Evaluating reality TV – Part 2

It is just me or do people get too into reality television shows and why are they called reality shows when they couldn’t possibly be any more unrealistic? Excuse me? There is no possible way that any of these ridiculous shows could have anything to do with reality. They are imbecilic, and yet they occupy every corner of prime time television, and they attract massive audiences. Why?

This activity stands out for its prominence and ubiquity. The term “TV addiction” is imprecise and laden with value judgments, but it captures the essence of a very real phenomenon. Psychologists and psychiatrists formally define substance dependence as a disorder characterised by criteria that include spending a great deal of time using the substance; using it more often than one intends; thinking about reducing use or making repeated unsuccessful efforts to reduce use; giving up important social, family or occupational activities to use it; and reporting withdrawal symptoms when one stops using it. All these criteria can apply to people who watch a lot of television. That does not mean that watching television, per say, is problematic. Television can teach and amuse; it can reach aesthetic heights; it can provide much needed distraction and escape. The difficulty arises when people strongly sense that they ought not to watch as much as they do and yet find themselves strangely unable to reduce their viewing. But come on people, have some pride with your choice of television. People get addicted to TV for any number of reasons being informed, sports, music, amusement, celebrity fantasies, etc., but then they move onto the ‘hard stuff’ – Reality TV.

If you are like millions of television viewers across this country, you’re probably hooked on at least one reality TV series. For some, it may be shows like “Survivor” where you watch players fight to the finish, eating bugs and living in the elements. For others, it may be shows like “The Apprentice,” where you watch those in the business world fight to the finish. What is it about Big Brother that people can’t look away? What’s the reason for so many bug-eating contests? And why hasn’t anyone on Survivor figured out that they will need to know how to make a fire when they get there? Don’t Reality TV participants watch Reality TV shows?

Asking around for people’s opinion of this is also intriguing. A majority of people agreed with me; they thought reality TV shows were pointless and had nothing to do with regular life.