So I watched some MTV programming this Thanksgiving weekend. All I can say is wow...

I caught the end of some show called 'Living in the 70's' which at first I thought was pointless but kinda fun...I mean who doesn't want to live in the land of 8-Tracks, shag carpets and really, really tight clothes. But as I kept watching, I saw the tell-tale signs of MTV's evilness brainsucking garbadge.

Of course, the contestants on this reality show are mostly good looking (but not as beautiful or tortured as the Laguna Beach teens) self assured SoCal kiddies who have very little intelligence and even less class. What at first was angst about how poorly they did at some 'task' for the show turned into the hate-fest that is MTV-reality. They did the whole confessional "I hate Tina because she's such a loser" bit, and followed it up with some good cliquy group talks.

From what I can gather:
-girls all hate each other, except when they love each other
-guys are generally stupid
-girls are either extremely self assured and full of will, or are useless followers who cannot hold their own
-guys are generally stupid, and horny

Now, I'm not one to say that 'everyone should only watch role-models on TV or they'll turn into idiot', but I'm more than a little concerned that North American teens are pluging themselves into this crap seven days a week. It's shocking the stupidity of these programs, and how they really are more about the hateful drama than the 'tasks and relationships' that they perport to be. I don't buy into the rule that people will act out what they see on TV or listen to in music, but this can't really be a good reinforcer for 16-year-old girls who want to find new ways to slice their friends to bits. Even for the guys, who stradle the jock-with-a-brain barrier, seeing a bunch of guys sitting in a hot tub and talking about how to pick up the girls is a pretty low image. Has it gotten so bad that today's young guys seem to believe they will succeed in life simply by acting the stereotypical role of the dude?

I can't believe how freaking old and motherly I sound... but really. Watching this shite for a laugh is one thing, but if this is all you know as 'normal' as a teen...yikes. I think I'll go watch some brain-rotting Batman TAS or similar.