Reality TV

Reality television has always been a controversial subject, with some even going as far as to call for a ban on all forms of Reality TV. Reality TV are television programmes which consist of real people that are being continuously filmed as they live through there day to day lives, they are generally designed to be entertaining rather than informative. These programs include The Apprentice, Hell’s Kitchen, The X Factor, Americas Next Top Model and the all notorious Big Brother. All of these reality TV shows contain real people competing for some sort of prize, whether it being a new career, a million dollars or pseudo-fame.
Undoubtedly Reality TV can be very entertaining but at what cost? There have been numerous cases of ex-reality TV participants attempting suicide – with some of them even succeeding. No matter how good or bad you do in a reality TV show you are almost guaranteed to not be able to live the same life that you used to.
On the 14th of October 2013 Master Chef Runner-Up Joshua Marks was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head, The death was ruled a suicide. Marks was apparently battling mental issues in a private medical facility in Chicago and his parents blame the role and pressure that Master Chef had on Joshua as a major reason for his illness and subsequently his death. Although Marks, who had bipolar disorder, had worked with the Make A Sound Project, a non-profit group that seeks to use music to raise awareness of issues related to suicide, He himself still managed to reach a state in which he felt it best to take his own life.
Producers of reality TV are often seen as sick people but regardless, from a financial point of view reality TV makes a lot of sense. Participants always start of by they themsel...

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...a industry, contestants should be fully warned of the possible consequences of their participations before they enter the competition and I also believe mental checks should be made to assure the person is mentally capable of handling the possible backlash and trauma. Personal background checks should also be made to see if the person has suffered any form of previous traumatic experiences.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't watch reality TV programmes, but the motivations behind being a viewer should be ethically questioned. Instead of passively accepting whatever media companies try to feed you, it would be better to take some time to reflect on why such programming is made and why you feel attracted to it. Perhaps you will find that your motivations themselves are not so attractive.

Works Cited

http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/phil/blphil_eth_realitytv.htm