I have NEVER been a fan of reality television, and this new show does not sway my opinion one bit. In fact, this only solidifies in my mind the general uselessness of television in one’s daily life.
This is not the worst show I’ve heard about, however…ones about trading spouses, or having the kids pick their dad’s new wife are far worse in my opinion…but WHY on earth would you put 6 Amish teenagers in HOLLYWOOD? I mean, of all places…and why are people entertained by that? I cannot imagine what the Amish community is going to think about this. After spending two summers in Pennsylvania, an hour from “Amish Country”, I have a GREAT deal of respect for these people. I’d encourage you all to learn more about them and their lifestyle–I was amazed!
I seriously grow more tired of reality TV as time goes on…I have never watched Survivor, only seen a few American Idols (and I hate the name of that show…), and one or two Joe Millionaires–and only because my roommates were watching them.
What’s the point?
America needs to get over this obsession with other people’s lives real quick…well, actually, I guess it doesn’t matter, because I don’t have to watch any of the shows. I just strongly believe that there are better things to do with your time, than to watch shows that are really about nothing. Think about all the time you spend in front of the television, when you could be doing things of greater value? Amazing…I think I heard that the average American spends 10 hours a week watching TV…WHY?!
Anyway, off my soap box for the day. This post will probably stir some controversy, so bring on the comments. 🙂
Even So, Joy 
Just a correction (as was recently given on one of my posts), I do remember someone (you) talking not all that long ago about liking to watch programs like Trading Spaces and While You Were Out quite a bit with friends. Both, the last time I checked, would fit under the category of “reality show” insofar as they both are “obsessed” with other people’s ways and means of living. Though the vast majority of television of IS a veritable “wasteland”, you cannot deny that there are programs you enjoy watching and that have educational value which cannot be readily recalled or presented through an alternative medium… even if their “eternal” value is relatively nill… and even if the perceived value to others is not high (I, for one, have no value for either of the aforementioned programs). In the age of expanded communication and the “smaller world” phenomenon, television is a very important and vital medium to make us more accutely aware of the nature of global situations, current political issues (C-SPAN anyone?), and rapid business news (on demand… not internet updated… stock quotes and rates). Though we can read about the War in Iraq… live television enables us to view firsthand the consequences of policy action… and can help shape and inform our awareness of the world more than day old news or less-than-live internet can. I appreciate your views, but you do enjoy television… even if not at the present time. As with anything (books, radio, or any other form of communication)… whether it’s within a secular or “worldly” setting… caution and moderation are the rule of the day. What I would be more interested in is not the 10 hours a week of television that Americans watch (many, like myself, for mostly news and education purposes… with occassional entertainment)… but the even GREATER amount of time we all spend parked in front of the computer, looking at the internet. Though we can justify this because of emails and blog entries, we all know that most of this time is spent doing things that are, in the end, almost as worthless as television.I think it’s good to spend as much time away from t.v. and other media (movies, etc.) as possible while one is doing other things of worth… but at the same time, we cannot automatically write off the value of these forms of communication because of the vast plethora of “opportunity costs” which are out there (for exampel, we could argue that I could be witnessing to people in the Congo… instead of commenting… but that doesn’t detract from the value of the comment). While I love the Amish culture as well (I live 45 mins. away from Amish country here in Indiana…. every day of my past 22 years) and I think the idea of exposing them to this type of a thing is insulting to their way of life. However, make sure to make it well known that Hollywood executives have not kidnapped them and forced them to do this against their will. I will continue to support their choice of living… both morally and through the purchase of their products (we travel to Amish markets a couple of times each summer to buy candles and homemade food). At the same time, keep in mind that the Amish have gone to an extreme in rejecting modern technology and, in so doing, have limited their ability to reach the rest of the world. Since this is largely a decision that revolves around matters of faith and such, I think it’s important to realize that we are called very clearly to be “in the world”… rather than be withdrawn from it i our own world of reach and scope. The other part of that sentence says we’re not to be part of the world… but does that mean we can’t participate in worldly things? Doubtfully so. Rather, we are called to use God-given judgement in exercising prudence over what we view and listen to. As was the case with the “meat issue” (some were into meat and others not in the Early Church), the rejection of reality t.v. and television in general as being wastes of time are valid for some… though they are not necessarily the universal truism that we might be led to believe. And watching television does not necessarily mean that one has wasted their time… simply because I (or others) could be “doing things of greater value”… afterall, I could have done greater things with the Sabbath than to have spent time thinking about television after reading your blog… or even responding with a comment (or even posting the blog in general). Does this make sense? It’s not a personal slam on you or anyone, but I think it seriously invites us to engage in a discussion about what the Bible passage means when it talks about certain things being okay for some believers and not others… and it means to incorporate that into more frutiful Christian community.On a side note, I think reality t.v. is pretty much worthless as well…. but as I have noted on my blog recently, I am fully supportive of an individual’s right to make their own decisions, even if they are stupid or irrational to the majority of society.
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Things can change in ones life, and one of the many things that has changed in the past 3 weeks is my desire to be entertained by the television. I am not into TLC shows anymore, nor any shows. I know that there are educational programs, that is a given. I’m just saying that I have been convicted to learn in other ways, and not by the television.Just remember that things change, and sometimes they are unexpected changes. That doesn’t make them any less valid or acceptable.
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Oh, and about the Amish and stuff…I’m not going to go there right now. Perhaps I’ll post about that later. We obviously see things from completely different views–which is TOTALLY okay–I just don’t feel up to taking that on right now.
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Ryan has an excellent mix of the two positions over on his blog… http://ryanwallaceshow.com/ipw-web/b2/ . I think you’ll agree with a vast majority of his reasoning and basis behind it!
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Lesa,I agree with you completely. I don’t understand what our world has come to. Yes, the Bachelor, Joe Millionare, Survivor, and yes, Trading Spaces all fall along the lines of “reality TV”, they completely fall on opposite ends of a spectrum. Nowhere in Trading Spaces does the plot put a person’s morality on the line. I love TLC shows because it doesn’t involve sex, infidelity, and sin. It’s just about redecorating someone’s room or surprising them with a makeover. Joe Millionare or even better, the Bachelor is all about sin. I mean, the reason people are so attached to it, is because they are wondering who the guy is going to screw next. Excuse the rash words. It’s all about the money, the women, or the sex, and to be honest, it’s sickening, but yes, I even fall for it sometimes. Lesa, I completely agree…good topic to talk about. I always enjoy reading your posts, whether they are posted and read on the Sabbath or not.
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Thank you, anonymous for your kind words! I wish you’d have signed your name, so that I knew who you were! 🙂
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Sorry, Lesa about not signing my name! Haha I am sorry I completely forgot. Either that, or I am just used to it automatically doing that! Love you!Paige
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