“Survivor.” “Big Brother.” Merely the latest installments in America’s ongoing fascination and experimentation with voyeurism.
I suppose this experiment-gone-awry began in earnest with a medium such as radio. We began by listening-in on the lives and antics of comedians and heroes. Since then, the explosion of media that has taken place in this century has only served to radically intensify this phenomenon: Life Magazine, tabloids, pornography, television, the Internet … the list is long.
Most of this was initially meant to be entertaining and informative, to be sure. But, somewhere along the way, our appetites became increasingly insatiable. And, reflecting the changing values of the last several decades, our appetites have become increasingly perverse.
We’ve gone from “I Love Lucy” to “Melrose Place” and from the innocence of Andy Griffith’s “Mayberry” to the vulgarity of “N.Y.P.D. Blue.” We are no longer satisfied to listen to Archie Bunker and Al Bundy flush their toilets – we now want to watch people using their toilets. For that matter, some rock performers don’t even bother with a toilet, they just let everything out on stage for thousands of impressionable young minds to absorb. And, with the televising of the Vietnam War, blood and guts splattered across our viewing screen became normal – almost palatable.
My how the human race has “advanced” in our Kinder, Gentler, Brave New World Order! Our freedom to progress has turned into a tyranny of
regression. We are not evolving and becoming more enlightened, we are
degenerating, self-destructing – becoming twisted and jaded in our thinking.
One question about all of this is: Where will it stop – or are we even capable of stopping? Today, it is the naked homosexual of “Survivor” flaunting his wares – what will we see in the coming months, years and decades? Whatever new perversion – or variation of an existing perversion – comes our way, you can be sure that it will be in Living Color and Surround Sound. Meanwhile, our sainted Fourth Estate will continue its defense of pushing the envelope all the while decrying the evils of self-policing and censorship. And the WWF and Jerry Springer will become pass? and new abominations will arise in their place.
But, by far, I think the most important question to ask is: Why? Why are we doing this? What is it about watching other people living out their lives – no matter how mundane or crude their activities may be – that fascinates us so much? Why has America and even much of the “civilized” world given themselves over to voyeurism on such a grand
scale?
Boredom? Living out our own mundane lives vicariously through other
people and dreaming like Walter Mitty? Distraction from the horrors of our own real, pathetic existence? Perhaps all of these. Whatever the reasons and psychological dynamics, however, it is a powerful, addictive drug and our world is obsessed with it.
My prescription?
Reacquaint yourself with the clear morality and values of the Bible – God gave us this gift for our benefit, not because He is some arbitrary, capricious old man who wants to rain on our parade.
Reconnect with your wife and throw away the Playboy centerfolds. Play a game with your children in your yard instead of on a video screen. Spend time talking and having dinner with your friends and neighbors instead of chatting online with strangers.
Life was meant to be lived and enjoyed. Not feared. Not hidden from. Not viewed from someone else’s perspective. Seize the day! Don’t live as a mental cripple and look back later on your life with
regret for the things you did not do. Love! Learn! Stretch yourself! Grow!
Oh, and while you’re at it, do yourself a huge favor: Turn off the boob tube.
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WND Staff