Extreme Problems…In Beverly Hills?

Flashback…I don’t know…a bunch of years ago….  

I’m watching American idol.  There was nothing else on and I’m in the type of mood to age myself by about 70 years.  I’m in a good enough mood to willingly sit through American idol, so that says something.  And then Contestant One comes on.  

• Story 1:  Contestant 1- I just got out of an abusive relationship and saved my children from violence.  Me: Oh my God.  I hope she makes it.  
• Story 2: Contestant 2- I got laid off from my job and now I’m homeless.  Me: Oh my God! Please put her on the show and give her a home.  
• Story 3: Contestant 3: I had to give up my dreams to care for my ailing relative.  Me: Oh. My. God.  Put him on this show even though he’s not that great.  

And it continues a few more times before I’m just like I need to shut this off.  I'm depressed.  I need to donate more.  I need to like pick corn and hand it out to people because, I don’t know, unnecessary hard labor seems like it will help people.  Whatever, it probably won’t.  Clearly I’m delusional right now but I need to do something.  I at least need to do something to put myself on these people’s levels of living.  And then after an hour of extreme empathy, I realized, I need to pull it together.  I don’t know these people, just help the person in front of you, and..oh… live your own life. 

Fast forward (to a galaxy far away)…

I’m watching another reality competition.  The sob stories continue.  I’m pushing for them mainly based on their story versus actual talent.  But after like, the 4^th one, okay maybe the 5^th one (okay maybe the 6^th one) I don’t really feel that bad anymore.  And immediately I’m like, oh my God I am so heartless, I need to find a secluded area in a secluded country, meditate for a few days, and then come back, and then, I don’t know give the contestants a hug and an apology for being a horrible human being.  Mongolia is a little far, but I'll settle for a corner in New Mexico.  

Again, ridiculous thoughts and clearly delusional.  I finally just realized, I’m not a heartless or horrible person.  I’m just tired of being used.  Stop tugging on my ability to feel empathy to get some type of gain.  I think that person from American idol ended up in jail a few years later for like actually choking someone (probably for drugs).  Oh that other contestant...on drugs.  And that other contestant...on drugs.  And wait, that girl from Teen Mom, who I felt bad for because she had to shop at Wal-mart and not eat because she had no money, made over $200,000 last year?  And is now in rehab because she was…on drugs?  What an unnecessary waste of my emotions.

Fast forward to the conclusion…

Sob stories may get you somewhere but they won’t keep you there.  Turn off the bad tv and turn on…I don’t know…something else?  Sorry, I flushed my catchy catchphrases down the toilet along with my dreams of single-handedly ending the sadness of all reality show contestants.