Are Reality Shows Reeling Us?

 

Are REALITY SHOWS REELING US?  Decades back, WHAT started out as experiments in the western media has turned things around to become a part of our default mainstream programming and alas, even across diverse cultures, we still CAN'T get enough of it.  And even prior to the popularity of these REALITY SHOWS, television and all other forms of media have already impacted NOT just our thoughts, opinions and behaviors.  It has even creeped into our cultures WHERE some things are now becoming the norm rather than the exception.  NO doubt about it, we have taken it in for entertainment per se📘📗📙

Good enough that our minds are designed to really synthesize boatloads of information every day, from our interactions with others to the books we read and the entertainment we seek out.  We then tend to make sense of the world through these pieces of information we gather, and the impacts HOW we live our lives every day.  BUT beyond the daily information we have been absorbing, we are also influenced by our prior life experiences, our family origins, the environment we are raised in and a slew of our other cultural [and sometimes genetic] factors💚💛💜

As these interpersonal and direct influences are more likely to impact our values and even behaviors than REALITY SHOWS, does this mean that we should NOT be concerned about the ways in WHICH REALITY SHOW trends tend to impact us?  Of course, we need to pay attention to the underlying messages in these shows and even explore WHY they appeal to us so much.  BUT the thing is, these REALITY SHOWS keep coming back to us and before we know it, we get 'hostaged' to it💥💥💥

Unconsciously, we end up wanting to know WHO said WHAT to WHOM and WHICH person betrayed another OR WHO compromised their alliances OR made a shady decision that influenced other people.  YES, it's all about the best and worst of human behavior.  YES, it shapes up as akin to an observational psychology class without the lecture OR exams.  YES, often these REALITY SHOWS cause us to reflect on WHAT we might do similarly😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  WHAT I reaized in all these is that REALITY SHOWS are ironically named because they are often far from realistic scenarios.  And even though these programs are 'guilty pleasures' for many of us, we can use them as good conversation starters with friends and even as 'food for thought' within our own minds as we consider our values and HOW we live in ways that demonstrate those values.  So, ARE REALITY SHOWS REELING US?  It really depends if you want to be REELED???