Most of what is on TV today are reality shows. Some of these shows have people chasing millions of dollars, some have them perfecting their body, and some have people trying to find love. Reality shows like the Bachelor, A Shot at Love, and The Bachelorette help singles to find someone to share their hearts with. The problem is that most of the people exposed to reality dating shows are seeing life through rose-colored glasses.
Usually these shows start off with a huge cast of people that are quickly eliminated on the first night. Then as the shows progress relationships are formed and some people have their hearts broken when they are sent home. There are elegant and elaborate dates set up. Sometimes the singles are sent jet-setting to France, have wonderful candlelit dinners on private beaches, and sail the seas on private yachts. Then it is time to meet the parents in their hometowns. Soon the show comes to an end with a dramatic finale when a choice is made between the final two.
The only problem is, by the time these shows make it on the air most of the couples are no longer together. The issue with dating shows is the fact that they become a condensed version of real life. Much like cans of condensed juice, they are too much of a good thing and in order to make them taste right you have to add water to dilute the sweetness.
Life inside a dating show is too much of a good thing. Everything is set to perfection, every candle is perfectly lit, and every rose petal is set in its place much like a puzzle piece. While all of these things are great, they are unrealistic. When there are no responsibilities and no real life, everything is easy. People don’t have to worry about the fact that they live in separate states, their professional lives, finances, household chores and families.
Dating shows don’t usually work out because it is an unrealistic version of real life. Real love is about working though everyday life, and sifting through problems and issues on an everyday basis as they arise. When all of the normal pieces of life are removed from the equation you are left with a puzzle with only the outer edges put together and an empty middle. People that find themselves signing up for dating reality shows should spend some time making new friends and meeting new people. For centuries, people have fallen in love without the assistance of reality dating shows, so maybe we should stick with tradition on this one.
