Addicted to Pop…Culture

There’s this thing out there social scientists call a “para-social relationship.” It’s the kind of relationship where Bob knows a lot about Joe, but Joe doesn’t know squat about Bob.

Of course, “Joe” is some A-list celebrity whose face is plastered all over magazines and TV. And “Bob” is a late-teened or early-twentied girl who needs to realize that people.com is not the best source to find out world news.

Now, I’ve never been one to believe these Sociologists – I hear the jury is still out on science – but I think they may be on to something. More and more people seem to be obsessed with break-ups and baby bumps and Dr. Martens. And more and more media outlets are feeding that obsession.

It’s a vicious cycle, really. A few IQ-lacking people seek out the latest in entertainment news and celebrity gossip, which makes media organizations think it’s something people care about. So they produce a week-long series on Anna Nicole Smith, or something equally ridiculous. The general populous notices this extensive coverage, and so they think it’s something important, something worth following. Under the guise of real news, more and more people watch it. When the number of viewers goes up, the news stations think it’s of serious interest to people, so they keep covering it. This repeats over and over again until pictures of emaciated children in Africa have been replaced with pictures of anorexic starlets in Hollywood.

And even though I’m a member of the media, and it’s the very industry I plan to someday sell my soul to, I really think they’re the ones to blame. The media moguls are more concerned about ratings than serving the general public. Ethics, morals and fundamental journalistic principles are pushed aside as stories are aired and published. The line between fiction and non-fiction becomes blurry, and stories are sensationalized and biased as writers, publishers and producers convince themselves that omitting facts is not the same as lying.

And people just eat it up.

But I do understand where these executives are coming from. Wouldn’t you do the same thing? Tabloids are flying off the shelf faster than Lindsay Lohan goes back to rehab (zing!) But seriously folks, the general public has proven time and time again they can’t be trusted to make decisions for themselves. When it comes to deciding what is important and worthwhile, their judgment is usually impaired

It’s bad enough “American Idol” is the highest rated show on television, but then to have someone like Sanjaya Malaker stay on for weeks?

It’s bad enough more votes are cast nowadays through cell phones than ballot boxes, but then to actually elect George W. Bush as president?

Twice?

It’s bad enough people flock to reality shows like Paris Hilton to court appearances, but then to religiously watch a reality television show with Tiffany “New York” Pollard?

Three times?

Come on people. As fun as it is to watch the “reality” that is Laguna Beach, you cannot replace real reality – you know, like, real life – with someone else’s reality. It’s time to stop living your life through celebrities. Sure you may not be as smart, good-looking or talented as they, and your life is probably a lot more boring, but it’s time to realize anything involving Britney Spears is NOT news.

So think about your para-social relationships. How much are you getting out of it? Is that person there for you when you need them? Is their shoulder available for crying if need be? Do they ever call, just to say hi?

If not, it may be time to break it off. They obviously don’t care about you at all.

So please keep right, except to pass.