In which I turn on the TV and get all angry.

I'm home from work today, and while flipping through channels, I've come across one of the most atrocious things I've even encountered on TV--even on MTV. They are doing an hour-long promo for the premiere of the show, Exiled, tonight. Apparently, it's a spin-off of the Sweet Sixteen series, where they take the same spoiled brats previously featured, and ship them off to faraway countries.

And of course we will undoubtedly watch them throw tantrums over having to live in poor communities where their parents' credit card will do them no good and where they are actually expected to work. Oh, and not get waited on hand and foot. What's infuriating me is, first of all, that they don't appreciate that even this experience, being able to travel abroad, is a privilege. It's a chance that they are spitting on and, most importantly, they are disrespecting and insulting the people in the communities who have agreed to host them.

This show seems to exemplify the image of the rude American, who really doesn't give a shit about anything that happens outside of this country's borders and would rather concentrate on buying more stuff. And if anything happens to intrude on that perception, it is only an annoying inconvenience. I try to believe that most people aren't like that, which is probably why this new show gets me so riled.

Maybe there's a good side. Maybe there will be some conclusion where they learn to appreciate the chance they've been giving and learn the value of interacting with people who've had different experiences. Maybe it will broaden their horizons and maybe people watching it here in the U.S. will learn something. Then again, maybe it will be just more of the same, with non-stop whining and moaning.

Sex in Hollywood.

So yes, this is a little behind schedule. But I do have something to say about The Real World: Hollywood, which I have indeed been keeping up with.

What is up with the girls in that house? Yes, I'm talking about you, Kim and Sarah. And I'm not even talking about "Ghetto"-gate from a couple of weeks ago. It seems that on every episode, they have something mean and judgmental and snarky to say about Brianna. And it's always in reference to Brianna having sex or who she takes home or how she acts when they're out or what she wears.

Of course, Kim and Sarah always couch their criticism in concern (or condemnation) for Brianna's level of self-respect. They presume that her choices, like to be an exotic dancer, come from self-hatred or a lack of self-esteem. And maybe there is some truth to that, but who's to know? They presume to know Brianna's reasons and to know her mind.