My Addiction

I love watching television. There is nothing better than getting comfortable on the couch while getting ready for a good show or movie. I have been an avid viewer since I was a toddler. I remember the first shows I watched. They taught me letters, numbers and moral behavior. Now we have cable that offers hundreds of channels. Almost any taste can be satisfied no matter how obscure. My only complaint is that despite the plethora of choices I find very little that interests me.

As I said there are many themes on many channels. Unfortunately many of these themes have one thing in common. They all come under the umbrella of "reality tv." When did television offer greater reality and truth than our own lives? I do not think that they do. I believe that these reality shows exist for one reason only. They are created to make us feel better about ourselves in relation to the idiots we watch on television.

People are put into situations that are scripted. The scenarios are contrived. The motives are false. From cooking to dating to competing all of these shows are based upon false premises. The producers are creating make-believe and they hope that we will go along with the deception. If ratings are any indication we go along like sheep to the slaughter.

The only reality I have found has become my favorite type of programming. I enjoy documentaries. The subject of such is irrelevant. I enjoy them no matter what they are about. The whole point being that, whatever the issue being discussed, the documentary shows what actually occurs in the world. I enjoy learning about new issues and seeing how other people live. This view cannot be obtained via so-called reality television.

Why do so many people watch this tripe? These are the same people who have no problem gawking at the accident at the side of the road. They certainly will have no compunction when watching the train wrecks offered in prime time. We revel in the misery of others. The Germans and their schadenfreude have not cornered the market; we as Americans have. We cannot help but develop greater contempt for our fellow humans as we lose respect for them on these shows. We all sink deeper into the abyss of immorality.

We need to say no! We must collectively denounce these forms of entertainment as the degrading filth that they are. They do not uplift the spirit nor raise our conscience. We are not asked to strive for greater but to wallow in the muck and mire. The viewer has not gained from the watching of these shows but has lost some part of their humanity. When has abuse become an acceptable form of entertainment?

Turn off the television. Read a book. Take a walk. Have a conversation with someone you have not spoken to in a long time. There are better uses of your precious time. Many activities are like food. Some are like eating empty calories and leave you wanting. Others fill your body and soul and make you feel fulfilled. Some televised offerings are worthwhile if you are selective. Select those that fill you up and not break you down.