I've noticed recent Alligators have had letters concerning reality television, namely the show "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila."
Let me say first, I think of myself as a reasonable person. Hell, I'd even call myself a good citizen. But I think the author of Thursday's letter "People hide from life in reality television" was a little extreme. Not all people who watch this and similar shows are "incompetent fools," as suggested. Sure, it's trash, and I wouldn't let children watch it. My parents would probably be disgusted by it.
But it's just television. Television has never been an outstanding influence on society. Is someone forcing you to sit down and watch reality TV instead of getting work done? Can't you just throw away your television or keep it tuned to the news to hear the things you want to hear? Bill O'Reilly is more disturbing to me than "reality" television. I'm sure some of the war protesters from Students for a Democratic Society watch Tila Tequila's show. Does that make them hypocritical?
If America stops watching reality television, will glaciers stop melting? I am concerned with unnecessary war and violence in the world, especially in Iraq. However, I don't think it's ridiculous to zone out occasionally and watch some controversial television. I tend to drink and cheer for the Gators every weekend, too - is that being ignorant?
People need to realize that entertainment is just entertainment. I'm not about to pull a Tailor Made and spit on a guy because I saw it on TV. My suggestion is to chill out and sit down Tuesday for just one hour and watch Tila Tequila - she has a great ass.
