2008 Woodie Awards
Is Honesty the Best Policy?
Katrina Cockerill
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Opinion
That answer is… false. This answer is all too familiar to anyone who has tuned into the late night hit "The Moment of Truth". A reality T.V. game show based solely on whether or not the contestant in the hot seat is lying or telling the truth. Sounds pretty easy, anyone can tell the truth right?
Yet, the show has a cruel twist to it. Before the show, the contestants are hooked up to a lie detector test and asked a series of 21 questions. They are then allowed to bring a three or four close friends or family onto the actual airing of the show.
While in the hot seat, the contestants are asked the same group of questions (in a different order), with a simple yes or no answer.
Yet, these simple yes or no answers have much bigger and stronger repercussions than one can imagine. With questions like, "Have you ever had sexual relations with anyone else besides your husband while being married? Or "DO you think you'll still be married to your husband in five years?" One simple question that could destroy a marriage and tear a family apart.
It's terrible that I actually tune into this show almost every week. Why am I so interested in the drama of others lives? Maybe it's the fact that it's not my own. Or maybe it's because I don't have to face the repercussions that follow from the answer afterwards. Yet, I don't really think the problem lies with me.
I have an even harder time understanding why the contestants on this show even try out. Many of us swear we would never watch, let alone attend a taping of the Maury show or Jerry Springer. But isn't this show just another Maury?
Aren't people just admitting their sins out of the safety of their own home, let alone on national T.V.? Are we really so caught up in the drama of others that we now need a reality T.V. show to watch it all go down?
I would much rather play a game of truth or dare with my college friends than attend this show.
Sure maybe the contestants have a few things to get off their chest. But why let the world hear about it too? It really makes me question whether love is bigger than money. Although $500,000 may be a lot, but it's definitely not worth ending a marriage. I guess in the end it will help pay for the divorce. But unfortunately, money does not buy happiness.
Yet, the show has a cruel twist to it. Before the show, the contestants are hooked up to a lie detector test and asked a series of 21 questions. They are then allowed to bring a three or four close friends or family onto the actual airing of the show.
While in the hot seat, the contestants are asked the same group of questions (in a different order), with a simple yes or no answer.
Yet, these simple yes or no answers have much bigger and stronger repercussions than one can imagine. With questions like, "Have you ever had sexual relations with anyone else besides your husband while being married? Or "DO you think you'll still be married to your husband in five years?" One simple question that could destroy a marriage and tear a family apart.
It's terrible that I actually tune into this show almost every week. Why am I so interested in the drama of others lives? Maybe it's the fact that it's not my own. Or maybe it's because I don't have to face the repercussions that follow from the answer afterwards. Yet, I don't really think the problem lies with me.
I have an even harder time understanding why the contestants on this show even try out. Many of us swear we would never watch, let alone attend a taping of the Maury show or Jerry Springer. But isn't this show just another Maury?
Aren't people just admitting their sins out of the safety of their own home, let alone on national T.V.? Are we really so caught up in the drama of others that we now need a reality T.V. show to watch it all go down?
I would much rather play a game of truth or dare with my college friends than attend this show.
Sure maybe the contestants have a few things to get off their chest. But why let the world hear about it too? It really makes me question whether love is bigger than money. Although $500,000 may be a lot, but it's definitely not worth ending a marriage. I guess in the end it will help pay for the divorce. But unfortunately, money does not buy happiness.
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