I needed to write a journal about what T.V. shows I dislike, and for what reasons. This is easy for me given the amount of television our generation seems to be hooked on.
I dislike a lot of "reality" shows because of how they seem to emulate vast ideas of people today. If that's how the world is coming along, it's looking scary. The fact that every reality show has to have some major friction between two people or extreme personal issues that someone needs real help with is ridiculous. It seems like compassion is totally gone from the truly real issues because of how they're used for entertainment. I'm not saying that some issues shouldn't be observed because many times it's for the better awareness. But we have shows like "Dr. Phil" that, besides for the advice, people watch because they're nosy and want to know other peoples' business. Why else would they show the hysterics of a very personal talk with a therapist on television? The producers know it's there, because the people know they'll watch it. Now, I love Dr. Phil and the show, but I think it's popular for the wrong reasons sometimes. Then there's "Super Nanny", where sometimes you have parents who have "failed" at teaching their kids to behave, and you see them screaming and the parents breaking down, doubting themselves, etc. If there was a less extreme situation, like a parent trying to teach their kid basic manners, nobody would be interested. It's only when a situation that normally stays within family or counselor walls comes out that ratings will soar.
Like I've said before, I can understand the advantages that come with giving everybody a little insight on extreme situations, but the way those situations are portrayed is obviously for entertainment more than anything else sometimes. And shows like "The OC" or "Laguna Beach" just reinforce immature attitudes and actions of teens (everyon has to be at a party or a guy cheats on a girl but everyone still like him since he's the cutest and most popular, for instance). I am a young woman who loves my individuality and unique morals, and I would like to see sometime soon that I'm not the only one rolling my eyes at another strategically placed nude scene or suggested bit of language in every "teen" movie that comes out. Instead I keep feeling like everyone thinks I'm uptight for not loving the same cliched, stereotyped ways of teen life. But I am proud that I am not feeding that stereotype and that I will not be the one wondering why nobody thinks I'm capable of anything more than applying self-tanner in a few years.
I don't like shows that obviously grew off of controversial ideas in the first place. Controversy can be good, as we know here, but it's not always done the right way and for the right reasons.
If you're looking for advice on personal situations of your own, you don't have to watch a reality show to feel like you're not alone or to learn from another's actions. Instead, try the non-personal/invasive/broadcasted Dr. Phil method, and visit his advice section online.
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