Yesterdays post was about Matt Dillon. I have done more thinking about that. The other shows that were popular at the same time were ,The Waltons,The Rifleman,The Big Valley,Bonanza,All in the Family,Mash,Hogans Heroes,Mork and Mindy among others.
All of these shows did share one thing in common. The stories always had a moral to them. Do the right thing and treat others with respect. Stand up for yourself and be independent.
Now it seems to me the popular shows are about crime or becoming a star. If there isn't some young beautiful woman running around with a gun busting drug dealers,they are doing autopsies. There are a slew of these shows and the big attraction is violence. Violence,fast cars and big money.
The other bunch of shows are about becoming a star. Singing ,dancing or whatever. You can be a star. Easy money. A path to fame and fortune. And the other shows where you can win the big prize by being the most deceitful contestant. Back stabbing is rewarded. Lying is a good thing. Win,by any means necessary.
If the popular television shows are the reflection of society you can't help but draw the conclusion; we are in trouble !
Not that these behaviours did not exist before but we didn't applaud them. They certainly weren't a form of entertainment. I'm no psych major but I think these shows must have some effect upon behaviour. I tried to emulate my TV heroes. Who is there to emulate today ? Even the good guys are portrayed negatively on occasion. Never happened in years past. That is what made them heroes. Was it realistic ? Of course not. It was a fantasy world. It was entertainment.
The good guys always won. The bad people were held accountable and paid the price. Justice was served. Right was right and wrong was wrong. No exceptions or excuses. No high paid lawyer was going to save your butt. A decent lawyer wouldn't even take your case. The lesson was clear. Do the right thing,always !
Even if it cost you everything, do what is right. Personal wants and needs take a back seat. As Spock in Star Trek put it logicaly, The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few,or the one.
All those shows left me with a good feeling. The righteous are rewarded. These shows now just leave me wondering,Why ?
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