"Reality TV" - entertainment or vile social engineering?

[Deja Q]

Poll question: "Reality TV" - entertainment or vile social engineering?

It's the media engaging in more social engineering; turning people against each other instead of being supportive.

Reality TV is not entertainment.

It's competition and creating an un-social (anti-social/society?) atmosphere for the rest of us to emulate in the REAL world.

And often it's vulgar. (nodding in the direction of "Fear Factor" where they eat raw animal organs covered in ants and mucous...)

It is deplorable.

And when you have major religions speaking of the need of togetherness, society, being kind to others, these programs can really bring out the devil in people. Literally.

[glarius]

1. Where do they get off calling this reality?

If your idea of entertainment is watching people being humiliated and cast aside, then "reality shows" are for you....Personally that's not my idea of entertainment.

[RC]

2. I take it

you are not a far right wing control nut?

[glarius]

7. How did you guess?

:D

[Endangered Specie]

3. Not reality at all...

Have you even been in a situation remotely close to ANY reality show? They have shrinks on the payroll trying to see who is least compatable, most likely to screw and/or most unstable.

[pansypoo53219]

4. lowest common denominator TV

gives me mucho time to be on the othe boob tube-puter and do other stuff. THANK GOD FOR CABLE.

[ldoolin]

5. The tribe has spoken. You have been voted off the island...

Good point. And one that I hadn't really thought of before.

Then again, I never cared for any of the "reality" TV shows. I watched a couple of episodes of Survivor and thought it was one of the stupidest things I'd ever seen, and Fear Factor isn't even worth mentioning.

But you make a good point. How healthy is it for society to have TV shows which teach that the way to get through a "survival" situation is to stab others in the back and vote anyone who is weaker or doesn't fit in socially off the island, instead of teaching cooperation, sharing, solidarity, and pulling together?

You know what kind of "reality TV" show I'd like? One where the contestants are put in a coal mine or logging camp and are going to try and organize a union. Sort of a real-life version of the movie Matewan, showing things from the perspective of the workers. Do I think such a show would ever make it to corporate TV? No way.

[rucky]

6. Excuses vile behavior in the framework of a "game"

"It's just a game"
"It's just business"
"This is politics"

pure Social Darwinism - complete with monetary gratification as a measure of "higher evolution"

maybe not social engineering, but definately an exploitative reflection of our f-ed up social mores

[righttherefeelsgood]

8. Yes

[HEyHEY]

9. Nah, it's just shitty tv shows

[amber dog democrat]

10. We are being hosed down by garabage and lies.

TV is evil. Period.

Give me even a mediocre book any time.

[Skittles]

11. disgusting f***ing crap

a tangible result of the dumbing down of America. Sickening.