Media producers around the world have discovered that so-called “Reality Television” programs are the key to maximizing viewer bases and therefore profits. It is undisputed that Reality Television makes money. This has resulted in huge amounts of these programs appearing on our screens. While these programs line the pockets of producers and companies, they are not necessarily beneficial to their audiences and the society we live in. Today's reality programs promote schadenfreude, which is "the joy or pleasure derived from the plight and misery of others". Aren't suffering and conflict among the main themes of the reality shows we watch today? Schadenfreude plays a huge role in the unscrupulous yet incredibly addictive nature of the genre. The sad fact is that most of us spend "about a third of our free time watching television, and reality shows account for 67% of this." These programs air on almost every channel simply because we watch them. We like watching others suffer. So, what is it in our nature that makes us take pleasure in watching others suffer? There is undoubtedly catharsis involved, but surely this can be achieved through fiction. So, if not catharsis, could it simply be that we are able to escape the reality of our mundane lives and feel better about ourselves? Or maybe, just maybe there's something deeply ingrained within us that simply enjoys seeing others suffer; a bad streak, a genetic predisposition. This could tie back to caveman times, when life revolved around “survival of the fittest” and therefore ridding society of the weak. But let's face it, we're not cavemen anymore. Even though we like to think that we are sophisticated and moral people, the human race...half of paper...exploit, suffer and humiliate themselves and others. the rest of us can just sit back and laugh at their idiocy, what does that say about society today? Where do our morals and principles really lie? Perhaps we deem this type of behavior acceptable because it is packaged and pushed through our screens. But the fact is that it is not acceptable, especially if people actually want to imitate the behavior and attitudes shown on Reality Television programs. If people cheat and lie, fight with anyone who fights back, and intentionally exploit the privacy of others, society is headed for a steep, downward spiral. Shouldn't "reality" television represent themes and behaviors of reality itself, instead of the other way around? If this were not the case, then Reality Television will become less and less “Television” and essentially more simply our “Reality”.”.