope Boy" may get into an argument with "Diva Wannabe" most of which is bleeped out so you can't understand it even the root of the conversation, just that they have a great distaste for each other. Immediately following this argument, they interview "Dope Boy" who uses this opportunity to act all big and bad. Of course the only way you know that he's doing this is from his body language because eight out of every ten words are, you guessed it, bleeped out. That's really interesting. Honestly?

4) Having very little positive to say about some of the crap that's on tv, I will say that there are some reality shows that are positive in nature. That is to say that they don't make their money off of hiring a psychologist who will then put fifteen people together who have fifteen different belief systems, all of which contradict each other. It's like tossing a match into a warehouse full of dynamite. The following is a short list of reality shows that try to either make dreams come true, or at least try to focus on the positive aspects of life, like love.

-American Idol
-The Bachelor/Bachelorette
-18 Kids and Counting
- Extreme Home Makeover

I tried to think of others but couldn't. Maybe you can think of some other positive and uplifting reality shows, or maybe you differ in your opinion. Love to hear from you. This could be an interesting debate. Educate me.