Comments on: The Vicious Cycle

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:32:56 +0000

And if the cycle breaks itself up and no one is watching the reality kid anymore, you can always pretend that he got stuck in a balloon and call for a news helicopter…

By: Raven

Raven — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:58:47 +0000

I can proudly say that I’m not complicit in this cycle. I have never once watched a reality show (or purchased a magazine that writes about them), nor do I ever plan on it. The fact that this whole reality show thing actually passes for good tv is amazing to me. And while I’m on the bash reality tv train, let me just say that seasons of Jon and Kate Plus 8 are taking up shelf space at Target where they could be putting good tv, and it just ticks me off.
Ok, thank you for letting me get up on my reality tv soapbox.
A great post, btw!

By: nothingprofound

nothingprofound — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:04:44 +0000

I haven’t owned a TV in over 30 years, so I’m oblivious to all this stuff. I don’t read the paper either. If I owned a TV, I’m sure none of this would affect or offend me. It’s all showbiz and good for a laugh.

By: Shane

Shane — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:56:34 +0000

Never watch reality TV. It is not a good way for my girls to view “Reality”.

By: Dorothy Stahlnecker

Dorothy Stahlnecker — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:04:54 +0000

I’m with you the shows have really gotten out of control anything for the money and it’s sickening. I further wonder how this will affect the kids in the future my suspicion we’re going to have some really weird adults in a few years.
Great post and there doesn’t seem to be much left to watch on television glad we have the net although have to be careful there as well.
Dorothy from grammology
grammology.com

By: vange

vange — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:46:30 +0000

With the exception of The Amazing Race, I don’t watch reality shows.

By: Faith

Faith — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:42:03 +0000

To some degree we all play a role in this right? I try hard not to watch reality TV but sometimes it just ropes you right on in there a la Project Runway. But in my personal defense I don’t watch the ones with kids. That is where I draw the line. It’s not entertaining to me to see parents who can’t control their own children and need programs like Supernanny or Wife Swap and I refuse to watch the ones like Jon & Kate +8. Honestly I didn’t understand the whole premise…it’s supposed to be entertaining because instead of two kids they have 8…I don’t get it.
It is good to see real television making a small comeback with shows like Glee and Lie to Me. I just hope the reality craze has hit it’s peak and is slowly but surely on the decline.

By: THE GUYS

THE GUYS — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:25:56 +0000

Yes, we do need to stop feeding the beast. This is the only way to stop this trend of fame seeking and child exploitation.
Money talks!
Thanks for the great comments.

By: Heather Dugan ("Footsteps")

Heather Dugan ("Footsteps") — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:39:56 +0000

I’m not a big TV watcher to begin with, but I’d feel like a creepy voyeur watching some of those so-called “reality shows”. There’s nothing “real” about living your life out in front of cameras.

By: Date Girl

Date Girl — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:37:37 +0000

I’m so sick of reality tv. The only reality entertainment that interests me are the blogs I read! All of these people that want their five minutes of fame are just so ridiculous. To me this reality craze is the downfall of our society.
I’m happy that the networks are bringing back good tv, with the new drama Flashforward, and all of the funny new sitcoms out there. Hopefully this reality craze gets put to rest, and SOON!

By: Tina T

Tina T — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:07:43 +0000

When I was growing up the big controversy was “stage moms.” (I guess there must have been stage dads, but it was the moms were heard about.) I remember when Brooke Shields was barely more than a child and was in the “nothing gets between me and my Calvin’s” ads. Talk about exploitive!
I think the exploitation has always been there in one form or another, but with reality TV there is no talent required so the barrier to entry is pretty much non existent.
I agree with what cherlock said about child beauty pageants. When we lived in the south I couldn’t believe that parents would parade these little girls around in makeup and bathing suits on stage. Most of us are praying that people don’t eye our children inappropriately instead of encouraging it.
I think that as long as there is a buck to be made or a belief that you can live vicariously through your child that this behavior isn’t likely to change.

By: askcherlock

askcherlock — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:50:35 +0000

Those who exploit their kids for the sake of monetary or personal gain should be penalized in some way. It is an unseemly abuse of parental rights. The first case which comes to mind is JonBenet Ramsey. The mom bleached that child’s hair, dressed her up for a parade of beauty as opposed to character, and the child was murdered. Was the mom re-living her own glory days through her child? We may never know. The Balloon Boy is another example of child-exploitation. The father is a punk and a publicity hound who taught his children that telling a lie is okay? There are many people who would love to have children for all the right reasons. Exploitation should never be one.

By: bluzdude

bluzdude — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:39:40 +0000

The only solution is to stop feeding the beast… don’t watch the shows, don’t buy the magazines. That’s what I try to do… at least until “Survivor” comes on.