I can’t help but wonder how much the popularity of reality TV led us to where we are now. I don’t just mean how the US president used to have his own stupid show, but how many people grew up thinking that “watching people create drama” is peak entertainment.
The same era saw the decline and demise of a number of educational channels and shows. Is it a coincidence? I don’t know. All I know is there are lots of adults who grew up watching “reality” shows who now think politics are just a game to “win” and that when their opponents are upset, it’s amusing. It’s like the concept of empathy or working together don’t even enter their minds. Everything is just for entertainment, no matter how serious it is or how many innocent people get screwed over by it.
I can’t help but wonder how much the popularity of reality TV led us to where we are now. I don’t just mean how the US president used to have his own stupid show, but how many people grew up thinking that “watching people create drama” is peak entertainment.
The same era saw the decline and demise of a number of educational channels and shows. Is it a coincidence? I don’t know. All I know is there are lots of adults who grew up watching “reality” shows who now think politics are just a game to “win” and that when their opponents are upset, it’s amusing. It’s like the concept of empathy or working together don’t even enter their minds. Everything is just for entertainment, no matter how serious it is or how many innocent people get screwed over by it.
Same reason soap operas are popular and why wrestling used to be huge (maybe wrestling still is huge, but I don’t feel like I hear about it as much).
People like drama. That it’s contrived doesn’t matter, it’s still drama.
This and 24-hour “news entertainment” are fully responsible for society’s woes, far as I can tell.