March 10th, 2010

Reasons Cop Shows Are Better Than Reality TV

Cop shows are better than reality TV. Given the quality of much of the reality TV that makes it on the air, this is no surprise. But some people need more. Some people need some proof. Well, here it is. These are 6 reasons cop shows are better than reality TV.

Cop Shows Teach

Cop shows can teach many lessons. They teach viewers what can happen in an unsafe world, how to be safer, and the repercussions of ordinary people making poor choices. They teach about the legal system, about confronting moral dilemmas, and never giving up a just cause.

Cops Have Goals

Cop shows have goals. The cops want to catch criminals. This goal may or may not be easy and there may be setbacks. Showing viewers that achieving goals takes work is a wonderful example.

Reality TV shows often feature individuals who gain their celebrity status for no good reason. They do not help others, have talent, or make the world a better place. Many times the people on these shows act irresponsibly and are rewarded for it. Even worse, home viewers sometimes try to follow suit.

The Line Between Good And Evil

While the line between good and evil may sometimes be blurred on cop shows, it is still there. Reality shows muddy the lines between right and wrong, making it difficult to tell who is a good guy and who is a bad guy. Cop shows may have characters with flaws but there are always at least a few cops genuinely trying to do the right thing.

The Best And The Worst

Aside from just separating good and evil, cop shows provide good role models. Instead of showing a bunch of self-obsessed, inebriated individuals who care about no one but themselves as reality TV shows so often do, cop shows present heroes. These heroes seek a greater good and try to live by a moral code. They spend their time helping others instead of only caring about themselves.

Consequences

Cop shows present stories where actions have consequences. They more closely represent the real world than TV shows that are supposed to be entirely gleaned from reality. Cop shows are better because actions should always have consequences and those consequences inform others about what will happen as a result of certain behaviors. Reality shows prey on the weak-minded viewers who want to believe that their actions don’t have consequences.

Satisfaction

Cop shows provide the viewer with a feeling of satisfaction. Even if not every criminal on these shows ends up where they belong, shows of this sort remind viewers that cops are working to uphold the law. It is satisfying to see someone get what they deserve for behaving badly. If only reality TV personalities received the same comeuppance.

These are only 6 reasons why cop shows are better than reality TV. There are many more. The difference between cop shows and reality TV is a clear one. Cops shows give viewers a glimpse into some of the very best individuals that life has to offer while reality TV showcases the worst.

Maryellen Ward blogs about how to choose among forensic science schools.

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