Now, I understand that these shows have fans here, but I can't stand them.

Now, it might be that my tolerance is too low to watch enough to appreciate their appeal, and there are plenty examples of non-reality shows that suck even more, but here's what I hate:

- All Circus, No Bread
- On reality shows, being a self-absorbed asshole is a plus, Sociopaths rule.
- The worst kind of high-school personality politics
- Thrive on conflict rather than cooperation
- Humiliation is essential
- Cheap production, no writers, no actors, no talent, no creativity beyond a freakish initial concept - You can't hire scabs this cheap.

I'm kind of hoping that their popularity starts to fade.

I think eventually, we will associate these reality shows with the Bush era the same way we remember rigged game shows along with the 50s/McCarthy era. They did not start or end with either, but I don't think it is entirely coincidental that they peaked at the same time.