Our society has advanced in a vast majority of fields, such as technology, quality of life, health, overall efficiency and more.  Our views in this generation are different than that of previous generations; good or bad.  We no longer hop on down to the soda shop after school, or meet the ‘gang’ Saturday night for a couple of shakes at the popular drive-in restaurant.  Women don’t protect their ankles from the wavering man’s eye, or squeeze themselves into a ten inch wide corset.  Times are constantly changing, and trends come and go.  However, an infamous trend has taken wind, and has set it’s roots in your DVR.

Reality television. Yes, I’m talking about Bravo channel, Real Housewives, Flipping Out, Millionaire Matchmaker, and Sixteen and Pregnant. America is fascinated by watching train-wrecks occur right before their eyes, paired with a TV dinner and a comfy couch. Yet, why is that? Sure, it’s all fun and games, but these are real people with real lives; hence ‘reality,’ although the predicaments they become involved in are considered a stretch in terms of what is reality and what isn’t.

Teresa and Joe Giudice from the Real Housewives of New Jersey have starred in numerous seasons and still somehow managed to keep their financial issues and illegal activity under wraps, until just recently they have both been sentenced to federal prison. They have four little girls, which won’t have their mother for a year, and won’t have their father for three. Exploited on national television, these little girls must summon the strength to stay strong in school, at home, and on camera; and America is eating it up.

Whatever happened to the Brady Bunch? That 70’s Show? I’m talking about the good stuff; where there were real lessons to be learned. What happened to our generation that we feel satisfaction by watching others suffer and try to live with these incurable problems?

Some people will do anything for fame. These reality television stars you idolize have to be dealing with more issues than what the cameras lead you to believe, because what person in their right mind would allow a camera crew in their home 24/7 to capture the most intimate moments of their lives? And the fact that we encourage this by tuning in, what does our society value? Not morals, not ethics, not wanting to relate; no, we value seeing a struggle, an unbeatable battle, as we watch these pawns carry out a sick little game.