It's hard to blame reality television stars or their producers for what they do. They are just smart entrepreneurs who improvise and market whatever skills and assets they have, to earn a lot of money and fame in a very short time. So then, who's to blame really, for the shockingly low standards of entertainment quality that exist today?
Reality television shows have hit a whole new level of absurdity. These days, they make reality TV shows out of pretty much everyone and every life circumstance. The continued success and popularity of these shows depend on the reception from a huge following of viewers. A generation of intellectually inferior human beings who need to feed on the drama of other's lives to get by in their own (un-stimulating) lives, are in the making.
Here are a few prime examples:
"19 Kids and Counting" - follows the drama of a family with nineteen children. Believe it or not, they are in Season 10 now.
The planet is facing a crisis, heavily pressured by exploitation of natural resources to feed and sustain a growing human population. What a crying shame - that too, to feed a population that includes people like this who are irresponsible enough to not practice birth control and have already spread too much of their genetic potential by justifying 19+ children as follows:
"We would love more! I'm 43, almost 44 this September. I know that my mommy years are probably numbered, and I don't know how many more children God will see fit to give me. It is something we've been praying about because we do love children. Each child really is a gift and that doesn't mean just our children. We asked the Lord to give us a love of children the way He loves children. That is something that we've prayed about, and we'll just see what the Lord has in store for our family in the future."
Aren't there are plenty of unwanted children out there in need of love and homes for couples who love children that much and can provide for them? But that's not a very marketable idea on reality television compared to having 19 of your own, is it? And no, I didn't think they were that selfless.
In December 2011, they announced that they lost baby number 20 to a miscarriage
"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" - follows the drama of a celebrity family, their everyday lives, moods, fights, marriages, affairs, divorces, work, etc. It's not surprising to see the lengths these celebrities go to earn money like having cameras follow them around all day and have their dirty laundry aired out for the world to witness. But seriously, don't the people who watch these and idolise these celebrities have even an ounce of self respect for themselves or have better use for precious time? Apparently not.
Who doesn't love a fantasy that involves accentuated feminine body parts and the portrayal of a rich life of indulgence?
This program is mostly about mothers who sacrifice a lot to achieve their dreams of having a daughter who might make it out big as a beauty queen someday. These impressionable children (some as young as 23 months) are no doubt subjected to a lot of psychological stress, pressure to perform, competition, chemicals from cosmetics and hair products, energy-boosting drinks, controlled diets to keep the body in shape and tonnes of fake attention. It is not hard to project that they are missing out on a conducive environment for growing up, suitable role models, proper education, friends of a similar age to develop social skills, the joys of having food and pleasures that children tend to like, freedom to be creative, freedom to play as they please and worst of all, knowledge that there exists a bigger universe out there.
Wait, children who get all that are way too common and don't become famous on TV! Bummer. And let's not worry about the types of personality traits and values that these girls will not grow up to have.
This is just the life of one contestant, but it speaks for the rest too
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