we can't go back

I read this story this morning about a petition to ask the E! Network to remove all programming related to the Kardashian Family.

I find this laughable and I'll tell you why.

The collective masses and group-think we call "society" demand more of nearly everything every day.  We want more money, more noteriety, more advanced technology, more avenues to entertain us, more people to disagree with, more power, more influence and it's never enough.  And now they want to go backwards and it just can't happen. 

You got what you asked for.

Being born in the 70's and growing up in the 80's I have seen the "coming about" of many modern appliances and early technological advances that it's difficult to imagine life without -- but, apparently, at one time, we did.  I remember being called home from a friends house to see the new microwave.  It seemed cool.  Huge, but cool.  I also remember taking the drive out to my Dad's office to see his new Fax Machine.  I didn't get that one at all...still not sure I do, actually.  I fought [physically] with my brother to change the channel on the TV.  [You see, we had to get up from the couch and turn the dial on the box.  Getting up and heading towards the TV was an invitation for a beat-down.]  My mom had a car phone that was drilled into the center console of her Oldsmobile and I had a bag phone under my drivers seat as I travelled to spring break senior year and all the way through college.  I told people my freshman year that "no, I didn't get your E - mail" I wasn't doing that, it was a fad and I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard the word "blog" and thought it was both hilarious and ridiculous at the same time.

Now everyone, including elementary students, have their own cell phones complete with cameras [BTW, what parent of a junior high student thinks that is a good idea?!], text messaging, laptops with cameras [again, HELLO?!], the ability to see and talk to whomever you want, anywhere in the world for free and the ability to purchase anything in the world, any time of the night or day.  We have it all.

And although it's what we asked for [read:  demanded] we seem to want less but don't want to admit it outloud.

I remember hearing that a suburb near my hometown was discussing a potential new law regarding distracted driving.  Essentially, the law would prohibit any activity other than driving when behind the wheel:  drivers couldn't drink coffee, apply makeup [probably reasonable], talk on cell phones, text [also reasonable] or even eat your drive-through treasures.  It's like no one noticed that we fought and fought for the invention of all of these things and celebrated their arrivals by spending our money but now we want to go backwards and ban them.  It's too late.  We all got what we asked for.

Which brings me back to the Kardashians.  First of all, if you're willing to sign a petition I'm guessing you don't want a lot of E! to begin with, you just want to be known for taking a stand against something popular.  Secondly, if you do watch a lot of E! you are, undoubtedly watching a lot of shows featuring the Kardashians because it's about 85% of their programming.

Third and finally, change your channel if you don't like it because they are not going away and even if they did another outspoken family would take their place.  As a society we told TV producers that we loved this new genre, "Reality TV" the minute the original Real World aired, and for that matter, Survivor.  We jacked up the ratings every time a new Reality TV show aired and TV executives everywhere fell to their knees and thanked whatever god they worshipped because producing it is so drastically cheap in comparison to shows with real actors and salaries, eleborate sets and production costs.  It's easy to dress up a house with 16 twin beds, toss some desperate-to-be-famous 20-somethings in it and call it a show.  Why would they go back?

They won't and it's because we demanded it.

So, petition signers, I urge you to do something else with your time.  Stop blaming the executives at E! for doing what we've asked and just change the channel.  Or better yet, turn off your TV all together if you don't like what you see.