Reality check

When I first saw the commercials for Wife Swap or Trading Spouses or whatever, I was horrified because I thought "How could any married couple agree to live as man and wife with another woman or man for a week?!" but then I realized two things: 1) the way the temporary new couples get along, there is no adultery happening, I guarantee, and 2) the people that I see on these shows look like the people who are quite used to going a week (or more) without marital intimacy with their own spouse anyway.

But more importantly, why do we call these shows reality shows? True they are not scripted like previous brands of TV, but television cannot show us reality. I watched the original Survivor, the prototype for all reality shows, and I can guarantee you that if what was shown on screen was an accurate representation of everything that happened on that island, there is no way that naked gay Rich would've won it all. There were clearly things happening that we did not see. And so it is with all of these shows. Television must condense time, exaggerate emotion, exacerbate tension, caricature personality, and cater to culture by its very nature. The things inside that box are not real. We have always known that, but when we start calling it "reality" some people might get confused. The things inside that box are not real. Do not ever forget that.

Do we wonder why those "other people" always forward e-mail hoaxes? And fall for them? It is because, ever since the invention of the television, or the radio, or even the newspaper (!) we have trained mankind to believe whatever we tell them. Did you see the Challenger shuttle explode? With your own eyes? Or on a screen in a box? Have you ever seen ANY space shuttle take off? How about the war in Iraq? Do you have any idea what the Iraqi people think? Have you ever asked one? Every event in your life right now is brought to you virtually. INCLUDING THIS BLOG! It is time for a revolution. If you can get past the fact that an even more virtual source, the internet, told you to do it, then go turn off and sell your television and only believe things you see with your own eyes.

Excepting of course everything you read in the Bible. My point being not to sound like a hypocrite but to bring us back to a realistic level of faith. Because it is right and reasonable to believe some things we are told. But in conclusion: because I only saw it on TV and not with my own eyes, I refuse to believe that the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Finals this year.

GO PISTONS!
I'm out.