Greetings, fellow swimmers!
You may be wondering about the title of this post. Of course, you all know what an oxymoron is, but just in case you've forgotten, it combines two contradictory words to create a paradoxical or ironic effect, used for emphasis, humor, or to provoke thought. One of the biggest oxymorons I've encountered is - are you ready for this?
Reality Television.
Really?
Can anyone out there tell me anyplace on the thousands of television channels and streaming services out there where anything is real? Television was never real, not since the very first program aired.
I don't even believe anything in the news is real anymore, but let's not go there!
Being retired now for several years, DH has found many interesting things to do with his time. He has volunteered for the Pittsburgh Literacy Council, working with adults, which he really enjoyed. He just didn't enjoy riding into the city every week, especially through the winter, so he finished that and moved on to helping with the food bank once a month. He does still do that. He was learning Spanish, more to keep the brain juices flowing. (He also once said that he felt it important to be able to ask why he was being taken to jail? but I don't think I want to know why. I felt it more important to find out what time the train is expected, and where is the bathroom!) But, this is also on hold for awhile - although he has taken the name of a Spanish tutor from the library. And now?
Now, he's all about reality television! He looked at me just the other day and said, "I think it's a sickness." I didn't disagree.
One of the shows is called 'Traitors' - and if you've never watched one, they can be highly entertaining. Our first was a season hosted by Allan Cumming, who is fascinating. If you really like it, then you can watch the other two seasons. It takes place in a 'castle' in Scotland, and features mostly American celebrities from American reality shows, like Real Housewives and Survivor. There is also a version from Australia. And the UK. And New Zealand. Yes, he's watched them all.
Then came Trust; Alone; some other survival show; and now, he's jumped into Squid Games.
Sometimes I'll watch an episode with him, or part of one, just to spend a little time together - but I draw the line at Squid Games. Those people with the creepy outfits with one goggle eye who don't speak - no thank you. Not even remotely interested! While I realize that nobody actually gets hurt, I just don't like the premise. Not my idea of entertainment.
Think about it: where is the reality in any of these shows? Many of them certainly are experiments in social behavior - you kind of wonder if they were thought up by some doctoral student of sociology, working hard on that PhD. Truly, though - how can you call a reality show 'real' anything? Who came up with the term 'reality television' anyway? And, why are people so addicted to them? What is lacking in our lives that we have to watch other people's misfortunes? Or, shallow loves gained and lost? Is this giving our youth a normal picture of what love actually is?
I'm not judging people who watch reality television - after all, sometimes you just want to watch something mindless. I watch Survivor - only because there is a group of us who put down $10, pick a name out of a hat, and the winner takes all. If I wasn't playing, I probably wouldn't watch.
No, my reality is here in the Stress Pool, where staying afloat can be problematic enough. And, I'm happy to report that the real pool is also open for the summer. I know it's the real deal, because the water is freezing, and the days really aren't hot enough yet to warm the water. It is much nicer, though, to come home and see the pretty sparkling blue water than that ugly gray-green cover full of leaves.
So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by for a refreshing dip and we'll talk about reality - whether it's in real life, or a television show!
