First of all, let me just publicly dispel a myth I held going into being unemployed. You would think that once you didn't have a job, you'd have all the time in the world to do the things you enjoy, since, after all, you finally had the time you were lacking when it wasn't consumed by commute and committed employment. That's bunk. The structure that school or employment provide are what drive motivation to do all those other things apparently. I haven't been this lethargic in ... well ... I can't even remember.
Being unemployed stinks. I'm not gonna lie. It just plain stinks.
What's worse, since I'm unemployed we can't afford normal people TV, so we're forced to use antenna TV. There isn't a whole lot on during the day. The only show I really even care about is Dr. Phil. The rest of the day is filled with what I like to call "drama TV" (the View, Tyra, Days of Our Lives, Maury, etc). So since it's all there is to watch, I started watching.
Did you know that Jerry Springer is STILL on TV?
WHY is Jerry Springer still on TV?
The guy who spearheaded the brawling drama TV movement is still doing his thing, provoking screaming fist fights between lesbian love triangles, spurned lovers, and midget rodeo transsexual Olympians. Girls flash the camera to get Jerry Beads. Seriously? We're still funding this crap? And what's worse, there are at least 3 other shows that specialize in the same stuff. And that's WITHOUT counting the judge and divorce court genre...
I could blame Jerry for ruining TV as we knew it, but the truth is he's still on the air because he keeps finding people to be on the air with him. People call in and want to be on the Springer show with their drama, and he obliges.
Truth be told, I think we're to blame for his presence. After all, they don't supply the drama, we do. As much as I hate it, I've become wholly convinced that our American culture no longer revolves around values, but around drama. We don't care about character nearly as much as we want to get to know characters.
Thinking back over my life, I don't know a venue, whether it be school, church, or family, where I can't pinpoint people who seemed as if they couldn't go a month, week, or sometimes even a day without some kind of drama. I'm sure you know people like that. Maybe it's you. Tune in next week to find out if it is...
No, seriously, think back. Why is it that we can't get through a day without some kind of a plot twist? Wouldn't it be AMAZINGLY REFRESHING if we could just do the mundane and boring for a week straight? Wake up, go to work (I wish), commute home, have a family dinner, enjoy some downtime, go to sleep and then do it all over again. Or how about this: Go to church, greet people, laugh, sing praise and worship, grow through studying the Word, go to lunch, go home, grab a nap, and do it all over again next week.
Why is there always gossip? Or fights? Or mistrust? Why do we let things like this keep our attention? Or why is it that we know characters on TV better than we do the members of our own families?
Honestly, I need YOUR perspective on this. Please answer the following questions in the comment section, especially if you're able to think back and remember life prior to sitcoms and reality TV (i.e. if you're older ... just sayin'): Why do you think drama has such a high place in our society? Is it a greater problem to be bored with the routines of life or exhausted from the emotional swings of living dramatically?
And on a completely separate note, I have to confess: I do watch the View. It's easy to tolerate after you've seen the Tyra show. At least The View has both sides represented. You don't know the "liberal bias" until you've seen it masquerading in designer dresses, dramatic eye makeup and heels.
