Reality Garbage . . . I mean, TV

My wife likes to watch horrible people. She thinks they are just hilarious.

What horrible people? Hitler? Stalin? Xerxes? No. The Real Housewives of New Jersey, the brats on NYC Prep, the self-possessed people in nearly every single reality series, the fiasco that has become Jon and Kate plus Eight, etc. etc. etc.

With the advent of reality sitcom in the 90's the concept has literally become an endless tirade of worse upon worse. You can't begin to number the reality series plaguing T.V. these days. It's horrid!

The saddest part? These people are worse at the core than the sleazy celebrities we've been inundated with since tabloid became a word. The overarching message of any of these shows is, "Sex is normal. Everybody's doing it. Drinking is harmless, and even socially desirable. Drugs are still taboo, but dang do they feel good! Oh . . . and money is everything." Has anyone noticed that every relationship broadcast for the world to see has ended disasterously? Anyone? Anyone?

And yet you still watch. When I see that trash playing across my television screen I request that we change the channel. Having been raised with this dilge on her television screen I think my wife has a different take on it, but all I see are wretched people making things worse in the world. If I could talk to some of them, and they would have half a mind to listen I would want to address a few very specific items.

First and foremost; there is no such thing as a walking piece of action. Even the most depraved of whores is a living, breathing, FEELING person. Attached to that organ that never leaves a boy's mind is a person who is complex, feeling, deep, existing, just as much as he is. She is a person. If you involve yourself physically you inadvertently involve yourself emotionally, tangibly, deeply. If you tear her apart, it tears you apart. No premarital sex is worth the very rape of virtue.

Second, if you have no self-worth you aren't going to help anyone else find theirs. Just because you think you're the shiniest spit on the plate lends you no right to exploit a person who thinks the same thing. Feeding your gargantuan ego only makes you worse.

Third, the trend these days is to tell the world to "eat it, I'll do whatever I feel like doing." Sure! Go ahead. These reality series are full of people who act like that. They make such model citizens, really they do. They do so much good for the world. Honestly. We are drowning in a world filled by anti-heroes and a genuine lack of real heroes. Every day we are made to witness the ugliness within those we once considered heroes until all romaticism is lost. This has led to a trend that I would admonish each and every one of us to latch onto.

It is simply to be your own hero.

You are surrounded by ugliness, brutality, violence, darkness, sleaze, and filth. Pick up the banner yourself. If you find yourself without anyone to look up to, be that person. These people make the difference, and leave the impressions.

Finally, my reality star acquaintance, when you disappear from the television screen you will blend into the past, never having made a difference or impression. We will forget you. Your friends will forget you. Your fans will forget you. You will all be dragged off into the darkness, lost in the wayward paths, never to be heard from again. Not even VH-1 will wonder where you are now.

Then they might see. Then they might know. As far as we're all concerned, the "stars" of these shows are as transparent as air, with just as much substance. Despite the addictive nature of these shows do your soul a favor and change the channel, or turn off the telly. Pick up a good book, about a hero, and believe that such people are real. Because they are . . . they'll just never get a show on Bravo because they're smarter than that.

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