A few nights ago I experienced MTV's "A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila," a show many of my acquaintances hold in high esteem. I am just as guilty of watching my fair share of "reality" TV, but something about this show sparked a feeling of disgust. Disgust, that is, with what our society is turning into.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with any of the characters' sexuality. My problem is with the show's overall message.
Tila Tequila is deified, the characters are self-deprecating, the value of real love is reduced to nothing, and promiscuity is somehow transformed into a virtue. Sure, the show's premise is that each character is supposed to remain faithful only to Tila, but let's face it: If that were to happen, the show would attract few viewers.
What bothers me most is the fact that "A Shot At Love" and shows like it draw so many college-aged viewers, precisely the demographic that traditionally serves as the motor of social change in our society.
I'm sure that more than a few of the students sucked into this show are the same ones who fault Fox News for ruining our society. Freedom of the press is great, but when prime-time television consists of hours of promiscuous sex, shouldn't we question the direction our society is heading in?