h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Reality TV, to me, seems to be greatly popular with the general public for a few simple reasons:
1. It is voyueristic
2. It doesn't involve thinking
3. it encourages bitchy conversation. ie I hate carol, she is such a snob....blah blah
4. You can discuss it with every one at work as most people watch the shows.
5. Anyone can apply to be on the show and you don't have to be a trained actor.
6. Audience participation ie. SMS voting

If you can think of any more reasons please feel free to add to these. I for one refuse to watch reality TV, as I find it stupid and boring.

Cheers
Manicdoll

I strongly dislike "reality TV".

7. Schadenfreude for the unthinking masses. The draw of a Roman holiday lives on.

8: It can turn a stupid, selfish, annoying nobody into a stupid, selfish, annoying celebrity because they allow themselves to be followed around 24/7.

9: It allows people like these pseudo-celebrities to detract airtime from people who deserve it, for examlpe scientists attempting to cure AIDS.

Rather than put in my oar again, here is a link to my response in anotehr thread: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F1738974?thread=380717#p69673677

I hate to slow things down, but I often find myself struggling to grasp the definition of the term 'Reality Television'.

Once upon a time, that would mean watching the nightly news. Suddenly, the term was being applied to shows about strangers sharing a house, strangers vying to stay on an island, and strangers looking for 'love'.

It also seems to apply to shows where people swap houses for mutual makeovers, try to scare their friends, and compete in ridiculously strange obstacle courses.

Does it also apply to cooking shows, craft shows, and home video shows? Can it include competitive cookoffs, martial arts competitions, and races; they're competitive?

To NOT be reality television, does it have to have a script, actors, and a director?

Whaddaya think?

How about tv and the unthinking masses period.

I threw mine out and have never regretted it - i seem to get so much more done.
Sometimes coming home late at night i see the glow of a screen in a window and think to myself - thats all theyve done, just sit there. Not even spoken to each other.

Imagine a sci fi movie where the entire population goes home and sits in front of a screen, and thats all they do - frightening - really scary.

Does this make you angry, or are you just going to sit back in your comfortable chair and change channels?

You know, you have a point there Syrphus. I wouldn't say that I had purposefully cut television out of my life, but I don't watch half as much as the majority of people I know. My friends and I have all but cut TV out of our social lives, and have more fun and better conversations because of it. There is an awful lot that can be done when you are not glued to the TV - for example:
Random excursions to Scotland
Competitive bric-a-brac shopping (to see who can get the best/craziest item)
Turning the back yard into a sitting room after finding a house being cleared down the road
Attending talks and lectures
Impro classes
the list goes on...

Brilliant, but i guess im weak.
As children my sisters and i always had a problem with the telly. When it went wrong we unanimously decided not to press for another.
I wonder how many relationships finish, because people dont talk?

I haven't actually thrown out my telly, but I've sort of replaced it with my computer screen!