Talk about a coincidence, I'm writing a paper for one of my classes on this very subject. Personally I believe some of these reality dating shows could be equated to soft-core porn.

I think shows like Bachelor and Flavor of Love have destroyed the idea of what relationships are about. Now days people think you need to fight, scheme and just be down right devious to win someone’s affections. However if that was true the majority of us would not be here. I think these programs have jaded the idea of what a healthy relationship is supposed to be. Take for instance I love New York two weeks ago. She got rid of a man name Punk. Now she had a literal list in her hand that she wrote down her-self and could not list one bad thing wrong with Punk. He was educated, honest, loyal, attractive, had goals and he was there for her. Yet she had a list with an abundance of things wrong with Buddha. In the next breathe she got rid of Punk. Her mom was confused, Punk was confused and I know the majority of everyone else probably was confused as well. These shows maybe fake but they have influenced young minds into thinking that “even if he or she is with someone don’t care and do everything in your power to get this person.” Its sad that there is not a reality program on the air to illustrate that if someone likes, love or is even interested in you, they will not have sex with other people or throw the word “love” around like it is nothing. Have you noticed that on each one of these show they throw the word “I love you” around and yet they will get rid of the person? These shows have even portrayed, that there are different degrees of love. For example on a Shot at Love, it was down between Dani the girl and Bobby the man. She choose Bobby and then started making out in front of the girl, until she walked away. After making out with this man for 3 minutes or so, she ran after Dani and said I love you but I am in love with Bobby. Love is unconditional but thanks to these show there are now degrees of love. It’s sad because the people who watch these programs and think this is reality, but its not; this is equivalent to improv shows at comedy clubs. Look at the people’s backgrounds that are on these programs: aspiring models, actors, actress, and musicians. Now where is the reality in that? These people are doing any thing possible to get their big break and certain viewers who are not that aware, believe this is all real and probably think the behavior of these men and women are acceptable/the norm. When in actuality the majority of these people on these programs are just looking for their big break at the expense of their own morality and dignity.

What do you mean when you say the sex in porn isn't real?!?

Ditto what Jamie said and then some.

It's ridiculous that anyone can watch these as other than mindless entertainment. I have friends and relatives that literally spent all day debating whether or not New York would pick Tailor Made or Buddha. Which is fine and all that, since it's the whole point of the show to build interest but they were talking about them like they were real people!

I mean, they don't even use their real names. It's like some sick fusion of the 1980s GI Joe and Barbie universes, where everyone is so happy to have their personality and profession conveniently labeled and given a stock card with their most irrelevant stats.

Stil, if you ignore the fact that most of them are setting the Civil and Women's Rights movements back an hour at a time they're still a pretty good way to piss away a Saturday (VH1has forsaken music for marathons).

I guess my real problem is that this isn't really the dating game where there was a sense of innocence but all of these shows, especially Tila's and New York's, are so over-sexed.

It's ALL about sex and I feel that sends the wrong message. I know middle school kids that watch "I Love New York." That is wrong on so many levels and speaks more to the role of effective parenting.

If these shows COULD show the amount of sex they wish they could show they would be entirely different. Out them on the scrambled channels and let them go nuts.

New York and Tila are so unbelievably unappealing. They are loud, stupid and not that great looking. New York is only famous because she threw herself at another loud, unappealing celebrity and made a fool out of herself.

these shows aren't about relationships, they are about the train-wreck. They are about the implied sex. They are a massive "Hey look how stupid, pathetic and horrendously e'ffed up these people are. Let us all laugh at them!"

But people are actually simple enough to take dating cues from them.

PT Barnum said it best: "You will never go bankrupt underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

Wait a second, people can't be so senseless that they actually believe that such shows are realistic. Seriously now, who would watch something like I Love New York or Shot of Love and think, "that's how I want my relationship to work."

HAHA... love reading all the commentary! people are really fired up about the stupidity, and so am i......as i sit on a saturday, drooling from the utter insanity that is "reality" tv. it makes me want to throw up all over myself, and then i think - i'm so glad i was raised right! poor kids that have this as their relationship role models :(

i plan on using these shows to educated kids on how NOT to act.

Most of these shows are utter & complete foolishness...They mock what a true relationship is....Shows of this variety capitialize on portraying the most desperate, insecure, and ineligible characters in situations which they have no business in...

BWDB http://thecwexperience.wordpress.com