Many of these reality shows and finding a husband or wife or marry a millionaire type shows and eating huge portions of food type programs are pure self indulgence,good example is Jersey Shore and a spin off of it with a couple of it's cast member's,which I first watched a episode of last night, and also the program where the guy eats a record breaking meal at a restaurant.

It is pure self absorbed indulgence and gluttony,is this the real mentality of people,and the way the viewers would love their lives to be like,and the creators of these type shows know that,and realize the popularity and a following of programs such as these will succeed in ratings.

Even many of the non reality shows picture some self absorbed individual and their lifestyle,I could name many,but why are they pushing these shows so hard,is it just for ratings,plain and simple,or is it something else?

I don't watch TV rick, to the amazement and befuddlement of all who know me.

The only thing I take a peak at online is 'Question Time' and that's really just for shits and giggles.

I can say though, my life has improved immeasurably since I gave it up. People find it hard to contemplate on the whole, though.

My main reason for doing so was much of what you said in your op. I also found it a bit pointless when deep down, I knew everything I was absorbing msm and news-wise was complete, scripted bollocks.

Most of it really is just novacaine for the brain, imo. Yes, your life is shit and some days you can't afford to eat...never mind though, look at these lovely examples of humanity and dream about the day you might win the lottery. Come home from your twelve hour shift and turn off your noggin for a few hours while you eat your microwave meal, but then, straight to bed!

No independent though now...you hear? Nighty, night. Nanny state loves you and only wants the best for you. And remember, tune in again tomorrow for your daily dose of fear...erm, I mean to hear how you can avoid the terriorists/latest killer bacteria and have a better, more meaningful existence.

Don't look around the eyes, look into the eyes. Three, two, one...you're under!

I do have TV, but only watch it for about an hour each day (1 hr 30 if there's a decent film on).

Personally, I'm into gluttony. Food's one of life's pleasures imo. There's nothing nicer than sitting down with family/friends to a home-cooked meal. I, for one, refuse to feel guilty about it.

It's actually not just TV either, rick. Look at FB and twitter. What are they about other than ego and self-importance? It's one of the reasons I've never really understood the phenomenon.

Not that I don't have an ego, of course, but it amazes me how seemingly level-headed people I've known for years, regardless of age, have become swept up in it.

Who cares what you had for tea? Why would you think I'd like to know about your journey into work this morning? No, I don't want to see a photo of your swollen ankle...

Piss off!!!!

Perhaps I'm just not "social" enough?

Ab Origine wrote:
Yeah, I hate Facebook! I know people who are obsessed with it...they are also narcissists.

Gilly wrote:
Definitely nothing wrong with that, Gilly. I'm still waiting for my invite, by the by...

I get Rick's meaning though. There is definitely a theme to the 'programming' of late. Perhaps it is just as simple as knowing that we all love this stuff, for whatever reason?

Ab Origine wrote:
Your FB and twitter examples of this are great, thank you,the egomaniac and self absorbed type individual is being glorified everywhere there's a media for it.

All of these reality shows are trash and they stir up negative feelings in people.

I heard this former soap star talking about his experience recently. He brought up a great point; something that occurred to him during his run on "Days of our Lives"(I believe that was the one). He said his character was basically a douche bag. People watch the show, his character appears on screen, being an asshole, the viewers get negative feelings from watching him and then- cut to commercial:
Are you feeling Depressed? Anxious?


I was impressed that a soap actor made that connection. And it's true...t.v. is depressing more than entertaining, imo.

Very good point K. I've never looked into it actually, but am quite sure advertising is targetted in such a fashion. It certainly 'appears' to be online, anyway.

I'd rather extract my eyeballs with a rusty pickle fork than watch a soap opera. I watched Coronation Street when I was a child, 'cause my mum & Gran (who lived with us) both liked it, and I recall there being some humour and warmth in it in those days.

These days, it's really grim, scary, depressing tripe, and I don't get what the attraction is at all.

If I'm watching TV it needs to be something thought-evoking, or delightful or pure escapism. Who the hell watches all this dismal reality poop, starring the most ridiculous, thick, unwholesome tit-heads in existence!?! Just the trailers, or spotting clips when scanning through channels is enough to make you projectile vomit!

I've been pondering whether people on facebook are actually narcissists or simply so lost that they seek constant validation for their unsatisfying existence.

It looks more like a cry for attention from someone with low self-esteem.
Lots of posts are attempts to make them look like caring, sweet people by using mawkish devices like "Share this if you think cancer is stupid" "Like if you have someone you wish had not gone to heaven" etc.
It's about saying "please like me, I'm nice and caring."
Fake tans, fake hair, nails, stencilled on make-up etc. These are evidently not people who are comfortable and confident in their own skins.

It's kinda disturbing to witness.

TV is a luxury so you should expect indul­gence.

It's just a 1st world human parenting problem.

Back on topic though.

I never watch tv.
It became insulting and superfluous ages ago.
I share the view that no-one continues to abuse you without your consent. So I turned it off.

Come to think of it, soaps' contents are the opposite of the self-indulgent thing though, aren't they? The last time I saw Coronation Street, Vera Duckworth was offering to share a tin of sardines with her skint mate.

RealAmerican wrote:
That's a very good point too, RA, re TV being a 'luxury'. I don't think many people in the UK at least see it that way. Yet another oddity I've never really understood.

People just willingly pay the BBC fee, even if they don't necessarily watch the bloody thing. It was very much highlighted to me when I gave it up, and about the time we had that census nonsense over here.

Some people view the licensing fee as something that HAS to be paid, like water rates or council tax. It is quite disturbing to witness and really only served to highlight the fact that people simply are not thinking for themselves.

feather wrote:
Yeah, I agree that there are a lot of people on there with self esteem issues. It's also a way of projected a glossy bullshit version of your life. It's not like you are going to post bad photos of yourself. It's like,
"Look how awesome my life is!"
"Check out my vacation!"
"Oh, look, we are such a happy couple-in-love!"

I know people like this and the reality doesn't match up to the photographic journal.

I read an article once about how looking at Facebook profiles had a negative effect on people's self esteem(it may have been teens) because they are comparing their lives to other people's profiles.

Here is a good article about Facebook:
psychcentral.com/news/2012/06/27/faceboo...arcissism/40728.html

K-Bone wrote:
That is a excellent reply K Bone,and very knowledgeable about the way these ego tripping,me first people really think,the statement you made about "look how awesome my life is" describes a person I know and helped me understand their way of thinking