There's Nothing Real About Reality Shows

I know I am in the minority here. But I truly do despise "reality" shows. I just don't think they are real at all. They always put families or contestants (depending on the show) in UNreal or scripted situations to see how it plays out. If the situation is scripted or NOT real, how is that "reality? Often times the cast are encouraged to act a certain way or they are flat out TOLD what to say. Whose reality is that? 

The very first reality show began in 1992...on of all networks, MTV. Real World focuses on the lives of young adults (often college students) that are complete strangers and who audition to live together in a large house (in a different city each season) for several months where their interpersonal relationships are recorded. In the beginning, I actually watched (and liked) this show because the ages of the housemates was so close to my own age and I could relate to some of them. I loved the fact that the show actually dealt with real issues that America's youth face every day...sex and sexuality, prejudice and discrimination, religion, abortion, illness, AIDS, death politics and substance abuse. It just started airing its 29th season in San Francisco. But, I don't watch it anymore. I sort of "outgrew" the show and to me, it's still scripted in unrealistic situations. 

But nowadays, there is "a whole nother" breed of reality shows. "Honey Boo Boo", "Duck Dynasty", reality shows about pawnshops and there are even "reality game shows" like "Survivor", "Dancing With the Stars" and "The Amazing Race", among others. 

But, again, there is nothing "real" about any of these shows. Sure the cast-members SAY that it's real. But, if you pay me enough, I will say anything you want. The genre's title of "reality" is often criticized as being inaccurate because of claims that the genre frequently includes premeditated scripting; acting; urgings from behind-the-scenes crew to create specified situations of adversity and drama; misleading editing; etc.

But, maybe that's the key? Maybe we don't WANT to see a real, true to life situation. We want to see something totally different from our own lives, so that we can feel better about ourselves. Cause, seriously, some of these families appear to be a train-wreck of under-educated rednecks. For me, I just cant deal with that. The shows and cast-mates are just too far fetched for me and I don't watch them. I don't understand how they can allow themselves and their families to be exploited on TV for money.

The shows that I DO watch seem to have a different format than the "Honey Boo Boo" types of shows. I watch "Pawn Stars" on History Channel, "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC, "Counting Cars" also on History Channel and a spin-off from "Pawn Stars", "Gigolos" on Showtime and "Push Girls" on Sundance Channel. Otherwise, I'm just gonna deal with the reality of my own life. It's going pretty good and I don't need an escape.

It's Not Really The "Greatest Show On Earth"

Tristen and I went to the Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey (hereafter called, RBB&B) Circus last week "because I have not been since I was 9 years old & I wanted to go." I was struck by how many petitioners were there, lining the streets to the coliseum. Yet, I could not bring myself to look one petitioner in the eye. I think, partly because I didn't want them lashing out at me. I told Tristen that I understand that they are just exercising their rights, but that it was idiotic. Surely, in 2014 if the circus mistreated any animals, it would be shut down by PETA. Right? He just said meekly, " I don't know. I hope you are right." The sight of the petitioners stayed with me all night. Fast forward to the show. We're having a blast (well, I am, anyway) watching the clowns and aerial acrobats; but I want to see the animals! There's an intermission in which someone is reading a bunch of "facts" about the circus's animal conservation efforts. Finally they come out!! I don't see the first bullwhip, prod or ankus(its like a fire poker, seriously). So I'm thinking, "Great!! I'm right!! They don't hurt their animals!!". But wait. The lions, tigers and elephants don't act like that in the wild. They don't do those things. I slowly realize that they ARE mistreated if they are being "trained" to react this way because this IS inhumane. The information read during intermission is just smoke and mirrors. I see the discoloration on the elephants' ankles from the shackles. I KNOW this isn't right, now. Hell, they don't even have the content look of the animals at the zoo. We get home and I think about it all for a few days. I finally go on the internet to do my research and my heart just sinks. Hell I'm damn near tears just writing this. And I can't believe that after everything I've been reading that ANY circus (some zoos too) is still in business, let alone RBB&B. Though, maybe there are circuses that treat the animals better---I haven't found one yet in my research. But RBB&B is a multimillion dollar business. They can afford any and all lawsuits against them. They just pay the fines and keep on trucking like it never happened. I've now read I think about everything they've ever been charged with. And its horrifying. Hell, a cruelty to animals lawsuit was just brought against them again this past December. What I stupidly thought would be results from a time long ago before PETA and laws existed to protect these creatures, turned out to be MUCH more recent than that, including animals getting diseases and dying from them. Diseases that don't occur in the wild. like tuberculosis and herpes. A lot of this abuse occurs right here in Florida at their "conservation" facility. Remember the Disney movie, "Dumbo"? Remember how the elephants were mistreated? It's not just a cartoon. It's real life. Walt knew what he was talking about. These animals are beaten, starved, chained up for HOURS in small, confined spaces and severely overworked. 

I have always considered myself to be pretty intelligent. So, why didn't I already know these things? Why have I always turned a blind eye when the evidence has always been right there to find? I'm still doing more research on all the animals. But it seems the beautiful and majestic elephant is the one that is tortured the most. But there have been reports of a lion mistreated as well. He actually died from heat exhaustion and lack of water while travelling through the desert. The USDA has filed charges against RBB&B for forcing animals to perform when they are sick and diseased too.  Though it was many years ago, in 1929, John Ringling ordered the execution of a majestic bull elephant named Black Diamond after the elephant killed a woman who had been in the crowd as he was paraded through a Texas city. Twenty men took aim and pumped some 170 bullets into Black Diamond's body, then chopped off his bullet-ridden head and mounted it for display in Houston, Texas. Could they not have euthanized the elephant more humanely??? 

Remember me mentioning the ankuses earlier? Also known as an elephant goad or bullprod, the ankus is inserted into the elephant's sensitive skin, either slightly or more deeply, to cause pain and induce the elephant to behave in a certain manner. Eventually, just the site of the prod will incite enough fear to insure the desired behavior.  It consists of a hook (usually bronze or steel) which is attached to a two- or three-foot handle. Following, is am extremely graphic video obtained that shows the abuse when the ankus is used. Notice the "Greatest Show On Earth" headgear that many of the elephants shown are wearing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhQBpq0ZjDE The following graphic picture also shows the prod in use. 

And what about that Pegasus, mammoth and unicorn on display in this year's "Legends" tour? Do you REALLY think it's fair and humane to the animals to be forced to parade in "costumes" the way they are? Pegasus, is just a plain old every day horse forced to wear fake wings. The same goes for the horse made to look like a unicorn with it's fake horn. And I don't even want to know what the poor elephant went through to be forced into a "costume" that made her look like a woolly mammoth!  

Last week was, indeed, my LAST week of ever seeing another circus. And I will not knowingly attend any event held by Feld Entertainment... the parent company that produces Ringling Bros. I will not finance a company that participates in these vile acts. I can't undo my past participation of their cruelty to animals. But I can certainly stop it in the future and continue to educate myself (and you) in the future.