Welcome to the real world…the world of adventure and mayhem. Of making new friends, having new experiences and likely many regrets. This is the world of fights, arguments, deception, gossip, evil intentions, and where people would do anything for fame, fortune, and status. Welcome to the reality of the sweeping phenomenon of Reality TV.
These are just some of the many nouns that can be attributed to the majority of the reality television shows that are watched on a daily basis. Most of us have seen at least one example of a reality show before, some of them basic game shows and others based upon crazy premises, which a normal person would not find themselves in.
But a real reality show in itself would just be filming an everyday person doing everyday things aka “real life.” What film companies have done is put everyday people from different backgrounds into not so everyday situations to watch them ultimately and preferably crack under the pressure. What it shows in actuality is the reality of who the “contestants” or “roommates” really are. I’ve always been a strong believer that only when a person is pushed to the edge or their breaking point will they reveal what is really in their heart. As the Bible says, whatever is really in your heart will come out of your mouth.
Of course these reality shows are a source of income and are supposed to shock and awe the audience to get as many viewers as possible. But when you have millions of people viewing to watch the craziness of other people, maybe it is a sign of things to come or of a state of being which has already come to pass. I am more inclined to believe the latter.
We, as humans, are naturally inclined to judge each other pretty harshly based upon whatever values we hold dear. The problem which I’m addressing now is with us as Americans and what entertainment like this means for us. Regardless of any religious affiliation or philosophical viewpoint we subscribe to, there has been a clear line which has been crossed. Whether you choose to believe that line was made by the religious right wing, which originally settled in America or the common sense of values which translated from previous civilized nations, there is a clear difference from what they would accept and what we currently allow. I am not choosing to question the morality a person chooses to adhere to, the question lies with all of us as a society of people which turns a blind eye to things which we know go against our conscience. It seems in the 21st century our consciences became seared with a hot iron, and we became unable to speak out against anything anymore because we would immediately stand out as an astonishment to the demoralized society which we currently live in.
It seems that we have become a society of people with no gumption or guts to substantiate what we actually believe. For the sake of entertainment and comfortability, we keep our mouths shut and deny what is supposed to make us who we are. So we either step up and become the black sheep or we should shut up when describing the beliefs which we say we have, before we lie. It’s sad to see many of the participants in a particular reality show such as the “Real World,” declare that they are Christians and then step back and clearly show that they are not by lying, hating, conniving, stealing, and having nothing to do with the Lord that can be seen on the outside.
Not all reality shows show this kind of behavior but this argument can be extended to movies, music, and all other facets of entertainment. The paradigm shift can easily be seen when you compare the media of the ’50s through the ’80s to 2009. What happened? It’s one thing if society makes a shift and grows on concepts of the past but the truth is the truth. History shows that when the morals of the country turn by the wayside then the country nears the end of its glory. Public officials are caught in adultery and don’t even have the morality to step down in shame.
The world, especially America, has become addicted to its own filth. The aspects of the human psyche as shown through reality television shows, are a painful reminder to anyone with any historical knowledge of the standards of morality, that America has dropped the ball. Of course it has never been a society full of only pious righteous citizens, but there was a time when even the person of the least moral fiber knew a sense of decency in public. It pains me to see our generation say many things about what they stand for and the goals which they would like to accomplish then to watch them act as though they did not have home training. No man is perfect but unless we uphold a societal standard of some form what will be the result of it? And if it has gotten to this level now, think about the children being raised today under the mindset that these things are commonplace?