Why do people gravitate towards shows, that are designed to dumb them down? When I was a kid, perhaps I was easily duped into believing that wrestling was real. I cheered for my favorite wrestlers. We were too young to accept the fact that it was all a staged affair. That was 57 years ago. I look around and see adults almost my age, racing to the TV on certain nights to watch the various wrestling associations put on their scripted matches. The outcome is predetermined, yet thousands glue themselves to the screen, cheering and screaming for their favorite wrestler.
“Tiger King” / Joe Exotic fiasco
It’s been a long and insidious program, to dumb down the masses through media entertainment. Get them to watch, either through the radical antics or wardrobe, and you seem to have them hooked into watching. Before you know it, they are actually starting to believe in the show. I know many of us don’t watch the unreal reality shows. Which is a good thing, and a credit to our upbringing and education. However, thousands tune (or did) into the “Tiger King” / Joe Exotic fiasco. Sure, he was convicted of trying to hire an FBI agent into killing his rival for $3,000. But what type of network should even glorify an idiot like that. I refer you back to the current state of adults in our nation. He dressed like he was ready to attend some parade in New Orleans and talked funny. Maybe that was the draw to the more simple-minded.
Ahoy there!
Someone correct me if I’m wrong. But years ago I was channel surfing and came across the show about saving the Whales. I watched a small skiff, raft or otherwise small vessel attack and throw Molotov Cocktails onto a ship in an effort to drive them from the fishing waters. Now, am I wrong? Or is that not piracy to attack another vessel with dangerous instruments. I never watched it again.
How about being overly excited about people stranded on an island with no support, yet we forget that they have a camera crew with them. Not to mention medical support and other infrastructure to avoid liability lawsuits from the “actors”. I made fun of it one night and got voted out of the living room, by my mother-in-law. She was so excited to watch Street Outlaws. A show about “illegal” street racing. Now, I could be wrong, but if you’re a producer and provide support of monies to further illegal activities, that might run afoul of FCC or other broadcasting or even the local/county/ or state laws. Assisting in a crime is generally punishable?
Naked and afraid. I sat there one night (I think maybe some of my brains must have been getting mushy) out of morbid curiosity, to see just what it was about. The girl who I think was a homemaker, ultimately had to take care of the big burly guy, who had sat on the beach until he was totally cooked on the head and body with sunburn. She fashioned hats out of leaves and moved him into a makeshift shelter while tending to his burns. The only problem with this script (at least for people with half a brain) was the guy, was introduced as an ex-marine recon soldier. I don’t think he would have sat out in the sun until baked, and rely on a housewife to have survival skills to save him.
Until about six years ago, I didn’t really know what a “Kardashian” was. Apparently having been too busy living under my rock. Yet many of the world follow them like royalty. What do they wear, who are they cheating on. Somewhere along the line, Jerry Springer convinced the simple masses, that his show was real.
Idiocracy
There just doesn’t seem to be any real, quality entertainment now. I challenge those of you who have never seen the movie “Idiocracy” to give it a try. Made in 2006. It took two tries a few years ago to watch it, but I made it through it, and was horrified by how accurate it seems compared to today. It had its funny moments as well. Do give it a good try. Watch how a man tries to rescue the world from 500 years of reality TV.
Private Joe Bauers, the definition of “average American”, is selected by the Pentagon to be the guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program. Forgotten, he awakes five centuries in the future. He discovers a society so incredibly dumbed down that he’s easily the most intelligent person alive.
IMDB
I hope I haven’t offended anyone, but reality shows are the downfall, at least in my opinion, of the masses.
Comments always welcome.
