Reality TV Shows - harmful?

[Nadiine]

I'm a little alarmed about some of the types of reality tv shows they've been making for awhile and wonder if anyone thinks Reality tv is harming viewers or not; namely the youth.

If so, where do we draw the line and which ones are ok?
I've had a problem with Dr. Phil's show airing people's personal, dirty laundry for exhibitionist purposes.

[MrJim]

I unplugged a couple years ago~I can see I'm still not missing anything...

[Mling]

Yes. Real people are harmed and degraded in the making of them. I do think that people are a little (or more) sadistic by nature, and having permission to enjoy real people being actually harmed just adds a veil of legitimacy to it.

[AngelusSax]

Mostly yes, I think reality TV is just awful and harmful. If you want to include things like "Dancing with the Stars" as reality TV (I contend it is not, but is a game show like Wheel of Fortune), then I wouldn't lump it all together as bad, though.

Just most of it.

[Nadiine]

Mostly yes, I think reality TV is just awful and harmful. If you want to include things like "Dancing with the Stars" as reality TV (I contend it is not, but is a game show like Wheel of Fortune), then I wouldn't lump it all together as bad, though.

Just most of it.
I ended up asking that after I saw a commercial for "Keeping up with the Kardashians" and "Real Housewives" (rich housewives in OC Cal. and/or NY). Good golly - if these are what people are watching, it's really pathetic.
Self absorbed spoiled brats being glamorized. No wonder our youth is having image problems.

So that's interesting that you view the contest type shows as not reality tv. That might be accurate :idea:

[Nadiine]

Yes. Real people are harmed and degraded in the making of them. I do think that people are a little (or more) sadistic by nature, and having permission to enjoy real people being actually harmed just adds a veil of legitimacy to it.
A prime example of this imho, is watching Dr. Phil!
The personal, sensitive issues people are having get aired on national tv and we all watch their "session".

My husband had turned Dr Phil on last month and all of a sudden I got an eerie feeling - like "why am I watching this person's personal, private and humiliating issues and enjoying it?"
I didn't want to watch anymore becuz I felt like a voyer in a bad way.

[Nadiine]

& I worry that it leads to focusing on other people to compare ourselves with or something :scratch: :confused:

[Criada]

I've never seen these programs... and intend to keep it that way.
I can't see what possible entertainment is to be gained from sensationalising people's pain for the purpose of enriching television companies!

[Nadiine]

I've never seen these programs... and intend to keep it that way.
I can't see what possible entertainment is to be gained from sensationalising people's pain for the purpose of enriching television companies!
Then I'm very sure you won't want to watch Jerry Springer lol

I've seen Graham Norton's show on our BBC channel, is he popular there?

[Criada]

Yes, he's very popular.
He hosts a lot of family entertainment things... which show is it that you have?

[~free~]

I don't agree with most reality shows...although I haven't seen very many. I think producers will expose/do anything to make more money. People tend to be drawn to conflict, hurt, real life dramas. I personally think few people benefit from a lot of the reality shows out there...I imagine that some even ruin people's marriage, relationships, jobs. :sigh:

[MrJim]

TV

Thread reminds me of "FreeVee" from the Stephen King story The Running Man (the short story, not the stupid movie they made)~how long before they start adding violence to these shows, where people will get hurt? FreeVee, err, TV sounds more and more like a drug...

[Nadiine]

Yes, he's very popular.
He hosts a lot of family entertainment things... which show is it that you have?
It's called "So Graham Norton"?

This is not a family show -- unless sexual jokes and innuendos are family material there?:eek: lol

He has 1 or 2 celebrities on, & the rest is humor stuff & audience participation, videos & gimmicks he does.

I did start watching your BBC show How Clean is your House --- oh my gosh lol. Some people live in terrible filth (not just there - I know people live like that everywhere). I like that show alot tho and it has interesting information.

[Nadiine]

I don't agree with most reality shows...although I haven't seen very many. I think producers will expose/do anything to make more money. People tend to be drawn to conflict, hurt, real life dramas. I personally think few people benefit from a lot of the reality shows out there...I imagine that some even ruin people's marriage, relationships, jobs. :sigh:
Hi Free!
there's a new game show out right now "The Moment of Truth" that does ruin relationships & stuff, it's a lie detector test game and you win money if you tell the truth... only they ask questions that you'de NEVER tell people the truth.

http://blogs.trb.com/entertainment/news/blog/2008/01/100_sample_questions_from_the.html
those are 100 questions that have been used on the show.
I would NOT go on there! lol:eek: :eek:

:help: :help: :help:

[Nadiine]

TV

Thread reminds me of "FreeVee" from the Stephen King story The Running Man (the short story, not the stupid movie they made)~how long before they start adding violence to these shows, where people will get hurt? FreeVee, err, TV sounds more and more like a drug...
they already have I think, the show Jack@ss was on for a long time on MTV - people doing really harmful stunts or contests for fun.

[~free~]

Hi Free!
there's a new game show out right now "The Moment of Truth" that does ruin relationships & stuff, it's a lie detector test game and you win money if you tell the truth... only they ask questions that you'de NEVER tell people the truth.

http://blogs.trb.com/entertainment/news/blog/2008/01/100_sample_questions_from_the.html
those are 100 questions that have been used on the show.
I would NOT go on there! lol:eek: :eek:

:help: :help: :help:Yeah, it's terrible! I've watched some of it and couldn't believe what people will risk for money...sad. That's the show I had in mind when I posted.

