Reality Tv- Time To Switch Off

Public Speaking

Good Evening Mr Chairperson, adjudicators, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and fellow students.

I am here today to discuss Reality TV: Time to switch off. This is a tricky question to settle as many different people hold various views about reality TV shows, this is obvious from the points of views put forward n my own class. We all hold a varying view point on this topic.

I am going to start off by defining exactly what we mean by reality TV. Reality TV programmes are programmes in which the camera records every single movement made by each character or contestant in the show.

One thing that puzzles me about Reality TV is why they even call it "reality". The majority of it isn't even remotely close to reality. A bunch of people living in an enclosed house doing tasks and competing against each other and voting people off, as on "Big Brother" doesn't happen everyday. Neither does a bunch of girls and guys on an island, half-naked and trying not to cheat on their partners, who are back home, as on "Temptation Island". The same goes for "I'm Celebrity Get Me Out of Here", where people are made to eat disturbing things and do torturous stunts in a quest to win money and become known as King or Queen of the jungle.

I strongly feel that reality TV is stupid. Is there really a need for it on our TV screens. Most of it is even offensive and morally wrong. Take, for example, the show Temptation Island. Most of the reality TV shows include competition between the people on the show, which results in hurtful things being said to many of the contestants. A lot of the people that compete on these "reality" TV shows, regardless of their age, are immature and feel they need to pull each other's confidence down in order to bring their own up. Many of the people taking part in these reality TV shows often find themselves growing to strongly dislike others, take Big Brother for example, Michelle fell in love with Stuie in about 3 days and became so possessive that she was actually jealous if another girl spoke to him. This really got out of hand when herself and Emma were put in the bed sit.

I also think reality TV is shallow and cruel. A lot of the shows are about money or physical attraction. In fact, it's not just reality TV that focuses on money and sex. These two things, along with alcohol, seem to be the focus of many shows today, including the half hour comedies. Reality TV, as well as the rest of the media, is not sending out a very positive message these days. The message people are getting is that you have to drink to have a good time, that money is more important than morals and values, and you have to be thin for