Why is it that reality TV and gossip magazines are the new scapegoats for all the country’s troubles? Five years ago it was video games, before that it was rap music. This BBC article claims that people who watch reality TV or read gossip rags are either not interested in, or have no time for environmental issues.

Hmmm, I know several people whose careers are dedicated to environmental issues that also watch reality TV and/or read celeb magazines. After 40+ hours a week thinking and working on tough problems, a person just needs a break. You need some mindless entertainment to recharge. And if it’s not these things, it’s something else. I get no hangover from this guilty pleasure - which makes it easier to get right back to work. So why is celeb-watching and reality TV the new bane of existence? To me these arguments are simple-minded group-think.

Of course it is a problem when “reputable” news agencies spend hours a day reporting on celeb gossip. I haven’t watched CNN in a long time so I’ve been pretty shocked that more often than not when I flip it on lately, they’re discussing Britney Spears or some such. Whaaa? And some poor people get all their news from local newspapers and the 10 o’clock news. These outlets have always been full of fluff. That’s a problem