Reality?

I hate reality T.V. I can't stand all these ridiculous and insulting shows, ideas and topics. Become someone's rock of love, race across the world to win money, talk in a confessional about how much you hate your roommate, pretend that you live in the hills. These shows are train wrecks where we watch the demise of humanity in 30 minute segments. These shows have these artificial, stereotypical characters with subpar plot lines and fake tans. Why call them reality?

These shows are not real. The puppets have these master puppeteers setting them up on dates, creating fantasy scenarios, and editing footage so the audience really has no idea who was present at which conversation. Reality T.V. insults the American public by insinuating that all we care about is people hooking up, binge drinking, and watching people stare at each other. I am a high school teacher, I see that enough of that stuff. If America was solely judged on the reality T.V. broadcasted, that seems to have taken over every channel at every hour, then America could be viewed as a land of mindless people who care about sex, money, partying. Well, maybe that is an accurate view of some people in America, but not me.

The point of reality T.V. is to portray people as "real" people. But once fame, money, and ratings take over all "reality" goes out the door. We all sit in our houses watching people live their lives. Well, why aren't we out there living our own lives? Why watch other people succeed, make money, and have a good time instead of creating all of these things for ourselves?

Yes, I do love American Idol, The Hills, and Keeping up with the Kardashians. But I know these shows are NOT reality. I know these shows are fake with call times, lighting, and wardrobe. The stars of these shows are celebrities, not real people. They have agents, managers, and perfume deals. Does Sally Smith have a clothing line, a cosmetic line, and a cover of Elle magazine and shop at Harris Teeters in her sweatpants on Saturday mornings and live paycheck to paycheck? No. I didn't think so.

Real life is not edited. Real life has no soundtrack. Real life doesn't include an entourage of a manager, make up artist, and producer on speed dial. Real life is real. It's tough, easy, gritty, fulfilling, depressing, uplifting, dark, and happy. There are good times and bad times. There are okay times and boring times. Watch these shows with a grain of salt. Watch them knowing they are not real. Watch them and realize that your life is not like theirs, it's better. So go out and live it.