Sir, – So-called reality shows are very popular because many people find them entertaining. The more outrageous, offensive, inappropriate and contentious a contestant is, the more like they are to win. Especially popular are the candidates who create conflict and fights. Why? Because many people find all these traits entertaining, especially the conflict and fighting aspects.
Having an enemy they can target gives people a focus. They feel energised. It’s fun to watch people fighting.
Sadly, I feel this reality show culture has now spilled over into politics and elections. It follows that the more conflict a political contestant can muster, the more likely they are to win because people want entertainment from election candidates. So, like a reality show, the more outrageous, offensive, inappropriate and contentious a political candidate is, the more likely they are to get voted in. Why? Because when it comes to politics, it is especially easy to muster conflict and fights between people and, for many, this is entertaining. People like politicians who can entertain them and they then vote for this politician. Policies and their implementation take second place to the politician’s entertainment value.
However, the conflict and fights that a politician uses to entertain us are not fictional. They can have a massive detrimental impact on real people in the real world.
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Rather than politicians sitting down and discussing an issue with decorum and dignity, people want to see a cat fight with insults, curses and name-calling flying around the room. Just like the reality shows they watch.
In my opinion, reality show culture has now become so embedded in our society, I don’t know how it can ever be tempered or, even better, removed.
The days are fading when politicians meet each other and display dignity, manners and integrity. Now we witness meetings where insults, name-calling and false accusations are all on the menu, leading to conflict and fighting. For many people this is entertainment, exactly like the reality shows they watch.
We are losing the ability to assess politicians based on their policies. Rather, they are now being judged on their ability to entertain us with fights and conflict. The more fights and conflict, the better their election chances. It doesn’t bode well for those of us who don’t want to live in a reality show.
There are still some of us around who value decorum, dignity and integrity.
We want to remain firmly planted in reality in the real world. – Yours, etc,
ANNETTE HUNTER,
Newmarket on Fergus,
Co Clare.