The Ultimate Reality Show

A decade or so ago it appeared as if everybody loudly proclaimed that they were “victims” based on their gender, religion, race, heritage etc. etc. It became so ludicrous that even white men, the group that everyone felt were the ones in control, soon believed that they were victims because they were now being excluded from opportunities going to minorities. We were told that political correctness was the solution to all of our problems. We had to make sure that everyone went through sensitive training and in order to be diverse we had to actively strive to include “victims” from each group.

Political correctness quickly filtered down to our schools. In order to be fair to all children, schools tried to eliminate any situation where a child might be perceived as a loser. To this end most of the games we grew up with were deemed inappropriate and it seemed as if every parent was given a “My child is on the honors list” sticker. And in both schools and work if you didn’t like someone then you were assumed to be prejudiced of whatever group the person was in. So if you disliked a person it was considered to be your fault and you needed to change because you had to like everyone.

Then along came a new show – Survivor. Shortly thereafter there were a slew of similar shows: American Idol, Big Brother, Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway, Hells Kitchen etc. etc. What these shows all had in common was the new idea of actually saying somebody was a loser. Instead of being inclusive, as we were told we had to be, these reality shows were actually kicking someone off the show and not only was someone ousted but they were often told why they were losers. We loved it when Simon would tell someone what we all wish we could say sometimes – that the person did not have any talent or that they were strange or creepy or weird.

How refreshing! After being beaten over the head with the notion that you must accept everyone and how it seemed as if everyone were victims and needed special treatment, here were shows that had people saying to someone “we don’t like you” or “you’re terrible no matter what your mother said”. Even those with disabilities were treated the same as everyone else and were given no special treatment. Regular folks, victims, minorities, disabled, and famous people were all treated equally and eventually were each called losers and kicked off the show. Wow. How politically incorrect is that? But we loved it as evidenced by the continuously high ratings these shows had.

Now we have the election, the biggest reality show there is. What makes this interesting is that it is also a clash of sensitivity against the Survivor type meanness. After watching both blacks and whites being called losers on reality shows will people be mean to both candidates? Or will all that sensitivity training and diversity create a fear of being called racist even if we simply are disagreeing with Obama’s positions? I guess it boils down to which is more important: To be a survivor; someone equally mean (or nice) to everyone and to identify who you like or don’t like, regardless of race, gender, religion etc. or to be politically correct and sensitive to people who are victims and to give them preferential treatment. So ask yourself this: Are you politically correct or are you a survivor?