[Nadiine]

Yeah, it's terrible! I've watched some of it and couldn't believe what people will risk for money...sad. That's the show I had in mind when I posted.
how funny, we were on the same wavelength with that one.
On the other hand, it makes me notice how nasty we really are in our hearts - becuz I know for me, that I would NEVER be able to go on that show and answer alot of that stuff honestly.

You know? It's a terrible show, but it does show me what we're all capable of deep down inside

[~free~]

how funny, we were on the same wavelength with that one.
On the other hand, it makes me notice how nasty we really are in our hearts - becuz I know for me, that I would NEVER be able to go on that show and answer alot of that stuff honestly.

You know? It's a terrible show, but it does show me what we're all capable of deep down inside
For sure... we all sin, we all have our secrets. There are some human natures that you should just keep to yourself. But I think that IF they need to be dealt with, it needs to be in the privacy of home...or even just between you and God.

[Nadiine]

For sure... we all sin, we all have our secrets. There are some human natures that you should just keep to yourself. But I think that IF they need to be dealt with, it needs to be in the privacy of home...or even just between you and God.
I can't agree more.
This is why I was so irritated with Dr. Phil's show - that stuff is for private handling, not to be hashed out in public as we watch it for entertainment...

No wonder they're so much dysfunction going on anymore.

[Nadiine]

the examples we're showing for kids is scary.

[Criada]

Those questions are scary...... I can't imagine anyone volunteering for that... it would cause so much hurt!
How can that possibly be entertainment :confused:

[Nadiine]

Those questions are scary...... I can't imagine anyone volunteering for that... it would cause so much hurt!
How can that possibly be entertainment :confused:
my husband saw a few episodes & he told me that they asked a lady if she had "sexual" feelings towards her straight friend (female) and she said YES! that she had sexual thoughts towards her at times.

One lady said she was still in love w/ an old boyfriend & would PREFER him over her current husband.....

oh boy - ya, not things I'd say in front of him even if it was true. No amount of money is worth that damage.

[paxi1334]

Yea - I watched a few episodes of "Moment of Truth" and found it heartbreaking. I think the people are really set up, because all our minds have been gutters at some point or another.

In general, I think "reality TV" is pretty horrible... one reason why I only watch what I can stream from the internet (I don't actually get TV). But the thing with reality TV is that it doesn't just reflect reality ~ it helps to shape it.

And so, to have people only focusing on the wickedness of humankind actually creates more wickedness...

Why don't we have a reality show which focuses just on people going to church and reflecting on their experiences there? (I'd be interested to see it)

Why don't we have a reality show which shows people taking care of sick and needy people - feeding the hungry and clothing the naked? (I'd watch it)

Why don't we have a reality show which finds and focuses on families which love each other?

Aren't those things part of reality too?

[MrJim]

the examples we're showing for kids is scary.

Unplug~that's a great example for the kids;)

[RadicallyTransformedMom]

Yes, i agree that many of the reality shows are harmful to the soul. i used to be a reality tv junkie and God has been convicting me of alot of things lately and i have stopped watching: Big Brother and The Bachelor. I am now considering not watching Wife Swap and Survivor (even though i have watched EVERY season of Survivor). The more you watch the stuff the more desensitized you become and start accepting things you wouldn't or shouldn't accept into your life.

[paxi1334]

I think that is true ~ even regarding stuff that is "fictional"... It took me years to be able to entirely "unplug" the tele and just keep it around for an occasional movie or video game (our tele doesn't pick up anything). But now I am so happy that I did. I feel a lot freer than I was growing up.

I think we have to be very careful what we watch... it can become a form of bondage.

[WannaWitness]

I'm a little alarmed about some of the types of reality tv shows they've been making for awhile and wonder if anyone thinks Reality tv is harming viewers or not; namely the youth.

If so, where do we draw the line and which ones are ok?
I've had a problem with Dr. Phil's show airing people's personal, dirty laundry for exhibitionist purposes.

For the most part, I personally don't get anything from them.

If you're talking about most of the talk shows and programs like "Fear Factor", "Survivor" and the like, then it's just foolish garbage. How do those things benefit anyone, really?

On the other hand, programs like "COPS" are educational, and "Just For Laughs" is a unique hidden camera show that reminds me of a cross between Candid Camera and silent slapstick comedy. I do suggest adult supervision for both programs. "COPS" is recommended for age 13 and older; upper-elementary preteens should be able to handle "Laughs".

[LilLamb219]

Not all Reality TV is bad though...I like watching the Amazing Race and Project Runway which are both considered to be reality tv but more along the lines of contests.

[plmarquette]

proverbs 6.18-24 and 1 corinthians 6.9 the media's "tv-guide" ....
damnation in prime time ... how quaint ...

[JPPT1974]

I love Survivor as I have been
Nearly watching it from the beginning
But some shows can be so riduculous!

[Teh0bb3s]

14/50 Television is a tool of the government to keep the human race docile, FOOLS. Don't watch it period.