Every time you turn around these days, there is a new reality TV show airing or being advertised. I take great concern with what we are teaching out children to be “reality.”
Reality Television, by dictionary definition is television programming that features videos of actual occurrences (as a police chase, stunt, or natural disaster). But when I think of “reality tv” I do not think of watching women choose from 30 men to find the suitor of their dreams while taking lavish vacations all over the world. Or seeing a family with two parents, and 8 children living in a home the average working class people could never afford, while having unrealistic vacations normal people could never afford, especially with no parent working a normal job. These are staged programs, not living in reality.
What kind of message are these shows sending to our next generation? You can play make believe and call it reality? We can get paid for these kind of outrageous lifestyles or life choices?
In real reality, these people are a dime a dozen, and when these shows are over, they go back to actual real life without the cameras, money, vacations, and all the bells and whistles and 9 times out of 10 their lives fail. Reality shows have been producing intoxicated drivers, murderers (recently), and even domestic violence cases.
Maybe we should stop focusing on new reality tv ideas, and maybe putting together some good wholesome family programing in prime time spots?
As for the children being put on TV in these shows, we can only keep our fingers crossed and hope they will have a normal childhood, and turn out to be productive parts of society.
