What do you see when you turn on the TV?

"What do you see when you turn on the TV?
These are the people we aspire to be.
Twenty four hours seven days every week;
Overnight celebrities, reality thieves*."


Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that I just posted song lyrics. Don't judge me as you would judge me if I posted some random lyrics on a Facebook post without providing context, for I am about to explain why I posted them.

I tuned into radio one yesterday evening. Normally at that time of day I wouldn't go near radio one, I only tend to listen to the Chris Moyles show. But the song above caught my attention before I could switch to a different station.

The song is called Fiber Optic by Echo Park. The reason it caught my attention? It hit the nail on the head not just with what's wrong with TV these days, but also a large part of what is wrong with THE WORLD these days.

Ok, I'm exaggerating a little. From THE WORLD I think it's safe to exclude the billion or so people who don't have a TV. I hope there are countries in which people haven't heard of 'reality TV' or it hasn't caught on, so if so then they can be excluded too. In addition you can also exclude the minority who choose not to watch that crap (yes, we are a minority). I imagine what's left is most of the 'developed' world.

Anyway, on to the subject of today's post: why do people get so much enjoyment out of watching utter rubbish on the telly?

I can maybe understand that many viewers of programs such as the x-factor are watching out of aspiration, and I guess that's ok. But some people just watch it to see poor sods get humiliated in front of millions of people. Am I the only one who thinks that's not cool?

If it was escapism then I might understand. Escapism is a big reason why books and films are enjoyed by so many. It's not though. Who wants to escape their daily life and be locked in a house with a bunch of other people specifically selected because of the fact that they are NUTTERS? Case in point: big brother. It's not escapism, it's nosiness.

I don't understand why fame is desired by so many (unless it's the kind of fame that visionaries such as Steve Jobs are entitled to).
I don't understand why so many people watch this reality TV crap.
I don't understand how it is possible for such an astonishing amount of money to be made off the back of people's desperation to become famous.
I don't understand why people don't go down the 'normal' route to fame, if that's what they think they're after.

I don't understand.




*I think I've got the last word right, but google/ the internet failed me so I wasn't able to verify the lyrics