Confessions: Guilty Pleasure

I love watching reality shows! I’ll even watch re-runs of the same show over and over again just to re-analyze anything that I may have missed. It is somewhat of a guilty pleasure. I pride myself as a woman who carries herself well, is well-spoken, who enjoys attending cultural events and exploring the outdoors. I admit that I do cringe when I witness “rachet” unbecoming behavior amongst my “peers” in my daily life, and I secretly look around hoping to not be judged according to my “peers’” behavior. They do not represent me. However, I quite enjoy watching the same craziness on television and am not offended. I go as far as to talk back to the screen when someone does something outrageous.

I have heard it said, by relatives and my elders, that reality television is mind-numbing. That it is making our generation dumb and reckless. That it is causing people to take chances that they would have never taken before because it was seen on one of those shows. I understand and to some extent agree. Some people are easily influenced by what they see. Others want instant fame and engage in risky behavior just to create a 30 seconds video clip and hope that it goes viral on the internet… but I’m not one of those people. I watch solely for entertainment.

I have even found that many people who seem like the type to watch these shows – and yes I’m judging – say that they don’t watch and I think to myself, “Well, you could’ve fooled me!” On the other hand, I find that some of the most intelligent individuals do watch these shows as a break from their lives. Mindless television is a form of relaxation for many.

Why are these shows a guilty pleasure for me? Because when asked if I watch them and I reply “yes” I either get “Really? Why?” with a look of judgment or “Girl, me too? I wasn’t sure if I should ask! What did you think about the Housewives reunion special? Do you watch the show on the other channel too? Girl, I know right!” followed by a high five or a sigh a relief that she’s not alone.

What helps me to not feel guilty for watching these outrageous shows are the words of wisdom given to me by an older woman who I respect. She said that today’s reality shows are the soap operas of our generation. Our elders watched, and still watch, soap operas for entertainment, so there is nothing wrong with enjoying the reality shows of today. Now that's honest!