There has been an interesting debate lately posted to debate.org: Does TV promote Dangerous Stereotypes? This really caught my attention. I realize the television elicits various emotional responses from people.  

The discussions on Debate.org, the programmers they were talking about was reality tv, and streaming programmers. Such as hulu, Netflix, and Amazon.

We continue to watch television as we get older.  As one’s emotional character develops, so does ones taste in tv programs.  In fact, I would argue that the topics of television programs grow in intensity as we get older as well.  More realistic topics draw us in so we feel very connected to the tv shows, though the ideas put in their heads may not be in their best interest. 

On TV, there are dangerous topics that put mental impressions into your brain, or cause you to develop a different mindset on the things around you. Stereotypes exist because there is a shred of truth to every single stereotype. Many kids have stars, or athletic figures they try to behave like, copy their style and look up to.  Some of those children don’t get to define themselves at that time in their lives, they are trying to grow and develop mindsets like their role models, which shouldn’t be the case.

Reality TV can cause society to do unhealthy things to their bodies. The ideal woman body is now underweight, and unhealthy. A lot of females get hurt from trying to copy and look like the females they see from the media. They would get plastic surgery, tummy tucks to look like other stars. That adds on to women not knowing their self worth.  Before stereotypes become any worse, we need to stop children at a young age.  Also, make sure we know what we are observing when we sit in front of TV or place others in front of the TV. Some things shown are unrealistic and could corrupt children in a way by changing their views of the world.  

What I anticipated, is that we need to put a leash on these stereotypes, and realize that they are dangerous and the more the programmers go into the topics the more stereotypes that will be created.