Quick! Change the channel

My fascination with reality TV began with "The Real World." Although uncertain about how true MTV's edited version of reality was, I was consumed with "a story about seven strangers picked to live together and have their lives taped." Then came "Trading Spaces," "Survivor," "The Osbournes"... the list is endless.\nYou can't flip through five channels today without coming across three blonde beauties competing for a chance to marry a stranger. I have multiple theories about the invention of reality-based television -- the obsession that has swept our nation.\nReality TV was invented by the government to serve as an escape from the war in Iraq. Last week I tuned into NBC and CNN to keep updated on the current state of our nation. As I surfed the channels I caught an episode of "Blind Date." My first reaction was to watch Tiffany and David struggle for conversation between bites of spaghetti. \nThe government almost sucked me into its scheme until I snapped out of it and turned back to CNN. The government would rather Americans watch ignorant idiots embarrass themselves on national television than convince terrified Americans that terrorists will not threaten our security again.\nReality television creates a numbing effect on Americans. For an hour, people can escape their lives and focus on someone else. Instead of watching American soldiers attempting to survive on the battlefield, Americans can watch people try to survive on a deserted island. They can ignore the bombing in Iraq and focus on strangers embarrassing themselves on national television. \nThe government once took control of the film industry. After World War I, the federal government created a standard for all directors and producers to follow. When film industry employees did not conform to this standard, they were considered communists and taken to court. Everything on the big screen had to be pro-American and pro-government. If the government created a standard in the past, what would stop it from doing it again? \nIn the case of "The Osbournes," the standard seems to be fame mixed with four-letter words. Instead of spending an hour with "The Brady Bunch," viewers would rather watch Ozzy attempt to turn on his own television. As boring as this is, it's better than Marsha reciting her lines from a script. \nReality TV also exists to make bored people appreciate their own lives. Feeling down about yourself? Need a quick fix? Tune into an episode of "Real World" and watch the characters sulk about growing up in the ghetto. This form of reality television is Hollywood's version of how life shouldn't be. \nFurthermore, reality TV was created so people can live vicariously through characters on television. Who needs to go on a date when they can watch strangers make enemies on "ShipMates." All it requires is time and a television.