Reality Check: Why Staged TV Is Unhealthy
Imagine a society that publicly demeans outcasts by broadcasting their struggles or odd fascinations, exploiting them for money. Worse, imagine a society in which millions actively support this wicked behavior.
As it turns out, there is no need to imagine. In our culture, where social justice efforts are as widespread as they have ever been, reality TV shows continue to maintain popularity while demeaning people, encouraging destructive behavior and contributing to the widespread health crisis the United States face.
In 1972, The Learning Channel (TLC) first aired as a national welfare channel, according to Business Insider. In 1980, it was purchased by the Appalachian Community Service Network, and later by Discovery in 1991.
As time progressed, TLC transformed from an educational channel into a circus-esque show of the gross and obscene. Shows like “Paleoworld,” “Learn to Read” and “Battles That Changed the World” were replaced by the likes of “My 600-lb. Life,” “90 Day Fiancé” and “Extreme Cheapskates.”
Countless programs TLC has aired or is currently airing display what a declining society stands for. “Sex Sent Me to the E.R.,” which TLC markets as a show in which “stories of sexual escapades turned medical mishaps are shared,” aired for four years with ample success. IMDb classifies this TLC favorite as a comedy, documentary and drama.
“My Strange Addiction,” which aired from 2010 to 2015, is a testament to the allure of obscurity that P.T. Barnum used to attract audiences to see the bearded lady and the 161-year-old woman in the 1800s. The TLC show features a wide array of addictions, such as consumption of bullets, dryer sheets, ashes from an urn, plastic bags, sand and tires. All of which (assuming the show is not entirely staged) are signs of a mental illness called pica, which can cause cravings of inedible objects, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Believe it or not, far more distasteful things have appeared on reality TV than these. Namely, shows like “Toddlers & Tiaras,” which relied on the drama and intrigue of provocatively dressed children to air.
Shows like this exist because people are watching them.
Whether the true colors of people are being represented in reality TV or not, the acts committed and words spoken by them have been recorded and produced for society’s consumption. The greatest solution to destroy such a demeaning, destructive and unhealthy lane of entertainment is by changing desire.
Full stomachs do not hunger.
We are all born hungry with an emptiness that can only be filled by the Holy Spirit. And in our great hunger, sometimes unhealthy food looks better and even tastes better than the sustenance that Jesus has for us. But our longing will never be satisfied by junk food or junk TV; it will only be satisfied by living water.
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).
Kilker is the opinion editor for the Liberty Champion.