Reality Shams

            Life tends to change as we grow from a child to a more adult version of that child we once were. With this growth come changes to our surroundings, our likes and dislikes, our friends, and our opinions that we develop over every little detail in the fabric of our daily lives. I am guilty of these changes as is just about everyone that is reading this blog. I used to want to be part of the “trend” or involved in what’s happening in the now when I was younger; however, if that “trend” or what’s-happening-now mentality means joining in on the perpetually growing reality TV show wagon, then I would rather stay in the solitary confinement that I call my bedroom and mind. That being said, I definitely do not like these television shows one bit. I can’t say that I've never watched or even enjoyed at least one episode of these brain cell killers; in fact, if I had to choose any, I would probably choose a select few of the reality shows on any of the science-based TV channels. My opinion could simply be biased due to my love for science, but I do believe that these science-related reality shows give at least some general idea of what life would be like in certain lifestyles or cultures. Nevertheless, I still commit myself to the idea of staying away from any and all reality TV shows as a way to preserve my own ability to form uncorrupted views of the outside world.

            Although I’m sure there are some perks (in some way, shape, or form) to watching reality shows, it is still unavoidable to realize how “fake” the situations they land themselves in seem. I have never been able to buy into the ability of the directors and camera crew to record the most organically perfect scene to entertain or inform the viewer. Along with their “perfect scenes,” I also find it hard to believe that the conversations that the cast has among themselves are somehow capable of being so relevant to the whole idea of the show or to what the viewer could or could not be thinking at that moment. Although these dislikes could be me reading too far in between the lines, there are also other little things like in any of the MTV reality shows that really digs under my skin. These can be things such as the voices of the cast, the constant partying, the tolerance for abusive drug use, and etc.

It’s not so much so the idea of reality TV Shows that disgust me; rather, it is the horrifying scripts and conjured up situations that they try to pass on as reality alongside the unjustifiable behavior. I can’t remember the last time I turned on a television without coming across a reality show on just about any channel. It is almost as if we have been brainwashed to believe that that is how life should truly be lived, the way the Jersey Shore cast and the Teen Mom cast portray their everyday lives to be. Of course, there is a stressfully long list of reality TV shows to choose from besides Jersey Shore and Teen Mom; however, just how many of those are actually good at giving a concrete understanding of what life truly is in certain situations and living conditions? Or even providing a good example for those of us that do watch these shows, especially the younger generations? We seem to blame just about anything else like video games or music preference for the behavior that our children are developing as they grow up instead of looking at what could possibly one of the main reasons for these behaviors. As stated in an article on www.dailymail.co.uk, “MTV reality shows like Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant have come under fire for normalizing teenage parenthood,” it is more than obvious that the younger portion of our society has fallen victim to the entertainment business’ negligence, yet a good amount of parents do little to nothing to correct or help what could result in future problems. The entertainment business thrives on romanticizing the idea that fueling the ever-growing dumbing down of society is tolerable because young teenagers or just being young teenagers. But just how far are we willing to allow the “future leaders” of our country and world fall victim to such bad role models?

Reporter, Daily Mail. "'Teen Mom Epidemic': NINETY Teenage Girls Pregnant at One High School." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 14 Jan. 2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.