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HOW DO I get myself sucked into these things? I suppose it could be "mommy guilt."
You know what I mean.
There's never enough time to spend with the kids. Especially now.
With the commute between Winchester and Fredericksburg still wearing on me daily (Please, God! Let the house sell quickly!) I find myself watching much more television than I normally would.
Normally, my nights would be spent reading, or crocheting, or embroidering with the television as white noise in the background.
Having a house full of guys means that I can tell you which cable channels carry ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNClassic, Comcast Sports.Well, you catch the drift.
Now, though, my 14-year-old is luring me into actually WATCHING the television.
"Boston Public," Mondays at 8 p.m. on Fox. We have a standing date.
Now, "American Idol."
I hate reality TV.
No, I mean I really hate reality TV. I refused to get caught up in the "Survivor" thing. Even when Big Tom came to the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, I was unimpressed.
My son, a typical male, deftly handles the TV's remote control, so inevitably I catch some of the shows I detest.
"Fear Factor" grosses me out. The stunts aren't bad, but who wants to watch people eat colons or drink 100-year-old eggnog?
And don't even come near me about "Joe Millionaire," "Last Resort," or any of those relationship shows. Bob and I are fine, thanks. And those people are definitely bizarre.
Which brings us back to "American Idol."
It can't just be Simon's meanness or Paula's quest to balance Randy and Simon. It can't be the horrible audition performances. It can't be the petulant reaction of most who didn't make the show.
I'm not particularly fond of the Britney Spears of the world, either.
So what is it about reality TV that draws people in?
"We can really project ourselves into the situation," explained Scott Geller, a psychology professor at Virginia Tech. "It makes it more emotional."
I'm not a singer, but I can relate to people who are very public in their professional life.
Geller also believes it is the scriptlessness of the situation that draws us in. "Sometimes, we get tired of the script. I think that's partly the reason we like sports."
The downside, of course, is that many of these reality shows feed into the worst of human nature. "It's a reflection of our culture. Not only is it a reflection, it affects our culture as well."
Particularly high on Geller's list of the worst reality shows is "Joe Millionaire," the Fox show where women are vying for the affections of Evan, whom they believe is worth $50 million. Actually, he's a ditch digger. "To show deceit on TV is absolutely absurd," Geller said.
It's that dark side, though, that Mary Washington College Associate Psychology Professor Dave Kolar believes creates the attraction.
"People watch them because they make us feel a bit better about ourselves," Kolar explained.
Still, focusing on the dark side can be, well, depressing.
"I wish we had more reality TV of people being kind to each other--the brighter side of reality rather than the dark side," Geller said.
Me, too.
Geller found it fascinating that during "Boston Public" commercials, my son switches over to "Fear Factor." "These shows, particularly 'Fear Factor,' are geared toward the high-schoolers," Geller said.
Wonder what happens next?
"Unfortunately, it's going to get weirder," Geller said. "It keeps escalating. We become desensitized. It becomes commonplace, and that's scary."
ANNETTE JONES, editor of the Extra sections, can be reached at The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401; by fax at 373-8455; by phone at 374-5046; or by e-mail at abjones@freelancestar.com.